Her Maverick M.d.. Teresa Southwick
up you can get your mom to take you for ice cream.”
“But it’s almost dinnertime.”
“I bet she’ll make an exception this one time,” Dawn said.
“That can be arranged.” Molly put her arm across her son’s shoulders. “Be brave, kiddo.”
“What if I cry?”
Jon took the syringe of lidocaine and prepared to inject it. “From my perspective, as long as you hold still, you can cry, scream and swear.”
“I can say bad words?” Apparently using bad language without punishment was more exciting than ice cream.
His mom was squirming now. “Do you even know any curse words?”
“I’ve heard dad say some stuff—”
“Here we go. A little pinch,” Jon said. He gently pricked the skin with the needle. “How you doing, Tuck?” Jon quickly glanced up.
“Okay. It hurt at first. But now it just feels like you’re pushing on my leg.”
“Good. That’s what should happen. It’s going to take a little time for the medicine to work, but that was the worst of it. Now we’re going to clean out the cut so it doesn’t get infected. Then I’ll do the stitches and put a big Band-Aid on it so the girls will be impressed.”
The kid made a face and looked as if he was in real pain. “I don’t like girls.”
“You don’t have to.” Give it a couple years, Jon thought. Then you might get to work with a girl who hated your guts and you had no clue why. When they were finished here he was going to find out what was going on with her.
Jon finished quickly then bandaged the knee. “You’ll need to change the dressing every day. Bring him back in a week and I’ll check to see if the stitches are ready to come out.”
“Does it hurt when you take out stitches?” Tucker wanted to know.
“Nah. And you know I would tell you if it did.”
“I know.” Tucker looked relieved.
“Thank you,” his mom said, helping her son off the exam table.
“You’re welcome. See you, buddy.”
Tucker looked up at him. “You’re a pretty good doctor.”
“You’re a pretty good patient.”
Dawn opened the door and said to the mom, “When you check out up front, Brandy will make a follow-up appointment. Remind her to give you the sheet with instructions on how to deal with the stitches.”
“Will do.”
After mother and son walked out Dawn started cleaning up the room, though she still wouldn’t look at him. This was as good a time as any to say what was on his mind.
“Dawn, I’d like to talk to you.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his white lab coat.
“All right.”
That was the appropriate response but the stubborn look in her eyes and the step back she took clearly reflected her attitude.
There was no point in beating around the bush. “You obviously have a problem with me.”
“What makes you say that?”
At least she didn’t flat out deny it. “You’re exhibiting all the symptoms. Refusing to call me by my first name. Avoiding me when possible. Remaining professional but cool.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
“Technically there’s not. But with Emmet and everyone else on staff here at the clinic you’re warm and friendly. I’m the only one you treat differently.”
“Do you have a problem with my work?” she asked.
“No. You’re an excellent nurse.”
“Then I’m not sure what to say.”
That she liked him. Thought he wasn’t bad looking. Maybe she was even a little bit attracted to him. Anything but this robotic Stepford-nurse routine.
“Look, you and I both know that working as closely together as we do, things flow more smoothly if staff gets along and has each other’s back.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” she said emphatically.
That was the first time she’d shown any real spirit to him since the day he’d walked into the clinic. “Okay, then. Let’s fix this. We’re finished for the day. Join me for a drink at the Ace in the Hole.”
“No. I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”
“I disagree.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “Whether you admit it or not, we have a problem. And it’s like I told Tucker. You can choose to ignore it, but that will just make the situation worse. Let’s clear the air.”
“Why don’t we clear it right here?” Reluctance mixed with the obstinate expression in her eyes. “No need to go for a drink.”
“I think this conversation would be more effective on neutral ground.” He looked around the exam room. “And, I don’t know about you, but I’d like to get out of here and relax a little bit. What do you say?”
Dawn caught her bottom lip between her teeth as she studied him. “You’re not going to drop this, are you?”
“No.” He sensed her weakening and wanted to smile, but held back. A victory lap now would make her dig in and that’s the last thing he needed.
“Okay.” She nodded reluctantly. “One drink.”
She didn’t look happy, but then again she hadn’t slammed the door in his face, either. Finally, the opportunity he’d been waiting for.
Dawn insisted on driving herself to the Ace in the Hole. Jon followed her. And when the heck had she started thinking of him by his first name instead of simply Clifton? Maybe she should let that go. It felt weird and unnatural anyway. She was basically a friendly person and calling him Dr. Clifton when everyone else used his first name made her look as if she had a stick up her butt. Which, of course, she did.
He parked beside her and they walked side by side to the bar’s entrance.
“Nice night,” he said.
She stared up at the dark sky awash in stars that looked like gold dust. A light breeze brushed over her skin. Perfect. “A Goldilocks night.”
“I’m sorry. What?”
Their arms bumped and she met his puzzled gaze as a sliver of awareness sliced through her. He was very cute and she should never have agreed to this drink. But he’d just asked her a question and it would be rude not to answer.
“Remember Goldilocks and the three bears? Porridge was too hot, too cold, then she found the perfect one. Same for the beds.” She looked up and sighed. “This night is—”
“Not too hot or cold.”
“Just right,” they both said together.
Dawn smiled at him and it took a couple seconds to realize she wasn’t supposed to do that. She shut the feeling down, then fixed her attention on the Ace in the Hole. Considering it was impossible to count the number of times she’d been here, the place felt like an old friend. She was going to need one.
There was a hitching post where a cowboy could tie up his horse if he was out for a ride and wanted to stop in for a cold one before heading back to the ranch. The front window had a neon beer sign that blinked on and off along with a lighted, oversize ace of hearts