Free One Summerhill Day (The Summerhill Series Book 1) by Keira Montclair Page B

someone call out her name. She swung around to see who it was and had to repress a groan when she saw it was Lucille.
    “I hope that isn’t for my patient.”
    Caitlyn said, “I don’t know. I just answered the call light, and the woman asked for some ice chips. I’m only trying to help.”
    “Well don’t. Stay away from my patients.”
    “Lucille, I can’t refuse a direct request for help. I think it will help lighten your load a little.”
    Lucille glared at her. “Don’t worry about my load. I don’t give this warning lightly, newbie. Stay away from my patients.”
    That cemented what she already knew—working with Lucille was going to be a challenge. Too bad nurses couldn’t interview the rest of the floor before they accepted their position in a unit.
    At the end of their shift, she and Mallory walked out to the parking lot together. Caitlyn was just about to get into her car when a police cruiser pulled up next to them and stopped. Her gut clenched. What had they done?
    The window rolled down and Ryan smiled at them. “Ladies.”
    Caitlyn couldn’t help but smile back. She had fond memories of last night.
    “Cait,” Ryan said. “I have some information for you, and I have an hour for dinner. Do you want to go to the diner with me?”
    Caitlyn glanced at Mallory. “Um, sure. Right now?”
    “Well, this is my break. Can I meet you there?”
    Mallory gave her a push. “Go ahead. Good job today. I’ll see you next week.” She headed in the opposite direction.
    “Okay. I’ll meet you there in five minutes.” Caitlyn waved and headed to her car, just noticing that her heartbeat sped up at the sight of Ryan Ramsay.
    She hadn’t realized it, but she’d missed him, and it had only been one day.

 
    Chapter Eight
     
    Ryan stood up as soon as he saw Cait walk through the door of the diner. Damn, but she even looked great in scrubs. As soon as she slid in the seat across from him, he said, “First day go okay?”
    “Yeah, I wanted to get to know the hospital and the department a bit before orientation.”
    “How’d it go?”
    “Actually, other than one thing, everything went very well. Your sister is my preceptor, and I know we’ll get along great.”
    “And the one thing?”
    “Oh, just a nurse I had a couple of run-ins with. Mallory says it’s not uncommon for this particular woman.”
    “Mallory won’t let anyone walk all over her. You shouldn’t either.” Ryan waved to a couple he recognized as they walked through the front door.
    “I won’t. I held my ground.”
    Ryan shook his head. “I’ll never understand why some nurses are such bitches.”
    “It happens frequently. Now they call it bullying. I’m sure I’ll hear all about it in orientation next week.”
    The waitress came over, and they both placed their orders.
    As soon as she left, Cait said, “So…you said you have news?”
    Ryan sat up straight in his seat. This wasn’t going to be easy, but Cait had already known her aunt was dead, so that part wouldn’t come as a surprise. He decided to plunge ahead. “I checked on your aunt in Buffalo. She died in a car accident last December. Black ice, nothing suspicious.” Well, there was nothing suspicious on the report. He had his own thoughts, but he wasn’t ready to share them with her yet. Of course, he had found out quite a bit about her husband, too, but since he’d done that research on his own volition, he didn’t feel it was his place to tell her what he’d discovered. He reached for her hand and covered it with his. “I’m sorry, Cait.”
    “Oh, a car accident?” She was quiet for a moment, and Ryan could tell her mind was churning with a million questions.
    Guessing what she would ask next, he said, “She died instantly, Cait.”
    Her gaze shot up and caught his for an instant, enough for him to see her pain. “Oh, well that’s good, I guess. Thank you, Ryan, for letting me know.”
    “I left my name and number with the Buffalo PD in case any issues