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I groaned and shook my head. “It’s probably all my fault since this is my last shift before eight days off. Of course, we’re going to be super busy.”
“We’ve gotta wear you out properly before you enjoy your time off.” Cindy grinned at me. “Do you have any big plans?”
I returned her smile as I thought about how relaxing the next week would be for me. “Nope, I’m just going to spend some time at the beach after catching up on sleep, cleaning, and errands.”
I glanced down at the carry-out coffee mug next to the computer at the nurses’ station and wasn’t too surprised to see my name written on the side of it. I was the youngest nurse on the team, but it hadn’t taken me long to fit in with my co-workers. Bonds were quickly formed when you worked twelve-hour shifts together doing a job with emotional highs and lows. We depended on each other and brought babies into the world. “Did you see who left this here for me?”
Cindy shook her head and shrugged. “No, but it was probably Stephanie. You know how fanatical she is about her coffee, and she had a cup from the same place with her when she got here about five minutes ago.”
Taking a sip of the latte made exactly how I liked it, I made a mental note to thank my co-worker for her thoughtfulness. Then I focused on the computer to scan through the charts of the patients on the floor, glancing up when I heard a man yell, “We need help over here!”
The woman in the wheelchair he was pushing was holding her rounded belly while grimacing in pain. After setting my latte down, I ran over to them and dropped to my knees in front of her. Lightly pressing my index and middle finger to her inner wrist, I assessed her radial pulse. After counting for thirty seconds and multiplying by two to confirm she was in the normal range, I asked, “When did the contractions start, how far apart are they, and how many weeks into the pregnancy are you?”
Before she could say anything, another contraction hit, making her groan before she started to pant through the pain. Her husband stroked his hands over her shoulders while he answered, “She’s six days past her due date. Her water broke about thirty minutes ago, and that’s when the contractions started. They’re already less than five minutes apart. I called our doctor from the car, and she’s already on her way here. My wife is pre-registered, so you should have all her details in your system under Audrey Ashford.”
I flashed him a grateful smile for the detailed rundown before returning my attention to Audrey. “Let’s get you into a room so you’ll be all set when your doctor arrives.”
As I got to my feet, another man rushed through the doors and called out, “Everything okay, Merrick?”
When I looked up, my years of training and months of experience flew out of my brain at the sight of the guy striding toward us. There was something compelling about him, and it wasn’t just his incredibly good looks. I felt trapped in place by the intensity of his blue eyes, but that didn’t stop me from taking in his dark hair, facial scruff, and tall, muscular body.
Audrey rubbed her palms together and murmured, “This is going to be fun.”
I forcibly dragged my attention away from the guy who was checking me out as closely as I’d been him, my eyes going wide when what she said hit me. “This is going to be fun? I don’t think I’ve ever had a patient describe giving birth quite like that before. Usually, they’re asking how quickly we can get them an epidural once the contractions are as close together as yours are.”
Merrick rounded the wheelchair and nudged me out of the way, worry shining from his dark eyes. “Do you need meds, kitten? Because I’ll make sure they give them to you now if you’re in too much pain.”
My heart melted over how sweet this big guy with a dangerous air was treating his wife. I had no doubt that he’d do whatever it took to make the birthing process go as smoothly as possible for her. Patting his hand, Audrey smiled and muttered, “I’m sure I’ll be fine until we get to the birthing suite.”
“Which is where I’ll take you right now.” I eyed the other guy up and down one last time before moving to the back of the wheelchair to push my patient toward the elevator since the labor and delivery suites were up one floor. Bending low, I whispered, “Who’s hottie number two?”
I jumped a little when the man in question answered from behind me, “A friend of the family.”
“Like I said,” Audrey whispered back. “This is going to be fun.”
Cindy had been right about how my shift was going to go. We ended up having ten births—three of which were triplets that Stephanie was helping with, so I never had the chance to thank her for the latte that helped get me through the day—with an additional seven expectant mothers in varying stages of labor. The hours went by in a blur, but one thing that stood out to me was my completely inappropriate flirtation with Deacon. He stayed in Audrey’s birthing suite for most of the first eight or so hours until her active labor progressed to the point where she was ready to push.
He did a great job keeping Merrick distracted, bringing him drinks and a snack—and taking the blame when Audrey got pissed that her husband was eating in front of her when she wasn’t allowed to have anything. But what struck me the most happened at the end of my shift when I rounded on each of my patients before leaving. I saved Audrey’s room for last and stumbled to an abrupt stop when I walked in and found Deacon holding Audrey and Merrick’s son.
Kohen looked so tiny, being held against Deacon’s broad chest swaddled in a blue blanket. Deacon swayed back and forth, his gaze riveted on the baby’s face as he whispered, “Look at you, little buddy. It’s a good thing you got your mommy’s looks, huh? The girls are going to go crazy over you and West when you guys get older.”
Merrick grumbled something not fit for a baby’s ears and stalked over to take his son out of his friend’s arms, but Audrey just giggled as I walked toward her to check her vitals. As I noted everything in her electronic chart, she jerked her chin toward where the men stood. “Deacon looks good with a baby in his arms, right?”
I nodded as I glanced at her friend, my cheeks filling with heat when I realized he was staring straight back at me. Merrick strode back over to his wife, dropping down onto the seat next to the bed and glaring over his shoulder at Deacon. “You can head out if you need to grab a bite to eat or something.”
Deacon winked at me before grinning at his friend. “Aw, don’t be jealous just because your wife thinks I’m hot.”
If looks could kill, Deacon would’ve dropped on the spot with the laser beams shooting from Merrick’s eyes. Deciding to step in before things got heated, I murmured, “Don’t get all worked up, guys. You’re both handsome.”
Deacon leveled a glare at me while Merrick chuckled and settled back into the chair. “Ha! Payback’s a bitch.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but it didn’t really matter since it was time for me to head home. Walking over to the whiteboard near the door, I erased my name and wrote my replacement’s down. Then I turned back toward Audrey. “It’s the end of my shift, so Wendy will be taking over your care from here. But don’t worry, she’s an awesome nurse.”
“Don’t worry about us. I’m sure Wendy will be great.” Audrey grinned at me. “Will we see you again before they spring Kohen and me?”
“Nope, sorry.” I shook my head. “My next shift isn’t until later next week.”
Audrey’s eyes twinkled as her gaze slid toward Deacon before returning to me. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time off.”
