Page 3 of Need Me
“Shut up. I can’t helpit.”
He got a kick out the way his normally level-headed boss sometimes got a little crazy these days. At fourteen weeks along, Kate’s mood swings were in full force. “I know. You’re adorable, though. I’m heading home for a nice hot shower and anap.”
“Don’t forget toeat.”
“Yes,Mommy.”
“You suck,” she said. “Talk to youlater.”
“Bye, SpecialK.”
Robert hung up, started his car, and headed down the mountain to Cooper’s Creek. Although he was exhausted, he decided to swing by the hospital to find out how Davey was doing. Robert could never rest until he checked on the people he rescued. So, instead of going home, Robert headed for Cooper’s Creek MedicalCenter.
* * *
“Caitlynn,can you come in a little earlier thisevening?”
Brooke Carpenter rubbed her forehead as she spoke into a desk phone in the Cooper’s Creek Medical Center ER. She loved her new job as head ER nurse, but there were drawbacks to it. Like trying to find nurses and clerks to cover shifts when employees calledoff.
That afternoon, they’d had a rush of patients, whose conditions ranged from cardiac issues to respiratory infections. The nurses who’d called in sick were repeat offenders, and Brooke decided that heads were going to roll. There were plenty of good nurses out there who’d be glad for thejobs.
“You can? That’s fantastic. Thanks, sweetie.” Brooke chuckled. “Pfft! You know me. I never get out of here on time. Gotta go. Bye.” She rolled her office chair over to a computer and brought up their charting system. Narrowing her eyes, she muttered, “Dr. Danforth, you just pissed off the wrong woman.” She logged off and left the nurses’station.
As another nurse approached her, Brooke stopped her. “Monica, have you seen Dr.Danforth?”
Monica, a middle-aged woman with dark hair, shook her head. “No. Is everythingokay?”
Brooke sighed. “He’s leaving soon and he still has four charts to finish. I have to catch him before he goes. If you see him, tell him I want him,okay?”
“You got it,Brooke.”
Brooke’s voice grew faint as she thanked Monica. “Oh, goodLord.”
Monica followed Brooke’s gaze. “I’ll say. Who’sthat?”
“A woman’s wet dream in a rock climbing outfit,” Brookeresponded.
Monica muffled a laugh behind the clipboard she carried. “I take it you knowhim.”
Know him? Sort of. They’d spent her friend Kate’s wedding on the dance floor but he’d never called her after that. Perhaps that had been a good thing. She’d still been hurting over the way her cheating finance, now ex-finance had treated her. Robert might have sensed her hesitation that night, but now it was time to put the mistakes of her past behindher.
Brooke raised an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah, I know him, and I intend to get to know him a whole lot better. Excuse me for amoment.”
“Sure thing,” Monicasaid.
Brooke zeroed in on the man she’d had a crush on for several months. Robert Chambers was the total package—he just didn’t know it. The man was six feet of lean muscle with an adorable smile, messy brown hair and soulful brown eyes behind blackglasses.
She could still remember how wonderful it had been to dance in his arms all night at Ric and Kate’s wedding. They bonded over their joint need to help people, her as a nurse and Robert as a member of the mountain rescue team. They both found their roles hugely satisfying. She’d thought they had a real connection but, for some reason, Robert had not rung her for a date. To say she’d been disappointed was an understatement. She’d even asked Kate if he was seeing someone but she’d said no. So what was this man’s story? Perhaps she hadn’t been as obvious about her feelings as she’d thought. She frowned. Maybe she’d been too obvious and he’d run! Time to findout.
Clark Kent, eat your heart out,she thought, walking towards him. His blue spandex climbing shorts hugged his powerful thighs highlighting the fact that he was a very blessed male specimen. The matching black spandex, short sleeved shirt fit his trim waist, wide chest, and big biceps like he’d been poured intoit.
“You look lost, Mr. Chambers,” she said, nearinghim.
He looked for the source of the voice and then smiled when he spotted her. Her stomach did a little flip as the expression made him even betterlooking.
He adjusted his glasses and stood a little straighter. “Hi, Brooke. How areyou?”
“I’m good, thanks. How aboutyourself?”
