“You are, why?”
“Harper called. A kid she knows had an accident on the beach. She wants me to check on them.” James pulled his phone from the pocket of his white coat. “The kid’s name is Isla. She shouldn’t be too hard to find, right?”
“I know that name.” Rich’s brows knitted.
“Hey, at least we know you haven’t slept with this one.”
“Get out of here.” Rich shook his head. “I’m serious. I’ve heard it recently, but I can’t remember treating her.”
“It’s an unusual name.” James shrugged. “I’m going to head down and check on her.”
“I’ll join you.”
The waiting room was half empty when they made it back down to the first floor. Rich checked his watch. He’d managed exactly twelve minutes of a thirty minute break. It was some kind of record. Walking over to the triage desk, he checked the board.
Isla Hart. DOB 06/04/15. Foot injury. Consult Room 5.
Hart. Now he remembered. “That’s my neighbor’s kid,” he said. “Who’s covering her?”
“I was waiting for Simon to finish in room seven,” Lianne said. “But if you’re offering, you can take her. She’s a cute little kid.” She winked. “Her mom’s pretty, too.”
James’ phone started to bleep. Sighing, he checked the screen. “I gotta go,” he said to Rich. “Can you keep me updated so I can let Harper know how the kid is getting taken care of?”
“If Meghan says it’s okay,” Rich agreed.
“Meghan?”
“She’s the mom.” Lianne rolled her eyes. “The pretty mom.”
James winked. “The pretty mom, huh? Harper’s going to want more details about that, too.”
“There are no details.” Rich shook his head. “She’s my neighbor. Period.”
“Of course.” James was still grinning. “Let’s try and keep it that way. One stalker at a time is enough for any doctor.”
“Get out of here.” Rich shot him a dirty look.
“I’m going, I’m going.” James lifted his hands in surrender. “But send me that text. I want to put Harper in a good mood tonight.”
“Sure.” Rich’s voice was sarcastic. “I’ll help you improve your sex life, while you laugh at mine.”
Lianne lifted a brow. “It’s the story of your life.”
6
“Are you okay?” Rich asked softly, looking up as he finished sewing Isla’s foot. He’d been in and out of the consult room four times. First sending her for an x-ray to make sure there was no glass left in the gaping wound on her foot, then to reassure her as he cleaned her wound up.
And now he was holding Isla’s foot gently in his strong palm, and she was staring at him adoringly. Meghan had a feeling that most of his patients had the same reaction to him. There was something about his cool competence, and his gentle bedside manner that sent shivers down her spine.
What did they call it when you crushed on your doctor? Transference? ER Syndrome?
Maybe it was a normal reaction to seeing somebody make your kid feel better. That would be understandable, wouldn’t it? A mixture of gratitude and fawning for the knight in shining armor.
Whatever it was, she was hoping it didn’t last. She was way too cynical to fall for the hot doc who lived next door. She knew from experience that entanglements like that didn’t make life any easier.
They only complicated everything.
“You’re the bravest girl we’ve had in today,” Rich said as he passed the equipment he’d been using to the nurse next to him. “Probably all month, if I’m being honest. You should hear the way some of them scream.”