Teresa Southwick - The Surgeon's Favourite Nurse

“It’s not daydreaming if one is gathering one’s thoughts,” Jake defended. Only he knew the lie for what it was.

“You have that look on your face,” Mitch said. “The confused-about-a-woman expression.”

Just then Cal walked by and made a dramatic show of putting his hands over his ears. “I don’t want to hear. I’m an impressionable and sensitive man.”

“Sensitive like a water buffalo.” Jake was glad his partner had given him an excuse to ignore the “woman” comment and dodge that bullet.

The three walked in the conference room and took seats around the table with Jake taking the head and his friends on either side, as usual. They were barely settled when Cal pulled out his wallet. As usual.

“Before we get down to business you have to see this picture.”

Mitch took the photo and grinned. “Look at those blond curls Annie’s got.”

“Looks just like me,” Cal said proudly.

Jake studied the photo of Cal, his daughter and wife, Emily. “Annie’s really getting big.”

“So is Em. At least she will be,” Cal answered. “Before I’m accused of being a pig, you should know she’s pregnant. We’re going to have another baby.”

“That’s great.” Mitch reached across the table for a congratulatory handshake. “How did she pull that off? Surely you didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“Yeah. Right. Immaculate conception.” Cal glared. “Buddy, you need a refresher course in anatomy and the reproductive process.”

“Hardly.” Mitch wasn’t intimidated by the glare. In his glory days he could give lessons on the care, feeding and fringe benefits of a really good glare. “Samantha and I have the whole birds-and-bees thing goin’ on just fine.” He slid his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and took out a picture. “Equal time. This is the latest one of Lucas .”

Cal took it and smiled. “Tall, dark and dandy, just like his dad. Look at those teeth.”

“Two on the bottom and he’s working on the uppers.” Mitch’s tone was rueful. “He’s waking up a lot at night and Sam thinks it’s teething.”

“I feel your pain.” Cal tucked his picture away. “Annie is getting her two-year molars and it’s not pretty.”

“Great. More to look forward to. I can hardly wait.”

Without comment Jake listened to his two friends go back and forth about who was losing the most sleep. Once upon a time they’d both resisted love, even after meeting the right woman. Compelling personal reasons had put a fear of commitment into each man until a lonely future was far worse than taking a chance. Now when they gathered to discuss finances, goals, problems and growing their practice, the monthly status meeting started with an update on married life and growing their families.

Jake had always tolerated this part of the monthly meeting, not that he wasn’t happy for his friends. It’s just that he had career goals and success aspirations different from theirs. But today he was having a strange reaction to news about wives, kids and a new pregnancy. He always cared, but only half listened. Today he was interested. What was that about?

It was definitely new and he wondered what was different since last month. There were only two changes. His appointment to chief trauma surgeon.

And Hope.

He heard his name and realized they’d been talking to him. “What’s wrong?”

Mitch’s expression was intense. “That’s what I’d like to know.”

“Yeah.” Cal rested his forearms on the table. “You have something against marriage?”

“Not if it’s working for you.”

“It definitely is,” Mitch said. “Marrying Sam was the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

“So says the man who in this very room swore up and down that he didn’t need conflict resolution counseling and it would be a waste of time,” Jake reminded him.

“You neglected to tell me that my counselor would be sexy. And smart. And the love of my life,” he added.

“My bad.” Jake grinned.

He remembered when Mitch’s attitude had ticked off most of the Mercy Medical staff, some of the physicians and administration. His behavior had put the trauma practice in jeopardy of not having their contract renewed. That would have dealt his own career trajectory a serious blow. But his friend salvaged the professional relationship with the hospital and found personal happiness.

“Darn right your bad,” Cal said. “I’m grateful every day that Emily came back into my life and gave me another chance. I don’t know what I’d do without her and Annie.”

“You sound like girls,” Jake teased.

The two looked at each other before Mitch said, “We’re okay with that.”

“So you guys are blissfully happy and recommend marriage. Good for you.”

“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,” Mitch cautioned.

“I’m not knocking anything,” Jake protested. He looked at Cal on his right and Mitch on his left. “I get it. You guys are happy. Can we talk about business now?”

“One question. What’s going on with you and what’s-her-name? The daughter of the president of the hospital’s board of directors?” Mitch settled an intense look on him.

“You mean Blair Havens?” She was definitely Congressman Havens’s daughter and he was definitely president of the board of directors. Jake answered, “We’re dating.”

“Is it serious?” Cal asked.

“What are you? Her father?”

“I have a daughter,” he said. “And if any guy messes with Annie he’ll have me to deal with. So, I’m just saying …”

“Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by serious.” Jake was dodging the question.

“Serious as in settling down. Marriage,” Cal spelled out.

“I’ve thought about it,” he admitted. “Blair is beautiful, smart and connected. Her father was in Congress and still has political influence. It would be a good career move. But …”

“Ah. But ,” Mitch said, a knowing look in his eyes. “A three letter word that means not so fast.”

“Something like that,” Jake agreed.

His personal life had flatlined a long time ago when he fell in love but didn’t pass her family’s white-trash test. In their eyes, once you’ve been homeless the smell of loser never goes away. The experience taught him not to take anything for granted. Hard work alone didn’t guarantee success or happiness. So, a relationship should buy you something. A career boost. Connections. The path to power. Something .

“Okay, guys.” He looked from Cal to Mitch. “Can I start the meeting?”

“Fine.” Mitch nodded.

“Okay with me.” Cal met his gaze. “The sooner we’re done here, the sooner I can get home to the family. Go, bro.”

Agendas were passed out and the first item was a status report on hiring new doctors for the practice. While his friends talked, Jake’s mind wandered to the memory of a pair of pretty hazel eyes flashing with humor and intelligence. A mouth, with its defined upper lip and full bottom one. A mouth that could be cute and crooked when she smiled. It was just a memory, but still had the power to drive him crazy.

And, dammit! This was his practice. The one he’d started with nothing but determination and guts. His career and the stability of his future was on the line. Everything he’d ever wanted was now his for the taking. This was an incredibly inconvenient time to lose focus.

He and Hope didn’t have a relationship, let alone anything that would guarantee him success. In fact, what was between them had the potential to implode all his plans.

Maybe he needed to talk to her again about keeping things between them purely professional.