Read Uncovering Hope (Uncovering Love Book 3) Online

Authors: Kacey Shea

Tags: #Uncovering Love series, #book 3

Uncovering Hope (Uncovering Love Book 3) (7 page)

BOOK: Uncovering Hope (Uncovering Love Book 3)
6.06Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

I think back to the feelings from that time in my life, scribbling notes on the pad balanced over my left knee. Working through the chord progression I hear in my head. I practice it over and over until it’s just how I imagine. I press record on my phone and belt out the lyrics with the chorus I’ve just written and email it to myself.

It’s a good start, a touch of blues and folk blended within my usual style. It’s something we’d never play as a band. Not something the guys are interested in. They prefer to stick with rock. I tuck it away in my growing collection and check the time.
Fuck.

I’m perpetually late. I’d like to blame it on my artistic genius but really it’s that I don’t pay much attention to the clock. I put my baby back in the case, pull on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and step into my boots before flipping the lights off and slinging my case over one shoulder.

My cell rings. I pull it from my back pocket, and “Mom” flashes across the screen. I swipe my finger and cradle it to my ear as I walk the length of the hallway and grab my keys from the counter. “Hey, Madre, what’s up?”

“Hello, Derek. I just needed to hear your voice, baby.” Her own sounds weak and frail.
Shit.
I don’t want to deal with this right now. Ever, really.

“What did you do today, ma?” I jog down the stairs to the covered lot where my Yukon sits.

“Oh, I didn’t feel like doing much, baby. Watched a little TV but I couldn’t focus. When you coming by? I haven’t seen you in so long.” Try three days.

“Ma, I’ll be by next Saturday. Just like I always come by on Saturdays. Remember.” Pushing the start button on my SUV I pull out of the space and retrace the familiar route to my destination. I drop my phone in the drink holder as it pairs to Bluetooth.

“Oh. Yes. Of course I do. I—I miss him. I miss you.” I can hear the muffled sobs and it guts me. It always does.

“Hey, Ma. Don’t cry. You know, maybe I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow. Would that be good? Grab donuts from that place you used to take me when I was little. Bozo’s? What’s it called?”

Her sobs attempt a chuckle. “You always used to call it that. Bosa. Not Bozo.” I can hear the smile in her voice and it calms my fears.

“I always wondered why they didn’t have clowns working there.” I laugh and pull into my usual spot. “Hey, Ma, I’ve gotta run. Get some rest tonight. I’ll be by in the morning, ’kay?”

“Thanks, Son. I’ll see you then. I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

She ends the call and I jog up the lighted path. The cool night air sends chills over my arms. I hope they’ll make an exception for my lack of punctuality. Hey, being a rock star has to be good for something.

“GOODNIGHT, ELIJAH. GOODNIGHT, EZRA.” MY
arms wrap tight around my boys. Their freshly bathed hair tickles my nose.

“’Night, Mama.” Eli squeezes me tighter.

“Have a good night at work, Mama.” Ezra, my little man, smiles brightly. The joy that radiates from his green eyes hits me in the gut. He’s been through so much and knowing he’s happy, healthy, clean, fed, safe—there’s no better feeling of accomplishment or success. It almost makes leaving him and Eli to head into work an easy task.

“Be good for Auntie Evie. She’ll put you to bed at seven. Uncle Tate will be home after you’re asleep and take you to school in the morning. Be good, my boys.”

“We will!” they answer in chorus.

“Thanks, Evie.”

“Of course. Have a good shift tonight.” She grins and then bends down so that she’s eye level with the boys. “Okay, we have an hour until bedtime. Your choice, fort making or Lego building?”

“Forts!” they shout in unison, and Evie laughs. Their chatter follows me out the door.

It was nice to have a full weekend off with the boys, and while I’m always sad to leave them, I love my job and look forward to checking on my regulars. There are always a few kids I get assigned on a consistent basis who steal my heart completely. While it’s difficult to witness a child struggle with illness, I like being a part of the team that provides the absolute best care possible. It’s what I’d want for my own boys if God forbid they ever were sick.

I continue to think about the phone call from Friday morning. I asked a few of my friends working this weekend to text me if anyone else tried to reach me at the hospital, and no calls came in. I really must have been tired. I’m sure it was just the stress and sleep deprivation. It couldn’t be who I thought it was. Impossible.

Shifting my Camry into park, I grab my bag and step out into the cold, dark night. A shiver runs up my spine and goosebumps down my arms. It’s fairly quiet in the lot and I glance around. The wind blows and a nearby tree limb shakes with the gust, pulling my attention upward.
Shit
. It’s a full moon. I don’t know what it is, but these nights are never good. Totally jinxed from the get go.

I lock my car and wrap my arms around myself, the chill from before working its way to my bones. The gravel crunches under my shoes.
Snap
. I glance around and find nothing. Again with the shivers. The lot appears empty but it almost feels as if I’m being watched. I jog the rest of the way up the path. I’m not sticking around to find out.

“Carly, where are the meds I ordered for Seventeen?”

“I ordered them like you and Dr. Callahan asked.”

“Well, they’re not here, and the patient needs them within the hour.” Greta flips the chart shut and pins me with a hard glare. “You need to stay on top of these things. I’d expect this from a rookie, but you’ve been here too long to let things like this get by.”

“But I did order them like you asked.”

“So you’re blaming pharmacy? Just stop. Save it. I don’t want to hear it. Doesn’t matter who screwed up. It’s your patient, your responsibility.”

“I’ll go down to pharmacy, see if I can find what happened. I’ll be back as soon as I can, but can you cover my patients?” Her brow raises and she blows out a breath as if I’m the one inconveniencing her.

“I guess. Just hurry back. I’ve got things to do, too.”

I nod, not bothering to dilly dally. When Greta is in a mood, you just bite your tongue, grin and bear it. She’s such a bitch, but she’s a good nurse and has been here twenty plus years. It’s a bad idea to piss her off.

I click the elevator button repeatedly as if somehow that will bring the car up faster. It’s quiet on the floor. Visitor hours are up and most patients are resting for the night. My shift has barely begun and it’s off to a crappy start. I can only hope the rest of the night goes better.

Ding.

The doors slide open and my gaze flicks up as I step inside. I gasp.
What the fuck?

“Are you stalking me at work now?” A lazy grin spreads across Derek Taylor’s face.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
“Look, I told you I’m not interested. Please take a hint before I file a restraining order.” I growl with irritation. I turn and press the button for the basement.

Derek pushes off the wall from where he leans. His bright red shirt pulls across his chest, and tattoos peek out from the sleeves. Tight jeans mold his legs and tuck inside black combat boots. His brown hair falls forward and rests just above his eyebrows. Only a man with his confidence can pull this off and look pure male. He oozes sex and I only wish I wasn’t covered in these horrible scrubs. With no makeup and hair pulled into a braid, I’m sure I look simple and plain. I’m angry at myself for caring what he thinks.

“Pretty sure of your siren skills, aren’t you?” he grins, sticks his tongue out, and flips the stud once. “Maybe I’m here to see someone else?” Of course. He’s not here for me. My cheeks heat with embarrassment for having such foolish thoughts.

“Oh. Yeah. Sure.” I tap my foot and will the floors to rush faster. The numbers change all too slowly from four to five, then five to six. Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. The numbers are going up. I’m in for the long ride down to the basement.

“Carly. Would you look at me?” I glance to my left. He winks. “I’m not here to see anyone in particular. I’m here to volunteer.” It’s then I notice the guitar case.

“I thought you played drums.” He steps closer and I can’t help but back up until my spine touches the hard wall. He beams a lazy grin and pins me with those chocolatey eyes.

“There’s so much about me you’d never guess. I’m more talented than you’d ever imagine. Shame you don’t want to give me a shot.” He punctuates his point with a roll of that silver stud over and across his lips. The intensity of his eyes holds my complete attention. I lick my lips. He’s close but not close enough. I want him to kiss me and that’s a bad idea. I clench my hands against the rail, as if that will help.

Ding.

The doors slide open and he backs out leisurely; a cheeky smile plays at his lips. His eyes dance with delight as if he knows he’s turned me on, and that pisses me off further.

“Later, mama!” He calls out, and turns to strut down the hallway. I can’t think of a clever comeback before the doors slide shut.


Shit!
” I shout into the empty car. He gets under my skin and he knows it. I don’t need this right now. The night is off to a bad enough start and I don’t need the distraction of drummer boy volunteering two floors up.

I step out of the car when it finally arrives at the basement and hustle to the pharmacy. I turn the corner and shout in surprise as my face hits a wall.
What the—?
No. Not a wall. My gaze travels up the broad chest of muscle to land on the ice blue eyes of Mr. Dreamy Doctor.
Shit, double shit!

“We’ve got to stop meeting this way.” His hands are at my arms and steady my frame. “Maybe slow down a little? Enjoy the journey?” He teases and through his day old scruff pops two dimples. God, I’m such a sucker for dimples.

Finally, I regain my ability to speak and step back to return his smile. “I’m so sorry, my head was somewhere else. Honestly, I’m much safer than I appear. I only seem to crash into you.”

He chuckles a deep, solid sound and it turns my insides into a puddle of goo. Seriously, he can’t be for real.

“I’m sorry. We haven’t officially met. I’m Garrett Brooks, just started my residency with the surgical floor.” He holds his hand out and I place mine inside, returning his warm smile.

“Carly Reynolds, RN in oncology. You’re a long way from home.”

His brows knit and smile falters. “I am. How’d you know?”

“Oh, I only meant—surgeons don’t usually venture off their floor—Eight. Never mind, that was stupid.” I shake my head.
Smooth, Carly.
Way to go, making Doctor Smiley all sad.

He scrunches his face in the most adorable way and scratches at his thick blond hair. How he made it through med school with all that hair is beyond me. “I guess I’m a little more homesick than I thought. I moved from Chicago three weeks ago. It’s where I went to med school and all my family is there.”

“That’s tough being away from home, but you’ll love Arizona winters. You can pretty much wear shorts year round. You can rub that in when everyone back home is shoveling snow,” I offer with a grin.

He nods. “I’m looking forward to it. Not that I’ll have much time outside these walls.” He glances over his shoulder. “Well, I should get back upstairs. I’ll see you around, Carly from Oncology.”

BOOK: Uncovering Hope (Uncovering Love Book 3)
6.06Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

The Mage's Daughter by Lynn Kurland
Owls Do Cry by Janet Frame
Broken People by Ioana Visan
Leaving Mother Lake by Yang Erche Namu, Christine Mathieu
Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
Fall by Colin McAdam
A Life for Kregen by Alan Burt Akers