But he couldn't just cut Paige off. He'd drop off the sweater during her office hours. That way he could return it, explain how busy he was going to be for the next few weeks, and say a simple good-bye. They'd already planned the agenda of games for the Fourth of July; he could take care of the rest himself. She was off the hook.
That's what he'd tell her. And then he'd leave. As simple as paddling a canoe.
****
Clay surveyed the doctor's office and found chaos. A young mother held a crying baby and two redheaded boys about six years old fought over a small plastic army figure. The first boy grabbed it away. The other child punched him in the arm. A pregnant woman, very pregnant, looked as if she couldn't be more tired. Two elderly women were scowling and muttering to each other. No receptionist sat at the desk.
Clay looked around again, suspecting something was wrong. Doc didn't run his office like this and Clay guessed Paige wouldn't either. He went to find her.
Before he'd gotten a foot into the hall, one of the elderly women called, "Hey, mister. It's not your turn."
He called back, "I'm not a patient."
As he walked down the hall, he found three examining rooms empty. That was odd. He reached the fourth and was debating whether to wait a few minutes or knock when the door opened.
Paige saw him and jumped. "You scared me. What are you doing here?"
He lifted her sweater. "I came to return this. What's going on? The patients in the waiting room look ready to riot."
Paige closed the door to the examining room. "I can't get caught up. I had a house call first thing this morning. Mr. Hick's little girl had a fever of one hundred and four and I thought it would be better not to bring her to the office. Next I got a text from my nurse. She and our receptionist went to a bridal shower yesterday and both got sick on something they ate. The computer is down and it's been bedlam since I got here. I haven't even had a chance to call for temporary help."
Clay rested his hand on the doorjamb above her head. "So you're trying to do the job of three people."
Paige only had to tip her head a little to meet his gaze. "I'm used to working alone. It's not that. But everybody here is so impatient. They want help immediately."
She sounded more exasperated than frustrated. "Your patients in Africa didn't?"
"They had waited months for medical care. A few hours didn't matter." She took her sweater from Clay's arm. "Thanks for returning this. But I've got to get moving. If you want to talk..."
"No. I don't. But I could help out for a while. What do you need?"
She studied him for a moment. "You're sure?"
"I wouldn't have offered if I didn't want to help."
She motioned for him to follow her. "I'm not going to turn a gift horse away." She smiled over her shoulder. "That didn't sound right. What's the expression?"
He marveled at how fast she moved, as if chased by the devil. He corrected the idiom for her. "You won't look a gift horse in the mouth."
"My way makes more sense." She swerved into her office and picked up a clipboard from her desk. "Use a separate sheet for each patient. Find out who was here first, second, et cetera. Show them to the examining rooms. Take down their complaints. Be as specific as you can. If they don't want to tell you, don't push."
"Anything else?"
She handed him the clipboard and hurried to the waiting room. "Find out what medications they're on. I'll take the two boys next. The patient in room four is getting dressed. He'll be out in a few minutes. I'll have to input all of it into the computer when it's up and running again."
Paige introduced Clay to the patients in the waiting room, said he'd be helping her, and told them she'd be with each one as soon as she could.
Clay watched the expressions on their faces. It was amazing what a bit of attention, a smile, and an explanation did to defuse impatience. He had to hand it to Paige-she was good with people. He remembered her care when he'd cut his hand and her concern about Ben, her attempts to draw him out. She was genuine and caring. No facade.
Clay took the patients to the examining rooms, then started taking the information Paige had requested. When he asked the pregnant woman her name, she smiled shyly. "Miriam Jacobs. Nothing's wrong with me. This is just a checkup. Dr. Conrad says I have to come in every week now. I'm due in five weeks."
Clay wrote her name on the paper attached to the clipboard. "No problems?"
"No, it's just...never mind."
He raised his head. "If you want to wait to tell Dr. Conrad--"
"It's not that. It's just...I don't need to come every week."
"I imagine Dr. Conrad thinks it's important you do."
Miriam's hands fluttered. "But I don't have insurance and I can't pay her. She's done so much already."
"You should talk to her about this."
"I have. She's letting me do sewing for her for payment. Even for office visits that's not enough."
Clay wondered if Paige was used to bartering for services. It seemed like a good idea to him. It would put everyone on a more equal footing. "Maybe for her it is."
Miriam shook her head. "I know what doctors get to deliver babies. Even if she delivers my baby at home, she should get paid."
"Dr. Conrad's going to deliver your baby at home?"
"Uh, huh, if everything's all right. But she told me she'll call the ambulance if something doesn't look right. She made me get a blood test and another test. A sonogram?"
Clay knew all about sonograms, CT scans, MRIs. He'd had the full gamut at one time or another. All were expensive. "If you follow what Dr. Conrad says, I'm sure you and the baby will be fine."
"It's my first. I'm scared."
"I would be, too."
Miriam smiled.
****
Paige considered checking the waiting room to see if it had filled up again. The morning's calendar had been loaded with appointments. She didn't take time to peek in, but hurried to her next patient, wondering where Clay was.
The door to the second examining room stood partially open. What Paige saw stopped her in her tracks. Clay was lifting a two-year-old into the air. The baby gurgled, smiled, and reached for Clay's chin.
Clay laughed and set the child on the examining table. But the toddler reached out for Clay, wanting more attention.
The baby's mother said, "He's been crabby for the past hour. I should have given him to you sooner."
"He was just bored, weren't you, little guy?"
The child stuck his thumb in his mouth and smiled around it.
Paige knew Clay was a gentle man. It shouldn't surprise her that he'd be good with children. Had he ever been in love? Had he ever considered having a family? In some ways he seemed so alone. But he had a family. He had friends. Figuring him out was more difficult than putting together one of Doc's jigsaw puzzles.
Paige entered the room. Clay handed her the clipboard, poked the toddler's tummy, receiving a giggle in return, and closed the door behind him.
When Paige finished with her patients, it was well after noon. She returned the charts to the files in her office and went to the reception area. Her last patient was handing Clay his co-pay for the visit.
The man waved at Paige. "Thanks, Dr. Conrad. Hope I don't see you for a while."
"Take all the antibiotics," Paige warned.
The man looked sheepish. "I will this time."
After he left her office, Paige sat on the corner of the desk and said to Clay, "I thought you'd be gone. Don't you have a store to run?"
"I have two people on the floor this morning."
Paige smiled. "You managed the office well. Thinking of a second job?"
He smiled reluctantly. "No, thanks. There's a list of call-backs you have to make. Nothing urgent. Mostly appointments. I didn't want to mess with your system."
"I don't know how to thank you, Clay. Without your help, I'd still be backed up."
"No thanks necessary. Just a neighbor helping a neighbor."
&nb
sp; Something was different about Clay today. He was keeping himself remote.
He stood. "I'd better let you return your calls."
He seemed to take up most of the waiting room. "You said there was nothing urgent. I have sandwiches in the refrigerator in my office. You're welcome to share them."
He checked his watch. "No. I have to get going." He was halfway across the waiting room when he turned around and asked, "Are you really going to deliver Miriam Jacobs' baby at home?" He sounded wary of the idea and surprised.
"Yes. Why?"
"Just seems risky to me when a hospital's so close."
Paige considered information about patients confidential. Ben was a different matter since, in a way, she was consulting with Clay. But Miriam... "There are reasons."
"Yeah, she told me she can't afford it. I'm sure people would chip in--"
"Miriam won't accept charity. She only lets me treat her because we're...trading services." Paige had had Miriam hem slacks, replace zippers, mend frayed pillowcases.
"She does sewing for you."
"You and she had quite a discussion."
"She seemed to need someone to talk to. Is her husband out of work?"
"Clay, I really can't discuss--"
"Wait a minute. Jacobs. I heard someone in the store talking about him running out on his wife." Clay shook his head. "I can't understand men like that."
She imagined Clay couldn't. From everything she'd seen of him, she realized he had a strong moral character. "I'll take good care of her, Clay. She's healthy. I see no signs of problems, though you never know. I won't hesitate to call an ambulance if she needs it. You wouldn't believe the conditions under which I've delivered babies."
"Dirt floors and grass shacks?"
She could picture it all too vividly. "Sometimes. With Miriam I can make sure conditions are sterile. I've taught her birthing exercises. She wants to have a natural delivery for the baby's sake and so she recovers faster." Paige took her stethoscope from around her neck and stuffed it in her coat pocket. "Did Ben call you?"
"No. Why? Did you tell him to?" Clay didn't seem pleased by the idea.
"No. But I thought he might after he thought about everything you said."
Clay frowned and a lock of his black hair fell lower on his forehead. "Maybe I said too much. Don't hope for miracles, Paige. He's troubled and I don't think I'm the one to help him."
She wanted to brush Clay's hair from his forehead and ease the creases from his brow. "I think you're just the one to help him. But only if you want to. Has something happened to make you want to back off again?"
"No." He hesitated for only a fraction of a second, but she noticed it.
"Then what's wrong?"
"You saw what happened Sunday. I might have made the situation worse."
She hopped off the desk, approached Clay, and instinctively touched his arm. "You did what you could."
His muscles tensed under her fingers. "Yes, and sometimes we can't do enough." He pulled back, away from her touch, saying, "I have to go. I hope your afternoon doesn't stampede you like the morning."
She smiled. "I'll handle it. Thanks again."
Clay looked as if he wanted to say something more, but he didn't. He turned, and with a last long look, left the office.
CHAPTER SIX
Clay had left Paige, fully intending not to see her again. But as he drove home from work at five-thirty and passed her office, he noticed six cars still parked in the small lot. He thought about her being snowed under again and he veered into the parking area.
When he entered the office, the situation was similar to the morning's. He searched for the closed examining room door and knocked.
Paige opened it slightly and before she saw him said, "I'll get to you as soon as I--Oh, Clay!"
This morning she'd been busy but not harried. Now her cheeks were flushed, her hair was mussed where she'd brushed it away from her forehead and face. She looked drained. "Clipboard in your office?"
"Clay, I can't ask you to--"
"You're not asking."
Her stomach growled.
He gazed at her steadily. "Did you eat lunch?"
She brushed stray strands of hair away from her cheek. "I didn't have time. After you left, the phone started ringing. Before I knew it, the waiting room was full again. How many are out there now?"
"Five. You finish with this one, I'll take care of settling the others."
"Clay?"
"Don't say it," he warned with a grin.
She smiled a thank-you instead.
Clay was waiting for her in the hall when she finished with her patient. He held out a napkin with half a turkey sandwich. "I'd have brought you the whole thing, but I knew you wouldn't take time for that. Take a few deep breaths and eat this."
She tried to hide a smile. "I'm the one who's supposed to be giving orders."
He cocked his head. "I don't see why you can't share the honor."
She laughed and took the sandwich from him.
"And don't gulp it down."
She saluted him smartly. "Yes, sir."
Clay and Paige worked as a team as they had in the morning. Finally, the office and reception area were empty. Clay watched Paige as she shrugged out of her lab coat, hung it in her office, and sat in her desk chair, jotting notes on a chart. He stood in the doorway without her noticing.
She'd brushed her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. A few wisps strayed across her cheek. She looked tired.
After the nightmare, he'd sworn he wouldn't see her again. But he kept coming back. Why? Because she needed help? That was one reason, but there were others. Some better left alone.
Sometimes she seemed so untouched, other times there was a world of sadness in her eyes. He wanted to wipe that away.
He should lighten up and so should she. What could chase nightmares away faster than good times? They could both use an afternoon of pure fun. They could forget about Ben and whatever else bogged them down and simply have an enjoyable afternoon.
The decision made, he tapped lightly on the doorjamb.
She looked up and smiled. "I have to write this down before I forget." She finished the paragraph of notes, then put down the pencil and leaned back in her chair. "You're sure you don't want a second job?"
He sat on the corner of her desk. "I don't need a second job. But I do need a break. Have you ever been to an amusement park?"
She flipped her shoes off under the desk. "No."
"After today, Dr. Conrad, you need to be amused. We could go Thursday. After your visit to the hospital, of course."
Her blue eyes held his, then she said softly, "I'd like that."
He'd planned to simply have a day of fun with her, but her gaze and voice turned his insides upside down. How could one woman pack such a punch?
It didn't matter. An amusement park was not designed for romantic interludes. They would have fun.
****
Paige's eyes widened as she walked beside Clay along the asphalt path into the amusement park. She'd been amazed by the variety of license plates in the parking lot. Tourists came from all over the United States. Most of them towed laughing children as they bubbled with excitement.
Clay insisted on paying her entrance fee. With a shrug of a shoulder, he said, "It was my suggestion."
Paige thought he'd never looked more handsome or sexy. He'd gotten his hair trimmed. Though still shaggy, it lay more sedately over his ears. She wondered if it was as soft as it looked, or if it was more coarse to the touch. His black T- shirt stretched over defined muscles. He'd told Ben he lifted weights. She could imagine the up-down motion, his muscles pumping, the sweat gleaming on his bronze skin. Her gaze dropped a bit lower.
His black shorts were beltless, the band flat against his waist. She'd never seen a man his age in such beautiful condition. She remembered the way he'd looked in a bathing suit and her heart beat faster. Thoughts of Clay were becoming too prominent. This was just a d
ay away from work, a day to have fun.
Clay cupped her elbow and led her to a giant Ferris wheel with cages as cars. "We'll start out easy."
"Really? What else do I have to look forward to?" When-ever he held her, no matter how casually, her heart skipped beats.
"The roller coaster."
"I've seen pictures of them, but I never rode one. Are you sure they're safe?"
He stopped and turned her toward him. "This from a woman who rides a raft through a jungle, lives for weeks in the desert? Dr. Conrad, I'm surprised you could think I'd lead you into danger."
His green eyes could lead her into a kind of danger she'd never known--the danger of losing her heart. She fought the idea away and smiled. "Danger's in the eye of the beholder."
He laughed. "There are two roller coasters. They're both perfectly safe. Then there's the ride that turns you upside down."
"I think I'll skip that one. The only ride I've ever been on is a carousel."
He grabbed her hand. "Then your experience has been sorely lacking. Let's get started."
The Ferris wheel was easy. The cable cars were a snap. The pirate ship that moved higher back and forth as it swayed made her a little seasick. The carousel gave her the thrill she remembered as a child, but an even bigger thrill because Clay was riding the lion beside her horse, his hair rumpled from the breeze, his large hands clasped around the pole. When he grinned at her, she didn't think any ride could be more exciting.
Then came the roller coaster--the monumental one on the wooden tracks.
Clay tried to encourage her. "It just looks intimidating."
She gazed at the steep hills, the low valleys, what seemed to be miles and miles of weaving track. "You're sure this is going to be fun."
"Absolutely." He looked up at the graying sky. "If it doesn't rain." He dropped his arm around her shoulders and guided her to the entrance. She felt safe and protected, and not even the size of the roller coaster could diminish that feeing with Clay's arm around her.
But once in the car, Clay's arm wasn't around her. She held on to the bar in front of her.
Clay tapped her knuckles. "Relax. Just go with the sensation."
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