Page 2 of Tropical Heat

“No drugs,” he said emphatically

“It's just lidocaine.”

“I realize you're new, so I will say it again. No drugs.”

“Suit yourself, but this is going to hurt.” He watched as I cleaned his wound. I knew he was in pain, but he never flinched.

“You're much prettier than the last doc who treated me.”

I ignored the compliment. “When was that, and what were you treated for?”

About a month ago. A fractured finger on my right hand. Some knob put a rat trap in my mailbox. I was on desk duty until earlier this week.”

It sounded like Deputy Garcia had a way of pissing people off. “Did they find the person who did it?”

“No. But I've got my suspicions. Florida has more than its fair share of stupid criminals. And it's my job to enforce the law. Sometimes that pisses people off. Like the woman today.” He shook his head. “It would have never happened if Zak had just listened to me. I told him to let me cuff her before he gave her the NARCAN. But the guy never listens. Always thinks he knows best.”

“Which one is Zak?”

He smirked. “The one you were making dreamy eyes at.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Even as I spoke the words, I could feel my cheeks flush.

“No judgment on my part. He’s a good-looking man.”

I told him I don’t date patients or people I work with and he dropped the subject. After applying antiseptic ointment to his injured forearm, I covered it with a gauze pad, which I taped loosely at the edges. “I didn’t suture it because I'm worried about infection. You'll need to change the pad twice a day. Is there someone at home who can help you with that?”

He nodded. “My roommate.”

“Good. I’m writing a prescription for antibiotics. Make sure you take them. A nurse will be in shortly with your discharge paperwork.”

“I'd like to buy you dinner to show there are no hard feelings.”

“I just told you I don't date patients.”

“You also said I was being discharged, which means I'm no longer a patient.”

I had to at least give him credit for trying. “I've been looking over your chart, and given your history, I think it's safe to assume you will be a patient again real soon. Now if you'll excuse me. I need to check in on Ms. Higgs.”

“You know you can’t help her, right?” His tone gentle and his voice softer. “Even if she agrees to go to rehab, six weeks after she gets out, she’ll go right back to using again. I see it all the time.”

I understood where he was coming from. Our chosen professions meant we interacted with people at the worst times of their lives. It’s enough to make anyone cynical if you let it. “It doesn’t mean you stop trying.”

“You’re right,” he agreed with little conviction and put his shirt back on.

Dixie was sleeping peacefully when I looked in exam room one. I checked her chart and saw no one had been down from psych yet. My shift ended twenty minutes earlier, but I was in no rush to go back to my room at the Paradise Fishing Lodge. Which was neither paradise nor lodgelike, but thanks to the motel’s proximity to the docks, therewasa constant fishy smell.

The woman in administration, who arranged my temporary housing, had apologized for the lack of amenities but said it was the best they could do on short notice, what with it being tourist season and all.

I went to the nurses' station and called up to the fourth floor again. The man who eventually answered sounded out of breath. I inquired when they would send someone down to examine my patient. He huffed and said it would be as soon as possible, then hung up. I got the feeling the Psych department had a different interpretation of ASAP than I did. Still holding the phone, dumbfounded, I looked at Elenora. “Is it always this hard to get a consult?”

“Not always.” The nursing supervisor gave me a sympathetic smile. “Most of the hospital is still understaffed. We’re lucky to have Dr. Paulson. She’s made recruiting a priority since taking over the ER. But then, I don’t have to tell you that.”

She returned her attention to the computer on the counter in front of her. Hoping something new had come on the market since I last looked, I took out my phone and scrolled through the real estate ads.

Buried in student loan debt, I ignored the properties listed for sale, but even rentals in Turtle Key were expensive. The hospital was only paying for a month of temporary housing, so I needed to find something soon. Apartments in my budget were scarce and got snapped up as soon as they were listed. I was starting to think I might need to find someone looking for a roommate.

“Don't you ever leave here?” a voice behind me asked. I turned around to see HB standing there with a smile on his face and looking damn sexy. I’ve always been attracted to guys in uniform and his fit him well. Like it had been custom tailored for his broad chest and narrow waist.

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