Convincing Lina: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove Romance Book 2) (3 page)

His brother’s phone call two hours earlier, urging Gideon to relinquish the title to his home, was the first chicken pox of the day.
 

“Let’s get together after I give Ava her special day.”

“You bet.” Logan strode past him and Gideon continued on, family in the forefront of his thoughts. He had informed Ian, the lawyer of the family, Hell’s Angels with grenade launchers would not get him out of his house. He would never give in. Though he no longer wore the uniform, a Marine never surrendered. His dream of a wife to share his life with and children was poured in the very foundation of that house. His custom designed home was a sharp contrast to the dilapidated shack of his early childhood. He’d created a new life for himself. Known associates and his previous life was a time capsule he’d buried years ago. In some ways, his current existence was similar to wearing a tailor made suit over well-worn jeans and a faded cotton shirt. He looked the part of a respected psychiatrist, but with less finesse, more bulky, and a lot of discomfort.
 

Of his five brothers, Ian was the one to force the family’s stick together motto, followed by D.Wright, who was the oldest in the bunch. Gideon answered his phone if one of them called, that was enough of a family tie for him. His life was in Shell Cove. The taint of his previous existence was best left in the past. The only remnant he held sacred from his old life was the antique scrolled band around his neck.
 

Chicken pox number two was a lengthy text message he immediately forwarded to Ian. He wasn’t going to read it today, or any other day in the future. The sender was dead to him. A skeleton recalcitrant to cremation, that refused to remain entombed. A bony shard stuck in a fleshier place than his backside. It had taken him years to block her name and image from taking shape in his mind. When she jetted on him, he never looked back to see where she landed. He wasn’t the kind of man to run behind a woman.
 

The third chicken pox, he had the power to fix. An inexperienced nurse was assigned to his psychiatric clinic again. Her high-pitched, trembling laughter along with the smiling, rainbow colored daisy scrub top was indication enough that the woman was a poor fit for his patient population. The fact that she kept peering over the check-in desk with wide stretched eyes at each patient like she expected them to attack confirmed his assessment. Her discomfort was not missed by the waiting room occupants.
 

Considering a significant number of his patients were Marines, fresh from combat zones, they seemed to feed on her anxiety and patrolled the clinic like prison guards. This was the first civilian military collaboration of its kind at SCMC. His proposal received rave reviews, however, identifying staff members comfortable and competent to work with his unique patient population was tenuous at best. He’d lost two psychiatrists to transfer requests and more nurses than he could count.
 

Pushing through the safety doors, he scanned the inpatient psychiatric unit for the nurse in charge. The blare of ringing phones and the nasal quality of the overhead paging system filled his ears. He approached the nursing station. A stoic woman with thin blonde hair pulled in a severe ponytail was seated at the central monitoring station. She was red faced with an apple shaped body, stuffed into a camel colored knit cotton set.
 

“I need another nurse assigned to my clinic in twenty minutes.” At the woman’s vacant stare he rephrased his request.

“Good morning,” he tried again. Her expression remained unchanged. “Get another nurse to my clinic in the next twenty minutes.” That got her attention.
 

“I’m sorry Dr. Rice. There isn’t another nurse available this morning. Check back after lunch.”

“Lunch,” he repeated incredulously. “My clinic ends at two o’clock,” he ground out.
 

“That’s the best I can do.” Did she actually do something to help? He missed it.
 

“Call the nurse manager.” Olivia Tran was the new manager at SCMC. No one asked how a woman of Vietnamese descent spoke in a distinct British accent and had a caramel colored complexion. Her penchant for dressing her wafer thin body in men’s clothing to include a necktie and Rockport oxfords, pretty much assured it would be awhile before most women on staff would work up the courage to ask.
 

A throaty, soulful voice vibrated in his ear. His body tightened in response. He could identify Lina James’ voice through the hum of morning activity. When his gaze landed on the statuesque beauty, he lost sight of everything except her. He stood still, as his brain short-circuited and the pox of the day gave way to the memory of their one kiss. He remembered the taste of her sexy bow shaped lips. The flavors of Georgia peaches, warm brown sugar and an exotic blend of sweetness unique to Lina. Recalling the warmth of her generous breast pressed against his chest, his gut twisted. He craved, dreamt of quenching his thirst with her intoxicating juice.
 

Blood roared through his veins, fueling his hunger for her. And the feel of those full hips snuggled into his groin had his fingers curling into fists at his side. At his six feet five inches it was a precious gift that Lina fit his height to perfection.
 

“I will not work in Dr. Harper’s clinic. Find someone else for the position,” he heard her say. His instincts signaled this was the prime opportunity to meet the needs of the clinic, take care of his patients, and get closer to the woman with the sweetest lips he’d ever tasted. Moving around the nurse’s station he narrowed the distance between Lina and Olivia Tran, the nurse manager.
 

Lina wore a purple silk blouse draped across her generous breasts before tapering to her smaller waist. Black dress slacks rounded to her bottom tastefully, then slimmed over those hips that a man could hold onto for days. Black leather kitten heels with a peep-toe completed her professional, but all-woman ensemble. Her hair was in its customary chignon perched high on the crown of her head. Sexy full-figured pin-up girl. His groin hardened with each passing second.
 

Both women were focused on their conversation. When he spoke they both startled before turning to face him.

“Lina can work with me.” He received surprised expressions from both women, but then confusion registered in Lina’s dark brown eyes.
 

“Gideon?” He watched as she licked her full bottom lip. Her tongue charting a slow course of wetness caused the pressure against his straining zipper to increase. His world seemed to quiet looking down into her almond shaped eyes.
 

“I need you.” The desire to help her overwhelmed him. He breathed in her sweet scent, smiling when he heard her voice hitch. Yeah, she felt the connection between them. He’d found a cure for Monday mornings.

Chapter 3

She should have clubbed Jace over the head before he had the opportunity to cause her more trouble. Gideon Rice was man-fast kryptonite. She wasn’t fooled by his polished psychiatrist persona. He was raw masculine power in dress pants and a lab coat. A body coated in warm sunshine, with waves of sun-kissed brown hair that never touched his collar. Edible panties naughty. She wanted to slide him over her curves in torturous slow motion, nestle him in tight enough to feel her heat, and then wear him all day until he was drenched in her scent. Her Cricket, aka her clitoris did a back flip before taking a position at the top of the high dive. Preparing to take the plunge into Gideon infested waters.
Stop it.
She broke in a silent rendition of her man-fast chant. Man-fast, man-fast, got to last. His body seemed even bigger standing between her and Olivia. The other woman was unaffected by his presence, while Lina’s pulse pounded in her ears. Daily contact with Gideon was a temptation she hadn’t factored into her successful male detoxification plan.

“Well, RN James you are in high demand this morning.” Olivia’s smile was genuine and Lina gave her the benefit of the doubt. The woman was unaware of Jace’s antics over the past three months. His request had the appearance of a career enhancing move, but Jace only helped himself.

“How is that?” Gideon questioned in his rich baritone. Olivia squared her shoulders, faced Gideon head on, and smiled. Despite her masculine dress, when Olivia smiled her face was radiant.
 

“One of the psychologists has requested Lina by name for a permanent staff assignment.” Pride was evident in her voice.
 

“Lina, what’s going on?” Energy charged his words, a flicker of menace flashed in his eyes, then vanished.
 

The unit manager answered for her.
 

 
“I failed to convince her this is a wonderful opportunity.” Lina gave an unladylike grunt.

“Lina thinks otherwise, Ms. Tran.” The rumors about her and Jace must have reached his ears by now. Was he intervening because he felt sympathy for her? She didn’t need his pity.
 

“The underground salt mines of Kansas would be more appealing.” His brows drew together. He regarded her with open curiosity.
 

“I agree with you, Ms. Tran.” Traitor. Lina leveled him with a vicious glare. “An outpatient assignment is an excellent opportunity for RN James,” Gideon continued.
 

She ignored his conspiratorial wink and broad grin.
 

“Lina will work with me starting today in the WWR clinic.” Her eyes shot up at him. And up. Gideon offered her a solution. “I’ll have the nurse currently assigned to my clinic report to Dr. Harper immediately.” Lina raised an eyebrow at his directive. He had an air of comfortable authority. A man with a history of giving orders. Less than twenty-four hours into her man-fast and the universe had plopped a warm, honey bun with mesmerizing gray eyes in her path.
 

 
“Go on, I’m listening.” She hoped she sounded casual. Those stormy gray eyes fixed on her along with that sexy voice had her mouth watering.
 

“I need a seasoned psychiatric nurse to work with the pilot program between Shell Cove Medical and the Queens Bay Naval Medical Center.” The specifics of the program she hadn’t been privy to, but Ava worked with the military community health initiative at the treatment facility.
 

“I’ve heard about the program.” She’d heard the Titanic had less staff jumping ship. “How are you involved with them?” She was interested to know how he was connected with the military community.

“I served in the United States Marine Corps before I went to medical school.”
That is not an answer, Doctor.
 

“Do you have combat experience?” Lina asked. His jaw tightened at her question. Hit a nerve with that one. She could see him grapple for the right words.

“I have an in-depth understanding of the psychological effects of deployment, physical injury, and personal loss on mission readiness.” He’d said a lot, but she heard what he didn’t say. The pain in his eyes said he had experience with injury and loss.
 

Maybe she should take her chances with Jace. There was zero chance of her falling prey to Jace’s efforts at seduction. With Gideon she was in real danger of her man-fast going down in a fiery blaze, minus the glory. She could accept Jace’s chicanery or face Gideon’s temptation. Was she ready to accept the challenge of rescuing a worthy community health project on the brink of collapse? It was a chance to deliver herself from Jace’s reach at the risk of her professional reputation and career.

“So, do you want to take me on, Lina?” Her breath hitched. Knees weak, limbs even weaker, she reached for the strand of pearls at her neck for support.
Don’t answer that.
She and her man-fast were in trouble.

She wanted to take him on, but not in the way he was offering. Getting involved with another doctor she worked with was not a mistake she could afford to repeat. This was a possible win-win for her and Gideon.
 

“Which days are your clinic and what time would you need me in the office?” Heat flashed in his eyes, but it disappeared so quickly. She must have been mistaken.
 

“You will be with me five days a week, from eight to five.” She was the one to look surprised. His patient profile was that large?

“Ah, I didn’t realize your clinic was…,” What was the word she was searching for? “Robust.”
 

“Do you need more time to make your decision?” She would not start questioning her judgment today.