“Are you all right?” a deep voice asks beside me. I turn to see a handsome man with thick gray hair, clean-shaven. The gray actually suits him.
I have to clear my throat to snap out of my little daydream. “Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”
He gives me a friendly smile that lights up his face.
“Sorry, we haven’t met. My name is Milly White. I’m an ER doctor here.” I put my hand out, and he shakes it with a firm grip.
“Edward Stanley.Lovelyto meet you, Milly. I’ll be working beside you as an ER doctor.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank the Lord. I’ve been waiting for them to hire someone for some time now.”
He chuckles. Our pagers beep. We glance at each other, then rush down the hall toward the ambulance bay, where two ambulances arrive with flashing lights. I head to the first, Edward to the other. I open the doors and look at the paramedic. “What do we have?” And so my day begins.
After the hectic morning, when I have ten minutes free, I grab a sandwich and sit at a table in the cafeteria. I’m prepared to have to leave at any minute, so I shovel the sandwich down like a starving animal.
I hear laughter as Ivy sits down across from me. “Do I have to do the Heimlich maneuver on you?”
I shake my head, grinning as I chew.
“How’s that new doctor doing? I heard he’s gorgeous,” she purrs, fluttering her eyelashes.
I swallow. “Very good looking.” Very much my type, but noooo, my thoughts are tangled up on a man I can never have a relationship with.
“There’s a buzz around all the women. He’s the most eligible bachelor at the hospital,” she says.
My eyes widen. “How ishestill single?” Jeez, they know more than I do, and I work with the guy. A gorgeous man like that would surely have a wife.
She leans across the table. “I heard he’s divorced and came out here for a change.”
Not surprising. Divorce rates are high for doctors. We work long hours, miss special events, and when duty calls, lives are on the line.
She looks at me curiously. “What’s he like?”
I chuckle. “We haven’t had any personal conversations. It’s been busy, but he seems friendly with staff, families, and patients. He’s thorough and experienced in his job, from what I’ve seen so far. We communicated well today, and he fits in with the team.”
She giggles. “Oh, I bet he is fitting inperfectly,” she says with a wink. “So, you know that doctor show... What’s its name...” she clicks her fingers. “Grey’s Anatomy.”
I nod. Yes, it’s a classic, and they still show it on streaming services.
“Well, the nurses started calling him McDaddy.”
I laugh out loud. “That is hilarious. Whoever thought of that deserves a medal. He’s a silver fox.”
“How old do you think he is?” she asks.
I pause, thinking. “Maybe fifties.” I shrug. “I’m terrible at guessing ages, so don’t take my word for it.”
She looks at her watch. “I’ve got to head back, but find out some gossip on McDaddy, will you? The nurses are dying to know.”
“I’d better get back too. I can’t make any promises—it’s busy in there.” My beeper goes off. “I’m coming,” I mumble, standing up and rushing toward the ER.
By the time my shift is finished, I’m exhausted. My feet ache; my shoulders are tense. I get changed and sling my bag over my shoulder. Just then, McDaddy walks over, wrapped in a towel—fresh from the shower. I whirl away, but not before I see his six-pack and the water droplets trailing his skin. “I’ll leave and give you your privacy,” I stammer, cheeks pink.
He chuckles under his breath. “Are you working tomorrow?”
“Most likely,” I answer, still focused on the door.
“Let’s have a coffee. I’d like to get to know who I’ll be working with.”
