Loving the Billionaire Cowboy Doc

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“Max, everyone voted for you as one of the top three eligible men for the Bachelor Auction,” Brad said as Max typed in patient notes on the computer at the ER’s nursing station. Max Dexin and Brad Croft were both ER attendings at Dexington Medical Center.

“Not interested,” Max said as he finished up his notes. He’d been on a twenty-four hour call, but had worked a few extra hours on behalf of his colleague who’d been delayed by an emergency but was now arriving in a few minutes. All that was left was to sign-off for the day, and then it was back to the ranch, his favorite place in the world, where he had the peace and solitude he loved. He was sure Bella—his beautiful dark-bay-coated thoroughbred mare—was already antsy, since he hadn’t stopped by the barn yet to see her today. So the last thing on Max’s mind was a hospital fundraiser that brought him into the limelight.

“Wait, hear me out,” Brad said as Max logged out of the computer and moved over to the antiseptic dispenser, where he squirted some of the fluid into his hands. “Max, you are the right man for this. Single, no relationships, and a perfect gentleman.”

Max cringed. Gee, thanks, Brad, for rubbing it in. It wasn’t as if Max had planned to be single by now. He’d thought he’d be happily married with a kid or two in tow. But the woman he’d given his heart to had trampled it at the altar. Yes, right where he had waited for her to show up with the whole town in attendance. She’d sent him a text message that she’d skipped town instead. He didn’t like to think about that time, and he wished he hadn’t crossed paths with Brad today. His friend meant well, but Max preferred to be left alone.

But it seemed Brad wasn’t done yet. “As I was saying, I’m sure everyone, even our dear nurses here, would agree with me that you would be great for the auction. Right, ladies?” he said in a louder voice. There was a resounding ‘yes’ from the nurses amidst some chuckles. “See what I mean?” he concluded.

“Brad, I don’t even work for Dexington Medical,” Max said as he worked the antiseptic into his hands.

Brad leaned against the nursing station counter and rubbed his bald head. “Well, technically you do, since you come here once a month, you’re on the schedule, and you get paid. Not that you really need the money.” Max knew there were rumors about him being wealthy, but he’d never bothered to confirm or deny it.

“You really should join the auction,” a voice that sounded like Nurse May said.

Max looked at her in surprise. Nurse May was a young attractive woman that always seemed to mind her own business and had barely said much to him all the years he’d worked here.

“Some of us want a more experienced guy, not some young pup,” Nurse May finished. The other nurses echoed their agreement. Max guessed being in his mid-forties put him firmly in the former category.

“See, even Nurse May agrees with me,” Brad said, his eyes assessing Max as if about to move in on his prey. Well, Max was having none of it. It was time to get going.

Max flashed a smile at Nurse May and the other nurses, left the nursing station, and headed toward the exit.

But Brad followed along. “Max, you’re a rare breed, the kind that’s hardworking, polite, respectful to the ladies, and has integrity,” he said. “I can almost bet you’ll get the highest bid for the event.”

“Brad, it’s time for me to leave,” Max said as he turned the corner.

“This discussion is not over,” Brad said. He skidded to a stop. “It would be fun, and a great time to let your hair down!”

Heads turned at Brad’s words, and Max quickened his steps. Trust Brad to embarrass him.

But this cowboy had no such plans. Max still had vague memories of what had happened the last time he’d done so—awkward was an understatement. There was no way he was going up on a stage like he was some cattle being sold at auction. No, sir, not him. He would prefer to donate a sizable amount to the hospital’s cause.

Max enjoyed working at Dexington, but he would have preferred a hospital in the valley where his ranch was. That was why he was planning to build an ER center there. The ranches in the area needed close access to emergency services, and Max planned to make that dream come true. It would cost a lot, since he planned to use state-of-the-art equipment, but Max wasn’t worried—he had more than enough money to make it a reality.

Then Max heard some noise coming from one of the cubicles ahead on his left. He looked around and realized all the other medical staff were attending to patients at the other end of the ER.

“Get out!” a woman cried out.

It sounded like the woman was in distress and needed help.

Max rushed to the cubicle where the noise was coming from, pulled open the curtain covering its entrance, and saw a man attempting to snap pictures of a woman sitting on the sole reclining chair in the room and doing her best to shield her child from the photos.

The muscle in Max’s jaw twitched. The man had no right to be here—this was a violation of privacy laws. Pictures were not allowed in the ER, and harassment was a no-no. Who had let him in?

Max grabbed the man and dragged him out. The man protested, claiming his first amendment right to free press. But Max ignored him and pulled him out of the cubicle. Nurse May, who had just turned the corner, saw the camera hanging from the man’s neck and hurried off to call security. Max continued to drag the man—who by this time was protesting furiously and threatening to sue—toward the ER exit. The security team reached them before long, and Max handed the man over to them. Now it was out of his hands.

But were the woman and child okay? He rushed back to the cubicle and parted the curtain, only to see the woman calming the child down.

“Excuse me. Are you okay?” Max asked.

A beautiful woman with dark brown hair—who seemed to be in her late thirties or early forties stared back at him with green eyes the color of fresh grass that had survived a harsh, unforgiving winter, yet with flecks of brown that reminded him of the warm brown earth that gave life. She was stunning, with skin the color of fresh milk and curves that only added to her beauty.

Max’s heart raced, and his throat went dry. She looked somewhat familiar, like he’d met her before. But how was that possible when he had no memory of it? Hers was the kind of beauty one never forgot. He racked his brain for the answer, but his head only ached in return. A lock of her hair escaped from its fastening at the back of her head and fell over the side of her face, and Max felt a strong urge to sweep it away and tuck it behind her ear.

Then the child turned her head. Large blue eyes stared back at him, her dark red hair forming a halo around her face.

Max’s eyes widened, and he froze.