“It’s a bit over the top, actually,” Lindsey said with a laugh.

“No way. It’s like a real-life ball. How romantic is that?” the girl sighed.

“Are you hoping one of the doctors will ride in on a white horse and slip a glass shoe on your foot?” Lindsey asked her with a smile.

“Only if it’s Dr. Stine. That man can slip anything he wants on any body part of me,” the girl told her with a giggle.

“Yes, Dr. Stine is a good-looking man,” Lindsey admitted.

The new doctor had all the staff drooling, even those who were married or in committed relationships. Lindsey wasn’t in either category. So why wasn’t she attracted to the successful surgeon?

Maybe because Maverick had broken her. Or maybe it was because she was happy—for now. Either way, she wasn’t interested in the new surgeon who seemed to have a minor in flirting.

“Did I hear my name?”

Even though she hadn’t been gossiping about the man—not really—Lindsey still felt her cheeks heat the slightest bit as the man of the hour walked into the break room. His killer smile was in place and he sidled right up to the girls.

Katie, of course, giggled nervously and began shifting from foot to foot.

“Yes, we were just talking about what a blessing it has been to have you at our hospital. The patients really respect you,” Lindsey said.

“Ah, I thought it might have been about something else.” He was gazing right at her, the look of interest clear in his eyes. That was something she needed to nip in the bud immediately.

“Nope. Sorry.” She turned to leave, but he gently grabbed her arm. She stopped dead in her tracks, having to control her breathing. Though she knew it wasn’t logical, she still didn’t like strangers touching her.

“Are you going to the ball, Lindsey?” The intensity of the question shocked her.

“I’m not sure yet,” she told him as she tugged firmly on her arm. Thankfully he let it go.

“I hope so. Save me a dance.”

She was so shocked by his request she didn’t have time to respond. She just nodded her head and quickly fled. She wondered if poor Katie was able to survive in there on her own with the good-looking doc. Guess Lindsey would know if the girl didn’t show up soon.

Moving to the reception desk, she sat down and decided to finish her charts. That part of her job she could easily do without. It was boring and took forever. Without the horrific caffeine the hospital provided, free of charge, she would most likely pass out from paperwork.

“I can’t believe you left me in there with Dr. Dreamy. Ugh. I went all red-faced and ended up sputtering something unintelligible before I ran out the door,” Katie said as she came and perched herself on a corner of the desk.

“You’re a nurse, Katie. I would think you would have a bit more control over yourself,” Lindsey said with a laugh.

“Well, I know one thing—he sure as heck was flirting with you. It’s really not fair, you know. You have that sexy pilot guy who comes in here all the time, and now you have the dreamy doctor drooling over you too. Please share your secrets,” the girl whined.

“I don’t have any secrets,” Lindsey told the girl with a laugh. “Don’t you have work to do?” she finished pointedly.

“Ugh. Nothing. My patients are good. It’s just been so dang quiet in here today.”

Two other staff members were walking up as the young nurse said this, and all three of them shot a look of horror her way. It was such the wrong thing to say in the ER. Completely taboo. And they all knew it.

As if on cue, the emergency room doors flew open as two guys carrying another came limping inside, blood pouring from all three of them.

“You had to say the Q word,” Lindsey snapped as all four medical professionals rushed forward to catch the men before they toppled to the floor.

There was no more time to sit around. They got to work sewing wounds, administering antibiotics and painkillers, and setting a broken wrist. The guys were lucky. They’d been performing some Jackass-style stunts that had gone severely wrong—or maybe right. Wasn’t the point of those movies to humiliate oneself while causing the most damage possible? Why would people find that entertaining? Okay, she had to admit, she might have watched it once or twice. But still, it was a terrible pastime.

No sooner did they get their young victims treated than an older couple walked in. Both of them looked one knock away from heaven’s door. Each of them complained of chest pains.

“Both of you?” Lindsey asked, surprised. Neither had any color, and their breathing was almost nonexistent.

“Yes, dear,” the woman replied, still polite even in her pain.

“What happened?” Lindsey asked as they began running tests on them.

The old man wasn’t as polite in his pain-induced state. “We aren’t that old, you know. I’m not even seventy yet,” he spluttered, completely off topic. What did their age have to do with anything?

“I wasn’t trying to call you old, sir,” Lindsey quickly said, helping him lie back in the bed.

“Darling, you’ll be seventy in two days,” the woman pointed out. “I was giving him his birthday present a little early, you see—” Her cheeks turned pink as she looked at Lindsey in horror.

Lindsey had no idea what was going on. “What was the present? Did it frighten you both?” she asked.

Right after she asked the question, Dr. Stine’s soft laughter could be heard behind her, and she turned to give him a glare. She didn’t find this situation in the least funny.