Page 4 of Holiday Haven

Except to stand there, anticipating Adam's arrival. Hiding in her patient’s room. How pathetic. Hadn't she changed at all over the past eighteen months? More so than her outward appearance, she'd been striving to become more self-confident, more outgoing and assertive.

Enough time had passed for her to get over her secret crush on Adam Monroe.

Danielle wouldn't have hidden in an empty patient room. Her older sister had always reacted a little differently to things than she had. When they'd been shuffled from one relative's house to the other, Danielle had only gotten into more trouble, while Krista had become quieter and even more well-behaved. She loved her sister, had really missed her since Danielle had moved to take a job in London.

“Which room?” She heard a deep male voice ask.

“Right behind you in 618.” Emily's voice was clear. “I think Krista is in there, getting things ready.”

“Thanks.”

She barely had time to turn around before Adam walked in, cradling a baby against his chest with one hand and carrying the infant carrier with the other.

For a moment their gazes locked, his mesmerizing green eyes, holding her captive. She almost took a step back from the impact. Instead, she forced herself to stand her ground.

“Krista? Krista Vaughn?” He stared at her, recognition dawning in his eyes. “How long have you worked here?”

CHAPTERTWO

“I—uh, about six months.” Adam had recognized her. She couldn't believe he'd recognized her. A secret thrill warred with disappointment. Obviously, she didn't look as different as she'd hoped. She cleared her throat, willing herself not to say something stupid. She stepped aside to give him access to the crib. The sleeve of his leather coat brushed against her arm as he sent the infant seat aside then gently placed the baby on the mattress. His musky male scent, intermixed with leather, clouded her senses.

Bringing back memories she found impossible to ignore.

Focus on their patient, she told herself sternly. He stepped away just as she moved forward and they bumped into each other. His hand came up to grasp her arm, steadying her. She hoped her reaction to his touch wasn't too noticeable as she asked, “Who is this little girl you have here?”

“Joy Smith, for lack of anything better.” Adam let her go and took a step back. She could still feel the warm imprint from his grasp on her arm. Her cheeks burned as she quickly busied herself with the baby.

Then his words registered. “For lack of anything better?” She frowned, unzipping the baby's sleeper. “Don't you know her name?”

“Her first name is Joy, but I don't know her last name.” He tunneled his hand through his sable colored hair, leaving it mussed. “She was left in my waiting room. I'm assuming as a safe haven baby.”

“You’re kidding.” Her initial discomfort faded. Adam had recognized her but hadn't mentioned or asked about Danielle. Did that mean he'd gotten over her sister? She sincerely hoped so as Danielle was dating somebody else. And from what she could tell, her sister's relationship was serious. Her gaze dropped back to the crying infant. A safe haven baby? She had never cared for one before. “She feels warm.”

“Yes, her last rectal temp was 103.4 degrees. I need you to start an IV and draw blood cultures. Once that is finished, we'll need to do a lumbar puncture.”

She picked up the baby, who immediately quieted against her. “I’ll call for the procedure team, I'm sure there's a resident available to do the lumbar puncture.”

He frowned, shaking his head. “No. I'll do it.”

“You?” Krista couldn't hide her surprise. The hour was late, eight-thirty at night. There had to be dozens of other things Adam would rather do on a Tuesday evening. Danielle had broken off their engagement after the car accident. Surely he'd begun to date again in the year that had passed.

“Yes, me.” He raised a brow at her incredulous tone. “I'll enter a series of admission orders in her medical record while you get started.”

“Of course.” To her relief, Adam chose not to use the computer in the room but left to head to the nurses station. She stared at the empty doorway for a moment, remembering the time he'd rescued her from a second date gone bad. She'd called Danielle to pick her up, but Adam had answered the phone instead because her sister hadn't been feeling well. He'd immediately come to for her, angry at how her date had been a little too enthusiastic about getting his end of the night kiss. She'd been a mess, emotionally so more than physically, and Adam had given her a hug, offering comfort.

She'd known he viewed her like a younger sister, but her feelings for him had morphed into something more that night. Maybe because her track record with men hadn't been very good. She had a tendency to find losers, making it too easy to think of Adam as her knight in shining armor. Thankfully her summer break from college had ended and she hadn't had to face Adam for a long time afterwards. Until two weeks before Christmas.

Before the car crash.

Joy squirmed in her embrace, reminding her she had work to do. She took a moment to nuzzle Joy’s downy head with her cheek. Then quickly went to work.

A safe haven baby. She had only heard about them, and knew it was a law that had been put into place to encourage young mothers to give up their babies without any questions asked, or fear of retribution. She wondered why Joy's mother had taken such a drastic action. And about what happened if the young mother changed her mind?

She had no idea.

She set the baby and the procedure table, removed the bright pink sleeper in strapped Joy securely so she wouldn't fall off. Starting IV's on babies was the hardest thing she'd had to learn during her transition to becoming a pediatric nurse.

She managed to place the IV on the first stick, drew one set of blood cultures off the line, and was basking in the glow of her success when Adam returned.

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