My Christmas Doctor

Jennifer rushed into the room, seeing me on the phone and frowned.

"I will make sure he is escorted—" was all I heard before Jennifer pulled the phone from my hand.

"Who is this?" she asked and then nodded as she pushed buttons on the monitor. "Ah, yeah. Ms. Adams is not to be disturbed. Not by anyone until Dr. Chase clears her for visitors. Thanks, Maria." She hung up the phone. "Okay, so what set your heart to pounding so hard about that visitor?"

I was fuming. How could he have driven all the way here! The asshole had some nerve! "My ex." Changed man, my ass!

Her eyebrows rose. "There's a story there, I'm guessing…"

I nodded. "Cheating asshole hit me when I confronted him about it. I dumped his ass back in Akron and moved to NYC."

"Wow. How did he find out you were even here?"

"My mother told him," I said through gritted teeth, but thankfully, even though the monitor had gone off, my chest wasn't in too much pain this time. Small blessings.

"Good golly. Okay, so I'll make a note, no calls from your mother, and no abusive ex's allowed."

"Thank you!" I sighed and fell back against the pillows. At this rate, I was never going to be relaxed enough to write. Hell, I was never going to be relaxed enough to get out of here. Maybe a visit from dreamy Dr. Chase would help soothe my rattled nerves. Just picturing his sparkling green eyes and engaging smile and I was much calmer.

"Try to relax and get some rest. Dr. Chase said you need it. He'll be by again in the morning."

I nodded. "Thank you," I said, but I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't see him again till morning.Chapter 6BrianI was looking forward to checking on Jane this morning. I knew I shouldn't be thinking of her as Jane, but as Ms. Adams, especially since I found her so attractive. Not just her looks, but her personality as well. She was brilliant, talented, and sweet on top of being gorgeous. However, until I released her as my patient, I couldn't do anything about it.

As I headed toward her room, my copy of her book in my hand, I noticed an auburn head tilted down over the nurse's station desk and sighed. Dr. Porter. He was probably flirting with one of the nurses again. The man was an obnoxious prick and I only barely tolerated him. The nurse, Kelly looked like she was suffering an aneurysm as she tried to keep her smile in place.

"Michael, what brings you up to this floor?" I asked as I slipped the book in my coat pocket.

He turned from Kelly, who looked relieved to have his attention drawn away from her. "Brian." He grinned. "Came up to see if you wanted to have lunch later, been a while since we've hung out. Wanted to run somethin' by you."

"Oh? Sure, I guess. I've got a few patients to see, so I'll meet you down in the café at noon."

"Or we could go out?"

"I'd rather eat here. I've got work to attend to later this afternoon."

"But the café is so… pedestrian. Let's go to The Capital Grille. I'll make the reservation."

I sighed. Of course, he would choose some place expensive. Not that I couldn't afford it, but I really didn't see the necessity of spending so much on lunch when the café here at the hospital was exceptional. "Fine, whatever." I didn't really want to spend time with the man. He was aggravating to say the least, and any friendship there was between us was tenuous at best. I didn't like to spend my time with him, but if it got him away from the nursing staff for a while, I'd consider it my good deed for the day.

"Great. See you at noon." He took off down the hall toward the elevators.

Shaking my head, I approached Kelly. "What was he asking you?" I questioned.

"He wanted to know about Ms. Adams. I didn't tell him anything though and he was trying to flirt with me to get me to tell him something. Like I would ever. He's … sorry, he's just annoying."

"How is she doing this morning? Any more issues with her heart monitor?"

"James and I have been in with her a few times, such a fun lady. No, not since her ex showed up and tried to get up to see her. She's been pretty calm. I think she's up and writing now. She had breakfast about an hour ago."

"Her ex came up?"

"No, I don't think so, he was stopped in reception and Jennifer informed them she wasn't allowed any guests until you approved, but I wasn't here for any of that. She became pretty riled up though, from what Jennifer said. The guy is apparently rotten."