Page 7 of Just One Night Together

Would she change her mind?

Or would she let him teach her? The idea heated Damon’s blood. He’d been focused on his mom for the past six months, ignoring everything except her needs. This cute nurse had reminded him of a very basic drive that had been unsatisfied for too long.

What if it was more than a massage lesson? It would have to be her choice, but Damon wouldn’t be the one to say no.

She’d disappeared down the hall before he realized he had over an hour to waste in the hospital before the end of her shift.

He didn’t even know her name, or what department she worked in. He’d assumed it was oncology, but then she’d gotten on the elevator.

Damon slung his jacket over his shoulder, peeked in on his mom one last time, then headed for the nurses’ station. He could put the time to good purpose and see what he could find out about Nurse Neat.

It was only fair, given how much she’d already learned about him.

* * *

“That was Haley,”the nurse said in response to Damon’s question. “Haley Slater. She’s been on staff here for years, if you’re worried about her coming by.”

“No, I was just curious. She seemed quite interested in my mom and I wondered why.”

The nurse nodded, unsurprised. “Haley’s usually in oncology, and she’s really interested in complementary therapies and palliative care. I’ll bet she heard about the effect your massages have on your mom’s condition.”

“You talk about that?” Damon asked, a bit surprised.

The nurse cast him a sparkling smile. “That and other things.” She glanced over him with appreciation and her smile broadened. “But the effect is incredible. If anyone in this place were interested, I’d expect it to be Haley.”

“Why isn’t she in oncology now?”

“Oh, she switched off with Anna in the cardiac ward for three months.”

Damon waited and the nurse, predictably, filled the silence.

“Anna had to start her mat leave early. She’s having a rough second trimester and they ended up a bit short-staffed.” She grimaced. “Lots of heart attacks after Christmas.”

“That’s Haley,” said a second nurse who was counting pills into plastic cups at the other side of the nurses’ station. She was referring to a computer screen, presumably double-checking patients and dosages. “Always stepping up to fill the void. I think she’d work double shifts every day if they’d let her.”

That was interesting. Didn’t Haley have any family commitments?

Was she single?

Damon knew it didn’t really matter. He was only going to teach her about massage, but he wanted to know. “Workaholic?” he asked lightly. “I know a few of those.”

The first nurse smiled. “They’re good to know. Haley’s the one to call if you get stuck with a holiday shift.”

“She filled in for me this past Thanksgiving,” offered the second nurse.

“Christmas Eve for me,” agreed the first. “Or if you’re sick, she’s right there.”

“Good old reliable Haley.” The second sighed and straightened, then smiled at Damon. “I guess that’s the hazard of not having a life.”

“She has a life,” the first nurse said, a little bit defensive on Haley’s behalf. “But her family is all in Illinois or Ohio or somewhere.”

Not married then, and without a significant other. The detail gave Damon unexpected satisfaction. He told himself because it was less complicated that way.

“I thought she didn’t have any family at all,” the second nurse said. “She never takes vacation. If she’s off, it’s because she’s taking a course somewhere.”

“Not true,” said the first with a shake of her head. “She always takes January 27th off.”

“Really? Why?” The second nurse asked the question that Damon wanted answered.

---