Page 22 of Holiday Haven

“Great.” He shouldn’t feel like a kid who’d just been handed a large Christmas gift, but he did.

CHAPTERSEVEN

Adam didn't see much of Krista over the next few days, just the occasional encounter when he made rounds at the hospital. He’d checked in on Joy, pleased with her progress. The baby would be ready for discharge in a day or two at the most, but he wasn't sure how long it would take to place her in a temporary foster home.

After making rounds, he'd had to go back to the clinic. The flu season had hit with a vengeance, and they had dozens of kids flocking in to seek medical attention. Even though Phoebe was back from her trip, they were so busy he went home late more often than not. On Friday, as he closed down the clinic later than usual, he thought he saw the same woman as before. She was wearing the same dark blue scarf over her head and walking towards the bus stop. He turned up his coat collar against the biting cold wind and headed down the sidewalk to talk to her.

She must have glimpsed him coming because suddenly she wasn't there. He frowned breaking into a run, scanning the crowded streets for her. With only two weeks until Christmas, the area was packed with shoppers laden with bags and packages. He dodged pedestrians, trying to figure out which way she'd gone, desperate to at least get close enough to take her picture.

Twenty minutes later, he was forced to admit he'd lost her. But even as he strode back toward his car, he knew he was on to something. The scarf woman looked guilty, and the way she disappeared to avoid him made him all the more determined to talk to her. She must be Joy’s mother. It was the only logical explanation.

He considered Krista’s plan to become a foster mother to Joy. While admirable, he wondered if she really understood what she was getting herself into. Babies were adorable, no doubt about that, but they were also a huge responsibility. Especially a deaf infant. His stomach twisted as he remembered the night he'd lost his son. The agony of watching Danielle double over in pain, knowing she was losing their baby yet helpless to do anything to prevent it.

He never wanted to go through that again. Blocking the horrible images from his past, he took a deep breath and stared through the windshield, waiting for his car to warm up, assailed by doubts. Had he made a mistake and inviting Krista to his parents’ house for dinner? No matter how hard he tried to convince himself otherwise, he felt as if he was being slowly drawn into something resembling a relationship.

The heated kiss they'd shared still haunted him. Krista deserved someone better, but he hadn't imagined her response to him. She'd kissed him back, there was no doubt about that.

He was tempted to call her even went as far as to pull his phone out of his pocket before he remembered she was working second shift.

Shoving his phone back, he took a hard right to head for the hospital. There was no reason for him to go back, but he drove in that direction anyway. He wanted to see Krista.

Even if it meant only more heartache for him in the end once she knew the truth.

* * *

Krista was having a busy night.They had an influx of babies with the flu being admitted for dehydration. After she'd started her third IV, she glanced at the clock, wondering how many more patients they could possibly take before the end of their shift. There were only two empty beds, but that didn't mean one of their patients wouldn't be discharged or moved to another floor to make room for more.

To her surprise Adam walked onto the unit, wearing his black leather coat and looking devastatingly attractive. Her heart slammed against her ribs when his gaze sought and met hers. He carried a large white bag. A hint of peanut oil, soy sauce and ginger tickled her nose, making her mouth water.

“Hey, Krista. Do you have time to take a break for dinner?” He held up the white bag.

“Dinner? Chinese?” There had to be Chinese food in the bag. She shook her head with real regret even as her stomach rumbled. “I don't think so, Adam. As much as I'd love to eat, I shouldn't leave the floor right now. We've been flooded with admissions.” She didn't want anything to happen in her absence, not like the other day when she'd gone to lunch and Brittany had arrested.

“Brittany is fine,” Adam said in that annoying way he had of reading her mind. “She tolerated surgery very well and is recovering nicely in the P ICU.”

“I know, I checked on her the other day.” She had been reassured by the baby’s condition. “I still don't think I should leave.

“What if we stayed up here, in the break room?” Adam persisted. “I brought plenty to share. The rest of the nursing staff can eat, too.”

He was sweet to understand her dilemma. Relieved, she nodded. “That would be great, thanks. Let me just tell Emily and Jenny I'm taking my break now but then I'm nearby if they need me.”

She hurried off and spoke with both nurses, before returning as quickly as possible to the break room. Adam had unpacked all the white containers, filling the break room with the tantalizing aroma of ginger.

“You need to eat,” he gently chided as she filled her plate with succulent sweet and sour shrimp over rice. “It's not healthy to skip meals.”

Strange to hear him say that. Danielle's appetite had been anything but robust, it was one way her sister had managed to maintain her slim figure. Krista had always eaten when she was hungry, which is why she wasn't as willowy slim like Danielle. “I'm fine. Thanks for bringing this over. Much better than the sandwich I slapped together at home in case we were too busy to go down to the cafeteria.”

“Our clinic has been swamped with patients, too.” He helped himself to a plate and took a seat across from her. “Thankfully we haven't needed to admit any of our patients.”

She wasn’t about to mention how she’d been disappointed when none of her new admissions had been from his clinic.

An awkward silence fell. She glanced at him beneath her lashes, even as she made quick work of her meal. Why was he here? Because he didn't have anything better to do? Or worse because he felt sorry for her? The thought was depressing.

Before she could ask, Jenny rushed into the break room. “Krista? Oliver, my new admission in room 604 is throwing up. Can you help me? I'm worried he'll aspirate.”

“Of course. I’ll be right there.” Jenny left. She sent Adam an apologetic glance as she rose to her feet. “I'm sorry, but I need to go.”

“I understand.” He stood, regarding her steadily. “I'll see you tomorrow, around six o’clock.”

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