Page 31 of The Seal's Promise
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Brooke
Whatever It Takes
“Good morning, Ms.Garcia, once you’ve had a chance to get settled could you meet me in my office to start orientation for the new doctor?” Dr. Jones asked by way of greeting with a yell from inside his office. Brooke set her things down in her smaller office next to his at the end of the hall. She hadn’t expected to see him so early, and definitely didn’t know anything about a new doctor.
“What new doctor?” she asked, not bothering to even log into her computer, instead stomping over to stand in the doorway of Dr. Jones’s large corner office.
“I found us a new doctor to train up so I can properly retire this fall.”
“But what about checking credentials, and the interview process?”
“Ms. Garcia, I think my forty years of practicing medicine gives me enough wisdom to conduct an interview. His family has an impeccable reputation around here, and I’ll leave it to you to call his former employer to confirm he wasn’t fired. But I think you’ll find my selection is about as good as they get.”
“His family’s reputation was included on his application?”
But before Dr. Jones could respond, Dalton walked into the hallway wearing blue scrubs, a stethoscope, and looking unbelievably hot. Like a Ken doll that hit the gym hard and turned into a real man.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Good morning, Ms. Garcia, I’m reporting for my first day on duty.” He handed her a few pages of paperwork that read in bold lettersApplication for Employment. “I filled out those employment forms, all my references are listed, and they’re expecting your call. I assume you’ll have to check. Protocol, right? I attached a copy of my medical license, insurance coverage, and banking info for my paychecks.”
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish. “But you can’t take this job—you don’t live here. You’re not staying.”
“Now I know Dalton’s plans are a little in flux, but when he said he could stay at least a few months, I thought why don’t we hire him on for a probationary period. Having him on board helps us get through the summer, which is always crazy with tourists. And in that time we can either convince him to stay or find a more permanent applicant,” Dr. Jones said with gusto.
“A trial period? But how are we going to convince him to stay if he has no intention of living in Sandy Point?”
“I’ll leave that to you—after all, you’re the administrator,” Dr. Jones said, standing from his desk to usher her and Dalton out of his office. “If you can use your powers of persuasion to get him to stay, all the better. But for now, his probation period starts today. Welcome to Sandy Point Hospital, Dr. Hart.”
Then Dr. Jones closed his door and left them standing in the hallway outside his office.
Dalton started to laugh and crossed his arms. “I’m not supposed to say how cute you are when you’re flustered, that would be unprofessional, but this is priceless,” he said before he stepped away to start popping his head into doorways along the hall. “Should I claim one of these supply closets for an office? I like the one across from you, then you’ll be nearby to answer all my questions.”
Brooke’s stomach flip-flopped as she looked into Dalton’s blue eyes swirling with a playful flirtation, and she didn’t know how to react. So she did an about-face and walked into her own office to get some space away from him. She set the paperwork on her desk, then, with her hands on her hips, she began to pace. But Dalton leaned in her doorway and folded his arms loose over his chest.
“What’s the problem?”
“You can’t work in the hospital for a few months. We don’t even know if you’ll be here for another week.”
“I told Wes I could stay long enough to get our gran’s health issues settled, and I’ve just committed to Sandy Point until at least the end of August.” His smile grew bigger. “So yes, I’ll be here another week.”
She really couldn’t argue with the logic of a probation period, and she knew without calling his references that Dalton was more than qualified. A Navy SEAL with medical school training by the military, one who had worked several years in a busy ER, was more than capable to meet the needs of their small-town hospital. If she was honest with herself, he was probably the ideal person to replace Dr. Jones. She was the one who couldn’t handle it.
Spending time with Dalton only made her think about the young man he’d been when she’d fallen for him the first time, and crave the man he’d become. She’d even started to seriously consider the idea of having a no-strings-attached fling with him. Why shouldn’t she enjoy herself a little this summer? She’d been alone for eight years and never experienced such electric desire for any man before. Her attraction to Tyler had been strong, but Dalton made that seem like a G-rated movie. But now that was off the table if they were going to be working together, which was just as well.
“Brooke, if this is going to be a problem, I don’t have to do this. I honestly thought you’d like the idea of having some help.”
She pushed her less-than-professional thoughts aside.
“Nope, no problem. I’ll print up the contract for you to sign.” She powered up her computer. “Why don’t you go see Nora for the tour and I’ll bring these down.”
Dalton clapped his hands. “Alright. Don’t worry, this is gonna be a fun summer. You might even like having me here,” he said with a charming smile and then walked away.
This was going to be a tough summer, resisting him. But for now she needed to get the paperwork filed before they got busy. There was already an influx of tourists arriving, and in a few weeks’ time school would be out, and both the beach and Main Street would be packed. They did need Dalton, so she just needed to make sure she remembered he was there to help his gran and his brother, not forever.
By late afternoon, they’d already seen double the normal cases for a Monday, and Dalton was moving around the hospital like he’d been there for months. He was a decisive, thoughtful physician, and the staff had welcomed him. He brought positive energy and couldn’t have started on a better day. He’d just finished treating a family for sunstroke and dehydration when her day got worse.
