Читать книгу A Daddy Sent By Santa - Susan Carlisle - Страница 10
ОглавлениеLAUREN BLINKED AT the bright light coming from the hospital emergency department entrance. The ride hadn’t been the worst one of her life but it had been uncomfortable. She’d spent most of it with her body twisted toward the back and her arms between the seats, holding Paxton’s hands while she blew on them.
They were strong, capable hands. She had already learned that. His fingers were long and tapered down to well-manicured nails. They weren’t as soft as she’d expected. Something about them made her think of security. That he could take care of himself and anyone else he cared about.
As they’d driven she’d seen him studying her, his face faintly lit by the dashboard lights. Tingles of self-awareness had flickered through her, as though she were a specimen under a microscope. She feared he was analyzing her both in appearance and intelligence, and passing judgment. Did she fall short or measure up?
They were to the outskirts of Lippscomb before he said, “You can stop. I have feeling now.”
“That’s good but you’re not out of the woods yet. You’ll still require medical attention to make sure there hasn’t been further damage.” She struggled to conceal her relief. Her back hurt and she had become ever more aware of him as a man the longer she’d held his hands.
More disturbing were her sharp memories of his body pressed against hers in the cab and when they had been entangled on the ground. Despite the bitter weather and her thick clothing, she’d been conscious of his warmth and his body against hers. Was it because she’d not let a man so close in such a long time? What was this odd reaction she was having to a stranger? Whatever it was she had to put a stop to it. Nothing about it was healthy.
Rick had done a good job of driving but the going had been slow. The snow had slackened but the bitter wind had picked up. When Rick stopped at the emergency department door Lauren hurried inside to let the staff know they had arrived. Earlier Rick had radioed ahead, telling the hospital they were on their way.
She headed straight for the unit desk, which was draped with garlands and red and gold Christmas balls. The clerk, wearing reindeer antlers, looked up.
“Hey, I’m Lauren Wilson from Last Stop. I’ve got two patients in the car. One needs a wheelchair.”
Lauren didn’t wait for her response before returning to her patients.
Paxton, as she suspected, had climbed out of the car in order to assist their patient.
She rushed to him. “I’ll take care of Mr. Thompson. You should be concerned about your hands.”
“He’s my responsibility,” Paxton growled through pain she was sure he was trying to hide.
“And you’re mine,” she snapped.
Glancing behind her, Lauren was pleased to see the unit staff hurrying toward them with a wheelchair.
She pointed to Mr. Thompson. “He needs the chair.”
Mr. Thompson settled into his chair and Paxton walked into the hospital beside him. She and Rick followed close behind them. When Paxton reached the unit desk he said, “I’m Dr. Paxton Samuels. I need to speak to the attending.”
Lauren hurried forward. “I’ll take care of giving report. You’re a patient as of now and you need to worry about having those hands properly tended.”
“They’re fine.”
“Doctors never make good patients,” she muttered.
“I heard that,” Paxton said with a glare. “I’m sure my fingers have recovered.”
“I think we need to get a second opinion. Last Stop needs a doctor with good hands.”
He gave her a stricken look then nodded. “Okay, but I want to be informed about my patients.”
“Not a problem.”
“Hey, Lauren,” Henry, a doctor and friend who was wearing a Santa hat on his head, said as he came up the hall toward them.
“Hi, Henry.” She gave him a smile.
“What do you have for us tonight?” Henry looked at Paxton with curiosity.
“You’ve already gotten one of our accident victims, Lewis Williams. Head trauma and hypothermia. We have another head trauma, Art Thompson—” she pointed toward a cubicle where he’d been taken “—in there who needs to be seen.”
“I’m Doc—” Paxton tried to butt in.
Lauren didn’t slow down. She gestured to Paxton. “This is Dr. Samuels. He’s a possible frostbite case.”
Henry told a nurse who had just joined them, “Take him to trauma three and get him started on the frostbite protocol. I’ll see the head trauma you brought in first. Lauren, come with me and tell me what’s going on.”
Throughout the brief exchange Paxton looked from her to Henry and back again. He appeared puzzled by their discussion. A couple more times he made noises as if he was going to interrupt but before he could utter anything the unit tech pushed him away.
Lauren stowed her outer clothing behind the nurses’ station and joined Henry in Mr. Thompson’s room. He was sitting up and talking to the nurse. Lauren shared what she knew about his case. A few minutes later they were on their way to Paxton’s room.
“So, who is this Dr. Samuels?” Henry asked.
“Our new temp doctor until we can find someone to permanently replace Dr. Barden. Dr. Samuels was on his way to Last Stop and came up on the accident. He wasn’t well dressed for the occasion. I can’t complain about his care and quick action, though.”
She and Henry stepped into Paxton’s cubicle. He was sitting in a chair with his hands in water.
“How’s Lewis doing?” he asked before either of them could say anything.
“He’s in a room,” Henry stated. “He still hasn’t regained consciousness. We scanned for swelling but saw nothing. It’s just a waiting game now.”
“And Mr. Thompson?”
“He seems to be recovering. He has a handful of stitches and we’re going to keep him overnight for observation.” Henry stepped closer to Paxton. “Now it’s your turn. I’m Dr. Henry Fields and I understand you’re a doctor as well.”
“Dr. Paxton Samuels.”
“I hear you’re going to fill in at Last Stop.”
“Yeah, if I ever get there,” he said in a grouchy tone.
Henry gave a dry chuckle. “I’ve heard of the difficulty. So, tell me, how’re your fingers? Our winters are pretty brutal here.”
“Better.”
“Good to hear.”
Paxton lifted his hands out of the water and flexed his fingers. He looked directly at her. Lauren’s middle fluttered. He had deep green eyes. Green like the plain in the spring. Their new doctor was handsome.
“I had good care on the way here.”
Henry glanced at her. “I have no doubt you did. I should admit you, but Mr. Thompson took the last bed. The best I can offer you is a spot in the waiting room. You really should have someone checking on you every couple of hours.”
Rick stuck his head into the cubicle. “Lauren, I’ve been called out. I’ve got to go. I’ll pick you up in the morning or get someone to come get you.” He raised a hand and was gone.
He didn’t even give her a chance to respond. She and Dr. Samuels were stuck in Lippscomb.
Paxton’s unnerving eyes met hers. “Isn’t that our ride back to Last Stop?”
She nodded. “Yep. I guess we’re staying the night in the waiting room.”
“What about that hotel across the street? I saw it as we pulled in. Surely they have rooms.” Paxton was in no mood to sit up all night in a brightly lit public area.
Lauren shrugged. “I guess that’ll work. The weather is too bad to ask anyone to come get us.”
“He’s—” Henry indicated Paxton “—going to need you to check on him a couple of times during the night. I’m concerned he might spike a fever.” Henry looked at her then at Paxton. “And you, I want you to promise you’ll keep your hands covered for the rest of the winter season. You’ll have trouble again if you’re not careful.”
“Thanks. I’m well acquainted with frostbite, as I’m from Boston. We have the cold and snow as well.”
“Then you know it’s nothing to mess around with.” Henry wasn’t letting his patient intimidate him.
Lauren shook her head in disbelief. Could this evening get any more interesting? “Then we’re going out in the weather again.” She winced. “More fun in the snow.”
“It looks like it.”
Lauren imagined Paxton’s arrival in Oklahoma was far above and beyond his Bostonian expectations.
“How soon can I get out of here?” Paxton asked Henry.
“As soon as you’re ready.” Henry made a note on the chart he held. “After you have your hands wrapped. They need to be that way for at least twenty-four hours. I don’t want you using them until tomorrow. I’m going to prescribe you a little something for pain. Call me with any problems.”
Paxton didn’t look pleased with that directive but he didn’t argue. “Understood.”
Henry nodded to her and Paxton, then left. A few minutes later a nurse wrapped Paxton’s fingers individually in gauze.
As soon as she left Paxton said, “I’m ready to go.” He stood and started pulling on his coat.
Lauren assisted him with getting his arms into it, then adjusted the weight around his shoulders and buttoned it. The rigid posture of Paxton’s body let her know he wasn’t used to people doing things for him and he didn’t like feeling incapable. She pulled his collar up around his neck.
A funny feeling came over her and she looked up to see him intently watching her. Her gaze met his. A pang of awareness ran through her.
His hair was still damp and mussed, a large lock of it having fallen over his forehead, giving him an endearing disheveled appeal. He was a good-looking man, not in a glossy magazine manner but in the subtle way of someone who had confidence in who they were and what they wanted.
“Can we go now?” he asked with arched eyebrows.
Had she been staring at him? She backed away. “I need to get my coat and bag on the way out. I left them at the nurses’ station.” They walked to the unit desk. There she went around to a cubby and gathered her things. “Jane,” she said to the unit clerk, “do you know where we can get some scrubs?”
The heavy woman in her mid-twenties said, “Yeah, but I’m really not supposed to hand those out.”
“I’ll bring them back, I promise. If I don’t, you can charge me for them.”
Jane pursed her lips and gave her a sideways look. “In this case...” She went into the storage room. She soon returned with green scrubs sealed in clear plastic. “Sorry, I only have one set left, in extra-large.”
“Okay. We’ll make them work.” Lauren took the package, then turned to Paxton. “You ready for this?”
“I’ve been ready,” he grumbled.
Apparently he’d had all he wanted for a day. She looked at him. His eyes were bloodshot, underlined by the bruise-like evidence of exhaustion, and his mouth was a tight line. She glanced at his hands all wrapped in white. He deserved to be testy.
Pulling on her coat, she zipped it closed and put her bag over her shoulder. The large automatic glass doors opened as they approached. A blast of cold rolled in. Lauren shivered and murmured, “All we have to do now is manage to not slip on the ice.”
Paxton grunted and hunched against the wind, putting his hands into his coat pockets.
She picked her way down the curved drive to the street while keeping an eye on him. All he needed was to fall. Thankfully the street lights gave off enough light to make visibility good and the snow had slowed to drifting flakes. The motel was straight across the four-lane street from the hospital. They waited for a car to pass then as quickly as possible walked toward the window with the glowing orange neon sign that read “Office.”
“How often do you get snowbound with a patient?” Paxton asked.
“I’d have to say this is a first.”
“I’m not surprised. That’s my life lately. A lot of firsts.”
Lauren wasn’t sure what that statement meant but it didn’t sound good by the tone of his voice. Keeping a steady pace, they kept moving. The situation was movie-worthy. They would laugh about this one day.
Lippscomb Motel was a nineteen-fifties-style place, where the one-story building formed a horseshoe and the parking was in front of each room. All the slots appeared taken. What were they going to do if there were no rooms? Return to the hospital. She should have thought to call. They had no choice now but to ask.
Making it to the entrance first, she opened the glass door, letting him go in ahead of her. The warmth of the lobby greeted them.
A bald-headed man wearing a T-shirt despite the weather stood behind a counter with a tiny, sad-looking Christmas tree on it. A TV blared in the background.
“Can I help you?”
“We need a couple of rooms for the night,” Paxton stated.
“Don’t have but one,” the man said off-handedly.
Lauren had been afraid of that.
The man continued, “The storm has us all full up tonight.”
“We’ll take it,” Paxton said before she had a chance to say differently.
She pulled her wallet from her bag.
“I’ve got this.” Paxton put a card on the counter.
Regardless of the circumstances, it didn’t quite sit right with her to have a man she hardly knew pay for their hotel room for the night. Somehow it seemed sleazy. She was a professional taking care of a patient who happened to be a male, she sternly reminded herself. There was nothing immoral about that. It was necessary.
A minute later the man returned Paxton’s card and gave her a plastic keyring with the number three on it. “The heat won’t be on, but it shouldn’t take long for it to warm up.”
She shuddered at the thought of going back out in the frigid night and to a cold room but she had no choice.
Walking under the awning, they made their way to Room Three. Her feet were wet and cold and all she wanted to do was have a hot bath, call Shawn and crawl into bed. She was pretty sure Paxton had a similar desire.
Unlocking the door, Lauren pushed it wide and let him enter, then quickly closed the door behind them. It wasn’t much warmer inside than out. She left Paxton in the middle of the room lit only by the porch light coming through the thin curtains. Going to the lamp sitting on the table between two beds, she clicked it on. The room was much as she had expected.
The beds were standard size with headboards fixed to the wall and a small, well-worn sofa set against a wall with a cheaply framed picture above it. There was a built-in desk with a chair and beside it a clothes rack attached to the wall, level with her head, to serve as the closet.
She was confident it was a major step down from what Paxton must be used to. To his credit, his face didn’t look as disgusted as she expected. It leaned toward pitiful. He’d had a hard first day on the job. Yet he’d been more than efficiently competent under the circumstances. Too bad his tenure at Last Stop would be brief.
He sank onto the side of the bed closest to the door.
“Let’s get some heat going in here.” She hurried to the wall heater located under the only window. It made a clang when she turned on the fan and cranked the thermostat up as high as it would go. “Hopefully it won’t take too long for it to heat the place.”
“That would be nice. I’m starting to fear that I might never be warm again.”
“I’ll see if there’s a heater in the bathroom.” Somehow she had assumed personal responsibility for him. He was new to town. She wanted him to appreciate where she lived, to make a good impression. Even though he was only going to stay a short while she didn’t want his time there to leave negative memories. Granted, it had been his choice to come to Oklahoma but still she wished it could have been more welcoming than the last few hours had been.
It was a relief to see there was a heater in the bathroom as well. She turned it on high. When she returned to the main part of the room Paxton still sat in the same spot. That could only be an indication of how bad he felt.
He looked at her. “Sorry about the room situation but at least you don’t have to get out in the cold to check on me. We’re both adults, I believe we can handle one night together in a hotel room. You needn’t worry. I’m no threat, especially tonight.”
She wasn’t as worried about him as she was about making a fool of herself around him. A shiver went up her spine. He was watching her.
“I can handle it if you can. Uh...you hungry? I could call for some takeout. There’s a pizza place next door.”
“Yeah. I could do with something to eat.”
“Pizza do?”
“Sure. Anything at this point would be great.”
She clasped her hands in front of her. “I’m sorry. This wasn’t an ideal way to start a new job. Not very hospitable of the weather.”
“Can’t control that. I’ve been through difficult times. Let’s just say that today was mild compared to some things I’ve dealt with.”
She’d had her share of difficult times as well. Like losing a husband. Being a single mother. Maybe Paxton wasn’t as soft as the fine cut of his coat or the brand name of his shoes implied. After the last few hours she suspected that, like his hands, his life had had some rough spots. “I need to make a phone call then I’ll go get that pizza. I’ll just step in the bathroom to talk.”
* * *
Paxton wasn’t sure exactly when he’d entered this surreal vortex in time and space where his life had gotten completely out of his control, but he had to find a way to take back some degree of it soon. If two weeks ago someone had predicted that he would be in Oklahoma stranded in a motel room with a pretty young woman who turned out to be his office nurse as well as his personal caretaker during a blizzard, he would have called them a quack. He should be on his honeymoon in the Mediterranean. With a cheat.
He listened to the soft burr of Lauren’s voice. “Hi, sweetheart. I’m not going to make it home tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.” There was a pause. “I love you too.”
So she had a boyfriend. He noted she hadn’t told the guy she was spending the night with him in a hotel room. Paxton harrumphed. As if he could do anything about it even if he had a chance. All he could think about was getting a hot bath and climbing into bed. The medicine he’d been given made him want to do nothing but sleep.
When Gabriella had pulled her final dramatic stunt, he’d never believed it would lead to him having potential frostbite and spending the night in a seedy motel with a woman. He and Gabriella had been an off-and-on couple most of their youth. Their families were close, ran in the same social circle of longtime Bostonians with the correct pedigrees. As adults, it seemed that both sets of parents had expected them to marry. Paxton had cared about Gabriella and had believed she’d felt the same about him. His parents had been encouraging him to marry her for years. For once he had been doing something they blessed.
He’d always been a bit of a rebel in their eyes. He’d gone to a West Coast college instead of the Eastern one all the family members had attended. Between college and medical school, he’d secretly applied to the Peace Corps and spent a year helping in a North African medical clinic. His parents had been vocally displeased. They had anticipated he would finish his medical training and join the clinic that held their family name. Many a time he’d seen disapproval on their faces. It wasn’t until he and Gabriella had become engaged that he’d finally felt they were proud of him. Apparently, and most disconcertingly, Gabriella had found him wanting as a potential mate.
Lauren emerged from the bathroom, slipping her cell phone into her pants pocket. She definitely caught his interest with her glorious mass of long dark hair, smooth skin with cheeks still rosy from the cold and those dark eyes that were intelligent while at the same time tender and caring. Even with her heavy coat on, he suspected there were nice curves beneath. Lauren’s wholesomeness was appealing after Gabriella’s contrived sophistication.
“I’m going to go see about some food now. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Feeling a vulnerability he hated, he had no choice but to ask, “Uh...before you go, could you help me out of these damp clothes?”
Her eyes widened and her full-lipped mouth went slack.
Where had her thoughts gone? He held up his bandaged hands. “I don’t think I can unbutton my coat. Or my shirt for that matter.”
It rubbed him the wrong way to need her help. How did it look? Here he was the new physician in town who was supposed to take care of others and he couldn’t even take care of himself. He wasn’t making a good impression, he was sure. If he wasn’t careful Lauren would be the one people turned to instead of him.
Her look had changed from one of surprise to sympathy as she looked at his hands. “I’m sorry. I should’ve thought. Doesn’t make me look like much of a nurse.”
“I’d disagree with that. I saw you in action today.” He stood.
Lauren appeared small and fragile in front of him but there was strength there, he knew. Her warmth seeped into him as she continued into his personal space. A handful of her hair fell over her face, stirring his awareness further. What did it feel like? Was it as silky as it looked? He inhaled. She smelled of the outdoors. Fresh, clean. Alive.
“Well, let’s get your coat off, then I’ll help you with your shirt.” Her fingers worked the buttons of his jacket, opening all of them before pushing it off his shoulders and throwing it on the bed.
She hesitated before her hands moved to his shirt.
Paxton didn’t miss the tremor in her hands. “This isn’t your first time to undress a ma...uh, patient?”
“No. I trained in a big hospital.” A firmness had entered her voice. “Cut a number of patients’ clothes off as well.”
Was she reminding him this was strictly business for her? Which it should be. But her hair looked so silky. That wasn’t something he should be thinking. Even if being strangers was keeping them apart he still couldn’t take a chance on being rejected. His self-esteem was battered enough. Besides, they were going to be working together. “I don’t think that will be necessary this time.”
Her gaze held a twinkle as it met his for a second before she continued to work the buttons of his shirt. He couldn’t deny his body’s reaction to her standing so close. Whether he knew her or not. He suddenly felt warm all over. From his vantage point her movements were the efficient and functionary ones of a nurse except for the tremor of her hands. At least he wasn’t the only one affected. “I’m sorry you have to do this. It’s embarrassing to be so helpless.”
Lauren worked quickly. “Hey, it happens to all of us sometime. It’s just your turn this time.”
“That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
She smiled. It was a nice one. “I’d just put it down to this entire evening being unusual.” Her tone turned matter-of-fact.
As she finished he said, “Now I’m reaching for a new level of mortification.” Would his male ego survive this? “I hate to say this but I’m going to need help with my pants button as well.”
Lauren smiled. “I’ve heard that it’s good for a doctor to be a patient every once in a while. It gives them more empathy for their patients.”
“Then I’ll have that in abundance.” His disgust rang loud and true.
She freed his pants button. “I think you can handle things from here. And I’m hungry. I’m going after that pizza.”
He was hungry too, and on the verge of being turned on.
Seconds later a draft of wind brushed over him before the door closed and he was alone. Paxton eyed the bed. He was going to lie down while she was gone. His fingers tingled as if little pins were being pushed into his skin. Maybe if he raised them above his heart they wouldn’t hurt so much.
A bath could wait. He finished removing his clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor. Removing the pants of the scrub set from the package, he pulled them on. Lauren could have the top.
He slipped between the cold sheets that made the skin of his bare back ripple. Piling one pillow on top of the other, he placed them above his head before he pulled the covers into place. He raised his hands and rested them on the pillows. He shivered until sleep took him. The only time he’d been warm in the last two weeks had been when Lauren had stood near him.
* * *
Lauren made her way across the parking lot, grateful for the chilling wind after the hot moments she’d spent with who was in essence her new boss, a stranger. Her credibility as a nurse had never been more in question than when she had been undoing Paxton’s pants. Thoughts that were better left dormant had been projected in 3D, full-color, jumbo size.
She’d glanced at Paxton to find a wicked gleam in his jade-colored eyes. Heat rushed to her cheeks at the memory. That had been no patient and nurse moment. It had been about two people attracted to each other on the most basic of human levels. She’d hurried through the process with shaking hands. Even as she’d unbuttoned his shirt her blood had hummed with ultra-sensitive awareness. She had left it hanging open, but not before she’d noticed his chest had a light dusting of hair over well-formed muscles. She forced herself to swallow.
It had been too long since she’d been with a man if her overreaction was any indicator. It wasn’t like her not to remain professional in that type of situation. It was a relief to get some fresh air, even if it was still snowing. There hadn’t been a time in her life she could remember when she’d been so affected by a man. Even undressing her husband hadn’t made her hands tremble. She and Paxton hadn’t come anywhere near having sex yet her nerves were still humming as if they had. This instant attraction wasn’t a feeling she was familiar with.
Lifting her face to the night sky, Lauren let the few flakes of falling snow settle on her hot skin. Paxton wouldn’t be the last doctor to fill in. He wasn’t going to stay long, and she certainly wasn’t going to let history repeat itself. She’d left town with a man before and she didn’t plan to do that again. With her next relationship, she would know the man long enough to know she could trust him. She deserved fidelity. Shawn needed a stable life. That she would give him.
Mark had been a brash young man who had come to town with an oil company. He’d led the team planning to take a number of the wells deeper. She’d been swept off her feet.
Before she’d known it, she was married and on her way out of town with him to his next assignment. She’d dreamed of leaving Last Stop all her life and when she’d got the chance she’d been thrilled. She’d happily packed her bags and left with fairy-tale dreams. At first, everything had been great. They’d moved every three to four months and she’d found every new place exciting but increasingly lonely.
More than once she’d feared Mark wasn’t being faithful. He’d always assured her that he was but while at a party she had been approached by a woman who’d told her she’d been seeing her husband. Their marriage had gone from bad to worse.
Only because they’d moved again and she’d discovered she was pregnant had she stayed. She’d told Mark the morning of the accident she was pregnant and had wanted him to find a job that would let them settle down, so they could work on their marriage and be a family. They’d fought, him stating he wanted no part in her plans. That afternoon he was gone. An explosion on the oil rig had killed him and five others.
Lauren had returned to the only place she’d ever really known as home—Last Stop. She’d used Mark’s life insurance money to finish nursing school and had made a home for Shawn and herself. He was her life now. No guy passing through town was ever going to turn her head again. Especially some fancy doctor from Boston.
Enough of those thoughts. She had food to get. The pizza place only had a lone young man working. She ordered a large pepperoni pizza and sat down to wait. It had been so long since she’d felt anything for a man. Henry had been asking her out for a couple of months and she had been putting him off. Then in had come a man she knew nothing about and bam! She’d babbled and tingled all over. It just wasn’t right. Yet there was an excitement between them she couldn’t deny.
Half an hour later she returned to the hotel room with a pizza box in hand and two cans of drink in a bag. She knocked lightly on the door, giving Paxton a heads-up that she was entering. Digging the key out of her pocket, she opened the door. She pushed inside, expecting to find him watching TV. Instead the chair was empty and Paxton was softly snoring in the bed. Compassion filled her. He must have been exhausted after driving all day, then the adrenaline rush of the accident followed by the dangerous brush with frostbite.
Lauren placed the food on the desk before taking the spare blanket off the top of the clothes rack. She spread it over him. He mumbled, shifted and settled again. Picking up the TV remote, she returned to the desk chair with plans to watch a show while she ate. Paxton could have cold pizza. He needed his rest.
She finished her food, then picked up the scrub top he’d left lying on the bed. Placing the back of her hand on Paxton’s forehead, she decided he was a little warm but not overly so. After turning the heat down in the room to a more reasonable temperature, she headed to the bathroom.
After the wonderful experience of a hot shower, she pulled on the scrub top, thankful it was extra-large and hung far enough down her legs to decently cover her. The idea of sleeping in her damp clothes or, worse, nude made her shudder. After hanging and draping their clothes around the room to dry, she sat on her bed. She’d decided that leaving the light on in the bathroom would make it easy to check on Paxton.
Lauren turned off the TV then looked at him sleeping in the next bed. He was resting comfortably. He’d turned on his side but his hands were still above his head. She could only think that they must have hurt. She couldn’t help but feel sympathy for his plight. He looked miserable with his bandaged hands. Taking a pillow from her bed, she raised his head and tucked it beneath before easing him down onto it. Satisfied she hadn’t disturbed his slumber, she adjusted the covers over his shoulders. Switching off the bedside lamp, she got into bed and was soon asleep.
A loud moan startled her awake. She jerked around to look at Paxton. He whimpered again, then kicked the covers back, leaving most of his body exposed. The scrub pants rode low on his hips. Climbing out of bed, Lauren reached out to touch his head. Heat surrounded him. Her heart thumped. He had a fever.
Grabbing her digital thermometer from her bag, she ran it across his forehead. It read one hundred and three point seven. She’d been afraid this might happen. Hopefully it would be a temporary situation and not require hospitalization. Returning to her bag, she found fever-reducing medicine then went to the bathroom, filled a water glass and returned to Paxton’s bedside.
Lauren shook his shoulder. His skin was hot and dry. She bit her bottom lip as anxiety flooded her. This didn’t need to turn into more than a fever. “Paxton.”
He groaned but didn’t open his eyes.
