“I’m an adult, but when I’m around her I feel like a love sick kid again. Ridiculous way for a grown man to act, isn’t it? Do you have any idea how hard it is to concentrate with her at work?”
Gigi smiled. “I don’t see that as a problem. It shows how much she means to you. Everyone should be so lucky as to have a love like that.”
He gazed at her, something in her voice making him take notice. “Do you ever regret giving up your life in New York to come and live with us?”
Her mouth dropped open while she digested his words. “What a question. Why would I regret it? You children have made me thankful every day that I have you in my life.”
“But you’ve never married or even had a long term relationship. Not that I’ve seen, anyway. Surely you must want someone of your own?” A smile twitched around the corners of her lips and he had the horrid feeling he was going to regret asking that question. “No. I take it back. Your love life is not my business.”
“I don’t mind sharing, Drew. You know that.”
“I’ve told you I don’t want to know. It makes me happy that you may have someone though. The finer details you can keep to yourself.” A shiver of horror rippled over his skin and Gigi laughed, a sound that lifted his mood a notch.
“If I must.”
“I should go to bed. It’s getting late and I have a big day tomorrow.” He yawned and stretched his arms above his head, easing the kinks out of his neck. Her weird and sometimes inappropriate humor always had a soothing effect on him, even if it did make his mind go crazy with visions he’d rather not see. Best to get out of the way before she got carried away and told him what he didn’t want to know.
“Sweet dreams, honey.”
“Night.” He gave her a peck on the cheek and walked down the hallway to his childhood bedroom wishing he was somewhere else.
Chapter 12
Drew popped his head into her room. “April, I need your help. Can you stay back for half an hour or so?”
“I don’t know. The kids will be hopping off the school bus shortly. I’ve never left them alone after school before.”
“Dad will walk up and get them. I already checked and he’s home and willing to do it. This patient couldn’t come in earlier and needs a dressing change for bad burns. She’s spent the last few months in Seattle in a burns unit and now she’s under our care but very anxious. Having you there with your calm demeanor could make all the difference, plus Liam told me you’ve had some experience with burns victims.”
“Yes, I have. Not a lot, but I did a short stint in the burns unit in San Diego when they were short staffed. If you’re sure Atticus wouldn’t mind taking the children for me, of course I’ll stay.”
“Thank you. It’s much appreciated.”
When their patient came in, April showed her to the treatment room. As she handed the final dressing to Drew, she smiled at the nervous teen. “If you have any problems with this, I want you to come back immediately, Cora. Don’t worry about bothering us; it’s our job to take care of you. I’d rather deal with it straight away and not have you stressing out over it and gaining an infection. That’s the last thing you want to happen after all you’ve been through.”
“Thank you, April.” She blushed and squeezed her mother’s hand as the last dressing touched her skin. Her shoulders visibly relaxed and she let out a sigh of relief.
“That was much easier than having to go back to the mainland, Drew. We really are very grateful you agreed to take on Cora’s health care. Being off the island in the burns ICU has been hard for the whole family.”
“I’m more than happy to help, Rowan. And it looks as though the burns will heal nicely. I expect a fair bit of scaring to begin with, but that will fade down over time.” Drew pulled off his gloves and patted Cora on the hand. “Good job, Cora. You took that one like a trooper. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dr. Drew. Guess I’ll see you in a couple of days to go over the whole thing again.”
“We’ll be here. Make an appointment with Nancy, earlier in the day when April is on duty so she can help out. You take care now.”
“Thanks, April.” Cora and her mother left and April started clearing the clinical waste away.
Drew’s cell phone beeped and he pulled it out of his pocket, read the message aloud. “Can you please let April know I’ve taken the children around to see Arlo. I wanted to pick up some fish for dinner and would I please ask April to join us for a meal.” He held the phone out to show her he wasn’t joking.
“It’s a school night. I try not to take the kids out because of homework.” Besides, she didn’t think she wanted to be in the same room as him after spending the whole day in his presence where the sexual attention made her question her own decisions. April needed to put space between them if she wasn’t going to go to bed feeling frazzled. It would be too easy to fall into a relationship, and then be gutted when he found out the truth about her. Realized she wasn’t the person he thought she was.
His phone chimed again.
“Apparently Gigi already helped them finish their homework and they don’t think you have an excuse to
