Free Uncovering Hope (Uncovering Love Book 3) by Kacey Shea

play video games, watch movies, or jam out. It’s endearing and sweet because he’s not doing it to impress anyone. At least I don’t think he is. Not with that many hours in a sick kid’s room. He still flirts with me shamelessly, though in a playful manner, and for the most part I think he does it for Luis’ entertainment.
    I always get assigned Luis. The nurses on staff know he’s my favorite patient and wouldn’t dare move him to someone else during my shifts. A new bonus to taking care of Luis is getting a glimpse at the real man behind the rock star front. The best was last night. I came in to find them trying out some new phone app. Making silly faces while doing voice overs to sound clips. They were laughing so hard I had to give them the mom voice, to keep it down because other patients were sleeping, when really I wanted to hug Derek. He brings Luis so much joy in spite of the brutal side effects to his new chemo mix.
    I check my watch. It’s almost ten-thirty, so I head to Room 412, where I’m certain I’ll find the duo. I have to kick him out every night. They’re both night owls, but Luis needs his sleep.
    I knock softly and step inside. Derek is singing the lyrics to a song I don’t know, and strumming his guitar. Luis is keeping beat. Hell, yeah. He’s actually keeping a steady beat and it makes me grin. Not bad after two weeks of practice.
    “Hey, boys. It’s bedtime,” I interrupt. “You’re getting better, Luis.” He grins at my compliment and sets the drum sticks on the bedside table. He grunts with a wince as he twists to his side.
    “How’s your pain?” I place my fingers over his wrist to check his pulse. I brush the back of my hand over his forehead just to be sure. I’m relieved to find his skin cool and dry to my touch.
    “My side just hurts tonight,” he reasons. I nod, and pull out his chart to make a few notes.
    “One to ten?”
    “Just a five, maybe six.”
    “You buzz me if it gets any higher than that. Or if you can’t fall asleep, okay?” I put his chart away and help adjust his bed, pillows, and blankets so he’s all snuggled in for the night.
    Derek watches and waits at the door. I can feel his gaze at my back, but don’t look his way. “Goodnight, Luis. Buzz me if you need anything, okay?”
    “Okay. ’Night, Nurse Carly. ’Night, Derek.”
    “’Night, Luis.”
    Derek opens the door and holds it for me. I flip the lights off on my way out. Derek waits until the door clicks shut before he turns to me.
    “He seemed more tired tonight.” Derek’s brows knit into a frown.
    I nod. “Yeah, this latest round is taking its toll. But only another ten days. He can handle it.”
    “What happens in ten days? What’s next?”
    I start walking to the nurses’ station. Derek keeps his stride in time with my own. “The team will evaluate his care plan. He’ll get a little break and go for tests so we can see how well his body responded to this latest round.”
    “Okay. Thanks, Carly. You take good care of him. He likes you the most. You’re his favorite nurse.”
    I laugh. We reach my desk and I turn to face Derek with a smirk. “I’m sure he says that about all his nurses.”
    “No.” He lowers he voice and glances around before adding, “He loves you most, told me so. He’s just nice to all the nurses so they’ll dote on him. He’s playing them, but you’re special.”
    I shake my head. Nothing we didn’t already know, the kid has natural charm, but I take delight that he likes me best. “Quite the player, that one. You giving him lessons on that, too?” I tease and Derek pretends to look insulted.
    “What? I don’t know what you mean! You implying I have some mad skills with the ladies?” He wiggles his brows.
    “That’s what you tell me, though honestly, I can’t say I’ve seen those skills in play.” Liar. This man’s gaze alone elicits my most indecent thoughts. He steps close and reaches out to dance his fingertips down the skin of