Jacqueline Diamond - The Doctor's Accidental Family

Sliding into his old blue coupe, Nick replayed the conversation, baffled. He’d said hello and introduced himself, and she’d answered, “The hell you are.”

The hell he was what? A doctor? True, he hadn’t yet put on his white coat, since he’d rather not risk soiling it. And he sported a few days’ growth of stubble, but why should that have provoked her response? Nick liked the casual effect of the beard, and Dr. Mark Rayburn, the administrator, hadn’t objected during their interview.

Rayburn had initially chosen another doctor for this position, Nick conceded as he exited the parking lot. He’d landed the job after his rival discovered over the holidays that she was pregnant, and decided against taking on such crazy hours.

Still, he’d been the runner-up. He assumed plenty of OBs had applied to the prestigious facility, which over the past half-dozen years had been transformed from a community hospital into an internationally recognized fertility center.

Nope, he decided as he cruised along the quiet residential streets en route to the hospital. His rough jaw wasn’t enough to warrant a slammed door.

Maybe the woman simply hated doctors in general. In that case, why had she become a nurse? Or did her blue-flowered uniform indicate something else? Perhaps she worked at a strip joint whose themed attractions included nurse-doctor seductions.

Better idea: quit thinking about her and move on.

The medical complex came into view, dominated by the six-story hospital with its graceful curving wings. Beside it, along the circular driveway, stood the medical building where, during his early-evening hours, Nick shared office space with several fellow obstetricians.

Scaffolding and signs warned of construction at the third low-rise tower, a five-story former dental building recently purchased by the hospital to expand the men’s fertility program. It should also, Nick had heard, contain enough remodeled medical suites to liberate the younger obstetrical staff from their cramped quarters.

By the time he parked, it was still only a quarter to six. What a joy to live within a mile of his workplace, he mused as he got out.

Through the early-winter darkness, lights shone from the medical building. Nick entered to see the elevator doors sliding open. He quickened his pace.

Then he spotted its sole occupant, an all-too-familiar woman. The same woman who’d just snubbed him outside his apartment.

How had she zipped over here and gone upstairs? At second glance, he saw that she’d also done a quick change into slacks and a loose top.

Nick halted so fast he stumbled and nearly collided with her. “Excuse me,” he muttered.

“No problem.” She smiled, which gave her face a softer cast. On further inspection, Nick registered that her hair had grown several inches and her figure had gained a matronly heft.

Obviously, this wasn’t the same woman. Waving apologetically, he said, “You startled me. I think I just met your twin.”

“Zady?”

They really were twins? “She didn’t introduce herself.”

“Well, that’s who she is, Zady Moore. I’m Zora.” The young woman extended her hand, which he found firm and warm. “Zora Moore Mendez, to be precise.”

“I’m Dr. Nick Davis. I only started working here two days ago, so I haven’t met many people,” Nick explained. “I’m an OB.”

“Oh, your suite is on the third floor.” She appeared well informed. “You might have met my husband, Lucky Mendez. He’s Dr. Rattigan’s nurse, on the fourth floor.”

Joining a staff meant learning a lot of names and faces. Doctors had to be adept at memorization to master human anatomy and keep prescription medications straight, and fortunately, Nick had been blessed with an unusually good memory. He didn’t need it to identify Dr. Cole Rattigan, though. The renowned urologist headed the men’s fertility program here, and was overseeing the transformation of the new building.

“I don’t think I’ve met your husband, but I’m sure I will,” Nick said. “Do you work here, too?”

Nearby, a second elevator discharged more people. He ought to hurry, but he hoped for a clue that might account for Zady’s rude reaction.

“I’m an ultrasound tech on maternity leave,” Zora said. “We have two-month-old twins.”

“You must have amazing stamina,” Nick told her.

“Why do you say that?”

“No dark circles.” He wasn’t flattering her. Having stayed up for the past couple of nights, he appreciated how well rested she looked.

“Helpful housemates,” the woman said cheerfully. “They’re babysitting right now while I bring dinner for Lucky, since he and his doctor are working late.”

“I’m sure they’re busy these days.” It didn’t appear that Nick was going to find out anything more, and he had to go. “Nice meeting you, and your twin.”

Zora shared a conspiratorial smile. “I’d say you have a twin of sorts, too.”

A possible explanation? Nick went on high alert. “Who’s that?”

Her head tilted in surprise. “The other Dr. Davis.”

“The other...?” Then it hit him—the explanation for that cute nurse’s decidedly unattractive response to him.

Nick should have done a lot more research before he decided to come to Safe Harbor.

Chapter Two

Zady took a late lunch on Friday due to her doctor’s busy schedule. A brilliant urological reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Marshall Davis commanded respect bordering on adulation. Since he’d joined Safe Harbor Medical two months ago, patients had flocked to him, putting a heavy load on his office nurse—Zady—as well as his surgical staff.

Zady didn’t mind the challenges of the job; she was grateful for it. The man had chosen her from a long list of applicants, and consistently inspired her to do her best. This post might be more stressful than her previous position with a urologist in Santa Barbara, north of Los Angeles, but she took pride in it and it meant a lot to her.

In the cafeteria, she plopped a salad onto her tray and, while waiting in line to pay, surveyed the airy, chatter-filled room for friends. Not that she had many yet, but her twin, Zora, had introduced her to a few people. She’d met others when they greeted her in the hall by the wrong name, and she explained the mistake.

Mistakes. Her sister had phoned her last night to tell her about her encounter with the other Dr. Davis. Zady’s cheeks heated with embarrassment. Despite her initial shock at being approached by a man who strongly resembled her boss—and then hearing him claim the same name—she should have known better.

After all, she had an identical twin. Yet, having done a bit of internet research on her boss, Zady knew the doctor was an only child. And also unmarried, not that she pictured him in a romantic light. Marshall Davis was cool, remote and precise, as a surgeon should be.

According to Zora, the stranger was apparently Marshall’s cousin, which explained the strong resemblance. Zora had also heard from her husband—who kept an ear to the ground—that the men didn’t get along. Fortunately, they worked in different departments.

Speaking of her brother-in-law, there sat Lucky at a table across the room with his friend and landlady, Karen Wiggins Vintner, a financial counselor. The forty-something Karen, black hair clouding around her thin face, was talking animatedly.

After paying for her salad, Zady started forward, then paused as a lanky male figure crossed her path, her iced tea sloshing in her glass. Taller than his cousin, she registered.

“I didn’t mean to... Oh, it’s you.” Nick Davis broke stride, oblivious to having cut off a couple of lab technicians. They circled past, keeping their no-doubt unflattering responses to themselves. “Startling you seems to be a habit of mine.”