Compared to what she’d seen of the doctors’ lounges located on the upper floors of the hospital, the space allotted for the ER physicians was tiny. Yet this one made up for space with a comfortable couch and matching stuffed armchairs, along with a TV and a small cabinet area stocked with beverages and snacks.
Currently the room was empty. Which was hardly a surprise since Dr. Bradley was already at work on the floor and one doctor handled the whole shift on his own—unless some sort of catastrophic situation occurred and the hospital had to summon more doctors to handle the crisis.
At the moment, Paige would have given half her paycheck for another doctor to suddenly walk through the door of the quiet lounge. Being alone with Luke Sherman was not a situation she was accustomed to.
He gestured toward the seating area. “Sit down, Nurse Winters. I’ll get the coffee. How do you like yours? With a bit of cream?”
He must be a good guesser, she thought. She doubted he even knew her first name, much less how she liked her coffee. “Yes, cream would be nice.”
By the time she’d made herself comfortable on one end of the couch, he was standing in front of her, holding two red mugs.
Murmuring her thanks, she took the one he offered her, then waited until he was seated before she took a cautious sip. As he had predicted, the brew was fresh. She breathed in the rich aroma and tried to relax. But that was so very hard to do when his presence was taking up practically every inch of the small lounge.
Before he’d poured the coffee, he’d taken off his lab coat and hung it on a hook on the wall. Paige tried to remember a time when she’d seen him in only a shirt, but couldn’t, and the sight of his broad, muscular shoulders and trim waist was disturbing her peace of mind. Not to mention the hard, masculine line of his jaw, the thick sandy hair falling in a boyish hank over his forehead and those piercing green eyes focusing directly on her face.
What was the man up to? In all the years she’d worked with him, he’d never so much as asked her to share a drink of water with him at the water fountain, much less join him in this private doctors’ domain. All she could think was that he was about to give her a lecture about doctor/nurse protocol and warn her to never talk down to him again. Or else. Well, she had news for him. She was darn good and ready to deal with the “or else.”
“I suppose you’re wondering why I invited you here,” he said, as he settled himself in an armchair positioned in front of her.
Because I looked sleepy and you thought I needed a jolt of caffeine before I drove home. Or you wanted to make a point of reminding me who’s the boss around here.
Although the thoughts were shooting through Paige’s mind, she managed to keep them from rolling off her tongue. Instead, she said, “I am a bit curious. It’s not like the two of us are…chummy.”
His brows pulled together in a faint frown. “We aren’t? I always thought we were a team.”
A team? She was so jolted by his remark it was a miracle she didn’t spill coffee across her lap. Maybe they did work in tandem, but that’s all it was, she silently reasoned. One professional working with another. She could probably count on one hand the times he’d spoken to her about something other than a patient’s treatment.
“Yes, we do work together,” she said primly. “I meant…we’re not, uh, chummy off duty.”
The slow, intimate way his gaze was slipping over her face gave Paige the sudden urge to clear her throat. Instead, she took a quick gulp of coffee and very nearly burned her tongue in the process.
He said, “I don’t exactly know what made you decide to return to the ER, but I’m grateful you did.”
Was she dreaming? Her hands tightened around the mug and though she tried to look away from him, her eyes refused to obey. That’s what happened when a person went into shock, the nurse in her realized. Everything about the senses stopped working. And hers had definitely come to a screeching halt.
She licked her lips and hoped her heart would settle back to a normal rhythm. “I didn’t return to the ER for your sake, Dr. Sherman. My reason is plain and simple. I returned because it’s the job I love.”
He arched a brow at her. “That’s fair enough. Especially since I’m the cause of you leaving in the first place.”
Her thoughts reeling, she sipped her coffee and finally managed to tear her gaze away from him. But staring at a spot on the wall did little to put his powerful image out of her mind. “Do we really have to discuss this, Dr. Sherman?”
“Yes, we do. While you were away in IM I had plenty of time to think about you and me. And I came to realize I’ve treated you very unfairly. I’m sorry for that, Paige. I hope you’ll accept my apology.”
She didn’t know what shocked her the most. The fact that he’d called her Paige, or that he was actually apologizing.
All of a sudden a huge lump of emotion lodged in her throat, making her voice hoarse. “An apology isn’t necessary, Dr. Sherman.”
He leaned slightly forward, an earnest expression on his face. “First of all, it would be nice if you’d call me Luke.”
Did this man have a fever? The beginnings of a stroke? She wanted to tell him he needed to be checked medically. Something had definitely altered his personality.
She said, “That wouldn’t be professional.”
“Well, maybe not in the treatment room. But we’re not there right now. We’re alone.”
He needn’t have reminded her of that fact. Being with him in this secluded space was making her feel claustrophobic. Her heart was thumping so hard and fast she was certain he could see the front of her blouse shaking. As for her breathing, it had gone so shallow, she felt dizzy from the lack of oxygen.
“Okay, Luke. I accept your apology. And don’t worry, you’ll never see another tear in my eye.” Not under any circumstances would she ever again let this man see her with her guard down, she silently vowed.
His lips twisted to a rueful slant. “Paige, I don’t expect you to be inhuman. I’m sorry about accusing you of being hysterical. I’m sorry about that and…about a lot of things.”
She didn’t know what to say or how to react. A part of her wanted to jump from the couch and race out of the room, yet the other part of her was so mesmerized by this new Luke Sherman she could hardly tear her eyes off him. Instead of seeing an autocratic doctor, who’d spent the past three years demeaning her, she was seeing a very attractive, sexy man.
God help her. She must be needing medical care as much as Luke Sherman.
*
Something had definitely changed, Luke decided. Before last night, he’d never thought of Paige Winters as anything more than a very efficient nurse. But the moment he’d turned to see her standing behind him in the ER it was like a ray of bright sunlight had spotlighted her, enabling him to see every minuscule detail about her.
Now, as Luke sat facing her, he couldn’t stop staring. He couldn’t seem to focus on anything but her pale creamy skin, her vivid winered hair and her clear, silver gray eyes fringed with dark lashes. She was a beautiful woman. So why had it taken him so long to notice? Had he been suffering from some sort of eye disease and the problem had just now righted itself?
Face it, Luke, for the past five years you’ve been going through life with blinders on. You haven’t seen anyone or anything except your patients. Because shielding yourself from the outside world is the only way you’ve been able to survive.
She cleared her throat and he gave himself a hard mental shake in an effort to clear his senses.
With a faint frown, she said, “Actually, I should apologize, too. I called you some very nasty things. When I’m angry I tend to get carried away.”
She crossed her legs for the second time and shifted her position on the couch. It was more than evident to Luke that Paige was uncomfortable being here with him and the notion bothered him greatly. When he’d said he’d always thought of them as a team, he’d meant it in the best kind of way. But he supposed he’d never truly shown Paige Winters ju
st how much working with her had meant to him.
Suddenly he was smiling and the response felt good. He felt good and that didn’t make sense. None at all.
He said, “We’re all entitled to get angry once in a while.”
“Yes. Once in a while.”
He chuckled and the sound caused her brows to arch with surprise. Her reaction made him realize she’d probably never heard him laugh before and the idea stunned him.
She abruptly rose from the couch and carried her mug over to the cabinet area, suggesting she was preparing to leave. Luke was more than disappointed.
“There’s no need for you to be afraid and rush off, Paige. I do know how to laugh. I promise I’ve not taken some sort of Jekyll-and-Hyde potion.”
Even though there were a few feet of space between them he could see a dark blush stain her cheeks. The idea that he’d caused the rush of heat in her face reminded him of just how long it had been since he’d had any sort of personal exchange with a woman. For the past five years he’d been a dead man. But life had suddenly and unexpectedly started flowing through him again. All thanks to this redheaded goddess standing in front of him.
“Sorry. I was just thinking I should text my grandfather and let him know I’ll be a little late. If you’ll excuse me for a moment I’ll take care of that.” She pulled a smartphone from the pocket of her scrubs and quickly tapped out a short message. Once she slipped the phone back into her pocket, she returned to the couch. “My grandfather hates cell phones,” she explained. “But I make him keep one around just so I can send him messages whenever it’s necessary.”
“Is he expecting to see you this morning?”
“Grandfather expects to see me every morning. You see, I live with him.”
Luke was surprised, although he wasn’t sure why. From the innocent teasing he sometimes heard being tossed back and forth among the nurses, it was clear that Paige was single. He’d never heard children mentioned, either. So he’d naturally assumed she lived alone.
“Oh. Is he disabled? From advanced age, I mean.”
She laughed and the tinkling sound was warm and full of joy, making Luke very nearly laugh with her.
“I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at your question, Dr., uh, Luke. It’s the image of my grandfather. He’s seventy-five but works harder than plenty of thirty-year-olds.”
Somewhat amazed, he leaned forward. “At seventy-five your grandfather still holds down a job? That’s way past retirement age.”
“Who says? I think Helen and my grandfather would both argue that point. Anyway, Gideon—my grandfather—is a farmer. Or I should say, he is now. He used to work as a welder on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, but now he raises hay. We live on his farm just west of Fallon.”
Paige was a farm girl? For the life of him, he couldn’t picture her in such a rustic setting. But then, little more than twelve hours had passed since he’d begun to think of her as a woman, rather than just a nurse. He’d not had time to wonder about her life beyond the hospital.
“So obviously you don’t live with your grandfather because he needs a nurse.”
She smiled and Luke could see a look of genuine affection shining in her eyes. Clearly, she loved her grandfather.
“He’s alone and I’m alone. And we enjoy each other’s company. It works out well for both of us. Until he gripes about my cooking. Which most of the time he has reason to complain about. Gideon is much better in the kitchen than I am.”
Luke was trying to imagine her standing at a range stirring a pot of delicious-smelling food, but it was far easier to picture her standing at the side of the bed, her clothes slipping to the floor and her long hair falling to her shoulders.
The erotic image pushed Luke to his feet and with his mug in hand he walked over to the single window overlooking a portion of the parking lot. Beyond the asphalt, vehicles, and busy streets, the Sierra Nevada Mountains jutted above the skyline of the city. His home was nestled there in all that majestic landscape, yet the rooms were empty. When he arrived home later this morning, there would be no grandfather waiting. No wife or kids to greet him. Until this moment, that fact had never hit Luke so hard.
“My home is in the opposite direction from yours,” he told her. “I live on the lake.”
“The lake? Are you talking about Washoe or Pyramid or the big one—Tahoe?”
He glanced away from the window to look at her. “Tahoe. On the southeast rim.”
“Oh. Must be nice.”
She didn’t appear impressed. Which was certainly different. Most people were enthralled when they heard where he lived.
“Do you ever get over that way? To visit the lake?”
She shook her head. “I rarely venture over to Tahoe. I’m a desert rat. Strange, isn’t it? Not all that many miles separate our homes. Yet yours is surrounded by water and Grandfather has to use irrigation to keep the crops growing.”
“Yes. It’s a vast difference.” So was the difference in their personalities. She was personable and outgoing. The staff and patients naturally warmed to her. Whereas he was an introvert. He tried not to come across as stern and cold, yet he realized most people thought of him as a stuffed shirt. Yes, he and Paige were very different. And yet they were a team in the ER. Beyond that, he could only imagine how their lives might mesh.
“Well, the time is getting on,” she announced. “Before we know it, we’ll have to be back here at the hospital. I’d better get home and get my chores done. Uh, thank you for the coffee. It was nice of you.”
Smiling faintly, he inclined his head in her direction. “It was nice of you to join me, Paige. Drive home carefully.”
Nodding, she quickly left the lounge and Luke wondered why it felt like the sunshine had left with her.
Chapter Five
A week later, on a sizzling Wednesday night, Chavella and Paige managed to find a break in the steady stream of patients to make a trip to the hospital cafeteria before it closed for the evening.
“I don’t understand why tourists come to the desert in the middle of summer and not take heed of the heat. I’ve lost count of all the patients we’ve seen tonight with heat-related ailments,” Paige commented as she pushed the small mound of spaghetti around on her plate. “And the little girl with the severe sunburn. She was in so much pain.”
Nodding grimly, Chavella reached for a glass of iced tea. “I didn’t hear what Dr. Sherman said to the parents. It couldn’t have been good. When he sees a child that’s been neglected, he gets livid.”
“I didn’t overhear his conversation with the parents. But I expect you’re right. Most likely what he’d had to say wasn’t nice.” She slanted a thoughtful glance at Chavella. “I’ve always gotten the feeling that Dr. Sherman loves children. Odd, that he’s so tender with kids. He’s not a family man and we know how he deals with adults—not the best in the world.”
“Hmm. You have to admit he’s been treating you very nicely. That short stint you pulled in IM worked a miracle on him.”
Paige couldn’t imagine how the week she’d spent away from the ER had changed Luke so drastically. Something else had to be going on in his personal life that had caused this sudden turnaround, she decided. But it was very unlikely that she, or any of the staff, would ever hear what had actually caused the pleasant reversal in his demeanor. He wasn’t a man that talked about himself. In fact, she’d been shocked that he’d gone so far to tell her where he lived.
There she went again, she thought ruefully. Thinking of Dr. Sherman as a man with wants and needs just like any other. It wasn’t healthy for her peace of mind and she needed to stop doing it. Sure, he was a man and an attractive one at that. But outside of work, he was none of her business.
“Chavella, I’m convinced this change in Dr. Sherman can’t last forever. He’s suffering some sort of mental lapse.” Paige twirled a bite of spaghetti onto her fork. “Before long, you and the other nurses are going to hear him yelling at me. Then everything will be back to norm
al.”
Paige glanced over to see Chavella’s dark eyes were studying her intently. “Is that the way you want things to be? With Dr. Sherman back to his old self? I’d surely think you’d like this new, nice version better.”
That was the problem, Paige realized. She didn’t know how to take this different side of Luke Sherman. Yes, it felt good to have him respecting her as a person, along with her work. It was nice to see him smile, instead of having his jaw clamped into a rigid vise. But this very human side of the man was disturbing in ways that were beginning to worry her. She was beginning to like him. A lot. No, it was more than liking, she thought uneasily. She was getting downright attracted to the man. And she couldn’t afford to be that foolish.
“I don’t know how to explain it, Chavella. I certainly don’t want him to revert back to his tyrant ways. But now he’s so nice I actually like him.”
Chavella chuckled softly. “That can’t be a bad thing.”
Paige shoved out a long breath as she lifted a bite of food to her mouth. Her mother had always warned her to be wary of something that appeared too good to be true. She had to apply that same adage to Luke.
“It could be,” Paige replied. “If I get to liking him too much.”
A knowing smile crossed Chavella’s face. “Ahh. Now I get it. The good doctor is starting to make your heart flutter. No?”
Paige frowned at her. “Are you kidding? After all I’ve been through with that man?”
Chavella shrugged. “Well, you know what they say. Weathering a storm with someone usually brings them closer together. Besides, would there be anything wrong in you getting interested in Dr. Sherman? He’s single and so are you. Your work gives you a lot in common. And you have to admit, there’s something very sexy about his rough features and the way he carries himself. Actually, I’ve often wondered why he isn’t married. Have you?”
Her Kind of Doctor Page 5