Could a temporary arrival...

Lead to a forever mommy?

In this Single Dad Docs story, Maple Island Clinic founder Dr. Cody Brennan is committed to protecting himself and his two little girls from any more heartbreak. But vibrant temp nurse Stacey Ryder challenges him and their emotional connection slips past his defenses. As Stacey’s time at the clinic draws to an end, can Cody and his daughters convince her she’s the one they’ve been waiting for?

SUSAN CARLISLE’s love affair with books began in the sixth grade, when she made a bad grade in mathematics. Not allowed to watch TV until she’d brought the grade up, Susan filled her time with books. She turned her love of reading into a passion for writing, and now has over ten Medical Romances published through Mills & Boon. She writes about hot, sexy docs and the strong women who captivate them. Visit SusanCarlisle.com.

Also by Susan Carlisle

Christmas with the Best Man

Redeeming the Rebel Doc

The Brooding Surgeon’s Baby Bombshell

A Daddy Sent by Santa

Single Dad Docs collection

Tempted by Her Single Dad Boss by Annie O’Neil

Resisting Her English Doc by Annie Claydon

The Single Dad’s Proposal by Karin Baine

Nurse to Forever Mum

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Nurse to Forever Mum

Susan Carlisle

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08976-0

NURSE TO FOREVER MUM

© 2019 Susan Carlisle

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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To Anna, the niece who is so much like me.

I love you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

CHAPTER ONE

“LIZZY, HONEY. STAY STILL.” Dr. Cody Brennan squatted on his heels in the hallway in front of the day-care suite to re-tie his daughter’s hair-bow. He couldn’t keep his frustration out of his voice as he fumbled at forming a loop with the slick ribbon. Suturing he’d learned in medical school, not securing bows.

“Dadd-yyy, it has to be right,” Lizzy’s whine echoed off the hallway built of glass.

“Hey, mind if I give it a try?” a sweet-sounding feminine voice beside him asked.

Cody looked over his shoulder. Two large, sympathetic green eyes with thick dark lashes met his gaze.

“Dadd-yyy,” Lizzy moaned.

Not giving him a choice, the woman moved in close. A hint of peach tickled his nose as she tugged the ribbon from his hand, hers brushing over his. With a quick side step he moved aside, giving her better access to Lizzy’s ponytail.

As if by magic Lizzy went statue still and the woman in a deft twirl of fingers secured the bow.

“There you go,” she announced with such fanfare that she might have been giving Lizzy an award.

“Thanks,” he muttered.

Lizzy pulled on his hand. “Let’s go, Daddy.”

“You need to tell the lady thank you first.” He used his stern father voice.

“Thank you.” Lizzy obeyed with uncharacteristic shyness.

“No problem.” The woman smiled.

The beautiful upturn of her mouth captivated him. Her full lips surrounded white straight teeth, creating a unique sunbeam that pulled him toward her, making him feel good. A sensation he’d not experienced in a long time.

Lizzy tugged on his hand again. Seeing she had regained his attention, she towed him into day care. When he walked out a few minutes later he looked for the woman. There was no one in sight. She’d been wearing a knit top and jeans, so she must be making an early morning patient visit. Why she had grabbed his attention so, he couldn’t fathom.

He’d been off women for what seemed like ages now and that suited him fine. After the years of anguish and constant distress his ex-wife Rachael had put them through, his children and he had finally found contentment. Throughout his life he had admired his parents’ marriage.

He’d always wanted one like theirs but that dream had been destroyed by the reality of a wife struggling with a drug addiction. Supporting her and raising two small children while at the same time completing his medical training had made him want to find a simpler life. Moving to Maple Island had given him that. It had taken years but he now had the peace he’d hoped for and the ability to give his girls the attention and security they deserved. Bringing someone into their world would only disrupt what he had so carefully built.

After a car accident, his ex-wife had become hooked on painkillers. He seen the signs, had done everything he could think of to try to help Rachael. She had gone in and out of rehabilitation but nothing had seemed to work. Life had become a round of clinics, counseling, begging and shouting. After finding one of his prescription pads missing, he’d known the crisis Rachael had created had to end. He’d finally accepted defeat. Their marriage was over. He had the girls to consider. Unable to save Rachael, he had to think of Jean and Lizzy and his own sanity.

He’d filed for divorce and full custody. With years’ worth of documentation against Rachael, her parental rights had been permanently revoked. Being a solitary parent and a surgeon with a demanding job hadn’t been part of his life plan, yet here he was.

Soon after the custody trial he’d met Alex and the answer to his problem had been born. Every day he was grateful for that serendipitous bar conversation he’d had with Dr. Alex Kirkland about the perils and the pitfalls of solo parenting. During their mutual commiseration, the dream of a first-class, cutting-edge clinic with an equally state-of-the-art day care for employees was created. Faster than Cody had imagined, he’d become Alex’s partner and co-founder of the Maple Island Clinic off the coast of Massachusetts.

The day care had been a lifesaver, but Cody’s problem this morning had been that children were supposed to show up already dressed for the day and in his five-year-old daughter’s mind that included a properly tied hair-bow. Lizzy didn’t consider herself dressed without a ribbon in her hair.

Like this morning, Cody sometimes worried he might not be enough for Jean and Lizzy. He often felt they needed that special attention that only a woman could provide. He shoved that thought away, his teeth clenching from the force of his resolve. He couldn’t risk a repeat of the hell Rachael had put them through. What if he chose wrong again?

Enough of those thoughts. He didn’t have time to review ugly memories. Besides being a single parent, as an orthopedic surgeon specializing in knees and legs, he had a busy clinic and a full surgery schedule this Monday morning to occupy his mind. Some attractive woman visiting a patient shouldn’t even be a concern.

Heading down the hall, he soon entered his office and habitually checked the time. He could complete some paperwork and make a couple of phone calls before he was needed in the OR.

* * *

An hour later, dressed in green scrubs and matching surgical gown with mask in place, he pushed through the OR doors. He had a meniscus repair to perform. It always troubled him that he was intelligent enough to do such delicate surgery but he still hadn’t been able to save Rachael.

His team was waiting for him. The patient was on the table with his left knee surrounded by blue sterile drapes.

Cody looked at Mark, the anesthesiologist.

“All set,” Mark confirmed, without being asked.

“Everyone ready?” Cody glanced around the table.

All eyes focused on him then a feminine voice from across the patient said, “Yes.”

His scrutiny fell on her. Dressed in the same surgical garb as he, all he could see of her was her enthralling green eyes. They were familiar but he didn’t know why. “And you are?”

“Stacey Ryder, your new clinical nurse specialist. I thought I’d stand in today and see your technique. It makes it easier to sound confident in front of the family when I’ve seen the doctor in action.”

Normally Cody would have met his replacement nurse before she started. Instead he had trusted the personnel department to handle it. His regular nurse would be out for a month, taking care of her aging mother after a surgery. He had just vetted this new one on paper, seeing she came with the highest recommendations. However, her straightforward approach hadn’t been noted.

There were suppressed murmurs behind the masks of his team members. Were they as shocked by her boldness as he? As a rule, the people he worked with didn’t use such an imperious tone with him.

Cody caught and held her attention. “You’re welcome to stay but don’t get in the way.”

“Understood, Doctor.”

Giving her a curt nod, he crisply announced, “Let’s get this tennis player back on the court.”

“Yes, sir,” Stacey Ryder quipped with a note of humor in her voice as if she had given him a mental salute. He narrowed his eyes. She didn’t blink.

Dismissing her, Cody looked at the knee, making sure it was the one he’d written his initials on. The patient’s leg already had a tourniquet in place and was secured to the table in a padded leg holder. Cody made a small incision to prepare for the diagnostic camera that would give him a view of the joint. He located the damaged meniscus and probed it with a tiny metal hook.

“This is going to be a pretty extensive repair. I hope no one has early lunch plans. Shaver.”

The surgical nurse handed the instrument to him. He trimmed the edges of the tear. “This isn’t going to be enough.”

“Why not?” his new clinical nurse asked.

“Because I’m not pleased with the blood flow.”

She looked at him. “So, what’re you going to do?”

He glared back at her. “Ms. Ryder, I don’t usually teach procedure during my operations.”

“I’m sure you don’t but I’d like to know enough to help the families understand and also save you time when you talk to them.”

Cody couldn’t fault her logic. “I’m going to make the lining bleed and then suture it together. First I need to make another incision to work through to do that.” As he did so, blood oozed into the field, making his visibility poor. Without him having to ask, Stacey used already prepared gauzes on forceps to wipe it away.

“We need to get that under control before I continue,” he stated. “I’m ready to suture.”

His surgical nurse handed him the equipment required.

“Nurse Ryder, I need you to keep the area clear while I work.”

“Yes, sir.” She replaced the gauze and dabbed the area.

Cody watched. “Good.” He worked the thread into a neat stitch.

“Doctor, since you seem to have improved your tying skills since this morning, I’m going to speak to the family now. They must be anxious.”

Cody frowned at her. Her eyes snapped with humor. That second he realized why he recognized those eyes. She was referring to his inability to tie Lizzy’s bow. They would have a talk about her OR decorum later. His voice tight with disapproval, he said, “Please tell the family I’ll be out to see them in soon.”

“Yes, sir.” She quietly left.

For some reason the room suddenly felt cooler.

* * *

Stacey was still sitting with the family when Dr. Brennan strolled into the waiting room with a smile on his face. She had to admit it was a nice one. For a while there, she hadn’t been sure if he knew how to form one. It was so congenial she was sure if he turned it on her, her stomach would flutter. Stacey wrinkled her nose. Why would she think that?

Had she overstepped in the OR when she’d teased him about “tying” his stitches? By the steely look in his eye she might well have. Sometimes her humor was misplaced. She was so used to working in laid-back, often difficult conditions where levity was required. This wasn’t one of those situations. In fact, this was the nicest, most upscale medical facility she’d ever been in.

When the director of the World Travel Nursing Agency had told her about her next assignment, she’d shared with Stacey information about the fabulous care given at the Maple Island Clinic. It turned out it was true, right down to the beautiful island and the top-notch physicians.

Dr. Brennan certainly knew his stuff. She’d seen enough good and bad surgeries on her journeys to recognize a surgeon with exceptional skills. Not just the abilities acquired through training and experience, but that special touch inherent in someone devoted to his patients’ welfare. Did that quality extend to other areas of his life?

He’d been great with his daughter, despite his charming ineptness with her bow. It probably came more from being in a hurry rather than incompetence. Something about Dr. Brennan’s manner made her believe he worked hard at being confident and competent in every aspect of his life. She also had the idea he was driven to keep any weakness or flaws well concealed.

“Here’s Dr. Brennan now,” Stacey said to the middle-aged mother of their patient seated beside her. Releasing her hand, Stacey stood. “I’m sure he can tell you more.”

Dr. Brennan had pulled a long white lab coat over his scrubs. His thick chestnut hair was still mussed from removing his surgical cap. She guessed he’d only run a hand through it because a lock hung over his forehead. The effect gave him a less polished look than he’d had that morning in front of the day care. Deciding she liked this version better, Stacey stepped out of his way.

He sat on the edge of the chair she had vacated and turned to the mother. “Your son’s doing very well and is in Recovery right now. He’ll be in some pain, but I promise we’re handling it. You’ll be able to see him in about an hour.”

“Oh, Dr. Brennan. Thank you for taking care of him. Do you think this’ll get him back on the tennis court?”

He nodded. “I have complete confidence it will. Now, why don’t you go get something to eat and meet him in his room?” He turned to Stacey. “Nurse, would you please direct his family to the room where Mr. Washington will be?”

Stacey wasn’t sure where that would be, but she’d find out somehow. She wasn’t about to make her ignorance of that detail obvious to him so she answered with confidence. “I’ll be glad to.”

His attention returned to Mrs. Washington and he placed a hand on her shoulder. “If you need anything, will you let me or Nurse—”

“Please make it Stacey.” She looked at the woman with warmth before giving Dr. Brennan a pointed stare.

A thin smile curved his lips and he nodded once before leaving the way he’d come.

Stacey settled the Washington family in the patient’s room before returning to the waiting room to speak to the family of Dr. Brennan’s next surgery patient. When she checked in with him during surgery he gave her a brief, concise pronouncement that the patient was doing as expected. She left with a “Thank you, Doctor.” Again, she was with the family when he came in to speak to them.

Finished he stood, stepped away from the group and said, “Stacey, may I speak to you a moment?”

A shiver of uncertainty went through her. Yep, she’d overstepped. “Yes, sir.”

In the hall, he slowed long enough to say, “I’ll be doing rounds in thirty minutes. Meet me at my office in ten. Do you know where that is?”

“I’ll find it.”

He nodded. She was quickly learning it was his signature acknowledgment.

Stacey made sure she was a minute early when she knocked on his door.

“Come in.”

His accent wasn’t the typical clipped, sharp, New Englander one. What was his story? It didn’t matter. She wouldn’t be around long enough to really get to know him, or anyone else well. Four short weeks didn’t leave much time to create friendships. That’s how she’d spent most of her life. She never stayed in one place long enough to get close to people and start caring about them on a personal level, on purpose. She made sure to leave before she could be left. If you cared you got hurt. She’d had enough of that in her life.

Early in life after her father had left and then again when her mother had divorced her second husband, she’d learned not caring meant that you didn’t feel pain. The ache had been so great when she’d been a child she never wanted it to happen again. She’d do anything to make that not occur, to the point of remaining distant. People disappointed her if she let them close enough. When her mother had brought home her third husband, Stacey hadn’t even bothered to call him by his real name. Instead she made up a name for him, one she could easily forget. She’d spent most of her time in her room.

The only permanent person in her life was her mother and Stacey hadn’t seen her in over a year. In fact, she was due for a visit that Stacey planned to make before she left for her next assignment in Ethiopia. As soon as this placement was done she would spend a couple of days with her mother then not bother again for another year. She couldn’t rely on her mother, who had always had her own screwed-up life to worry about. The one time Stacey had let her guard down and let someone get too close romantically, he had disappointed her as well. Once again her heart had been crushed.

She’d been engaged. Had believed she had found the guy who would treat her as if she were special, one who would always be there for her, share the family with her that she’d never had. Instead she’d found out he’d been cheating on her. Their life together had been over before it had even properly started. Once again she was of no value to anyone. She’d ended their relationship with one of the same ugly scenes she’d witnessed her mother having when one of her relationships had ended.

That’s when Stacey had decided seeing the world and devoting herself to professionally caring for people was safer than nurturing the terminally ill hope that someone would someday actually want her, see her as essential to their life. Now she didn’t stay in one place long enough to allow a bond to form beyond what was necessary. It was better, simpler, and easier on her heart that way.

Dr. Brennan, sitting behind his desk, raised his dark head, his eyes studying her. She was sure his intent scrutiny wasn’t missing a thing. That shrewdness must be part of the reason he was such a well-respected physician in his field. She had researched him on the internet before agreeing to the job.

“I want to apologize for my comment in the OR. That wasn’t the place to tease you.” She walked further into the room.

One of his brows rose slightly. “I’m not used to being teased, in or out of the OR.”

Oops. She had no doubt that was true.

“We need to get to rounds. The girls have dance practice this evening.”

Thankfully he’d changed the subject. “Girls? As in plural?”

Standing, he moved around the desk. “My daughters.”

He was tall, her head only reached to his shoulder. His large open office seemed small with him in it. She’d only seen one child that morning. But he had another.

“Lizzy has an older sister, Jean. She’s isn’t quite so demanding and is far more independent. She’d already gone into day care when you came along.” He twisted his lips. “And didn’t require a bow.”

Stacey grinned. There was affection in his voice when he spoke of his children. That alone made her admire him. She’d never heard that from a man while growing up. Mostly she’d just been in the way.

He led the way out the door.

Prone to chattering when she was nervous, Stacey said, “This is an amazing clinic. Nothing like what I’ve been working in while I was in South America.”

“Thanks. It was a real answer to our prayers. Alex and I created a great place to work while still giving our children and the staff a quality place to stay while we do that.” He stopped at a patient’s door. “This is Mrs. Fitzpatrick. She had her surgery a week ago.” Dr. Brennan was back in doctor mode as he knocked on the door.

At the sound of “Come in” they did, him leading the way.

A woman in her mid-sixties with vivid white hair cut in a fashionable style sat regally in a chair next to the windows. Across from her in a matching wingback was an older man, who complemented her appearance. They had the aura of wealth.

Stacey took a quick glance around the room. The bed alone said that the Maple Island Clinic was a cut above other medical facilities. It looked like a typical one that might be found in anybody’s bedroom, but she was pretty sure that beneath the floral spread it functioned like a hospital bed. The view beyond the windows was of a spring-green grassy area leading to ocean waves. Stacey could well understand why people would want to come here to recuperate.

“Hello, Dr. Brennan,” the woman said proudly. “I’ve been up and moving around today.”

“That’s good to hear.” He stepped closer.

The older man stood and the two men shook hands.

Dr. Brennan turned toward her. “Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick, this is my new nurse, Stacey Ryder.”

Smiling at them, she said, “Please call me Stacey.” Then she addressed the woman. “I understand you had a knee replacement.”

“I did. Thanks to Dr. Brennan I’ll finally be able to get on the floor with my grandkids.”

Stacey’s smile widened. Mrs. Fitzpatrick didn’t seem the type to want to do that, but now she could. “That’s great to hear.”

“I’d like to check your incision, if I may?” Dr. Brennan asked.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick pulled her right pants leg up over her knee. Dr. Brennan went down on his heels to examine it closely. “It looks good. Now let me see you bend it.”

The woman lifted it up and down. Stacey didn’t miss how her lips tightened, but she didn’t make a sound.

Dr. Brennan stood and put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m impressed. I can tell you’ve been working hard in physical therapy. I think you’re about ready to go home.”

Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s smile was a bright one. “That’s sooner than you had said.”

“It pays to be a good patient,” he responded, grinning.

Stacey enjoyed the moment. Dr. Brennan had a nice rapport with his patient. She hadn’t seen much of that in her work in medical facilities in developing countries. There the patients came and left the same day. None of the doctors, and certainly none of the temporary nurses, had an opportunity to really get to know the patients. It was lovely to see that personal interaction in this clinic but at the same time it made her uncomfortable. She wasn’t looking to become involved with anyone on any level.

Over the next few hours Stacey found out that Dr. Brennan’s bedside manner didn’t just extend to the Fitzpatricks. He treated all his patients with the same respect and concern. Each time they saw someone new he took the time to introduce Stacey, making her feel she was part of his team, significant. That was an odd thought.

They were passing through the activity room where the afternoon sun beamed in through the windows when a weathered man sitting at a table lifted a hand in acknowledgment.

“Hey, Salty. Good to see you,” Dr. Brennan greeted him.

“Who’s that with you?” Salty wanted to know.

“This is my new nurse. Stacey Ryder. Stacey, this is Salty, our local hero.”

Stacey couldn’t miss the pink spreading across the older man’s cheeks, the wrinkles that gathered beside his eyes and the straightening of his shoulders. “Aw, ’twas nothing. Anyone would have done it.” His gruff voice was filled with pride.

“Done what?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“We had a ferry accident a few months back. Salty went out in his boat and helped save people.”

“That sounds impressive.” And she was impressed.

Salty shrugged his shoulders. “Glad I could help.”

“We’ve got to be going. See you around.” Dr. Brennan strolled on through the area.

“Nice to meet you.” Stacey hurried to catch up with the long-legged doctor.

They hadn’t made it into the hall when Salty called, “Hey, Doc, find a good woman and you’ve found a jewel.”

Dr. Brennan raised a hand and kept walking. “Thanks. I’ll remember that.”

Stacey had seen the slight flinch of his shoulders before he’d waved off Salty’s unsolicited advice. “What was that about?”

“Nothing. Salty is always dishing out his idea of wisdom.”

Dr. Brennan didn’t appear to think that particular piece of advice was very impressive. Were he and his wife having trouble? Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with her and so was none of her concern.

A few minutes later as they walked out of a patient’s room a tall, sandy-blond man wearing a lab coat came toward them. “Hey, Cody. How’s it going?”

“Well. Your staff has done wonders with Mrs. Fitzpatrick.” Dr. Brennan passed her his hand computer on which he was making notes. “As uncooperative as she was before surgery, I’m impressed by how far she’s come in such a short time.”

“What can I say? We’re good!” The man chuckled, then gave her a questioning look. “Hi, I’m Alex Kirkland, your medical director.”

“I’m Stacey Ryder, Dr. Brennan’s temporary nurse.”

“That’s right, Marsha’s out taking care of her mother. Welcome. We’re glad to have you,” Dr. Kirkland said. “Feel free to call me Alex.”

She liked him. He wasn’t quite as stuffy as Dr. Brennan. “Alex. I’m glad to be here. Didn’t I read somewhere that it was you and Dr. Brennan who started this clinic?”

“Yeah, that was us.” Pride filled his voice.

An attractive woman with a riot of red hair headed their way with a bounce in her step. She called, “Hey, Alex, you have a minute?”

Alex’s eyes lit up before he turned. “I always do for you.”

“Aw, you do care.” She joined them.

Stacey suspected there was a deeper meaning to their greeting by the way Alex lightly touched her elbow to direct her attention to Stacey.

“Maggie, this is Stacey Ryder, Cody’s clinical nurse for the next few weeks.”

Maggie extended her hand. “Maggie Green, one of the physiotherapists around here. I specialize in hydro and equine therapy. Glad to have you. I hope you enjoy your stay.” She turned to Alex. “I hate to drag you away but I need to talk to you about one of the twins for a sec.”

Alex shrugged. “Duty calls. Good to have you, Stacey. Don’t let Cody overwork you while you’re here.” He followed Maggie down the hall toward the hydro area.

Stacey looked at Cody “She seems like fun.”

“That’s not what Alex thought for a while. Now he’d agree with you.”

They continued down the hall.

Uncharacteristic curiosity had gotten the better of her and Stacey had researched the founding of the clinic. After meeting a few people, she’d already figured out the internet didn’t tell the entire story of Maple Island Clinic. Doing the research in person with one of the founders, especially a particularly handsome one, was an invitation to get personal. Taking a breath for courage, Stacey asked, “So how did you and Alex decide you wanted to start this facility? By your accents you don’t come from the same part of the country.”

He looked at her for a moment as if he was deciding whether or not to answer. “We don’t. We met at a conference. Single guys with childcare issues in common. Next thing I knew we were coming up with this clinic idea.” He turned the corner and started down another hall. “I’m originally from California.”

“That makes sense. One coast for another.” That seemed a pretty dramatic move for a specialty surgeon of Brennan’s caliber. Was there more to it than a chance meeting at a conference? Had something else pushed him into the move? She shouldn’t pry further yet she couldn’t stop herself. “Was that a hard sell to your family?”

“No. The girls were so small they were good with it.”

“Your wife?” Stacey winced silently. She had already asked too many questions.

“She was already out of the picture.” His words were flat and final.

Stacey let go a private sigh of relief. He’d closed the door on that subject, slammed it shut.

They walked back to his office in silence. There he said, “I’ll see you in surgery at six in the morning.” Then he literally closed the door in her face.

So much for Mr. Charming.

CHAPTER TWO

TWO DAYS LATER Cody picked up the girls from dance practice. It wasn’t his favorite night of the week because it was always so busy. To make it less stressful he usually took them out to dinner. Tonight they were going to Brady’s Bistro and Bakery for pizza. They all loved the thin slices and best of all he didn’t have to cook.

As often as possible he tried to give the girls nutritious meals. He was trying to make up for the time when they hadn’t had them. By the end of his marriage, Rachael hadn’t cared enough to prepare meals. Every cent she’d been able to get her hands on had gone toward her next fix.

Cody had promised himself that his girls would have home-cooked, locally grown, wholesome food as much as possible. For the most part he’d managed to achieve that. Still, it was nice to get out of the kitchen and concentrate on having more quality time with his kids.

He held the door to the bistro open. The place was full, noisy with the sounds of talking, laughter and dishes rattling. He looked around the space with its red chrome tabletops and yellow chairs covered in plastic. The black and white tile floors added to the fifties vibe.

With a moan and a hunger pang, he resigned himself to the fact they would have to wait. He scanned the dining area with irritation. It wouldn’t be a short wait. Stepping to the left a pace, he searched again. There was a booth with some empty seats. Looking closer, he saw Stacey sitting in one corner of it.

The thought that it wasn’t a good idea to join her was interrupted by Jean’s plaintive announcement, “I’m hungry.”

Cody drew a fortifying breath for reasons he couldn’t put a finger on. They had worked well together over the last few days. Stacey had a great rapport with the patients, could anticipate many of the things he needed done, and she took direction without complaint. Most of all she was friendly and always wore a smile. So why did he have an issue with her? Could it be he found her attractive and that made him uncomfortable? Even if that was the cause of his hesitation, he had an immediate problem to solve that overrode his feelings.

“This way, girls.” He weaved between the tables, glancing back to make sure they were following.

When he reached Stacey’s table she looked up in surprise. “Dr. Brennan.”

“Hey, do you mind if we join you? There don’t seem to be any more seats and the girls are very hungry.”

“Please do.” She waved her hand toward the open places and smiled at the girls.

“Daddy, do you know her?” Jean asked in a suspicious tone.

Lizzy gave Stacey a look of wonder. Finally, she burst out with, “You’re the woman who fixed my bow.”

Stacey smiled. “Yes, I am. You’re Lizzy, right?”

His younger daughter bobbed her head up and down.

“Yes, I know her,” he said to Jean, then looked at Stacey. “And this is Jean.” He placed a hand on his other daughter’s shoulder.

Jean gave Stacey the sulky look that had become her standard greeting to unknown women. His elder daughter was having the most difficulty with the loss of her mother. She could remember Rachael being a part of their lives, but had been too young to understand her mother’s problems.

“Hey,” Jean said belatedly, with zero enthusiasm.

“Hi, Jean. It’s nice to meet you.” Stacey gave her an encouraging smile. “I work with Dr. Brennan...uh...your father. Why don’t you sit over here beside me?” She patted the bench beside her.

Jean offered her father a doubtful look. He nodded and gave her a light nudge of encouragement. Jean slid in beside Stacey. He said to her, “And you can call me Cody.”

Stacey instantly produced the smile that made him want to return one. “Cody it is.”

He appreciated the way she pronounced his name, as if it were a sweet she was tasting for the first time and finding she liked it.

“You go first,” Lizzy said, leaving Cody no choice but to scoot in until he faced Stacey. His knees bumped hers. Their looks caught. “Sorry.”

“No problem.”

His fascination with Stacey’s green eyes was broken when Lizzy scrambled into her spot beside him.

The awkwardness he was experiencing disappeared when Brigid Brady, their waitress today, walked up to the table. “Hi, Jean and Lizzy. Cody.”

Her look lingered on him a little longer than mere politeness allowed, much to his annoyance. More than once she’d made unmistakable overtures. He wasn’t interested in a relationship with her now or even later. He glanced at Stacey. She watched them with a quizzical smile. No, she definitely hadn’t missed Brigid’s extra attention.

“Uh... Brigid, we’d like a medium pepperoni and cheese pizza.” His gaze returned to Stacey. “I’m sorry. Have you already ordered?”

“No. But pizza sounds good.”

“Then make that a large,” he said to Brigid. “And four sodas.” He looked at Stacey again.

“That work for you?”

“It does.”

“It’ll be out in a few minutes,” Brigid said with a huff of disgust in her voice.

As she left a soft chuckle came from across the table. “Charming in and out of the OR, I see.”

He twisted the corner of his mouth and shrugged.

Her attention went to Jean. “I heard you’re a dancer.”

“I take dancing. I’m not very good, though.” Jean stared at the tabletop.

“I take it too,” Lizzy proudly announced.

Stacey acknowledged her with a look of wide-eyed wonderment and asked, “You’re a dancer too? Awesome!”

Stacey’s focus was completely on his girls and it was genuine. They needed that in their lives. Their mother had never been there for them. The few women he’d had anything to do with in the years since his divorce had been more one-night stands than anything. He certainly had not brought them home to meet his daughters.

“That’s great. I never had a chance to learn.” Stacey leaned toward them as if enthralled with what Jean and Lizzy were telling her.

“Why not?” Lizzy asked, but Jean appeared uninterested.

“I moved around a lot and my mother didn’t put me in any classes.”

“You could come to ours,” Lizzy offered so emphatically that Cody couldn’t help but chuckle. The action felt good. He could only imagine Stacey in an eight and under class of girls in tutus.

“I think that would be fun but I don’t think I’ll be on Maple Island long enough to take lessons now either.” Stacey hadn’t taken her eyes off the girls, especially Jean.

“Where’re you going?” Jean asked, frowning at the tabletop.

“In a few weeks I’ll be going to Ethiopia after a quick stop to visit my mother for a couple of days.”

Jean sat straighter in her chair. “Ethiopia. We’ve been studying about that country in geography. It’s in Africa, isn’t it? That’s a long way away.”

For once his oldest was engaged in the conversation. Stacey had a carefree manner about her. That unique congeniality came from living life on the move with the ease of the wind. Her life was a complete contrast to his. Still, he liked her ability to interact with people as if she’d known them forever. He’d seen her use that skill with his patients and now with his girls. She never treated people as though they were strangers. That was a talent to admire.

“It is, but I’m looking forward to going,” Stacey said.

“Why?” Lizzy asked.

“Because I’ll get to help lots of boys and girls.”

“How?” Jean wanted to know, finally turning to study Stacey’s face.

“I’m a nurse. So I’ll help them feel better.”

Jean lowered her gaze again but stopped short of the table surface. With a tentative touch, she fingered the wooden bead bracelet on Stacey’s wrist.

“You like it? It’s from Bolivia.”

“Boo-liver-a,” Lizzy said.

He and Stacey tried not to laugh.

“Bo-li-via,” Stacey said slowly. “It’s in South America.” She turned back to Jean. “A girl about your age made it for me.” She took it off and handed it to Jean. “You can have it. I bet she’d like to know that a girl in America is wearing it.”

Jean looked at her father in silent question. He nodded. “If Stacey says it’s okay.”

“It is. I don’t get to wear it enough. If you have it, Jean, I’ll know it’ll be cared for.”

“Thank you.” Jean’s words were almost inaudible as she placed the bracelet on her slim wrist.

Stacey continued patiently engaging his girls in conversation until the drinks and pizza arrived.

“I hope you didn’t feel forced into eating this just because it was what we were having.” Cody put a slice on each of the girl’s plates.

“Not at all. I don’t always get pizza in the places I go.” Stacey gave Jean and Lizzy a conspiratorial look. “I have to fill up when I have a chance.” They nodded in simultaneous agreement.

Cody asked the girls what they’d done today, particularly how school had gone.

“I thought you stayed in the day care,” Stacey said.

“We do,” both replied at the same time.

“They go there before school opens, and then are transported to school and back again when school finishes.” Cody took a bite of his pizza.

“Nice and convenient.” Stacey pulled a second slice from the pizza sheet. Cheese strung out, breaking as she turned its triangle edge into her mouth.

Cody held his breath as the cheese landed on her chin. “That was the plan when Alex and I came up with the idea. So far it has worked out great.”

“You have cheese on your chin,” Jean pointed out.

“I do?” Stacey wiped her napkin across her cheek.

Lizzy yelped. “It’s still there.”

Stacey dabbed the napkin over her face again.

“You didn’t get it.” Lizzy giggled.

“Here, let me help.” Cody reached across the table with his napkin in hand. As he removed the cheese, his gaze rose to find Stacey watching him. Her eyes were a forest green, and there was a twinkle in them. They looked like an inviting place where he could go and forget his cares.

“Hey, Daddy. Can we go get an ice cream?” Jean asked, dropping a crust on her plate.

Jerked back to reality, Cody quickly returned his hand to his side of the table. “Yeah, sure,” he said before he’d thought about it.

“Yay,” both girls yelled.

He put a finger to his mouth. “Shush. Not so loud. We’re inside.”

“You want to go with us?” Jean asked as she and Lizzy turned to Stacey.

She looked at him briefly. He did his best not to react one way or another but he didn’t think that was a good idea. For him or the girls.

Finally, Stacey said, “I don’t believe so this time. I’ve had too much pizza. Maybe next time.”

To his amazement, Jean looked as disappointed as he felt. Why? he questioned himself on both accounts. Stacey had managed to forge some kind of relationship with his elder daughter who normally didn’t warm up to strangers, especially female ones. So, what was it about Stacey that had him and Jean doing and saying things they didn’t ordinarily do?

He paid for their meal despite Stacey arguing that she needed to cover her share. “Because of you we didn’t have to wait to eat. The least I can do is get your meal.”

“Thank you, then.”

They were exiting the bistro when Jean pointed out the poster about the island’s Founder’s Day Weekend taped to the glass window. “Daddy, Fleur has been teaching us dances at day care. She wants us to do them on Saturday of Founder’s Day Weekend. We have to have costumes.”

“Costumes. That sounds like fun. I love to dress up,” Stacey commented as she held the door open for the girls to exit.

Cody almost groaned out loud. Putting together costumes was his least favorite thing to do. Imagination wasn’t his strong suit. They’d had to have outfits for the library’s Fright Night a couple of months back. They had gone as trolls only because those had been the only costumes he could find in the store. He believed he should at least be allowed a full year before he had to come up with more. The side of his brain he used most held facts and numbers. He had to stretch to the other to be creative and inventive. Hopefully, Fleur, a recent patient and now the soon-to-be wife of Rick Fleming, a doctor at the clinic, would provide some guidelines or ideas.

They were out on the sidewalk when Stacey asked, “Founder’s Day Weekend. What’s that?”

“It’s so much fun,” Lizzy said, hopping with anticipation. “I like the pony rides.”

Cody rubbed the top of his younger daughter’s head and chuckled. “You like anything that has to do with a pony.” He regarded Stacey. “We celebrate the settling of the island. The story goes that after a long and very hard winter a few early settlers traveled from the mainland over to the island, seeking food. They found the maple trees and tapped them. The maple syrup helped restore the strength of the people. No one really knows whether it is true or not, but we remember those early settlers and focus on maple syrup by having a Founder’s Day Weekend. With all the trimmings—food, entertainment and fireworks. Everyone turns out for the event.”

“I’ve never been to a Founder’s Day anywhere,” Stacey said.

“You’ll come see us dance?” Lizzy stopped twisting to and fro long enough to ask.

“Of course I will.” Stacey assured her. “If I am still here.”

Jean and Lizzy grinned from ear to ear.

“Well, we’d better be going. Thanks again for sharing your table with us.” He was uneasy on some level with what was happening between Stacey and his girls, as well as his reaction to her. The whole meal had seemed far too family-like for his comfort.

“No problem. I’ll see you in the morning. Bye, Jean and Lizzy.” Stacey glanced back at him as she turned. “Thanks again for the pizza.”

He nodded. She lifted a hand and strolled away, looking in shop windows as she went. Why did he feel some of the pleasure in the evening was walking away from them?

* * *

Two days later, Stacey fixed a cup of hot chocolate in the employees’ kitchen and pulled on her sweater. She loved the ocean and didn’t always get an assignment near one, so she planned to take her afternoon break on the sundeck.

She eased into a chair. Being early April, the days were still cool. Raising her face to the sun, she closed her eyes. She’d been at the clinic for almost a week already. To her surprise she’d relished every minute of it. After living in little more than huts most of her professional life, she enjoyed staying in the tiny cottage called Paradise, facing the harbor. It was a slice of heaven. The village was pretty and she was slowly working her way through all the eating places. People were friendly and she was at ease here. She would miss it when she left.

Inhaling the damp salt air deeply, she released it slowly. The seagulls squawked nearby as the waves rolled in. Oh, yes, this was a great place to recharge her batteries. She needed this downtime in her life. This would be her first weekend on the island and she planned to do more of this.

A hand touched her arm. Her eyes jerked open. Cody’s dark coffee gaze looked down at her. Determination, along with a touch of something else, etched his features.

“I’ve been searching everywhere for you. I need you to come with me.”

She’d been so absorbed in her thoughts she’d not heard either him approaching or apparently her phone ringing.

“Where’re we going?” She thought through the fog of surprise and tried not to react to his touch, which had left her forearm tingling, tiny hairs raised by goose-bumps. Her reaction to him had to stop. She was too old for a crush.

“Boston. We have an emergency. I need you at the helipad in ten.” He was already walking away.

Stacey rushed into the clinic behind him. She spoke to his back when she asked, “Do I need to prepare a bag, take anything?”

“They’ll have everything we need there. I’ll see you at the pad. I have to check on the girls.”

She was waiting at the helicopter pad when Cody arrived. His lips were moving rapidly as he spoke into his phone. A furrow creased his forehead. The blades of the machine were already humming as they climbed aboard. She was a nervous flier. She gulped and climbed aboard. A high level of trepidation zipped through her.

She fumbled with her seatbelt. Cody reached over and clipped it into place. She gave him a weak smile. “Thanks.”

He cupped his ear, shook his head and mouthed, “Use headphones,” then pointed to them hanging above her.

Stacey placed them on her head.

“This the first time you’ve ever been in a helicopter?” He spoke through the headpiece.

She looked at him and nodded. Over the years she’d ridden in jeeps and in the back of trucks over rutted, washed-out roads, and once in a small plane, which she hadn’t liked any better than the helicopter. Apparently, her fear was showing.

“There’s a button on your headphones just above your right ear. Push it when you talk and release it so you can hear me.”

She found the button and did as he instructed. “You can hear me now?”

“I can.”

The helicopter shifted, and the wind swooshed before the machine started to lift. Her hands gripped the edge of the seat as she stared out the front windshield. Seconds later her right hand was prised off the seat. Cody took it in his, holding it. His hand was large, enveloping hers and radiating a promise that he was there for her. Unsure what was more disconcerting, Cody holding her hand or the flight, she gripped his fingers tightly like the lifeline they were.

She dared to glance at him. His eyes were intently focused forward. Was he already envisioning the surgery ahead of him? She’d gotten to know many of his facial expressions over the last few days. More than once she had seen those worry lines on his brow, the twinkle in his eyes when he talked about his girls and the rare but always breathtaking event when he laughed. Which happened usually when he was talking to Alex.

She relaxed somewhat and Cody released her hand. Her growing security was gone. Placing fisted hands in her lap, she looked out the side window. The view of the island was amazing. It was green, a luscious ornament in the middle of a vibrant blue dotted with tiny spots of white.

As they sped out over the water she peeked at Cody again. He looked much as he had earlier. It was as if he were somewhere else. Her attention moved to the approaching coastline. The tall ship moored in Boston harbor was clearly visible along with a few of the historical buildings. They flew by them and over the modern structures. Suddenly the helicopter went into hover mode.

Panic tightened her chest. As she reached for the edge of her seat Cody took hold of her hand once more. Gratefully she clung to it.

There was a crackle in her headset before his voice fill her ears. “The take-off and landing are always the worst.”

She gave him what she hoped was a look of gratitude, but she worried that her actual expression appeared pained. Not soon enough for her, the helicopter settled on the top of what she assumed was the hospital. Too soon Cody let go of her hand. With his simple action he had shown more awareness of her needs than her mother or fiancé ever had.

He climbed out of the helicopter and stopped long enough to help her down. After they were out from under the blades, he was on the phone. His questions were clipped and his responses short.

Soon they were on the elevator, going down.

Cody leaned against the opposite wall from her as they rode. “Our case is a seventeen-year-old boy involved in a car accident. His knee has been crushed and both his tibia and fibula are broken. When the general surgeon is done with some internal injuries I’ll get to work. To add to the trickiness of the surgery, the boy is the son of a state senator. I understand the kid was running from the police when the accident happened so make sure you don’t speak out of turn to anyone. The family should be in a private waiting room. I’ll talk to them before I go into the OR.”

“I understand.” She had no experience dealing with high-profile cases, but she had no intention of disappointing Cody.

She hurried to keep up as he took long strides toward the surgery department. She waited to the side while he quietly conferred with another doctor. Done, Cody stepped to the hallway door. He said to her, “This way.”

They walked down the hall side by side. Soon they came to a closed door. He opened it and she followed him through. Inside was a room with cushioned chairs that didn’t match. She was sure they had been pulled from various places. People in suits sat and stood, all talking on phones.

“Mr. and Mrs. Clark?” Cody said, loud enough so he could be heard over the din.

“I’m Mr. Clark.” A man with graying temples stepped toward them. “This is my wife. Senator Ann Clark.”

A woman with a stately bearing and bloodshot eyes rose from the chair in the corner.

Cody stepped forward and offered his hand. “Senator Clark, I’m Dr. Cody Brennan. I’ll be taking care of your son’s knee and leg.”

She nodded. “I understand you’re the best at this type of surgery.”

“I’ll certainly be doing my best for your son.”

“His name is James.” The senator leaned against her husband.

“This is Stacey Ryder, my clinical nurse. She’ll be keeping you updated on how things are going in surgery. If you have any questions or concerns you let her know.”

Stacey nodded and gave the parents a professional smile of reassurance.

“How long should James be in there?” The senator sniffled. “It’s already been hours.”

Cody’s grave look didn’t waver. “My guess is it’ll be after midnight before you can see James. Now I have to go. I’ll be out to speak to you as soon as I’m done in the OR.”

The terrified parents just stared at him hopefully.

Cody lifted his chin toward the door. Stacey followed him out.

“I’ll show you the OR I’m using. Sit with them for a few minutes then come check in with me. I want to give them as much reassurance as possible. Based on what I’ve been told over the phone, the surgery is going to be a tough one.”

They entered the surgical unit. Cody was greeted by a couple of people in surgical scrubs. At the OR unit desk he introduced her to the clerk. While they were there a man hurried up to them. Again, Cody introduced her. It was nice he remembered to do so because it would have been easy for him to get caught up in the case and forget she was there. It made her feel valued. The man was the surgeon’s assistant who would be aiding Cody.

The two men went into a deep discussion about the amount of damage to the boy’s leg.

Cody finished with, “Then we’ll plan to stabilize everything tonight and go in again in a day or two to complete the repair. The swelling needs to go down and James needs to be stable first.”

“The general surgeon should be through in about fifteen minutes. They’ll be ready for you then.” His surgical assistant was already headed down the hall.

“Sounds good. That’ll give me time for something to drink and a granola bar.”

The striding assistant called over his shoulder, “The dinner of champions.”

Cody looked at her. “Come join me?”

Stacey followed him to a small break room a few doors down containing a couple of vending machines.

“May I offer you dinner?” Cody waved his hand toward the machines. She couldn’t help but smile at his levity. “I suggest you have something. It’ll be a long night.” He pulled some bills out of his pocket and looked at them.

Stacey had left the island without even thinking about getting her purse. She was at his mercy in more ways than one. “My, Doctor, you do know how to turn a girl’s head with a meal.” She tried for her best nineteen-forties seductive-movie-star voice.

He looked over his shoulder and gave her a dry smile. “I’ll try to do better in the future.”

“In that case, for now I’ll have a protein bar and a bottle of water, please.”

Cody nodded. “Good choice. I’ll have the same.” He fed money into the slot.

With their food in hand, they sat at a small table with only two chairs.

“Are you sure this meager fare will be enough to get you through surgery?” She didn’t hide her concern. When had she taken on worrying about him? Surely it was just one human being feeling concern about another and not something more.

Chewing, he studied her a moment. “I’ve gone on far less.”

“I’m sure that isn’t healthy.”

“Maybe not, but necessary sometimes.” He took a long draw on his water. She watched his throat as it went down. A day’s worth of beard growth gave him a sexy edgy look. A little less buttoned up and more uninhibited. She liked it. He needed to let go somewhat.

“Is something wrong?” He stared her back to reality.

“Uh...nothing. Just thinking.” To her dismay, her cheeks grew warm.

“About what?” Cody watched her much too closely.

Yeah, like she would admit she’d been thinking about how sexy he was. Her eyes didn’t meet his as she spoke. “I was just wondering about who’s watching the girls.” That was such a lie.

Cody gave her a suspicious look as if he suspected she hadn’t spoken the truth. “When Alex and I set up the clinic we knew we would have to occasionally be away for emergencies, so we set up an after-hours plan through the day care. Someone who works there is always on call. That person will come to my home and make sure the girls are taken care of. Even see they get to school. Because the girls are familiar with the person, they don’t usually mind.”

Stacey pursed her lips in thought, seriously impressed with such planning. “Nice thinking. Maple Island Clinic is really special.”

“Thanks. We tried to think of everything.” He shrugged. “If we didn’t, we’ve figured it out as we’ve gone along.” Cody stood. “I’ve got to head to surgery.”

She needed to check in with James’s parents.

“Just ask the unit clerk for anything you need. Give me half an hour to assess what I’ll have to do, then you can come and get a report.”

“Will do.”

He gave her a wry smile and went out the door.

* * *

Cody was in the process of resecting the damaged skin when one of the surgical nurses said, “Doctor, I’m not feeling well.” She ran for the door.

“Get some help in here!” He already had his hands full with the mangled leg and now he was short a nurse.

Another nurse in the room said, “At this time of night we’ll have to call someone in.”

“I need those hands now.” The case was tough enough without this issue.

The ill nurse hadn’t been gone a minute when the phone rang. No one could stop long enough to answer it. A few minutes later, with a mask over her mouth, Stacey stuck her head in the door.

“Dr. Brennan—”

“Scrub in. I need you in here,” he barked, not even taking the time to look at her.

The door closed and a short time later Stacey entered. “Where do you want me?”

“Stand beside me. I need you to resect and clean the blood away so I can see.” He had no more time to give directions. If any more tissue was lost then the boy would require skin grafts.

“Little to the left, Stacey. That’s right.”

As they worked he noted that he had to give her fewer instructions. Stacey anticipated his next move. “All right, let’s get these bone splinters out of here.”

His surgical nurse held a metal bowl as he picked bone pieces from the muscle.

“That looks like all of it.” Now he could start trying to repair the jumbled mess.

“Doctor, I think I saw one more.” Stacey pointed to a spot and dabbed it with gauze.

“Where?” He searched the area. “Ah, got it. Nice catch, Stacey.”

She cleared the area again while he used the tweezers to remove the sliver before blood covered it again. “Excellent. Now, let’s get this boy’s leg pieced together.”

Everyone worked patiently and efficiently over the next few hours arranging veins, ligaments and putting screws into bones as they put the human puzzle back together.

It was almost morning when he, Stacey and the other staff walked out of the OR. Cody pulled his surgical gown and hat off, dropping them into the cloth bin beside the door. He was acquainted with tough surgery but this one had definitely been in the top three he’d ever done. The boy had damaged his leg almost to the point of no return. He would have additional surgeries ahead of him, painful rehabilitation and a limp.

“Job well done, all.” He turned to Stacey. “Nice work in there. How much surgical training have you had?”

“Very little.”

She sounded exhausted but there had been no complaints from her. She’d done what needed doing without question. He couldn’t have been prouder of the work they’d accomplished.

Stacey stripped off her surgical clothes in record time and was headed out the door. “I need to speak to the parents. They must be crazy with worry since I just disappeared on them.”

Cody hadn’t thought of that. “Please tell them I’ll be right out.”

* * *

Hours later he and Stacey were standing at the ferry port, watching the vessel dock.

“I’m sorry the helicopter couldn’t come get us. It’s out, bringing one of Rafael’s patients in.” Cody watched the water froth as the ferry, its massive engines rumbling, eased beside the dock.

Stacey shrugged. “Part of the price of living on an island is living by the ferry schedule. It’s better than swimming.”

Cody chortled deep in his chest. “That I can agree with. Especially since the water isn’t all that warm here. And it’s too early and too far for a morning swim.”

“I like the beach but I’m too darned tired to enjoy it today. All I want is my bed.” She stepped onto the ferry.

“I couldn’t agree more.” He was by her side once more. “You were good in the OR and with the senator as well. What’s a nurse with those skills doing traipsing around the world?” As a general rule he didn’t ask women personal questions, but for some reason he wanted to know more about this one, who was such an enigma. The need to learn what made her tick was beyond his control.

“Much the same thing as here, nursing.”

Something in her tone, or lack of it, made him believe there was more to it than that. “But why the traveling part?”

Her slight frown suggested she was reluctant to answer yet she lifted a shoulder nonchalantly. “With a mother who has been married three times and is currently working on her fourth, I never really lived in one place very long. Being a traveling nurse was just an extension of that. It also gives me a chance to do all types of nursing in innumerable types of circumstances.”

She was about going from one place to another, whereas he was about staying put. He wanted stability and calm in his life. He already knew what it was like to live daily with the anxiety of uncertainty. He pressed his lips together. Was Stacey’s reluctance to settle down generated by fear as well?

They made their way inside to one of the bench seats. The engines rumbled as the ferry pulled away from the port. The sky was an orange pink over Maple Island, making it appear on fire. The best thing he’d ever done had been to move to the island. “So on-the-job training gave you those surgical skills.”

She yawned behind the back of her hand. “Yes, even in developing countries a general practitioner will do major surgery if it’s in the right place at the right time.” She gave him a pensive look. “I know the clinic is great and all, but to move all the way from California seems a little extreme.”

She’d deliberately changed the subject. Did she not want to talk about herself? He sure didn’t. “Yeah, but it was a necessary one.”

“How’s that?”

Now he was the one hesitant to answer. But she’d responded to his difficult question so it was only fair that he do the same. “I’d gone through an ugly divorce and the girls and I needed to start over. Have a change.” He leaned back, trying to get as comfortable as possible on the hard bench.

“Their mother didn’t care that you took them so far away?” She watched him with disconcerting intensity.

He shrugged, trying to appear as uncaring as possible. “It didn’t matter. She’s no longer in their lives.”

Stacey covered another yawn. “I see.”

Cody doubted that she did, but he wasn’t going into it any further.

“I don’t want to be rude but I’ve got to close my eyes for a few minutes.”

He stretched his legs out and crossed them at the ankles. “Not rude at all. It was a long night.”

The ferry gently rocked. In minutes Stacey’s breathing turned even. When her head tipped forward Cody put his arm around her shoulder and brought her to him. Her head rested on his chest. It had been a long time since he’d held a sleeping woman. Unable to resist, he brushed his cheek against her hair. It was as soft as it looked and smelled faintly of the peaches he remembered.

She murmured, shifted toward him then settled.

Cody closed his eyes. It seemed only seconds later the push of hands on his chest woke him.

Stacey’s eyes were wide and her hair wild as she stared at him in alarm. She had such expressive eyes. Cody couldn’t imagine her telling a convincing lie.

“I’m sorry I went to sleep on you. I hope I didn’t drool on you.” She brushed at his chest, the tips of her fingers leaving hot spots through the fabric of his shirt.

He grinned. “I didn’t mind. Your head was bobbing, and I felt sorry for you. Especially after I’d already woke you once today...uh...yesterday. I didn’t want to do it again.”

“I wasn’t asleep on the deck. I was thinking. Enjoying the sunshine.” She stretched, showing a hint of skin at her waist before she tugged at her clothes, adjusting them.

His body reacted in ways that had been dormant for far too long. This was his nurse. He had no business ogling her. He couldn’t help himself, though. Something about Stacey made his blood warm. He grinned. “Looked like sleeping on the job to me.”

She stood over him, her hands on her hips. “I do not sleep on the job. Ever.”

He winked at her. Even after a long night Stacey looked amazing. She had a knack for making him smile. There was a brightness to her that somehow made life look sunnier. He wanted to capture that. Hold it close. He reached for her but stopped himself, letting his hand fall to his thigh. “I was just kidding.”

Kidding. He wasn’t a kidder. What was she doing to him?

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