AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know.” Raine paused. “Thank you for taking care of me. And not judging me for loving Liam and Hammer.”
“It’s not my place.”
“Not everyone here has been as understanding.”
Raine probably meant Kathryn. The nurse specialist disliked any other woman who snagged an attractive man’s attention. She would especially sniff her delicate nose at one who had two hot, successful-looking men seemingly wrapped around her finger.
Heavenly took Raine’s hand in a tentative hold. “Life isn’t always easy. If you’re happy, what other people think shouldn’t matter.”
The black-haired beauty gave the brightest smile she could muster. “You’re right. So…what do you think of Beck? He’s very single.”
Heavenly blinked. Raine was…matchmaking?
He’s gorgeous, he’s smart, and he makes me hot all over. “He’s been very kind.”
“Really?” Raine sounded surprised. “Has he asked you out?”
“No.” And Heavenly wished he would. “We just work together.”
“Right…” Raine sounded as if she didn’t believe a word. “And what about Seth?”
Heavenly couldn’t stop herself from blushing. “He’s very thoughtful. And flirty.”
Raine’s smile widened. “I know he asked you out.”
How did she know that? Was Raine trying to pair her with Dr. Beckman or Seth? Or…both? Surely she didn’t imagine everyone would be able to balance her sort of unconventional relationship. Heck, Heavenly didn’t have the time—or experience—to juggle one man, much less two.
She neither confirmed nor denied Raine’s question. “He and the doctor don’t seem to like each other much.”
Raine reared back in surprise. “Hmm, I’ve never seen them not get along. But now that you mention it, Beck didn’t seem thrilled Seth had given you that basket. And I take it Seth has said or done something that makes you think he doesn’t like Beck?”
“A few minutes ago,” she blurted, then bit her tongue. She wasn’t a tattletale or a gossip. “Maybe they’re just having a bad day. I shouldn’t say anything. They’ve both been very nice.”
“Nice? Oh, my god…” Raine shook her head as if she found that reply somewhere between interesting and comical. “If I wanted to see you again when I’m feeling better—you know, to say thank you for your kindness—how could I get in touch with you?”
Heavenly hesitated. Not only had she not dated during her teen years, she’d missed out on friendships. After she and her father had left the farm, she’d lost touch with the girls she’d been close to as a child. Making new friends in a new city had been intimidating. But here Raine was, offering her a bit of girl time.
Impulsively, Heavenly jotted her number down on a scrap of paper. “Here you go. I’m slammed most weekdays, but I can try to slip free on a weekend or something.”
Before Raine could reply, Dr. Beckman appeared in the doorway again with a fifty-something nurse pushing a wheelchair. “Time to go, princess. Before Liam and Hammer tear apart the entrance waiting for you.”
The other woman nodded, looking not just relieved to be leaving here but truly happy. She turned to Heavenly, scrap of paper in her hand. “I’ll call you.”
The doctor glanced between the two of them. Then his eyes narrowed. “Raine…”
She didn’t seem put off by the warning in his voice at all. In fact, she stuck her tongue out at him. “See you later, Beck!”
With that, the older nurse rolled Raine away. Then Dr. Beckman turned all his scrutiny on her. His stare made her heart flutter.
She grabbed her basket of goodies and skittered past him. “Excuse me, Doctor.”
After a successful valve replacement the following Tuesday, Beck strode into the hospital cafeteria for a drive-by at the sandwich counter. Before he could grab and go, he felt a familiar prickle at the back of his neck. Kathryn was eyeing him. Again. In fact, most of her desperate posse would jump him if he stood still long enough. He kept walking, refusing to acknowledge them.
“Dr. Beckman,” Nurse Hitch called.
He gave Kathryn a vague, non-encouraging wave. She sent him a come-hither stare, crooking her finger at him. Beside her sat Marcella, who had slipped her phone number into his shirt pocket just last week while squeezing his biceps and giggling.
Beck rolled his eyes. These two needed to get their man-eating vaginas under control.
Jennifer, seated next to Marcella, had never seemed interested in anything except good patient care. He wished she’d teach the others to be professional.
“Join us, Doctor.” Kathryn inched to the edge of her chair, wriggling like she was having an X-rated fantasy. “It’s crowded, but you can share my seat.”
“Or mine,” Marcella piped up with suddenly visible cleavage. “It’ll be cozy.”
Or disease laden. A number of men had occupied their “seats,” according to hospital gossip.
“No, thanks.” If administrators, visitors, and fellow staff weren’t watching, he’d tell them exactly where they could go. “Too busy.”
He turned away, gauging the number of steps between his sandwich and the exit. Then he spotted Heavenly sitting alone at the back of the room, staring into a paper cup.
