Nurse to Forever Mom
A few minutes later she and Cody left the community room. He headed down the hall in the opposite direction from the one she took. “Stacey.”
She stopped and turned. Had he forgotten to tell her something? “Yes?”
He stepped closer. “I...uh...wanted to apologize about the other night. I stepped over the line. It won’t happen again.”
Here it was. What she’d been dreading but had thought by now wouldn’t come up. “It’s okay.” She lowered her voice. “It’s nothing against you. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for us to get involved.”
“I agree.”
He did? Her chest ached with regret. She shouldn’t feel that way. Didn’t she want him to agree? Protecting her heart was the priority. She was a short-term girl and he was a forever man. They would never work as a couple.
Neither of them spoke as a nurse passed by.
“Then I guess there’s nothing more to say.” Stacey forced a smile to her lips.
He watched her for a moment before he said, “I have to get the girls.”
* * *
Cody had mulled the problem over for a couple of days now, trying to figure out what to do. He was attracted to his nurse. So much so that Stacey consumed almost all of his thoughts. Maybe it was because he couldn’t have her. Or it could just be because he’d been without a woman so long that anyone who showed him any attention appealed. Whatever it was, it had to stop. Seeing her every day didn’t help. He’d taken to counting the hours until Stacey left the island. At least then he would have some peace of sorts.
She wasn’t a woman he needed to bring any further into his life. She already fit too well. His girls liked her too much. Like sunshine after the dark, Stacey added light to his world. She had been open and giving with his girls and they didn’t need to grow attached to someone who would be leaving them soon. Still, the need to get to know her, have her, gnawed at him. He just had to live through it for a couple of more weeks and then the problem would be solved for him.
He’d just finished surgery and spoken to the family when she came up beside him. Without speaking, they walked to his office to finish some paperwork she needed to discharge a patient. Once again, he would be alone with her.
She’d remained all business since his apology, which both helped and maddened him. He couldn’t think straight when she was around, especially when she came close enough that he caught her scent.
She gave him a curious look. “Hey, what’s bothering you?”
Cody glanced at her. Did she really know him well enough to recognize when something was disturbing him? Was he that transparent or had she been watching him closely enough to learn his moods? He wasn’t sure he liked either idea. Should he tell her? He sighed. No, that wasn’t going to happen. He’d find something else to say.
“It’s not that big a deal.”
“It must be something because you’ve been... I don’t know...preoccupied the last two days.”
He huffed, giving her the only excuse he could come up with. “The girls need costumes for Founder’s Day. And the worst part is they need to be home-made. They have a dress rehearsal on Wednesday.” It might sound stupid but it was a very real problem he’d been struggling with whenever he could get his mind off her. Even better, he didn’t have to admit the real reason he was acting out of the norm—his battle to not kiss her whenever they were alone, which was far too often for his peace of mind.
“And this is a problem why?”
His arms went wide with his palms up. “Because I have nothing. Nothing. No ideas. No capability or even the desire to do it.”
She actually laughed at him. Doubled over with it. Between gasping breaths, she said, “The super-dad is undone by costumes.”
“It’s not funny.” He stalked into his office. At least being mildly irritated with her made him stop thinking about grabbing her and kissing her for all of a minute.
“No, it’s not. I’m sorry I’m making fun of you. Would you like me to help?”
Stacey had actually offered that after their “discussion.” She had made it clear they shouldn’t get mixed up in each other’s personal lives. Had she changed her mind? Whether she had or hadn’t wasn’t important. He could use her help. Should he accept her offer? She had said she liked to dress up. Surely she had some skills in that area. The girls had to have outfits.
The only women he knew who might help were already busy. Maggie had her hands full with Jake. Fleur was running the show so she didn’t have time to take care of his girls. He probably could ask Brigid Brady from the bistro, but she’d expect more from him than he was interested in giving. Stacey was offering, and he was definitely interested in what she might expect of him in return.