But first, he needed to finish up with this patient and get his notes filed. Exasperated, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Yes, he wanted to be in pediatrics. Yes, he loved kids. However, he did not like belligerent parents trying to tell him his own damned job.
“Ma’am, for the fifth and last time. Your son has a cold. A cold is a virus, not an infection. We don’t have medicines for colds. Your best bet is vitamin C, rest, and throat lozenges from the drugstore.”
“Are you sure it’s not the flu?” she asked.
The boy’s eyes widened with panic. “The flu? Like the bad one where people die?”
“No, he doesn’t have the flu. He has a cold.” Rhys turned to the five-year-old. “Know why you don’t have the flu?” He waited for the kid to shake his head before he answered, “Because right here in my pages it says you’ve had your flu shot. And the bad flu has specific symptoms. You’re not showing signs of that.”
Finally, the woman and her son left. As he walked back to the ER nurses’ station to meet up with his residency group and clock out, he passed several signs stating in various colors and fonts ‘A cold is a virus. There is no medicine to treat the common cold.’ One even listed items that helped the patient rest comfortably at home.
Just as he entered the emergency room where he’d started his rotation, the love of his life strode through the electronic doors. Her brown hair was in its usual twist and her slender form was draped all in black. The only colors were the badge clipped to her hip and her gorgeous blue eyes. It was the argument that made Rhys look for Jo’s partner, Sullivan.
“I wouldn’t have tackled the pimp if he wasn’t sneaking up on you with a knife. I told you he was nearby, and we should’ve asked the other hooker, but you never listen.” Her expression was foreboding as if she were reaching the end of her patience. Not that his prickly detective had much patience. “And I sure as heck wasn’t standing by while he stabbed you. Even if you deserved it for ignoring me.”
As she faced forward, her crystal-colored blue eyes landed on him, and the frown on her mouth slid into a smile.
“Well hello, doctor,” she said. “I think I’m feverish. Maybe you should check me.”
He stifled a chuckle and shook his head. Her gait went from predatory to a slow saunter as she drew closer to him. Rhys loved it. Loved how those light blue eyes heated just for him. Most found it disconcerting to look into the orbs, but he found them enchanting.
A throat cleared and Jo’s eyes widened and then narrowed as they landed on someone behind Rhys. Half turning, he sighed. He didn’t like working with this doctor, the man was annoying with how he’d run at the mouth.
“Tony.” Jo crossed her arms. Her boot tapped on the linoleum.
How the . . . it took him a few seconds to remember the one date she’d gone on with a doctor long before she’d met Rhys.
“Josephine,” Dr. Tony Carmichael smiled. “How’re you doing?”
“Better than the guy I punched earlier.” She pointed toward Sullivan and Rhys stifled a chuckle. He’d missed the handcuffed man Sullivan was dragging in his wake. “He’s bleeding all over his shirt now that I ripped his mask off and put it into evidence. So if you could patch him up so we can hand him off to some rookies we have coming in, I’d really appreciate it.”
Dr. Carmichael’s eyes widened and he gulped. “Um, Nurse Meyers, can you take this gentleman into a bay?”
A statuesque woman with light brown hair stepped around the counter. She was Rhys’s favorite nurse. Harsh when needed and a pile of goo for all the kids.
Jo smiled at the woman. “Hi Nancy.”
It was then Rhys remembered Nurse Meyers was married to a lieutenant helping Jo and Sullivan transition to their new position.
“Detective Rayburn,” Nurse Meyers returned Jo’s smile. “Or should I say Lieutenant?”
“Not yet, but soon.”
A throat clearing made them all jump and turn to Dr. Carmichael.
“Sorry, Doctor. I’ll show them to an empty bay.” Nurse Meyers headed to the back.
“Thanks, Nancy.” Sullivan’s brown gaze met the doctor’s. “We also need a panel of drug tests run on the guy.”
Dr. Carmichael pointed after the nurse’s retreating form. “Explain to Nurse Meyers what you need, and she’ll handle it.”
With that, he herded the residents back through the doors, but Jo hurried forward and pressed a kiss to Rhys’s lips.
“Just a tide over, hon.” She smiled, turned and followed Sullivan and the suspect down the hall.
Rhys couldn’t take his eyes off her sexy swaying hips as she morphed from sultry to all business again.
Dr. Carmichael urged the residents down the opposite corridor, but when they filed into the room, he placed a staying hand on Rhys’s arm.
Facing the man, he arched a brow. Jo told him it made him look imperious and cool. Like a badass librarian who turned her on. Rian called her nuts, because he said it made Rhys look like he was calculating the torque he would use to rip someone’s head off. As that was the typical reaction, it was no surprise when Dr. Carmichael took a careful step back and dropped his hand.
“So, uh . . . do you like ménages?” The doctor asked quietly, his dark brown eyes bounced around the bustling corridor.
“Excuse me?” Rhys had heard about the date from hell the night he’d asked Jo out on a date. Looking back, he had trouble believing her, but now he saw she had not been exaggerating.
“Well, she said she likes it with two guys, I was—”
“First, you are my employer, and I refuse to answer that question. Second, you better get any thoughts about my future wife out of your head, right now. And third, you need to tell your mother to teach you some manners
