Page 6 of Deal Takers

“I’m flattered, Brody, and at the same time, a little skeeved out you’re asking me out right after having sex with someone else.Two someone elses. But that’s beside the point. I don’t date patients.Ever. I’m sorry.”

“There’s no chance I’m going to convince you to bend that rule, is there?”

She shakes her head. “Not even a little.”

Well, damn.

CHAPTER 4

Rainey

Wow, I thought that shift would never end. I was seeing patients back-to-back all night, so I didn’t get a chance to chart my notes until the day staff came in. It’s just after nine in the morning, and I want nothing more than to go home and crawl into bed. As I step into the elevator that leads to the parking garage, I decide to make one quick stop before leaving. A single mom gave birth the other night, and she and the baby are going home today. She didn’t have anyone to help her through the delivery, so I wound up filling in as her coach. You get to talk a lot during thirteen hours of labor, and I really like her. She’s new to the area, and the only family she has is an older brother who seems a bit clueless about the whole baby thing. Being one of six children with parents who are still married, I can’t imagine navigating motherhood without a huge support system in place. At the very least, I’d like her to know she has a friend in me ifshe’d like.

“Knock, knock,” I say, as if my actual knocking wouldn’t do the job.

“Come in,” she calls.

I step into the room, mindful of my footsteps. Newborn babies can typically sleep through anything, but if you have the rare infant who doesn’t, youdon’twant to wake that baby. My stealth probably isn’t necessary considering morning rounds were just completed, but a habit all the same.

Devyn smiles when she sees me. “Hey, Rainey.”

She looks tired, as expected, but she definitely has that new mom glow going on.

“Hey, Mama, I was on my way out and wanted to check in on you and Nathan before I left.”

She looks down to the little boy in her arms. “Oh, that’s really sweet of you.”

I come closer to take a seat at the edge of the bed. “So, today’s the big day you two get to go home. Are you excited?”

She rubs her hand over her son’s swaddled back. “I think so…I mean, it’s not like I can stay here longer just because I’m a little freaked out about doing this, right?”

I chuckle. “No…insurance companies typically frown on that, but I know you’ll be fine. It’s scary at first, but then your instincts take over, and it’s all downhill from there.”

“What if I do something wrong?” she asks.

I give her a soft smile. “If I had a dollar for every time a new mom asked me that, I wouldn’t have to work anymore.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

She thinks about that for a moment. “What if he doesn’t like me? I’ve read babies can sense anxiety. What if my anxietygiveshimanxiety?”

I wrap my hand around her shin. “Devyn, I know this wasn’t planned, but I have a good feeling about you two. That little boy has a mommy who loves him, and that can go alongway.”

A tear escapes as she looks down on her snoozing bundle of joy. “He looks so much like his father. I know it’s probably too early to say that, but it’s true. He’s so beautiful. I’ve never seen something so beautiful before.”

I give her a moment to reflect on that in silence. I may not know the baby daddy details but that statement tells me her feelings for him run deep.

“Hey, would it be okay if I came to visit you guys at home sometime?”

She looks up in surprise. “Really? Is that something you normally do for your patients?”

“Not at all,” I admit. “But I could really use a friend, and I figured who better than someone that comes with an adorable little baby to coo at? If you’re willing to have me, that is.”

She fights back more tears. “I’d love that, Rainey. I don’t have any friends in this town. I love Drew—he’s the best big brother ever—but it would be nice to have a female perspective occasionally. Just don’t be surprised if I use and abuse your knowledge of all things baby.”

I act shocked. “Are you trying to tell me you don’t want me for my body?”

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