be better coming from you.”
“Didn’t you just offer to talk to her for me a few minutes ago?”
Yes, and he’d already decided that was not a good idea. “I’m thinking a father-daughter discussion might be more direct. Just tell her that you shipped out right after you were with her mother and over your years of service you saved a lot of men’s lives.”
“It would be stronger coming from a friend.” Nick cocked his head. “One of those very people I saved.”
Wow. He’d never expected Nick to play the you-owe-me card. And, in all honesty, he probably wouldn’t have now if he hadn’t offered to talk to Kate, like a damned fool. His fingers went to his leg, a familiar ache reminding him of what could have been had Nick not been there.
“Not fair.”
“I know.” His friend’s voice was low. “But I’m feeling desperate. She’s due to leave for the States in a week or two, and I want to make sure things are okay between us before she goes.”
“What do you expect me to do? Drop my pants and show her firsthand what a great job you did on my leg?”
He hadn’t even done that in the supply closet. He’d simply unzipped and...
Oh, hell. This was not a good idea.
“No pants-dropping allowed. I may have just found out she’s my daughter, but that doesn’t mean I want you coming on to her. I’ve heard about your reputation from a couple of the nurses.” His voice sharpened a bit. “You’re still a hotshot, just like you were ten years ago.”
Nick might be surprised. He wasn’t guilty of half the stuff floating around the hospital grapevine. And his physical hotshot days were long gone. He might still have the use of his leg, but he’d never be a marathon runner. Or climb the Alps. Or even carry a woman across the threshold. He’d surprised himself by actually getting Kate up onto that sink—although he could lift things just fine, it was walking and lifting together that did him in.
Luckily, he wouldn’t have to fess up to what had happened between him and Kate, because that was obviously not something Nick would be thrilled to hear. And Kate didn’t want Nick knowing either, judging by her quiet plea in the hallway. “So you don’t want me to charm her.”
“I want you to talk to her.” Nick’s voice softened. “Tell her I’m not a bad-boy-love-’em-and-leave-’em type. Just an honest working man who made a mistake. One he regrets.”
“So you want someone who you think is a Lothario to tell your daughter you’re nothing like that.”
Nick grinned. “Exactly.”
Just then an attractive redhead dressed in scrubs came into the center and dropped a kiss on his friend’s cheek. “I thought I’d check up on you. How are you feeling?”
“Better.” He nodded at Luke. “Tiggy, you remember Dr. Blackman...Luke.”
“Of course. He’s the one who called and told me you were in the hospital.” She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Hello again. I don’t know if I’ve ever thanked you properly for what you did. I’m very grateful.”
“I’m glad Nick still had you listed as his next of kin.”
“So am I.” She laid her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Nick’s told me a little about how you met.”
Luke tensed, but forced himself to return her smile. “Nothing bad, I hope.”
“No, just that you came across each other while in the service. I didn’t even know that we did joint missions with the Americans.” She took her husband’s hand in hers.
So that’s what Nick had told her.
No hint that she knew about Nick yanking him from the jaws of death. Or that he’d refused to saw his leg off on the spot, like one of the other medics had wanted to do.
Luke relaxed. He may have told his friend to come clean with Kate about what he’d done in the field, but Luke himself told very few people about that day. Some of his buddies from his service days knew, but only because they’d been there when it had happened. Luke preferred it that way. Anyone who saw his scars and was brave enough to ask about them got a very watered-down version of what had actually gone down.
Hell. Nick was right. He owed the man a debt he could never repay.
Backing out of talking to Kate seemed pretty selfish in the face of it all. He made a quick decision. “About that favor you asked for. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll give it a shot. I’ll need you to sign the paperwork, so I have an excuse to approach her.”
His friend’s eyes closed for a second and he took a deep breath before looking back at him. “Thank you. I owe you.”
No. He didn’t. And that was exactly the point.
* * *
Kate frowned as she took the envelope from the man at the front desk. It couldn’t be from her father back in Memphis, he’d have simply emailed her if he couldn’t reach her. And she didn’t know anyone in London except Nick.
Oh, and one very enigmatic doctor.
And she didn’t even know him. Just that he made her pulse explode...along with other things. Things she was trying very hard to forget.
Walking toward the twin elevators, she slid a thumb beneath the seal of the envelope and popped open the tab. A single sheet of paper was inside.
Could you call me when you get in? I’m at
20-5555-6731
Thanks, Dr. Lucas Blackman
A wave of panic went through her before she realized it probably wasn’t anything related to Nick’s health. If it were, he wouldn’t have left a note. Then she gulped as she remembered his parting shot from yesterday. This couldn’t be about her panties, could it? She’d prefer he just burn them and be done with it. It was just too humiliating to talk about over the phone. Or in person, for that matter.
But if she didn’t call, she’d always wonder.
She wasn’t sure what kept her from booking a flight out of London. She’d done what she’d come to do: looked her father in the eye and drawn her own conclusions. She’d expected that to be fairly quick and easy, but nothing had gone the way she’d planned.
Nick wasn’t the type of person she’d braced herself to find. He hadn’t denied being her father—which surprised her—but then again it was kind of hard to deny the obvious. But there was something in his face that made her want to take a step back and rethink her position. Especially in the face of all those other letters she’d found in the shoebox. Did the man who’d raised her even know about those other men?
She hardened her heart. If those closest to her hadn’t thought twice about lying to her, why not the man who’d contributed nothing to her life other than his DNA?
Her mom had been trying to spare her feelings, she was sure. But surely with all her grandparents’ money, her mother would have been able to track Nick down and tell him about the pregnancy. Or about the baby, once she’d been born. So why hadn’t she?
Her mother wasn’t here to answer any of those questions. Maybe she would have told her someday, but had never gotten the chance.
Or maybe she knew something about Nick that was so terrible she hadn’t wanted her daughter to have any contact with him. Maybe Nick had...forced her, or something.
She stepped off the elevator. No, she had found the note Nick had left the next morning. He wouldn’t have done that if something bad had happened between him and her mother. And her mother certainly wouldn’t have saved a picture of them together had that been the case.
Unlocking her door, she went into her room and dropped her purse on the