Page 26 of SEAL's Providence
“I’m good. Sorry to surprise you. But I was hoping to steal Dr. Sheridan for lunch.” Tony slid the picnic basket out from behind him with a smile. “Do you have time? I know you’ve had a week from hell. But your nurse Laurie said you have a few hours free.”
Providence couldn’t resist his smile or the need to escape. Lunch away from her desk sounded absolutely perfect.
“I think I can arrange that. Especially if you have something sweet in that basket.”
“I need to get back to my office. I’ll text youlater, Providence.” Tempest said and then nodded her head at Tony. “Sir.”
Tony stepped into her office and placed the huge picnic basket on one chair and sat in the other. He looked good enough to eat. She should be immune to men in uniform after all these years, but nope. He took her breath away no matter what he was wearing.
“Where are we going to have the picnic? Not in here, I hope.”
“Definitely not. You need a break from this place. I bet you didn’t even know I stopped by yesterday to see you. A different nurse met me in the hallway and said you had patients stacked up in the waiting room barfing their brains out.”
“Holy hell. Please tell me she didn’t. Son of a bitch, and to a superior officer, too? I need to write her up. Nancy has been a pain in my ass since I got here, and only does enough to get by. I swear she only enlisted to nab a husband.”
“Well, damn. She sounds like a wonderful person to have around when everyone is barfing their brains out. But does that mean you weren’t swamped?”
“Oh, I was. It’s one of the worst stomach viruses I’ve seen in years. You’re lucky you’re not sick, too.”
“I have a good immune system.” Tony smirked. “But hey, don’t worry about it. It’s really okay, sweetheart. How about we get out of here? And to answer your earlier question, I thought we’d walk down to the beach and get some fresh air.” Tony strode around her desk and reached for her hand.
Providence let him pull her up from the chair and out of her office, locking the door behind her. “Thank you. This is a wonderful idea.” Providence squeezed his hand. When she tried to let go, he laced their fingers together.
They passed a few other nurses on the floor and a couple of other doctors, who gave her a questioning look, but she didn’t care. Like Tony had said on Saturday, they weren’t breaking any rules. Anyone that didn’t like it could fuck right off. Besides, a beach picnic was just what the doctor ordered.
“Ididn’t know we could come out this way. It’s beautiful,” Providence said as she watched the waves rolling gently up the beach.
“If you love it now, you’ll have to see the sunrise. It’ll take your breath away as the sun risesover the horizon. I’ll have to bring you one morning.”
“Ooh, that does sound amazing. I’ll even bring the coffee.”
“It’s a date.”
Providence giggled. “And when are you planning to take me on this date?”
“Hm, good question. How about your next day off?”
“That’s possible. I’m scheduled to be off for the weekend again, but with everyone being sick, who knows? Or I might have to work extra hours to cover someone. People are dropping like flies around here. But I have afternoon plans.” Providence wanted to kick herself. Now he’d want to know what plans, and she wasn’t ready to share their covert operation.
Tony opened the wicker basket and pulled out a large plaid cloth that he spread over the sand. “Okay, we’ll figure it out. Have a seat, sweetheart.”
Damn. She shouldn’t love it so much when he called her that. Thankful that she’d worn her slacks, she lowered herself onto the blanket without flashing him.
“I didn’t know if you liked sweet tea, so I brought unsweet, too.” He lifted two thermoses and plastic cups from the basket.
“I’m from Mississippi. Which do you think I drink?”
Tony chuckled. “Sweet, just like you. But I didn’t want to assume.”
“Corny, but smart.” Providence couldn’t stop smiling. Her face would probably hurt later. “What else do you have in there?” She leaned forward to peek into the basket, but he pulled it away.
“Nuh, uh. No peeking. Have some patience, doctor. Good things come to those who wait.”
“If I wait too long, I may swoon from hunger.” Providence amped up her accent, then put her hand over heart.
“You’re too funny.” He chuckled as he pulled a large bowl of fruit salad, plates, plastic utensils, and two wrapped sandwiches out of the basket. As he handed her a sandwich, he said, “I hope you like roast beef and provolone.”
“It’s actually one of my favorites. You shouldn’t have gone through so much effort, but it’s amazing.” Providence would have eaten whatever he’d brought, but she couldn’t believe he’d put this all together for her.
