Page 44 of Grumpy Sunshine

His brother, Cutter’s, daughter.

I’d seen her before, of course.

Cutter, Keely and Copper came to the hospital all the time—though Copper was the most recent brother to start visiting, and I was still curious as hell to know where he’d been this entire time.

One day, maybe I’d have the courage to ask Chevy.

Until then, my mind made up elaborate dreams that were likely really far from the truth.

“There’s my girl.”I watched as Chevy bent down, picked up the young toddler, and threw her high in the air.

The mother, who’d been about halfway down the hallway, let out a squeak.

“Chevy,” Milena gasped as she placed her hand over her heart.“Don’t do that.”

“It’s fine, Mil,” Chevy teased as he brought the young girl close and blew raspberries on the side of her neck.

“We ame to swee woo.”The little girl threw both of her hands onto Chevy’s face and squeezed.

“I can see that,” Chevy replied.“You’re lucky you didn’t miss me.I just got out of surgery.”

I loved that he talked to her like a grownup.

I loved even more the look in his eyes when he stared adoringly down at the little girl.

“We had her two-year checkup today, and she demanded that we come see you,” Milena said.“I didn’t even know if you were working today.”

“I’m off tomorrow through Friday,” he said.“Then I work the entire weekend.”

My schedule.

A delighted shiver went down my spine.

Though I wasn’t supposed to work this weekend, the charge nurse, Dru, had asked me if she could rearrange my schedule because a tech had quit.I’d agreed, and now I was really glad that I did.

More time to ogle the sexiest man alive sounded pretty freakin’ sweet.

I finished picking up the gauze four-by-fours and stuffed them into my cart, then backed up and closed the door to the supply closet.

I was about halfway to the nurses’ station when Dru stopped me and said, “Would you mind showing Mr.and Mrs.Spurlock to the cafeteria?”

I could read between the lines.

They needed a break, and I was to show them the good stuff.

“Sure thing,” I said.“I was about to take my lunch break anyway.”

That was a lie.

I wasn’t due for another hour, but Dru smiled and gave me a thumbs-up, indicating that she’d cover for me.

We were supposed to have two patient care techs per shift, but we were short one due to one quitting after finding out that she was pregnant.

Which meant that I was overworked and tired, and to be quite honest, maybe I could use the good stuff, too.

“Right this way, y’all,” I said.

“Thanks,” the big man said.“You worked here long?”

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