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She bit back a triumphant smile and resisted the urge to pat herself on the back.Nice save, Kincaid. He was a father, so he could understand familial duties took precedence over anything else. He could hardly fault her for wanting to be there for the kids. Even if her kids were self-sufficient enough to not need her for their morning routine.

His smile disappeared, and he appeared almost embarrassed as he watched her. “Right. I get it. Raincheck then?”

“I appreciate the gesture. It’s not necessary, but it was nice of you to offer.”

“Enjoy your time with your niece and nephew. I guess I’ll see you around. Probably in the stairwell.”

She forced a chuckle at his weird attempt at humor. “Yes, we do seem to bump into each other in the stairwell a lot.”

“Well, goodnight then. Oh, um, actually, good morning.” He moved on past her, and she watched him disappear into the stairwell.

She couldn’t tell if he was mad or upset or disappointed. She hoped it was none of those and he was thinking of whom he could take out instead of her. Dr. Flirtatious was another complication she didn’t need.

She pushed her cart through the door to Zane’s room, her work smile set on her face. She stumbled over the leg of the cart when she realized he had his icy blue stare pinned to her as she stepped inside. Lowering her gaze, she hoped he couldn’t feel her heart pick up its pace.

“How are you feeling, Mr. Wilder? Any pain?”

“A little.”

“You know the drill. On a scale of one to ten, how severe is your pain?” she continued.

“Two.” His answers were succinct, but his stare was intense. He hadn’t even insisted she use his first name.

She willed herself not to squirm, but she had the feeling of being in the principal’s office after being caught drinking under the bleachers at the football field. “I can bring you some acetaminophen to help with the pain. Any other symptoms I need to be aware of?”

“No need to bring the pain reliever. The pain’s tolerable. No other symptoms. Just ready to get out of here.”

He didn’t sound angry or annoyed. He didn’t sound cheerful or tired or in pain. He sounded…neutral. His tone held no emotion, his expression gave nothing away. Though she was the one asking questions, she couldn’t shake the impression that she was in an interrogation, and she couldn’t imagine what it was he would want to know.

“The doctor should make his rounds within the hour, and you can ask him about your discharge. Your fever is down and has been for a little while, but I wanted to check it again before I head out. I figured you might be sleeping as early as it is.”

“I’m an early riser. The military drilled it into me. You must be tired though. Working all night has to be tough.”

Pulling on her gloves, she shrugged as she went over to swipe the thermometer across his forehead and record his temperature. “I’m getting used to it. Your temperature is normal. I need to check your stitches. Your dressing may need changing.”

Zane had changed out of the hospital gown into a T-shirt and sleep pants. He raised the hem of his shirt, and Bridget forced herself to focus on the bandage covering his wound instead of the six-pack abs he was sporting. The skin around his stitches was no longer red, thanks to the antibiotics doing their job, but more of a healthy pink. She removed his bandage completely, tossed it into the correct receptacle and found clean gauze and surgical tape.

“This will take a few minutes. If you’ll hold still.” She tore two pieces of tape and stuck the ends on the handle to his bed, so she could reach them easily to secure the bandage. Then she cut the gauze large enough to cover his wound and held it in place while she added the tape. “All done.”

“Thanks. So your shift is about over?”

“In about ten minutes.” She started entering her notes in Zane’s chart using the laptop.

“I’m surprised you turned him down.”

Her fingers paused over the keyboard, and she shot him a glance from under her lashes. “Beg your pardon?”

“Doctor what’s-his-name. He asked you out. I’m surprised you turned him down. If what the other nurses say is true, he’s a hot ticket around here.”

She snorted and went back to typing. “You’re gossiping with the nurses? Youhavebeen in here too long.”

“I don’t need a lot of sleep, so I hear things. Why did you turn him down?”

“You’re stepping into none-of-your-business territory, Mr. Wilder. Now, do you need anything?”

She still stood beside his bed, so he was able to reach out and lightly grasp her arm. “Don’t trust him, Bridget. Steer clear of him.”

She glanced at her arm, her brow furrowing at the tingles radiating under her skin at his touch. Then she raised her eyes to meet his, stunned to see concern clouding their depths.