Uncovering Hope (Uncovering Love Book 3) (21 page)

“I’m Derek Taylor.” I reach out my hand to shake hers and then take the chair on the opposite side of the bed.

“I’m going to run downstairs and get some coffee. I need to make a call for work. Give you two some time to hang out.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Luis mutters. When the door clicks shut Luis nods to the television screen. “You wanna play?”

“Yeah. But I need to talk to you about something first.” I’ve been dreading this conversation for days. The chair legs scrape across the floor as I situate my chair to face Luis. I tap my fingers to an anxious beat on my knee.

“Wow, man. This must be serious stuff. Direct eye contact?” Luis’ lips pull up in a forced grin. He straightens his spine and scoots up in the hospital bed. He’s a smart kid. I blow out a breath in an attempt to relax. I don’t want to cause him any more stress than he’s already dealing with.

“I’m leaving today. I’ll be on tour for the next month.” His face falls in disappointment at my words. “I’m sorry, kid. I really like spending time with you, and it sucks that I won’t be able to visit you every night.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s cool.” His eyes cast downward as he fiddles with straightening the blanket over his lap. His shoulders hunch forward. I’ve disappointed him. I feel like a piece of shit.

“Hey. It’ll go by fast. I’ll be back before you know it.” I pat the bed and his gaze snaps to meet mine.

“Thanks for spending time with me. Like, I’m sure hanging out with a dying kid isn’t the most uplifting way to spend your—”

“Shut the fuck up,” I growl. Luis’ eyes widen and the skin where his eyebrows should be pulls into a wrinkle. “No. Seriously, shut the fuck up. You will probably never understand how much our time together means to me.”

“I was only joking.” He quickly apologizes.

“I know, but I’m being real here. You are one of the coolest people I’ve ever met, Luis. And I’ve met a lot of people. Don’t ever doubt that.” He nods and I hope he realizes how much he’s changed me, healed me, shaped me these short few weeks. I doubt he will and I can’t really explain it all anyway. The kid is only fourteen.

“Besides . . .” I grin and reach for the gaming controllers docked by his bedside. “Whose ass would I get to kick in Madden if I hadn’t met you?”

“Now you shut the fuck up!” He laughs and accepts the controller I pass him. “Everyone here knows I’m the one kicking your butt.”

“Whatever, that was one game, and I was really tired,” I defend myself, and Luis’ laughter fills the room. We spend the next half hour smack talking, gaming, and laughing. God, I’m going to miss this kid.

I stand up and stretch my arms over my head. I need to head out now. The thought that this might be the last time we hang out flashes in my mind. I blink back the thought along with the tears that threaten.

“So, I guess this is good-bye?” Luis gazes at the door.

“No.” I say.

“No?” He meets my eyes.

“No good-byes. It’s a see ya later, kid. I don’t do good-byes. I can’t say good-bye.”

“Cool.” Luis nods. “See you later, Derek.”

“You better keep practicing.” I point to the drum sticks on his table.

“I will.”

“And take care of Nurse Carly for me. Give her a hard time every now and then. And make her smile every day.”

“Okay.” His lips pull up.

“And fight like hell, brother.” I lean over the hospital bed and crush him in a hug. I know it violates some sort of guy code but I don’t care. “Kick this cancer’s ass.” I say with conviction.

“You know I’m trying,” he whispers.

“I know, kid. I know.”

ANOTHER WORK WEEK COMPLETE AT
the hospital. I wave good-bye to my friends on the day shift and ride the elevator down. Daylight streams through the big glass windows as I slip each arm into my jacket. I’m concentrating on my zipper when I hear my name. Lifting my chin, I find blue eyes and dimples walking my way.

“Garrett.” I smile.

“Carly, I’m so glad I caught you.” He runs a hand through his thick blond locks.

“Did you just get here?” I ask and nod toward the entrance.

“Um, yeah, but I don’t clock in for a few hours. I was hoping to catch you. Maybe we could grab breakfast? That is, if you’re free.”

I pull out my cell. No calls. No texts. No Derek.
Shit.
I need to stop thinking about him. He’s been on tour for a week. I asked him to leave me alone, and he’s done just that. So why I’m disappointed every time I check my phone and see he hasn’t tried to talk is beyond me. I need to focus on the type of person who fits in my life. Like this gorgeous man standing in front of me.

“Sure. That’d be good.” I shove my phone in my pocket, along with thoughts of my long lost drummer.

“I’ll drive.” Garrett places his hand at my back and we head outside. The cold air kisses the skin of my face and the breeze works a shiver down my spine. I’m such a wimp when it comes to winter. I’m so glad it doesn’t snow here.

Garrett starts his car with a remote and when I slide inside I melt into the heated seat.

“You like?” He laughs after he gets in the driver’s side.

“Oh, these seats are heaven.”

“The control is here. You can adjust the heat.”

He drives us to a little diner five minutes from the hospital that boasts organic eggs and locally grown produce. I order a skillet loaded with bacon, eggs, hash browns and veggies, and a coffee. Garrett orders the veggie breakfast tacos.

“So, how are things going on the oncology floor these days?” Garrett says with a grin while he mixes cream and sugar into his coffee.

Luis’ weary smile flashes in my mind.

I sip my coffee and fight the yawn that threatens. I tap my fingers on the ceramic mug. “It’s been a rough few weeks. One of my favorite patients isn’t having the success we were hoping with his last round of chemo. His team is trying a new mix to stop the cancer from spreading, but I fear there’s no hope.”

“Number one, you can’t get so attached to patients, Carly. The minute you start forming personal connections or bonds you cross the line of professionalism. It’s important to view each case critically to not become emotionally invested.” My eyes snap to meet his bored gaze.

I’m not tired any more. Not one bit. Fire pulses through my veins and I blow out a slow breath as to not bite his fucking head off.

“See. I think that’s the problem with most doctors. You detach yourselves from the fact your patients are real human beings with feelings, and families, and lives outside the hospital walls.” He watches me, and the corners of his mouth pull into a smirk. “I think being personally invested in their care makes me a better nurse. I’m not just there to punch a clock. I take care of my kids as if they were my own.”

Fuck. I’m all wired up now. Our server sets our plates on the table and I try to relax. I shovel a mouthful of food inside rather than continue my rant.

“I think you’re an excellent nurse, Carly. I wasn’t trying to belittle that. I guess I just see personal feelings getting in the way of making the right decisions.” He pauses to lean back in his chair and studies my face. “Have you ever felt that way? I mean in your own life. Have personal feelings about someone swayed you from making a better choice?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure I have.” I play with the ends of my hair before pushing my ponytail back over my shoulder. Garrett’s gaze sharpens before he flashes a charming smile.

“We’ll just agree to disagree. No harm in that.”

We both resume eating and I try to think of something intelligent to ask. He seems distracted, constantly looking around the restaurant between bites of food.

“Do you need to get back soon?” I finally ask and push away my mostly eaten plate.

“Yeah, I do. Thanks for having breakfast with me, Carly. I would love to take you out sometime, outside of our work week. Have a real date.” He laughs and his dimples pop.

“Oh, sure. That would be nice,” I lie. I’m not sure we actually click. He’s nice to look at and obviously smart and talented, but his words from earlier still piss me off. I’m not sure we’d have much in common. Maybe we’re too different.

“Do you ever have time away from your boys? Does their father have custody?” he asks absently, and counts out cash to pay the bill.

“No. Um, no, he’s not in the picture. It’s just me and the boys.”

He nods and meets my eyes. “Well, then, you’ll have to let me know when you can hire a sitter.”

“Sure,” I mutter and stand from the booth, ready for this breakfast to be over. We walk outside to his car and he opens the door for me. He’s being a perfect gentleman but I don’t feel a spark. There’s no sexual energy pulsing between us, at least on my end.

He pulls back into the hospital parking lot. He lets the car idle in park and turns to face me.

“I’m sorry if I offended you, Carly. I’m opinionated and sometimes I don’t think before I say something that’s better left unsaid.” His blue eyes are almost the color of steel and his lips pull into a hard line.

“No. You’re entitled to your own opinions. It’s just something I feel strongly about, in opposition.” I bite on my lower lip. “Maybe we’re too different? I’m a single mom, on the nursing end, and you’re a single surgeon.”

He reaches out and gently pulls my lip from my teeth with his thumb. The touch sends a jolt of awareness down my spine.

“Don’t say that.” He murmurs and leans forward a few inches. “That’s what I find most attractive about you. That you’re different.”

I lick my lips because it feels as if he’s about to kiss me. Is it wrong I want him to? Just to see if maybe he’s right, that maybe there is something between us to explore. He leans closer, slow and deliberate. He’s centimeters from my lips and my eyes flutter closed.

“Carly?” His breath fans over my face.

“Mmm?” I reply.

“Can I kiss you?” I nod. His lips cover mine and I let him lead the pace. He moves with purpose and a slow sensuality, but when I open my mouth to him he backs away. He’s nothing like Derek. His kiss safe, gentle, and hardly arousing.

“So, maybe dinner sometime soon?” He asks with a grin.

“That would be nice,” I answer automatically.

He opens his car door and is around the car to open mine before I even have my seat belt off.

“I’ll call you soon.” He smiles and then walks briskly toward the hospital entrance. I replay the entire morning, from our conversations to lack thereof, to our kiss, in my mind while I trek it across one parking garage to the lot where I’m parked.

I open my car and slip inside but as I turn the key in the ignition a fluttering movement catches my eye. There’s a paper stuck under my windshield. Probably an ad, but I step out of my car to retrieve it anyway. I sit back inside my car and drop it on the passenger seat. It’s only then the folded white paper falls open.

I suck in a breath and fight the urge to scream. I glance around and lock my doors but find nothing else out of the ordinary. The paper taunts me, conjuring image after image of that horrible night.

Written in black Sharpie, the words don’t actually say much. It’s not even presented as a threat, but combined with the other strange things that have been happening, I just know. Someone is watching me. Someone knows about my involvement. Someone is making my life a horrible bad dream. And the worst part? I don’t know if there’s a damn thing I can do to stop it.