The Prodigal M.D. Returns by Ferrarella Marie

Author:Ferrarella, Marie [Ferrarella, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781426870484
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-11-14T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Klondyke LeBlanc, known to one and all as Ike, tended to fill a room with his presence the moment he entered it. The crowded reception area of the medical clinic was no exception. Crossing to the nurse's desk, a short nine feet from the door, he fielded and returned more than a dozen greetings.

After nodding to Alison, he looked past her shoulder, scanning the corridor that ran parallel to her desk and fed into three of the examining rooms.

"Business or pleasure?" Alison asked.

Ike winked at her. "Pleasure, darlin', always pleasure."

Spotting the reason for his impromptu appearance at the clinic, Ike didn't stand on ceremony. Instead he went around Alison's desk and down the corridor.

Holding on to his glib tongue, he placed himself directly in Ben's path and waited until the younger man barely missed walking into him. Ike laughed heartily at the look of surprise on Ben's face. Demonstrative by nature, Ike grasped his hand and gave him a friendly pounding on the back.

"Ben Kerrigan, as I live and breathe." After releasing his hand, Ike took only half a step back. His keen eyes missed nothing as they swept over his best friend's younger brother. He'd done some growing, Ike thought. More than just a little. "Had to see it for myself. You're really back."

"Looks that way."

Ben laughed shortly. He'd always liked his brother's best friend. Always envied Shayne the bond the two had, despite the fact that Shayne was so close-mouthed, and Ike so outgoing.

Ike shook his head. "Hell, I'd have bet that a meteor would have hit the town square before you'd come back to Hades."

Ben's patient walked out, a somewhat smitten look on her face. Since he'd returned, Alison said that the patient load had almost doubled. The women of Hades were coming in with all sorts of minor complaints, real and imagined. Shayne commented that it was a waste of their professional time to see "non-patients" who were only there for a view of Ben.

With a cordial nod toward the young woman, Ben returned his attention to Ike. "I'm afraid you would have lost that bet."

"Obviously." Ike grinned. "So, you staying?"

Ben laughed shortly, but for once there was no humor in his eyes even though his mouth curved. "That depends on Shayne."

"Shayne?" Ike hadn't expected that to be a factor. "He's glad to have you back."

Because this was Ike, someone he'd known and in a way looked up to ever since he was a boy, Ben allowed his guard to slip just a little. "Certainly doesn't act that way."

Ike waved away the underlying notion. No way would Shayne have wanted his brother anywhere but here. The man was as family oriented as they came, always had been. "You know Shayne. Hard as nails on the outside—"

"Hard as nails on the inside," Shayne concluded, interrupting as he joined them. Picking up a folder, he held it out to Ben. "Room one's empty. You can see your next patient there. Unless, of course, you'd like to take off.

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