Page 4 of Quinton's Quest

I huffed. She was right. My skill set was in demand—but nabbing a competent surgeon was more important. I’d do best to remember that.

Lucia walked out of the staff room just as Marlena breezed in.

“Oh, Quinton, perfect timing. Dr. Long is giving our new surgeon, Dr. Rodgers, a tour. I was hoping you might put in an appearance. A way to show the nurses will always be there to support him.”

Breathe.

“Of course. Anything for the team.”

“Great. I’ll see you later.” If she found anything amiss in my tone, she certainly didn’t call me out on it. Instead, she breezed back out.

I tucked my lunch into the fridge, pulled up my big-boy pants, and headed over to the surgical wing.

Chapter Two

Leo

Dr. Charles Long was a blowhard.

Takes one to know one.

Perhaps. But I couldn’t ever remember droning on and on about my accomplishments to a total stranger. I certainly hadn’t enumerated them to Quinton, the nurse, who told me to lose his number this morning.

My phone burned a hole in my pocket.

I hadn’t deleted his number, of course. Whether because I intended to apologize or because I hoped I might butt dial him and wind up with another quick hookup was entirely up for debate.

At least I’d removed my wedding ring. I wore it at the last hospital where I’d worked because there’d been a particularly flirtatious nurse who refused to takenofor an answer. I’d simply declined to share the status of my marriage—divorced by then—and had carried on. Since I wasn’t going to get involved with anyone—least of all a nurse who didn’t understand how to back off—wearing the ring felt obvious. Gideon and I might’ve beendivorced, and certainly not amicably, but I wanted the outside world to think I was still taken. I removed it every night when I came home, though. I didn’t want to confuse our children.

The picture of Melodie and Trevor Gideon sent me this morning warmed my heart. My kids meant everything. My marriage had meant everything until it had fallen apart. Finally, my job meant everything. Sometimes, those three things came into conflict.

“Did I tell you about the time we had a six-car pileup on the highway?”

I shook my head at Charles’s question.

“We medevacked a number of patients to Vancouver, but I treated three patients myself. Back-to-back surgeries. Saved some lives that day.”

“That’s great.” I hoped never to have to send patients to Vancouver, but I was only one person. Abbotsford was right on the TransCanada highway, and plenty of accidents occurred in the region. Should keep me busy for the rest of my career. Of course, I didn’t just handle traumas.

“Oh, here’s Quinton now. He’s one of many nurses you’ll work with, but he’s, uh, versatile.”

My ears perked up at the word. I doubted Charles had any idea of what he’d just said. Unless he knew about Quinton’s proclivities. I eyed the general surgeon, who was nearly sixty years old.

Nope. I couldn’t see him with Quinton.

But then, I didn’t know either man.

“Hello, Dr. Long.” Quinton grinned. “And how are you this lovely morning?”

Cold, damp, and pouring rain—typical for the Pacific Northwest in early February. Somehow, though, the nurse’s smile made things just a little brighter.

Until he turned his gaze to me and the air turned as frigid as an Arctic winter. I held out my hand. “Dr. Leopold Rodgers.”

He shook my hand, gripping it tightly. “Quinton Li, nurse extraordinaire.”

“Yes, very well.” Dr. Long eyed the corridor. “I need to check in with a patient who isn’t doing as well as I’d like. Perhaps Quinton can show you the rest?” Without waiting for assent from either of us, he departed.

I met Quinton’s gaze.