Nurse to Heal the High Seas Doc - Chapter 11
Three days back on the ship and Shane hadn’t figured out a way to have a date with Nicole. There weren’t a lot of options, but he wanted something special. Something that said, Hey, this isn’t just sex.
Not that he’d minded finding her in his bed each morning since they’d gotten back on the ship.
Stepping out of the closet she insisted on calling the pharmacy, Nicole beamed. “I rechecked because I still can’t believe it. Everything was restocked!”
Leaning against the cabinet. “Given that that is what is supposed to happen, I hate how excited that makes us.” Before they set sail, they were required to do inventory of what was loaded, but it seemed something was always missing because of a supply chain issue. Not this time though.
“Want to go on a date?” Shane didn’t mean to ask, at least not until he knew what they were going to do, but Nicole looked so happy. So relaxed.
She looked at him, opened her mouth, then shut it. “When we get back to shore?”
Was that hesitation on her face?
“Umm.” Shane pushed a hand through his hair. “I kinda was thinking maybe tonight.” Though the mention of shore brought another worry.
He wanted a date with Nicole because this was more than just sleeping together. But he’d promised himself he’d not get into anything serious until his debts were paid off. And that day was so far in the future.
Nicole didn’t deserve that. But the offer was already on the table.
She tilted her head. “You frowned. Having second thoughts?”
Yes.
“No.”
She nodded. “What are we doing? There aren’t a ton of options.”
“I know.” Shane laughed. “Why don’t you come to my place at dinnertime and I will surprise you.”
“Because you have a surprise ready or because you're still figuring it out?” She winked, then let out a deep chuckle.
“You will have to wait to see.”
The clinic door opened and they both turned as one.
“I think my sprained wrist might not be a sprain.” Dr. Mallory Garcia bit her lip as she held her left hand in her arm.
“Not a sprain?”
Shane heard Nicole’s question as he headed to the get the mobile X-ray machine.
“I fell while at port. I wasn’t drinking.” Mallory pursed her lips. “I thought it was just a sprain.”
Rolling the machine up, he heard Nicole ask the standard questions, then, “Why did you say you weren’t drinking?”
Mallory looked at him and then at Nicole. “Because I am a female scientist. One of four on this research vessel, and that includes you.” She took a deep breath. “I had to work twice as hard as a man in my field. Make no mistake. If I touched a jellyfish, the story wouldn’t be used to razz me—it would be used to say I wasn’t cut out for this work. We were in port—most people were drinking.” She pushed a tear from her cheek. “I applied for this position six times. I couldn’t give it up for a little broken bone.”
Nicole nodded. “I understand. There are things in my past I never bring up because what is a silly story for men is a weapon against women.”
Shane understood, even agreed, but he wanted to know more. Wanted Nicole’s past, present…and future.
And if he wanted her future, there were things she needed to know.