The Doctor's Accidental Family

The medical complex came into view, dominated by the six-story hospital with its graceful curving wings. Beside it, along the circular driveway, stood the medical building where, during his early-evening hours, Nick shared office space with several fellow obstetricians.

Scaffolding and signs warned of construction at the third low-rise tower, a five-story former dental building recently purchased by the hospital to expand the men’s fertility program. It should also, Nick had heard, contain enough remodeled medical suites to liberate the younger obstetrical staff from their cramped quarters.

By the time he parked, it was still only a quarter to six. What a joy to live within a mile of his workplace, he mused as he got out.

Through the early-winter darkness, lights shone from the medical building. Nick entered to see the elevator doors sliding open. He quickened his pace.

Then he spotted its sole occupant, an all-too-familiar woman. The same woman who’d just snubbed him outside his apartment.

How had she zipped over here and gone upstairs? At second glance, he saw that she’d also done a quick change into slacks and a loose top.

Nick halted so fast he stumbled and nearly collided with her. “Excuse me,” he muttered.

“No problem.” She smiled, which gave her face a softer cast. On further inspection, Nick registered that her hair had grown several inches and her figure had gained a matronly heft.

Obviously, this wasn’t the same woman. Waving apologetically, he said, “You startled me. I think I just met your twin.”

“Zady?”

They really were twins? “She didn’t introduce herself.”

“Well, that’s who she is, Zady Moore. I’m Zora.” The young woman extended her hand, which he found firm and warm. “Zora Moore Mendez, to be precise.”

“I’m Dr. Nick Davis. I only started working here two days ago, so I haven’t met many people,” Nick explained. “I’m an OB.”

“Oh, your suite is on the third floor.” She appeared well informed. “You might have met my husband, Lucky Mendez. He’s Dr. Rattigan’s nurse, on the fourth floor.”

Joining a staff meant learning a lot of names and faces. Doctors had to be adept at memorization to master human anatomy and keep prescription medications straight, and fortunately, Nick had been blessed with an unusually good memory. He didn’t need it to identify Dr. Cole Rattigan, though. The renowned urologist headed the men’s fertility program here, and was overseeing the transformation of the new building.

“I don’t think I’ve met your husband, but I’m sureI will,” Nick said. “Do you work here, too?”

Nearby, a second elevator discharged more people. He ought to hurry, but he hoped for a clue that might account for Zady’s rude reaction.

“I’m an ultrasound tech on maternity leave,” Zora said. “We have two-month-old twins.”

“You must have amazing stamina,” Nick told her.

“Why do you say that?”

“No dark circles.” He wasn’t flattering her. Having stayed up for the past couple of nights, he appreciated how well rested she looked.

“Helpful housemates,” the woman said cheerfully. “They’re babysitting right now while I bring dinner for Lucky, since he and his doctor are working late.”

“I’m sure they’re busy these days.” It didn’t appear that Nick was going to find out anything more, and he had to go. “Nice meeting you, and your twin.”

Zora shared a conspiratorial smile. “I’d say you have a twin of sorts, too.”

A possible explanation? Nick went on high alert. “Who’s that?”

Her head tilted in surprise. “The other Dr. Davis.”

“The other...?” Then it hit him—the explanation for that cute nurse’s decidedly unattractive response to him.

Nick should have done a lot more research before he decided to come to Safe Harbor.

Chapter Two (#ulink_16c3acd2-cf63-5814-9815-232e544bc265)

Zady took a late lunch on Friday due to her doctor’s busy schedule. A brilliant urological reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Marshall Davis commanded respect bordering on adulation. Since he’d joined Safe Harbor Medical two months ago, patients had flocked to him, putting a heavy load on his office nurse—Zady—as well as his surgical staff.

Zady didn’t mind the challenges of the job; she was grateful for it. The man had chosen her from a long list of applicants, and consistently inspired her to do her best. This post might be more stressful than her previous position with a urologist in Santa Barbara, north of Los Angeles, but she took pride in it and it meant a lot to her.

In the cafeteria, she plopped a salad onto her tray and, while waiting in line to pay, surveyed the airy, chatter-filled room for friends. Not that she had many yet, but her twin, Zora, had introduced her to a few people. She’d met others when they greeted her in the hall by the wrong name, and she explained the mistake.

Mistakes. Her sister had phoned her last night to tell her about her encounter with the other Dr. Davis. Zady’s cheeks heated with embarrassment. Despite her initial shock at being approached by a man who strongly resembled her boss—and then hearing him claim the same name—she should have known better.

After all, she had an identical twin. Yet, having done a bit of internet research on her boss, Zady knew the doctor was an only child. And also unmarried, not that she pictured him in a romantic light. Marshall Davis was cool, remote and precise, as a surgeon should be.

According to Zora, the stranger was apparently Marshall’s cousin, which explained the strong resemblance. Zora had also heard from her husband—who kept an ear to the ground—that the men didn’t get along. Fortunately, they worked in different departments.

Speaking of her brother-in-law, there sat Lucky at a table across the room with his friend and landlady, Karen Wiggins Vintner, a financial counselor. The forty-something Karen, black hair clouding around her thin face, was talking animatedly.

After paying for her salad, Zady started forward, then paused as a lanky male figure crossed her path, her iced tea sloshing in her glass. Taller than his cousin, she registered.

“I didn’t mean to... Oh, it’s you.” Nick Davis broke stride, oblivious to having cut off a couple of lab technicians. They circled past, keeping their no-doubt unflattering responses to themselves. “Startling you seems to be a habit of mine.”

How had she ever confused him with her doctor? That casual air, the smile playing around the corners of his mouth, the way his gaze lingered on her...totally relaxed, but also unwelcome. She recalled what Marshall had said this morning when she mentioned running into his cousin.

“Nicholas is a playboy,” he’d commented briskly. “Got a girl pregnant a few years ago and didn’t bother to marry her or support their kid. You’re too smart to fall for a loser like him.”

“You bet I am,” she’d answered.

“What should I bet you are?” The object of her mental digression continued blocking her path.

Had she spoken out loud? Zady couldn’t believe she’d been so indiscreet, but she must have. Instead of answering—since he had no right to eavesdrop on her private thoughts, even if they had accidentally become audible—she countered with, “What are you doing here? You work nights.”

Nick favored her with what many women would consider a heart-stopping grin. “Apology accepted.”

“I didn’t...” But she had been embarrassed when she realized how bizarre her reaction must have sounded last night. “Okay, I was rude.”

“Twice.” Arms folded, he remained in place, ignoring the heads swiveling toward them. The cafeteria was gossip central, and Zady figured she’d better defuse the situation quickly.

“Sorry.” For good measure, she added, “Sorry for the second time, too,” and gauged the distance between him and the nearest table. Too narrow to squeeze through without spilling her tea.

“That’s it?” This guy couldn’t take a hint.

“Are you under the impression that I owe you something?” Zady wished she had the power to shift objects, specifically him. Telekinesis, that was the word. If she did, she’d move him across the room to the patio where a group of doctors were enjoying the sunshine that bathed Southern California even in January.

“Courtesy,” the man said. “Friendliness to a stranger in a strange land.”