Cheryl Wyatt - The Doctor's Devotion

“Because despite each one we lose, there’s a slew to save.”

She tucked her chin, as though trying to draw warmth from the blanket herself.

Not caring that his back bore Kate’s insatiably curious stare, Mitch stepped close, his arms on her shoulders. “Lauren, I know this was horrific and hard. I didn’t leave you much choice, but you held up as well as anyone. Sorry if I came across as rude and unfeeling before.”

“You had a job to do and you were right…people were dying.” She backed out of his grasp. “The last thing I want hanging over me is more guilt. I couldn’t abandon you. Or your team.” She nodded toward Kate, who nodded back. “Or them.” Lauren indicated rooms of recovering patients.

Mitch stilled, respecting her need for space.

Good thing, because the beauty that unleashed every time she blinked was kicking his concentration to the curb. She had the most gorgeous green eyes.

Before she got out of hearing range he said, “Nurse Bates?”

“Yes, Dr. Wellington?” She appeared miffed every time he used the title. Like she knew he did so intentionally.

He leaned out of earshot of Kate, who’d be dying like an eavesdropping little sister to know what was said. “Please, call me Mitch. ‘Dr. Wellington’ makes me feel snobby and senile.”

A gorgeous smile dawned. “Agreed. But only if you stop, and I mean this instant, calling me Nurse Bates.”

“But you need to get used to hearing it.” He grinned.

Her eyebrows pinched in a beautiful downward slope. “If my patient didn’t need this blanket, Wellington, I’d be tempted to smother you with it.”

His grin widened. “You definitely inherited your grandfather’s temper.”

“I can’t imagine him ever being angry with you. You seem the best of friends.”

There was no missing the sour tone that pickled her words.

“He hasn’t been angry with me for twenty years anyway.” Mitch chuckled, recalling the first time he met Lem, who dragged Mitch across a field by his ear for stealing corn. Made him work it off, too. Lem and that cornfield had been the best things to ever happen to Mitch. “But I have seen him come unhinged at a broken-down tractor or two.”

She giggled. “He still kick tires when they break down?”

“Still does.”

“I’m ashamed I never appreciated everything about him before.” She slumped. “Anyway, time for vitals. See you later.”

He could only hope. Mitch watched her departure, enjoying every second of her appealing stride.

Ian returned. “I’m— Wait. Why do you look sedated?”

Mitch shrugged and averted his gaze from the lovely Lauren.

Ian eyed him curiously. “Anyway, I’m heading out. See ya.”

Mitch caught Ian. “Hey, what do you have going Saturday?”

“Besides staying in a coma?” Ian rubbed tired eyes. Mitch knew the feeling. His eyelids scraped like sandpaper.

“Lem invited the med team over for a Southern-fried feast.”

“You making this famous chili we hear about?” Ian winked.

“Sure. We’ll have a chili day at Lem’s and just hang out. Refuge medical folks are covering our shifts here.”

Kate approached, chomping on a delicious-looking apple.

His invitation lifted weight off Ian’s shoulders. “Lem’s it is then.” Ian eyed Mitch pointedly. “Will Lauren be there?”

Wait…what?

Kate snickered then looked thoughtful. “You know…we need another nurse. Lauren did outstanding. Have you considered—?”

“Already asked. She said no. Not just no, but ‘don’t ask again or I’ll throttle you’ no.”

Ian snorted. “When has that ever stopped you?”

“Point taken. I’ll work on her as long as she doesn’t do to me what Lem does to broken-down tractors.”

His team laughed, but Mitch wondered how Lauren would take his familylike friendship with Lem. Daily breakfast with Lem would be interesting. Especially if he actively recruited her to be on his team, which would mean major life restructuring and relocation. Much as he wanted Lauren close to Lem and on staff, it wasn’t his choice to make.

Help her make the right one, Lord.

But Mitch’s gut knew. He eyed the ceiling. “Thanks. I’m commissioned to convince a hot-tempered redhead to uproot? This is one assignment I am not looking forward to.” Especially if he had to continue to contend with this all-too-annoying attraction.

Mitch headed to look for Lauren and give her a ride home. And pester her a little more about at least being his part-time summer nurse. She seemed to enjoy scrub duty best and was good.

“Fine. I’m on it, God. But help me accomplish this mission with the least bloodshed possible.”

He rounded the corner and ran smack into the object of his prayers. She returned his stethoscope.

He tried to hand it back. “You might—”

Her head shook firmly. “I won’t need it again. This final cameo was nice for closure, but my nursing career is over.”

Chapter Four

“She really said that?” Grandpa’s laugh drifting from his kitchen drew Lauren from sleep the next morning.

“She really did.” Mitch’s deep, answering chuckle compelled Lauren to full wakefulness. Had she slept in? She blinked into darkness until her eyes adjusted and 7:00 a.m. squinted back at her from Grandpa’s antique dresser clock.

What was he doing here?

She rolled over to listen to the cozy male banter.

Grandpa harrumphed. “Well, it’s not over until the Good Lord says so.”

“Hate to say this, Lem, but she gets her iron will from you.” Mitch chuckled. The invigorating sound lilted down the hall and lifted Lauren’s head from the pillow.

She rubbed at scratchiness that the sleepless night had left in her eyes. If only she could rub away how raw his being here scraped her inside.

Who were those hooligans talking about anyway? Her? Sounded like it. In that case, she’d best be up and ready to defend herself. Grandpa’s robust coffee should do it.

Lauren lifted her robe from the bedpost and snuggled her feet into pure comfort that Lem left beside her bed. Sentimental slippers she’d used here every summer since age ten. Ones that warmed her heart as well as her toes.

She traced fingers across calico star patterns embedded in the last quilt Grandma Bates made before she died. Lauren pulled it up, pressed it to her face and drew a sustained breath.

It smelled like home.

Lauren smiled, glad Lem left the quilt in “her” room. She felt touched that he remembered how she, Grandma and Mom toiled over the pattern together with lots of tangled thread and laughter. The quilt and its cozy memories tucked aside for later, she stepped toward her door.

“So if her stubborn streak came from you, who’d she get the luscious red hair and gorgeous green eyes from?” Mitch asked.

Lauren skidded to a halt and held her breath to hear.

“My daughter, her mama,” Grandpa proudly answered.

“She must have been a looker. Lauren is beyond beautiful.”

Mitch’s heartwarming words washed through her. He thought she was beautiful? She pattered over, peered at herself in the mirror…and laughed.

Her unruly blaze of hair looked plugged into a live socket. Illinois’s humidity poofed it out like mops-gone-wild. It was a crimson entity all its own today.

“No matter.” Lauren wrinkled her nose at her reflection.

A handsome hunk thought she was pretty.

Despite the irksome fact that he was hogging her grandpa, Lauren stood what felt a foot taller. Which would still barely bring her nose to nose with Mitch.

His unwitting compliment melted off last night’s stress and sleeplessness. Hours full of trauma images that had stalked her deep into dreams.

Worse was waking to find out that she’d actually experienced gladness and felt useful again caring for patients.