staying long enough to get to know the people. There was no real trust between these doctors and the patients. It was a dangerous thing.
He tried not to think about how the lack of a specialist during one of these rotations had cost him everything. How his late wife had hemorrhaged and bled out before they could get her on an air ambulance to Sitka. And the fact that it had happened during a storm that had grounded all the planes had made it so much worse. There had been nothing he could do. But if there had been a hospital here in Wolf’s Harbor maybe she would have had a fighting chance.
He focused on this fiery, auburn-haired woman, who thought it was okay just to waltz into his closed office. He’d been taken back by the beautiful, tall, polished woman who was now standing in his exam room. So like Dr. Pearson to have his girlfriends and paramours just show up unannounced.
Although he was a bit jealous that this one was one of Dr. Pearson’s girlfriends...
He’d seen many of them go through this clinic when Dr. Pearson had been here on rotation, but this one—this one actually made him jealous of Dr. Pearson.
It had been a long time since he’d been attracted to someone. If he didn’t have Mo, or the practice to run—if he was the same man he had been before he’d come to Wolf’s Harbor—he would pursue a woman just like this.
You’re lonely. Face it.
“Pearson has gone back to Juneau,” Derek said again, and moved from the doorway to encourage her to leave. “Sorry for your trouble. I can call you a cab...”
“I’m the new OB/GYN. I’m Dr. Saunders.”
Derek frowned. “What? I thought that this was Dr. Merritt’s rotation?”
“Dr. Merritt just went on an extended honeymoon,” Dr. Saunders said. “I’m covering her practice.”
“What?” Derek asked, scowling. So now Dr. Merritt had just got a replacement without consulting him? Not that Dr. Merritt had to consult him, but it would have been considerate of her to do so.
At least she sent someone else.
Although he knew nothing about this Dr. Saunders. “Well, that’s unacceptable. Just because we’re a small town, it doesn’t mean we’ll take anyone.”
She crossed her arms. “Why is it unacceptable?”
“I know nothing about you.”
“So?” she replied firmly. “You need an OB/GYN and there are appointments tomorrow.”
“How do you know there are appointments tomorrow? You obviously don’t know Dr. Pearson, because you thought I was him.”
“First, I know there are appointments here tomorrow because Joe Yazzie Jr. and his wife are expected for prenatal. I introduced myself to them when I landed from Sitka. And second I assumed you were a doctor—was I mistaken?”
The nerve of her.
Of course he was pleased that she’d already made a connection with one of his patients. She had one up on every other doctor who’d waltzed through here.
But why were redheads always like this? Every one he’d ever encountered in Chicago had been like this. And of course he was a complete sucker for them.
You can’t have her.
He had to keep reminding himself of that fact. He wanted nothing to do with someone who would leave after her rotation was done. He wanted nothing to do with anyone ever again.
Not since Vivian had died.
He was not going to go through anything like that again. Besides, he had Mo to think of, and his practice, his patients. That was what was important.
“I am a doctor,” he said tersely. “I’m the general practitioner of Wolf’s Harbor.”
“Are you on rotation too?” she asked.
“No,” he snapped. “Unlike you and Dr. Pearson, I am here all the time. Wolf’s Harbor is my home. I actually care about my patients and their medical care enough to stay.”
Her eyes narrowed and a strange expression crossed her face, but only briefly.
“If you truly cared about your patients then you wouldn’t object to me being here. I’m here to stay.”
His eyes widened. He was surprised. “Stay? As in permanently?”
She blushed. “Well...no.”
Of course not. He knew better than to get his hopes up.
Who was this woman?
“I’m just as capable as Dr. Merritt,” she said, breaking the tension.
“Are you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “I at least know Dr. Merritt. I know nothing about you. Not even your first name.”
She smiled tightly. “Dr. Evelyn Saunders. I just completed my fellowship in fetal surgery at Richler Medicine in Seattle. I’m one of the few people in this country who can perform delicate fetal surgeries. I’m also a board-certified obstetrical and gynecological fellow, and a pediatric fellow specializing in premature infants. I completed that fellowship and practiced for three years at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. You can check my credentials, but they speak for themselves. I am more experienced than Dr. Merritt and I will be an asset to your patients.”
Damn. She was right.
And he was completely impressed by her résumé and where she’d studied. She had every right to be confident to the point of obnoxiousness.
She was a triple threat and he’d be an absolute idiot to turn her away—but he couldn’t help but wonder why someone with so much experience didn’t have a thriving practice of her own.
Who cares? She can help your patients even if it’s only for a short time.
He couldn’t help but wonder if someone like her had been here that horrific night five years ago Vivian would still be here and he wouldn’t be alone. Mo would have her mother. He’d still have that piece of his heart and soul that had been torn away the night he’d lost Vivian. The night Mo had lost her mother. His patients needed her.
“Fine.” He sighed and he ran a hand over his head. “I’ll show you to the apartment and get you a clinic key, then give you all the information you need to start tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Dr...?” she asked, extending a hand.
“Dr. Taylor. Dr. Derek Taylor.” He ignored her hand, afraid to touch her and still not wanting her to feel too welcome. “Come on, I’ll show you to your place.”
His mother would totally be slapping him upside the head if she could see how he was being such a jerk to this woman, but he couldn’t get attached. Dr. Saunders would be gone in three months and he had no interest in getting attached to someone who wasn’t going to stick it out for the long run.
It was so much easier on his heart this way. Better for Mo too. He didn’t want her to get hurt. He’d promised Vivian he’d protect Mo. So he planned to treat Evelyn like every other physician who passed through Wolf’s Harbor on rotation. Even if she was easy on the eye and had a spirited personality—the kind which always drew him in when it came to members of the opposite sex...
He was a professional above all else. His patients came first. And even though he knew nothing about her—even though training a new doctor about the ins and outs of Wolf’s Harbor Medical would be an extra burden on him—he’d gladly do it.
Unlike all the other doctors who came and went, he was here for the long haul.
HE’S A BIT cool and stand-offish.
Evelyn waited outside with her