Dr. White's Baby Wish

Her knight in shining armor

When a gunman takes Dr. Harper White hostage in the OR, Cody Brand's bravery and quick thinking save the day. But Harper's determined not to fall for her handsome rescuer… She's too afraid he'll run when he learns she can't give him the family he craves.

Harper is one of the strongest women Cody has ever met, and yet her eyes betray a sadness he can't explain. Whatever it is, and whatever it takes, Cody is on a mission to show her he's the man to make her smile again…

A few unruly curls had escaped the wide band meant to keep them in place and were now stuck to her moist cheeks.

Cody's fingers itched to be able to lift them away and tuck them behind her ears. But he didn't dare. He already loved this job, and he wasn't going to spoil anything by getting offside with this particular doctor.

So why was he wrapping his arms around her and hauling her shaking body close to his? Because he needed to hold her against him. However briefly, whatever the outcome, he just
did
. Tucking her head against his chest, he dropped his chin on top of her thick, soft hair and held her. Breathed in her scent of citrus and residual fear. In his arms she gave him strength, helped him settle his jittery muscles. He hoped he was giving the same back.

She's a perfect fit for my body.

The realization banged through him, made him tense. Made Harper lift her head and look at him with puzzlement beaming out at him from watery eyes.

She sniffed once, and plastered a tight smile on her mouth. “Let's go face the second round. There'll be questions from all directions.”

Slowly Cody unwound his arms from that warm body he shouldn't be noticing in any way. From somewhere deep he found a smile that was entirely for her. “You did good, Doctor. Really good.”

Dear Reader,

I'm often asked where the ideas for my stories come from, so I thought I'd share the wee nudge I got for this story.

At the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference there was a young guy working at the bar in the lounge, serving everything from coffees to cocktails and a multitude of drinks in between. He charmed everyone with his enthusiasm and willingness to keep his customers more than happy.

Louisa George and I commented that he'd make a great hero for a story. His name was Cody—and that, plus the little I've already mentioned, was the start of my hero in this story.

My Cody started his working life as a deep-sea fisherman, but eventually followed his heart into nursing. A strong man like that needs a strong woman, and along comes Harper—a doctor with a soft heart, especially around children, which makes it downright tragic that she can't have her own.

I hope you enjoy following these two through their highs and lows as they try to stay true to their needs.

I'd love to hear from you at
[email protected]
, or visit my website at
suemackay.co.nz
.

Cheers!

Sue

DR. WHITE'S
BABY WISH

Sue MacKay

Books by Sue MacKay

Harlequin Medical Romance

Doctors to Daddies

A Father for Her Baby
The Midwife's Son

The Gift of a Child
From Duty to Daddy
A Family This Christmas
The Family She Needs
Midwife...to Mum!
Reunited...in Paris!
A December to Remember
Breaking All Their Rules

Visit the Author Profile page at
Harlequin.com
for more titles.

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Praise for Sue MacKay

“A deeply emotional, heart-rending story that will make you smile and make you cry. I truly recommend it—and don't miss the second book: the story about Max.”

—
Harlequin Junkie
on
The Gift of a Child

“What a great book. I loved it. I did not want it to end. This is one book not to miss.”

—
Goodreads
on
The Gift of a Child

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

‘R
ESUSCITATED
CARDIAC
ARREST
coming in from Courtney Place,' the newest nurse in Wellington Central Hospital's emergency department called as he banged the wall phone back on its hook. ‘Male, fifty-two, revived by bystander using CPR. ETA less than five minutes.'

‘Thanks, Cody,' Dr Harper White replied. ‘Resus Two when he gets here.'

Cody Brand added quietly so that only she heard, ‘Apparently intoxicated as well.' The man was shaking his head. ‘Seems a bit early in the day.'

Harper's gaze flicked to the wall clock. Eleven forty-five. Early? Hardly. Not in the world of accidents and incidents. ‘Hopefully now a very subdued man.'

‘You think he's thanking his lucky stars and swearing off the booze for good?' Cody grinned. ‘Good luck with that.'

That grin could get the man anything—though not from her. But she'd have to concentrate on not giving in to the zingy feeling skimming her skin. ‘I guess it is wishful thinking.' Harper watched as Cody strode into Resus Two and began checking equipment, despite it having been restocked and double-checked less than an hour ago after a middle-aged patient had been treated for a major allergic reaction to something she'd eaten for breakfast.

The new nurse left nothing to chance—something Harper appreciated but which also annoyed her at times. Other staff in the department did their jobs just as well. She gave a mental shrug. Maybe Nurse Brand was still settling in and she should leave him to it. No one else had complained, and it was far better than him being slack.

Turning away, she rubbed her temples with her fingertips, trying to relieve the tension building behind her eyes. She did not need a migraine. She had a fun weekend to look forward to, with a birthday party not to be missed. Reaching for the next patient file on the stack, she determined not to let a migraine or the nurse's well-muscled thighs and wide shoulders that blue scrubs did little to hide distract her.

‘Why pick up a file when any moment now the ambulance's due to deliver? It's not like you've got time to treat someone else.' Karin, a registrar, grinned. ‘Hottie's got to you, hasn't he?'

‘I don't think so.' She hurriedly dropped the file back in place.

‘You're made of stone?'

Harper tried not to smile but it was impossible not to. ‘The man's built, no doubt about it.'

‘I'd be worried if you hadn't noticed.' Karin picked up the file Harper had discarded.

‘Like I'm looking for another man.' Harper glanced at her sidekick, who was also staring after Cody.

‘Maybe not looking
for
, but you were definitely looking
at
.'

Yeah, she had been. ‘You're single, so what's holding you back?' Harper retorted.

‘Not my type. But you, on the other hand, need to get back in the saddle and—'

‘Don't go there,' Harper interrupted, grateful for the shrill ring of the emergency phone yet again. For once the busy morning made her happy, if only because it would shut Karin up. No doubt only briefly, as the woman was known to talk far too much about things she should keep her mouth closed on.

Nurse Brand had picked up the phone instantly, and Harper couldn't help but take another appreciative glance. He'd been here five days and labelled ‘Hottie' by the female staff within hours of starting. She couldn't argue with the name. No one could. He was made to be looked at—drooled over, even—but that was where it stopped as far as she was concerned.

For one, she worked with him, and this was her dream job, working with a dedicated group of highly skilled people all focused on helping their patients coping with difficult and often tragic situations. So far, what she'd seen of the latest nurse to join them had impressed her. He fitted right in. He might be easy going with those he worked with, but the moment someone suffering in any way at all came near him they had his undivided attention as he took care of them.

And, if she needed another reason to not be interested in him, it was that she'd had all the disappointment from men she ever needed. The ink was barely dry on the divorce papers from her last blunder.

Aren't you getting ahead of yourself? The guy treats you the same as every other person in the department with his charming disposition, his easy smile and relaxed wit. Why would you be special?

The phone was slammed back into its cradle. ‘Suspected body packer coming in from the international airport,' Cody informed her. That deep, husky voice that reminded her of things she had no right to be thinking of sounded calm and focused on work, putting her in her place without even trying. ‘Twenty-three-year-old male collapsed during an interview with Customs officers after nervous behaviour when a sniffer dog indicated on him.'

Harper groaned inwardly. She hated these cases. If the guy was carrying internally and had collapsed it suggested a balloon containing heroin or cocaine had burst. She'd lost a young female mule last year, and had seen another die years back when she'd been specialising in Auckland. It was a fast but very painful way to die. But she was getting ahead of herself. It was only supposition that the man was a mule, that a package had burst and that he'd die as a result. ‘ETA?'

‘Ten. Resus One?' Cody asked.

‘Yes. I want you with me on this. Karin, you take the cardiac victim.'

‘No problem,' Karin answered with a chuckle.

Harper scowled. She had not demanded Cody work with her because of his sex appeal. ‘I need someone strong nearby in case the patient tries to fight us as we work on him. If he's absorbing cocaine or heroin he'll become aggressive as the pain gets worse.' No one else in the department came as big and, she presumed, as strong as Nurse Brand. ‘I'm hoping the guy's suffering from dehydration after a long flight, or even the flu, but until I know for certain we have to be prepared for anything.'

Karin leaned close and said, so only Harper could hear, ‘Hottie would make nice babies.'

‘Shut it,' she hissed, now getting more than mildly annoyed. She couldn't have babies with any man no matter how hot he might be. It just wasn't possible when she didn't have a womb.

The bell rang, indicating a patient had arrived by ambulance. Unfortunately too soon to be hers, Harper thought. She needed a diversion about now. Karin didn't know how her comment hurt. It wasn't something she talked about, even when it should be old hat. Especially after what had happened with Darren.
Suck it up,
she growled at herself and followed Cody into Resus One.

Cody was already getting a fan out of the cupboard.

‘You've dealt with a case like this before?' she asked him.

He shook his head. ‘No, but I've read up on it. Soaring temps which have to be brought down fast if we want to save him, right?'

‘Yes. Apart from that and the agitation, he'll also have high BP and could be fitting.
If
he's carrying and has absorbed a drug, which we don't know for sure yet,' she repeated aloud. Crossing her fingers wasn't very medical, but sometimes anything and everything helped.

‘Do we soak him in cold water if he has a temperature?'

She nodded. ‘Grab some bottles from the staff fridge.' While Cody did that she went to check the drug cabinet for something to help calm the patient and slow any seizures he might have. If... This was still all about
if
the guy had swallowed packages of drugs in the first place. Why anyone would do that was beyond her. In her book no amount of money was worth risking her life for.

Minutes later the shrill ring of the bell from the ambulance bay sliced through Harper's thoughts and had her moving fast. There'd be no time to waste if this was the worst-case scenario. No surprise that as she raced towards the bay she found Cody striding right alongside her. He never missed a cue. She called over her shoulder to the nurses waiting at the desk, ‘Matilda, Jess—Resus One, now.'

A paramedic joined them as his off-sider began rolling the stretcher into the department. ‘Mick Frew. Very agitated, making it difficult to get any obs.'

‘What readings have you got?' Cody asked even before Harper had opened her mouth.

‘BP one-seventy over eighty-nine and rising. He's been fitting for the last five minutes. It's been tricky enough to keep the face mask on him, let alone do much else for him. I couldn't take his temp but by the feel of him he's burning up.'

Harper studied their patient as they rushed him through to Resus One where the other nurses waited, ready to take obs and put an oxygen mask on. This was sounding and looking more like a package had burst internally. Definitely more than a dose of flu or dehydration, but she had to be one-hundred percent sure before she committed to treating him. Something else could be causing these symptoms. ‘How certain were the Customs officers that he'd taken drugs? Do you know?' she asked the paramedic.

‘Of course he has' was the cutting retort from behind her.

Harper spun around and came face-to-face with a dapper man who had the coldest eyes she'd encountered in a long time. ‘Who are you?' Ambulance crews wore uniforms, not expensive, perfectly pressed suits worn by the man stepping towards her from the direction of the ambulance bay.

He shrugged. ‘He's carrying. Cocaine. In balloons.'

Just one of those bursting would mean trouble, serious trouble, for Mick Frew. What if more than one had come apart? ‘You seem very sure. I repeat, who are you?'

His eyes were glacial. ‘Detective Strong to you.' He walked beside the stretcher, his eyes flicking between the young man and her.

He wasn't acting like any detective she'd dealt with. Not even the one she'd been married to. ‘Well, Detective, I need to know how sure you are.'

‘He's packing.'

‘Right.' She'd still check Frew thoroughly but it was looking more and more likely that he had ingested drugs. ‘Thank you for your help. Now, you'll have to leave. You know the rules. Only hospital staff and patients are allowed into Resus.'

The detective grunted, and she thought he said, ‘We'll see about that,' but right then her patient began kicking and waving his arms in the air, the pain obviously becoming unbearable.

Cody caught an arm inches from slamming into Harper's stomach. ‘Easy, Mick. We're all here to help you. We need to get you onto the bed, okay?'

She nodded thanks at Cody. That fist would've hurt if it'd reached her.

The transfer was fast and awkward as everyone tried to hold those flailing limbs without dropping their patient. The paramedic handed over the Patient Report Form and was gone with his stretcher, no doubt glad to have got shot of his aggressive pick-up.

‘Check for a medic-alert disc on his arm,' Harper instructed Cody. She was running out of other options but could not afford to overlook anything, including an existing medical condition. Truth? She didn't want this young guy dealing with what was becoming apparent to all of them.

‘Nothing,' Cody noted as he took a hit on his upper arm. ‘Mick, steady, man. You're in hospital. We're the good guys.'

Harper leaned as close as she dared, one eye on those flailing arms. ‘Mick, I'm Harper, a doctor, and I want to help you, but I need to know if you've swallowed any drugs.'

The young guy groaned, opening and closing his eyes rapidly.

‘Yes or no?' she persisted.

A brief nod was his only reply.

‘Balloons or capsules?'

Mick twisted his head to the side and stared briefly beyond her, fear and hatred blinking out of his stricken eyes. ‘Balloons,' he croaked.

So the detective was right. The detective. She looked up, right into Cody's eyes, and saw her own uncertainty there which gave her the determination to get rid of the stranger. Turning around, she growled, ‘I asked you to leave, Detective Strong.'

‘So you did.' He sounded so smug a trickle of apprehension ran down her spine.

Cody said in a ‘don't fool with me' tone, ‘You will do as Dr White says.'

Nice as it was to have the nurse backing her, Harper had a definite feeling their visitor wasn't going to take any more notice of Cody than he had her. She glanced at Cody and nodded thanks again, appreciative of his attempt to help her with this horrid man. She didn't know why she thought him horrid, but she did. Probably something to do with those arctic-blue eyes that bored into her relentlessly. The complete opposite to the warmth she found in Cody's brief green gaze on the rare occasion he looked at her for an answer to some question. Shivering, she glanced at the nurse now, not wanting to focus on that other man. But she still had to get rid of him. He was a hazard in the emergency room.

‘Call security,' she mouthed at Cody.

Mick wheezed out some words.

‘What did you say?' Leaning down to hear him better, Harper felt the heat radiating off his body. ‘Jess, get the fan going as fast as possible.'

‘Not cop. Supplier.'

‘Mick? Really?'

He nodded. At least, that was what she thought his erratic head movement was.

Harper hoped against hope the man behind her hadn't heard or seen any of that. He wouldn't be pleased that she now knew for sure he wasn't a detective but a criminal. She thought fast. What to do? They had to work on saving Mick's life, get the so-called detective out of here and call in the real police, all at the same time. And she'd sent Cody out of the room. Squeezing the young man's hand, she whispered, ‘Okay,' before straightening up.

Of course it was not okay. It was a minefield.

Cody was still there. Thank goodness. His presence and calm manner gave her strength. Catching her eye, he nodded once, tightly. Had he heard what their patient had said? Whatever message he was trying to send her, she wasn't understanding, and they were wasting time if Mick stood any chance at all of surviving the poison streaming through his body.