Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
More time to ogle the sexiest man alive sounded pretty freakin’ sweet.
I finished picking up the gauze four-by-fours and stuffed them into my cart, then backed up and closed the door to the supply closet.
I was about halfway to the nurses’ station when Dru stopped me and said, “Would you mind showing Mr. and Mrs. Spurlock to the cafeteria?”
I could read between the lines.
They needed a break, and I was to show them the good stuff.
“Sure thing,” I said. “I was about to take my lunch break anyway.”
That was a lie.
I wasn’t due for another hour, but Dru smiled and gave me a thumbs-up, indicating that she’d cover for me.
We were supposed to have two patient care techs per shift, but we were short one due to one quitting after finding out that she was pregnant.
Which meant that I was overworked and tired, and to be quite honest, maybe I could use the good stuff, too.
“Right this way, y’all,” I said.
“Thanks,” the big man said. “You worked here long?”
I nodded as we started down the hall, passing the three Claybornes in the hall as we did.
“For about two years now,” I answered. “Do y’all live here?”
“No, we live in Kilgore, Texas,” she said. “It’s about…”
“I know where that is.” I smiled. “I have a good friend that lives there. We met in high school when she moved here with one of her divorced parents. She didn’t like the big city much, though, and moved back home. But we’ve kept in touch.”
“Small world,” the woman replied, sounding tired.
“The surgery went well, I heard,” I said. “Bet you’ll be heading home tomorrow.”
“That’s what the doctor said,” the woman replied.
“Ashe,” the man warned.
“Dammit, Ford, that guy is a creep,” Ashe, the mother, replied.
“He is,” I agreed quietly as I headed for the stairs. “But he’s an excellent surgeon, which is why they keep him here. He may not be the nicest, or the most understanding, or even be able to control his mouth, but he’s one of the best surgeons in the state. Dallas Memorial had to fight to get him here.”
“Doesn’t mean that he can say what he wants,” Ashe muttered.
“Don’t worry, we left him with my parents.” Ford chuckled.
I kind of wanted to meet them if the man’s parents could make Dr. Marsh hesitate.
Another person that could make the asshole hesitate was Chevy.
I loved when the two of them locked horns.
Chevy always came out on top.
“This is the cafeteria,” I said. “Most people would send you to the restaurants, but this place is a hidden gem.”
And it was.
They had the best chocolate cake in the damn county.
I got it every eight shifts like clockwork.
I would get it more if I could afford a piece of five-dollar cake.
For some reason, once you ate in the cafeteria eight times, they gave you a free piece of chocolate cake, and today was my day!
An excited squeal had me turning to notice that Chevy and his family had followed us.
The excited squeal had the couple beside me looking over their shoulders.
“I can see why he’s so good with kids.” The mother sounded happy. “He’s got a cute kid.”
“That’s his niece,” I said. “His family comes up here all the time to visit.”
The couple went through the line and got their food.
I waited for them to get all the way through before I ordered mine.
I usually got whatever was cheapest, and sometimes the lunch ladies had leftovers from the day before that they’d share with me if I was alone.
Today was my lucky day, too, because my favorite lunch lady, Manuella, was here.
“Oh, I have a surprise for you.” She smiled and hurried behind the counter.
I watched as she went to the warming area and pulled out what looked like a hamburger.
“Someone ordered this, asked for mustard, then complained about their mustard. So I saved it for you when we refunded them.” She smiled. “Voilà!”
Because Manuella was so sweet, I wouldn’t admit that I loathed mustard.
I’d just wipe it off with a napkin, and load the burger up with as much ketchup as I could grab without feeling bad for grabbing too many packets.
“Thanks, Manuella!” I grinned. “I’ll have a cup of soup today, too.”
She got my soup, my burger, and then headed to the checkout.
When she saw that I had the free cake, she went to the back and brought out a fresh piece.
“Here you go.” She beamed. “I just iced it.”
Even better.
My mouth was literally watering when I took my seat, and as I looked up just as I got situated, it was to see Chevy there, standing with his niece, staring at the lunch lady with a questioning look on his face.
Had he heard what we’d just been talking about?
I hoped not.
Chevy spoke low to the lunch lady, and she smiled.
She spoke animatedly with her hands, and then started to gesture to Catalina in his arms.