The Firefighter's Family Secret by Lisa Childs

Author:Lisa Childs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-03-30T19:11:54+00:00

* * *

“YOU’RE CERTAINLY HERE a lot,” a deep voice remarked, and Livvy turned to find Collin approaching her. She knew it was Collin because her pulse didn’t quicken, her skin didn’t flush with heat.

Why couldn’t she have this non-reaction to his twin? Why was it that she had to fight to focus on her job every time Colton brought a patient into the ER? Why did he affect her so much, but the man who looked identical to him didn’t affect her at all? But then her attraction to Colton wasn’t about the way he looked; it was about the way he felt, with all those emotions in his dark eyes. He cared so much, carried so much on his broad shoulders. He was such a contrast to Steven who’d only really cared about himself.

She emitted a soft sigh and forced a smile for Collin. “Lowest in seniority gets the most on-call shifts.” And Willow Creek was such a small hospital that they didn’t get interns and residents; it wasn’t a teaching hospital like the one where she’d done her residency. “And everybody has more seniority than I do.”

Nurse Sue, and her pursed lips of disapproval, never failed to remind her of that. She sighed again.

“Hey, I think I only have a week on you,” he said with a grin.

“Yes, but you’re not in the same department I am. You are here a lot, too, though.” Not that she saw much of him. He only occasionally came down to the ER for a consult.

His face flushed and he glanced away for a moment. “Well, I’m not always working when I’m here.”

“Oh...” she said with sudden understanding. “Are you seeing someone at the hospital?” Maybe she should start listening to gossip, but she was worried if she did that it might be about her. With the way everybody watched her, they’d probably noticed her reaction to Colton, how he affected her.

Collin smiled. “I am seeing someone,” he said. “A patient.”

“Oh.” Not liking how unethical that was, she regretted her question.

“You don’t need to report me,” he said. “She’s just seven years old. She had a heart transplant months ago at the children’s hospital in Sheridan but has been having some complications.”

“Oh, no,” Livvy said with concern.

“They’re minor, but she’s here because social services haven’t been able to find her a good foster home placement.”

“What happened to her parents?”

He shrugged. “She had a lot of health issues. It was too much for them, just like it is for foster families apparently. No one wants to deal with all her doctor’s appointments and anti-rejection medications.”

“So she can’t go home.” Sympathy gripped Livvy’s heart. “Poor girl...”

“She doesn’t have a home,” Collin said. “Just an overworked social worker.”

“And you,” she said. “Now I know why you’re at the hospital so much.”

He smiled again. “She’s so sweet. She’s charmed everyone on her floor. But she needs a family, people who won’t just keep coming and going in her life. She needs permanence.”

“Sometimes family comes and goes in our lives,” Livvy remarked, thinking of how she’d done that with hers.

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