Free The Nurse's Brooding Boss by Laura Iding

bad enough to bother Elana with on a Saturday? After all, Lacey’s cuts weren’t bleeding or anything. At least not the ones he’d caught a glimpse of. He’d almost pulled out his phone before he realized he didn’t have Elana’s number. He’d have to call the ED to get it.
    Tempted, he hesitated. He forced himself to think rationally. Did he want to call Elana for Lacey’s sake? Or for his own?
    To make himself feel better. Disturbed, he stuck the phone back in his pocket and handed Lacey the baby. He fetched his wallet and car keys as Lacey put Tucker into his infant carrier.
    He could handle this crisis without Elana’s help. Hedrove to the New Beginnings Clinic, telling himself that leaving Elana out of his problems was the right thing to do. He could always mention the cuts on Lacey’s arm the next time he saw her at work.
    The clinic was packed, and he did his best to wait patiently in line until it was their turn, even though he wanted to march in there, demanding Tucker be seen next.
    “Lacey and Tucker?” the petite receptionist called out. “You’re next. Follow me.”
    Surprised that they were taken so quickly, although it was possible the receptionist behind the desk couldn’t take Tucker’s crying any more than he could, he gratefully followed Lacey and the baby into the tiny exam room.
    A nurse turned to face them when they came in.
    His jaw dropped to his chest in surprise when he saw Elana.
     
    “Lacey!” Elana looked just as surprised to see them. Her gaze skittered over him and landed on Lacey and Tucker. She frowned. “What’s wrong?”
    “Tucker’s crying again, but it’s different this time, Elana.” Lacey shocked him by speaking up for herself. “Honest, it’s not the same colicky cry as before.”
    Brock felt the need to stick up for Lacey. “She’s right, you can definitely tell the difference.”
    “I believe you, Lacey,” Elana assured her, barely glancing at him.
    “I examined him at home, but I didn’t have a pediatric ophthalmoscope,” Brock explained. “So I couldn’tlook at his ears. The way he’s acting, though, I’m betting he has bilateral ear infections.”
    This time, she didn’t ignore him. “Thanks, Brock. I’ll take a quick look, and then I’ll get Dr Liz in here right away.”
    Feeling unusually useless—normally he was the one in charge within a medical situation—he stepped back and tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Elana was focused on Tucker, using the pediatric ophthalmoscope to peer into his ears. With her silky dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, he found it difficult to tear his gaze away from the graceful curve of her neck.
    “Brock’s right,” Elana murmured a few minutes later. “Hold on to Tucker, Lacey, while I get Dr Liz.”
    Dr Liz Jacoby was a statuesque woman who took charge the minute she entered the room. Impressed with her gentle, yet no-nonsense manner, he was pleased when she quickly concurred with his diagnosis.
    “This little guy needs a full course of antibiotics,” she announced. “Good thing you brought him in when you did.”
    “Maybe I should have taken him straight to Trinity Medical Center’s ED, where I work. I’m Dr Brock Madison,” he introduced himself belatedly.
    “Personally, I’m glad you came here.” Liz’s wide gaze sharpened on him. “You’re the new guy, aren’t you? Recruited from Minneapolis? I’ve heard you’re a good addition to the emergency department team.” Liz Jacoby flashed a brilliantly white smile. “So what do youthink of my little clinic, hmm? If you’re interested, we’re always looking for new doctors to volunteer their time.”
    There was a loud crash as Elana dropped a tray of instruments she’d been carrying to the sink. He couldn’t help but notice the flash of horror on her face. Obviously, Elana didn’t want him anywhere near the clinic.
    “I’ll think about it,” he hedged, unwilling to flat-out refuse when he knew that clinics like