Free Patient Nurse by Diana Palmer

a preexisting condition” he was reminded.
    â€œYes, of course.”
    He thanked the man and left, silently promising himself that he was going to get to the bottom of Noreen’s odd behavior and any health secrets she might be harboring.
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    He couldn’t examine her forcibly, but he could observe her. He spent more time at O’Keefe during the next week. He could do it without attracting undue attention because he had several recovering patients there.
    He managed to stand close to Noreen while they were going over Mrs. Charles’s chart. He could hear the breathless sound of her voice, see the flutter of her pulse against the collar of her blouse. Her pallor was evident now, along with the dark circles under her eyes and the weakness that manifested itself in her lack of animation.
    But despite his noble motives, it slowly dawned on him that Noreen was excited by his proximity. He remembered the teasing statement she’d once made about his closeness being the reason for her fast heartbeat. He hadn’t taken it seriously. But it seemed to be the truth. She reacted visibly to him, and not only because of whatever illness was beginning to show in her.
    It disturbed him because he seemed as vulnerable as she did. He found himself noticing the elegance of her long-fingered hands, the blemishless skin on her oval face, the delicate shape of her mouth. He’d forcedhimself to never pay attention to her while Isadora was alive, but slowly he began to remember things about Noreen. How she’d blushed when he looked at her, even indifferently. How she avoided him when she was living with Isadora’s parents. How she never seemed able to speak to him except on the job. She’d betrayed her feelings for him in a hundred ways over the years, and he’d deliberately avoided noticing.
    Until now.
    He met her eyes, unblinking, and watched the pupils dilate. She was vulnerable and he wanted to protect her. He hadn’t felt that way with Isadora. He’d wanted his wife obsessively, loved her, but she wasn’t the woman she’d pretended to be while he was courting her. After they’d married they’d argued incessantly about her need for company, for parties and social gatherings. She’d refused to even discuss Ramon’s hunger for a child. Isadora hadn’t wanted the responsibility of children. He scowled as he remembered these things.
    â€œYou needn’t glower at me,” Noreen muttered, averting her gaze protectively to the chart she was holding. “I haven’t been late on any more medications.”
    â€œIt wasn’t that,” he said slowly. His eyes fell to the unsteady rhythm of her jacket, mirroring her heavy heartbeat.
    She stepped a little away from him, because the contact with his tall, elegant body disturbed her so. “Were there any other charts you wanted to go over?” she asked unsteadily.
    He stuck his hands into the pockets of his lab coat and stared at her without smiling. “I want you to see your family physician and have a complete physical,” he said suddenly, bringing her shocked eyes up to meethis. “You’re ill and trying to hide it. But it won’t work. You can’t possibly go on like this.”
    She was all but speechless as she gaped at him. “I…I’ve had a checkup,” she stammered, floored by his interest in her state of health.
    â€œAnd…?” he prompted.
    â€œMy doctor said that I needed more B-12 in my diet and he gave me a bottle of iron pills,” she lied.
    He scowled. “That doesn’t explain this.” He touched her throat lightly, where the pulse jumped erratically.
    She jerked back from him, so disturbed by his touch that she flushed red. “Dr. Cortero.” She choked out his name. “I’m not obliged to share my physical condition with you. You’re not my doctor!”
    â€œNo, but I am on staff here,” he replied