He’d also come to rely on Mina and her family to keep him sane and help him learn how to survive, and thrive, in Canada. They’d opened their home to him, let him know he was always welcome. He’d gotten Mina to admit she’d told them about the abuse he suffered at home and, for a while, he’d felt as though Mr. and Mrs. Haraldson were only kind to him out of pity. Eventually, though, he’d realized they treated him like one of their own kids and had grown to depend on their emotional support. There was no way he was risking losing that because he fooled around with their daughter.
So, although Mina was the only girl he’d really wanted back then, he’d decided their friendship and his future were more important, and had put thoughts of being with her aside.
And of course, there was Warren the Worm, who’d swooped in when Mina was just barely sixteen, and never left.
He’s gone now.
No. He couldn’t afford to think that way. Nothing had changed, really. He still couldn’t afford to lose her friendship, albeit for much different reasons. He also couldn’t offer her anything she couldn’t find, get, or have on her own.
If it were anyone else, he’d be sending out feelers, trying to see if they were interested in an affair. But this wasn’t some random woman he could sleep with and then walk away from without it leaving scars.
In fact, even having these thoughts was shocking. He’d invited her to the island to help break her out of her funk, not to complicate her life, or his, further.
Putting it to himself that way helped, if only minimally.
Partway through her second week at the hospital, she sought him out for some advice.
“I got a call from a coach in Trinidad, asking me to examine one of his players—a youngster named Yanique Smith—who’s been having issues with his shoulder. I told him I’d call him back, but I wanted to check to see what the protocol is.”
Kiah whistled. “Smith plays on the Trinidadian under-sixteen national cricket team and is being touted as the next Andy Roberts.”
Mina’s blank stare made him chuckle. Canada may also be an ex-British colony, but they didn’t share the rest of the Commonwealth’s obsession with cricket, as her befuddlement made clear. “Who on earth is Andy Roberts?”
“He was a top fast bowler for the West Indies, and this young man is said to be on his way to being as good, if not better.”
“Be that as it may, I don’t know how to handle this. I don’t even know how his coach heard I was here, or whether it’s against hospital protocol to have patients fly in from outside for private consultations. Besides, I don’t want to step on any toes. I’m sure they have perfectly capable orthopedic specialists in Trinidad.”
“I’m guessing it’s one of two things,” Kiah said, turning her toward the executive offices. “Either word has got out that you’re here, through the Clinicians’ Union, and the coach wants to have Smith looked at by the best doctor he can, or he doesn’t want it to get out that Smith is injured. Taking him out of Trinidad to get treatment could make it less likely that the public finds out.”
“Okay,” she said slowly. “So what do I do?”
“Check with Dr. Hamilton. As the hospital director, he can advise you better than I can.”
It was the first of several calls from other islands, and even South America, with patients wanting to be seen by Mina—some for diagnosis, others for second opinions.
Passing Dr. Hamilton a couple days later in the hallway, Kiah found his arm grasped, and himself the recipient of a huge grin.
“Kiah, this idea of yours to have Dr. Haraldson come here was brilliant. She’s already increasing our profile, and revenue.” The older gentleman gave Kiah’s arm a shake and continued, “Please start working on her to get her to stay on permanently. At this rate, we would be devastated to lose her after only a short time.”
Kiah could only smile weakly and say he would, although he had no intention of doing any such thing. He couldn’t even think about her staying permanently with any equanimity, much less broach the topic with her.
Worse, he was starting to think she was staying too long as it was.
No matter how he argued with himself that physical attraction had no place in their relationship, he couldn’t stop wanting her.
How was he going to resist her much longer?
Mina found herself far busier than she’d ever expected.
She’d thought they’d stick her in an office and mire her down with paperwork, only trotting her out when they needed to show her off to the Clinicians’ Union, but it wasn’t like that at all.
Instead, she found herself doing all kinds of things she hadn’t done in years, not all of which included anything to do with the musculoskeletal system. And it was always a joy when she was called on to work with Kiah.
Somewhere along the line, she’d forgotten just how good his technique and bedside manner were. Watching him put patients at ease or comforting someone in pain just made her heart ache a little. Yet, hadn’t she been the recipient of his tender care all these years? Funny how she’d taken it all for granted.
Trying to put a little distance between them hurt, but seemed completely necessary. Her longing for him, which she’d tried repeatedly to put into perspective and set aside, wasn’t abating. Achieving that distance was, however, more difficult than ever, since they were both working and living together.
That was, until a slew of requests for consultations came into the hospital, and it was rare she and Kiah actually shared patients.
“It’s not surprising, Dr. Haraldson,” Dr. Hamilton told her. “Your reputation is wonderful,
