by Vivian Kees
Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2013 Vivian Kees
ISBN: 978-1-77130-359-0
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Marie Medina
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DASHING DOCTOR, PREGNANT NURSE
Romance on the Go
Vivian Kees
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
Four hours into his shift and Dr. Kyle Van Peter was ready to call it a day. So far, he’d dealt with a stabbing, two overdoses, and last but not least, a motorcycle accident that resulted only in minor injuries thankfully.
The pager clipped to his trousers vibrated. One, two, three, four… Silently, he counted to ten before looking at the number on the tiny screen. It was nothing major that couldn’t be put off for a bit. He was desperate for a coffee or anything caffeine loaded; even the awful brown water that passed for coffee in the staff lounge was appealing at this moment. Closing his eyes, Kyle leaned against the wall in the corridor located outside of the emergency department. When a hand braced his arm, he jumped and then subsequently smiled.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, Dr. Van Peter, but there’s a two car motor vehicle accident on the way. The emergency medical technicians just called it in. They’re en route and should be here within five minutes give or take,” explained Janine Croft, the charge nurse.
Kyle nodded. He’d have to forgo the coffee for now. Following her down the corridor, he listened attentively as Janine further explained the incoming situation to him.
“Trauma two and three are set up. One person is unresponsive, but is in stable condition. Of course we know how quickly that can change. The other person looks severe. They’ll give us a better, more detailed report once they get here.”
When the incoming doors busted wide open, Kyle felt his adrenaline rise. This was it. This was what it was all about. His tiredness disappeared as he moved into action.
Two stretchers rushed in, one after the other.
“Trauma two and three,” yelled Janine. “Put the female in two and the male in three,” she ordered. She threw a backward glance at him. “Here we go.”
“Do we have any names?” he asked, entering trauma two.
“Wendy and Mario Deseo,” answered one of the emergency medical technicians. “It was a head on collision. A drunk driver. Mrs. Deseo suffered a blow to the head and chest with possible internal bleeding. Her lungs sound crackly.”
“X-ray,” yelled Kyle. “And get blood collection in here stat. Call respiratory.” He leaned over and listened to Mrs. Deseo’s lungs. The crackles were distinct through the stethoscope. She definitely had a buildup of fluid.
Janine had already hooked the lady up to the overhead monitor and with an anxious look, she watched the numbers waver up and down. “Her blood pressure is erratic, low, and it’s dropping.”
“Give her a bolus of normal saline now, and repeat if her pressure doesn’t come up.”
Janine nodded and was off to grab an IV line set-up.
A second nurse stood at the crash cart, prepping just in case it was going to be needed.
When Janine returned they were quick to run the solution in, Kyles’s eyes never leaving the monitor. Slowly Mrs. Deseo’s numbers came up. He could breathe now. They’d transfer her to Intensive Care and most likely she’d live. But the road to recovery would be a long one.
X-ray and respiratory showed up at the same time. Kyle stepped aside to allow them access. “Call Intensive Care and have them ready a bed. I want her transferred ASAP.”
Stepping out into the corridor Kyle heaved a sigh of relief, lost to his own thoughts.
“Dr. Van Peter.” It was Janine. He turned to see her standing there, looking slightly awkward.
“Yes… Is there something wrong?”
Her brow furrowed. “Forget it.” She turned and started to walk away from him.
“Janine,” he called. She stopped fast in her tracks. In a second, she was in front of him with one finger pressed against her lips to silence him.
“Don’t ever address me by my first name, not here. I thought we both agreed to that?”
“I’m sorry,” he muttered, remembering their rules. How could he have forgotten them? He had agreed to them, the rules which governed their relationship both inside and outside the hospital. But at times, it was easy to forget. And what was the big deal anyway? Would it be so bad if people did find out about them? He didn’t think so. He did however understand the need to be professional in the workplace.
“So what’s up?” A boyish grin rolled across his lips. Janine looked exceptionally cute today donning her huggy-bear scrubs with her auburn hair twisted upwards into a sexy do. He fought the instant urge to touch her. Everything about her was perfection. And those lips, soft, and delectable. He had known them many times during the past six months.
“We need to talk, but not out here. I know this isn’t the best time, but I feel we need to discuss some things.” He watched as she pushed the employee lounge door open, but not before typing in her pass code on the lock’s security keypad.
Inside, they stood in the empty lounge facing each other, the only sound, a soft humming emanating from the refrigerator located in the far corner.
“I need to come clean,” explained Janine. She was the first to break the silence that had settled between them.
“Clean?” His grin faded. This didn’t sound good.
“We need to end this…”
“This?”
“What we have, our relationship. It’s been nice, but it’s time for us to both move on. The fooling around, seeing each other in secret, and the lies… It isn’t working for me. And we both know that workplace relationships are never a good idea.”
He was speechless. They’d slept together less than a week ago. Had she known then? Had she already made the plans to dump him then? Many questions ran through his mind.
“How long have you felt like this?” he asked, doing his best to remain calm and logical. He needed to know that much.
She turned from him and looked towards the lone window in the lounge. “It doesn’t feel good anymore.”
Good? That wasn’t an answer. “What about earlier this week?” She knew exactly what he was referring to. She had to. She loved the sex just as much as he did.
“I’m sorry, Kyle, I really am. But that’s how it is. I was wrong. I should have told you well before this. I regret that. I regret many things.”
“She regrets it,” he said, talking to the air surrounding him. “I never pegged you as a user, Janine. I mean, we met, and instantly we clicked. Was that a bad thing? Hell, I can see a future with you. And you’re the one who created the rules. I would have been happy enough to be open about our relationship. I guess I was too blinded to see what was actually in front of me.”
She now faced him as he spoke those last few words. “There’s no call for that, and I will not fight you on this.” Her face flushed crimson. “It’s the way things are, and how they’re going to be from now on.”
Kyle felt anger and hurt rise within him. It wasn’t a good combination. Every word she spoke stung. “So I took the chance. I asked you out even though it was against my better judg
ment. Now you have the audacity to just come to me and tell me it’s over.” Didn’t he have any say in this?
“It is over, and so is this conversation,” she snapped. “I’m sorry. I truly am, but I doubt you would believe that at this time.” She rushed past him out of the lounge, and slammed the door behind her.
He was fast. He wasn’t finished yet. She was three steps ahead of him in the corridor as he followed her. “So that’s it. You get to say when it’s over with no thought for anyone but yourself?” His words echoed the air as she trotted away shaking her head in response.
People stared as they walked past him. But let them, he no longer cared, and that’s when it happened.
****
Janine reached for the railing to her right, but it was too late. Down she went. The last thing she remembered was Kyle calling out to her before the darkness swallowed her up.
“This is ludicrous. And who put this on me?” Janine pulled the oxygen cannula from her nose. “I can breathe fine on my own. I don’t need to be hooked up to oxygen.”
Crystal, another nurse on shift, stood to the side grinning. “I’m just following Dr. Van Peter’s orders. What’s with you two anyway? You both exchanged some rather heated words in the employee’s lounge. Not that I was eavesdropping or anything.”
“I broke it off with him.” Crystal was not only a co-worker, but also her best friend. She was also the only one who was privy to her liaison with the dashing doctor.
“You did what? Girl, are you crazy? That man is perfect.”
“And he didn’t take it so well.”
“I guess he didn’t.” Crystal’s voiced seethed with just the slightest hint of sarcasm. “Stay still, I need to take your blood pressure.”
Janine felt the cuff tighten on her arm as she tried to relax.
“So you ended it just like that? But you did tell him everything, I hope.”
“I couldn’t,” muttered Janine. “I had every intention… I will tell him, but not today.”
Crystal shook her head as she released the pressure from the cuff. “Your blood pressure’s fine. You do realize he’s going to find out sooner or later, even if you don’t tell him. You can hide many things, my dear, but pregnancy isn’t one of them.”
“But…” Janine knew her friend spoke the bitter truth. There was no way around this.
“But nothing. There are no buts. He’s the baby’s father, and he has a right to know.”
Their conversation ended abruptly when Kyle entered the room.
“How is she?” he asked, talking over her as if she weren’t there.
“She is fine and she is right here,” Janine snapped. “My blood sugar bottomed out. I haven’t eaten since this morning.” The fact that she was diabetic was common knowledge to the other parties in the room. It wasn’t something she had ever hidden.
“Well that isn’t very smart, especially for a nurse. Diabetes is not something to take lightly.”
“I’m well aware of that fact, Dr. Van Peter.” Janine swung her legs over the side of the stretcher and pulled the blood pressure cuff from her arm. “It’s busy, and I’ve had enough of this nonsense. It’s time we all got back to work.”
“You’re off shift as of now.” Kyle stepped forward and handed her a piece of paper. “There’s the note if you need it, signed by yours truly. We can’t have you here fainting on us. You’re not only a risk to yourself, but also to the patients. Go home, eat, and rest. That’s my best advice.”
So this was his way of getting back at her. She wouldn’t play his game. He’d get no satisfaction from her.
****
Enveloped in a bath filled with hot water, Janine felt the heat settle deep into her muscles as the stress of the day drained from her.
Afterwards, she settled on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. Much calmer and more sedate, she yawned. A nap was forthcoming.
Her obstetrician warned her about overexerting herself. Being diabetic, she needed to be more diligent about her own health and the health of …
The baby. Every time she thought of a life growing inside her a myriad of emotions would take over. Not to mention the guilt that was always there from day one keeping the news from Kyle, who was the baby’s father without a doubt. That was a fact that she couldn’t ever deny.
Janine lay back onto the couch. A fling, that’s all it was ever supposed to be. Nothing more, nothing less, with no strings, or any complicated attachments.
Kyle had come along just at the right time in her life. They’d enjoyed each other’s company, and the sex was beyond fantastic. Yet, she didn’t see him as anything more than that. He was a friend who fulfilled a need within her when it was desired. She had thought it was the same for him. They both knew it wouldn’t last forever. It wasn’t that type of relationship. It was a fling. Flings were nothing.
Janine turned on her side and closed her eyes. It had been one horrid day. She would have liked to pretend that it had never happened. It wasn’t long before she drifted off. Her last thoughts focused on her unborn child and… Kyle. How could she ever forget him?
****
Kyle would have kicked himself straight in the ass if his foot reached.
When Janine left for the day, he knew he’d only made things worse between them with his condescending attitude. And while the note putting her off work for the day had been a wise and practical decision for her own well-being, in the back of his mind he savored that little bit of power he had taken back from her.
“Dr. Van Peter, we need your assistance in observation room one. The patient was brought in with a concussion. She fell at home, and now she’s trying to leave. Could you speak to her?” asked the nurse. It was that one, Crystal, who seemed to be friendly with Janine.
“Sure thing.”
Upon entering the small room, he observed a frail elderly lady sitting on the edge of the stretcher holding a bloodied towel to her head.
“I’m Dr. Van Peter,” he said, introducing himself. “Would you allow me to examine you?”
The lady nodded and pulled the towel away slowly.
The wound was deep. It would definitely need to be stitched before she could leave.
“Mrs?”
“Peterson,” the lady answered. She flashed him a stern look.
“Mrs. Peterson, tell me what happened.” He glanced back at Crystal who stood to the side. “I’m going to suture the wound. Get me the supplies.”
“I fell in the bathroom, striking my head against the sink on the way down.” She emphasized the word down.
Her pupils responded well to light. “Mrs. Peterson, I’m going to stitch you up, and then I want you to stay for a bit. It’s only for observation purposes.”
She nodded. “I’ll stay for an hour, but no longer.” She was adamant.
“Fair enough.”
After he had finished, Crystal cleaned up and helped Mrs. Peterson to settle back onto the stretcher.
“She’s feisty,” commented Crystal, washing her hands at the sink.
“Much like your friend,” added Kyle.
“Janine has a lot on her plate right now. You might want to back away to give her some room to breathe.” She dried her hands and tossed the paper towels into the trashcan.
“Is that so…” It wasn’t a question, but more so a comment.
Crystal raised one brow. “Just sayin’, Dr. Van Peter. Sometimes things happen and it’s needed.”
The last bit repeated itself in his mind long after Crystal had disappeared down the corridor. It was food for thought, and the more he thought about it, the greater the desire became to see Janine again. If it was over, he’d accept it and move on. But he needed a reason. He deserved that much from her even if she didn’t think so. If she wanted to move on something had to have happened to cause that. He was determined to find out either way.
****
Janine woke to darkness and loud knocking. Stumbling in the direction of the noise, she stopped and looked t
hrough the peephole to see who was on the other side of the door.
Kyle?
She unlocked the deadbolt. She wasn’t in the mood to argue, to fight, or anything related.
“Hi,” said Kyle. He stood there with a sheepish half grin curling one corner of his mouth. “I thought I’d drop by. We need to talk. Leaving things like we did today… well, I think we both deserve more than that.”
And there it was, everything that had attracted her to him in the beginning. The smile, the disheveled look that he seemed to have perfected after a hard day at the hospital, and those eyes now pleading with her. They said more in that brief moment when she met his gaze than words ever could.
She opened the door wide and stepped aside. “Come in.”
He brushed past her with his head down. His familiar scent wafted under her nose. Janine shivered. She was certain it wasn’t the chill of the night air that caused it. This wasn’t good. Being alone with Kyle was never good.
Chapter Two
“I’m sorry.”
Janine sat next to Kyle on the couch looking straight ahead. At first she couldn’t think of any words to say. He didn’t have a reason to be sorry. He’d done nothing to her. If anything, she was the one who should be making apologies. Her behavior had been less than professional. And the hospital was no place to break things off with him. That had been a bad decision on her part. After all, it was she who had always said they should keep their personal relationship separate from their work one.
“Kyle, you have no reason to be sorry. I made a huge error in my better judgment. I should never have bombarded you like that. It was neither the time, nor place. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“It’s just that … it surprised the heck out of me. I honestly thought that things were good between us. I know we had set limits and stuff, but I felt we were headed somewhere more serious. Then when you told me it was over, that we were over.” He turned to her, and reached out to grasp her hands. “I thought we had something special.”