Page 29 of SEAL's Temptation

He cocked his head.“I’m not sure.Maybe fifty kids?Dr.Brennan spoke with some of them earlier.They know to come over to our tents this morning for medical care.”

“I’ll get the supplies ready,” Luciana told them.

“Thank you, nurse,” he said, effectively dismissing her as he turned toward Avery.She felt his gaze on her as she flipped through the papers on her clipboard, making sure each station was covered for the morning.One nurse was off today, and they rotated through the nursing staff to ensure everyone had at least one rest day.There were too many patients to afford any extra time.

“Avery,” Dr.Walters said, crossing the tent toward her.It didn’t miss her notice that he always addressed her by her first name, yet he simply called the others, “nurse.”

“Yes, Dr.Walters?”she asked, pointedly addressing him more formally.

“Brandon.Call me Brandon.It’s been a month,” he said, flashing her a toothy grin.“I certainly think we’re on a first name basis by now.We’ve got nearly another year together here.”

“Of course,” she said smoothly, looking back at her papers and making a note.He’d be annoyed that she didn’t immediately stop what she was doing the second he spoke, but guys like him needed to realize the world didn’t revolve around them.

Luciana came back a moment later, a frown on her face.“I opened the storage locker, and it looks like a box is missing.”

“Impossible,” Dr.Walters snapped.“I was here myself earlier doing inventory.Go back and check again.I’m certain it’s all there.”

Luciana flinched but walked away, heading to check the supplies once more.They had a storage locker for things like plastic gloves, alcohol wipes, and the like.There were extra boxes taped up that Avery hadn’t gone through.Some things had been here long before she arrived, so she simply used what she needed and disregarded the rest.

Solar powered refrigerators and freezers for use in the field kept the vaccinations cold.Additional closets and cold storage were in the buildings where they were housed, but the solar powered units just outside the tents were useful for day-to-day operations.Vaccinations needed to remain at a certain temperature and couldn’t be left out for hours in the heat while the staff saw the day’s patients.And they simply didn’t have enough manpower for someone to be running back and forth all day long.

“I bet the nursing staff took anything that’s missing,” he muttered to Avery.“They’re all locals.”

She tried not to roll her eyes.Plenty of the locals in the village actually had done well for themselves.Business was in fact booming thanks to the vast numbers of people passing through as they migrated north.There were Internet cafes, grocery stores, and even little shops selling clothes or supplies.It was nothing compared to bustling American cities or towns, but it wasn’t exactly ramshackle shacks in a tiny little fishing village either.There was even construction going on, with contractors driving down from Panama City.

She was a bit surprised by the disparity here.While as Americans, she and Dr.Walters were no doubt better off with what they had back home, the villagers in Bajo Chiquito were now doing well for themselves, especially compared to the droves of people coming through who had little to their name.

“I’m going to go see what’s taking the nurse so long,” he suddenly said, hurrying toward the supply area.Avery watched him go and saw Luciana gesturing to what apparently was missing.Avery pulled her phone from her pocket as she watched them, frowning at the lack of signal.Cell service was less than reliable here, and she often used the Internet to stay in touch with family and friends back home.

And Ryan.

She’d spoken to him all of once since arriving in South America.His team had been sent out on an op, and he’d been out of contact for more than a week.She’d worried like crazy and couldn’t express her profound relief when he’d finally sent her an email.She was used to their texts before bed, their quiet phone conversations at night.Sending him a random picture.She’d write him long emails, but it wasn’t the same as shooting off a text whenever she thought of him.

Ryan seemed to have no trouble sending her flirty messages via email, but again, he was at home.She was in a foreign land, surrounded by strangers who’d slowly become friends.It was different, and she couldn’t deny that.

Even though she felt relatively safe, she was more on guard than she’d ever needed to be in California.It was difficult.

“We don’t have time to keep discussing this,” Dr.Walters said, moving over.“The patients are already lining up outside, and we have a large number to get through.”

The three of them got into place and quickly began moving through multiple families that morning.A few of the women seemed terrified of Dr.Walters’ poor bedside manner, and she wondered what they’d endured in the jungle.They’d denied needing examinations, but Avery began to wish he wasn’t here this morning so she and Luciana could speak to them alone.

Several hours later, they took a short break.The days had practically begun to run together with the endless amounts of people.Dr.Walters returned to the tent shortly after Avery and Luciana got themselves organized to continue taking patients.He was holding two cups of coffee and took a sip of one himself.

“Avery, I brought you a dark roast coffee.I noticed you liked the ones that they sell in town.”

“Oh,” she said, taken aback.She exchanged a glance with Luciana, who was across the tent, pulling on a pair of gloves to resume work.

“Sorry, nurse,” Dr.Walters said brusquely as he seemed to remember she was there, too.“This one is just for us ex-pats, right Avery?”His gaze wandered over her, too familiar, and a feeling of queasiness washed over her.He continued to hold out the coffee, and she finally crossed the tent to thank him, reluctantly taking the steaming cup.She had to admit it smelled fantastic.It also felt wrong to accept it.When Ryan surprised her with coffee, it was sweet.Genuine.He liked to make her happy.Coming from the doctor, however, it felt like he was singling her out, far more interested in Avery than he should be.

She took a sip of the steaming coffee, seeing Dr.Walters’ eyes on her mouth.“It’s good, right?I knew you’d be pleased.Nurse!”he barked at Luciana.“Tell the families to begin coming in.”

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