Accidentally Yours by Bettye Griffin Read Free Book Online Page A

this doctor.”
    Vivian didn ’t reply. Hearing about an emergency room made her think of Dr. Warner. If they had been in New York instead of on a mountain in western Massachusetts she would have brought Gordon to Hudson Hospital….
    By the time the staff got Gordon to the lodge Danny was waiting. “They’re getting the doctor.”
    “ Did you ever find out if he’s an orthopedist?”
    “ No.”
    Gordon rolled his eyes. “Watch him be a doggone obstetrician.”
    “ If he is we’ll just call the EMTs. At least they’re trained for these type of injuries. It’ll be okay, Gordon,” Vivian said, rubbing his shoulder reassuringly.
    “ You must be the patient.”
    “ Are you the doctor?”
    “ Yes, I am.”
    Vivian, accustomed to seeing medical professionals wearing shirt, tie, and lab coat, almost laughed out loud at the sight of this man in a ski cap, sunglasses, nylon jacket, gloves, and ski boots, and carrying skis and poles. She was glad her own sunglasses hid her eyes; she didn ’t want Gordon to think she made light of his pain, but she knew her eyes would betray the amusement she felt.
    “ Are you an orthopedist?” Gordon was asking nervously.
    “ I’m a little bit of everything. My specialty is emergency medicine.”
    Vivian looked at him with interest. He leaned his equipment against the table and then removed his sunglasses, revealing brilliant blue eyes, and she stiffened in surprise, knowing what surname he would give.
    “Zack Warner,” he said.
    Gordon stated his name, and they shook hands. “This is Danny Lee and Vivian St. James,” Gordon added.
    “ Vivian St….Wait a minute. Weren’t you in my ER last month? Hudson Hospital?”
    She peeled off her cap and removed her sunglasses. “Yes, that was me. Nice to see you again, Dr. Warner.”
    “ Call me Zack,” he said easily. “Now, let’s see what we’ve got here.” He began an inspection of Gordon’s ankle.
    It was the second time he had given his first name, but this time something in Vivian ’s brain clicked.
    Zack …Zack…Zack, she thought wildly as it came to her. Zack Warner? Could this Zack be the same fellow Desireé had wanted to introduce her to? Austin’s friend, the doctor? Her landlord?
    Zack ’s face was impassive as his trained fingers palpated the bones of Gordon’s ankle. He’d thought of Vivian St. James several times since their brief encounter in the ER, each time telling himself how foolish he was for spending his time that way. He was certain he’d never see her again, but here she was. That was life for you, he thought. He had to come all the way to the Berkshires to find her. She’d probably been on the next bus with NBP.
    “ I think it’s just a sprain,” he said to Gordon. “I’m sure I can get some wrap for it at the lodge office. You’ll need to see your own doctor tomorrow and get an x-ray, just in case there is a hairline fracture; and in the meantime stay off it” Zack turned to Vivian. “Will you see that he gets home all right?”
    “ I’m here with a friend,” Gordon said. “He’ll get me home. Vivian, I don’t want to ruin your afternoon. I’ll be fine here.”
    “ Are you sure you don’t need anything?”
    “ Nah, I’m good. I’ll see you before it’s time to leave.”
    “ You stay off that foot now,” Zack cautioned. “Use your poles as crutches.”
    “ I’ll do that Thanks, Doc.”
    Vivian and Zack fell into step together as they left the building. She could hardly believe he was here beside her. What a wonderful opportunity. It had to be fated. “Tell me,” he asked, “is this standard for you?”
    “ Is what standard for me?”
    “ Do your dates frequently end up in need of urgent medical care?”
    She tensed. “Wait a minute. Are you suggesting I’m a jinx?”
    “ No, of course not.”
    She wasn ’t convinced. “Let me tell you a few things,” she said, stopping and turning to face him. “First of all, I’m not a jinx. Second of all, neither of