Nursing in Northlake (At the Altar Book 9) by Kirsten Osbourne Page A

thinking of you. Slade.”
    Heidi grinned, picking up the entire bouquet and setting it on a shelf where she could see it from her desk. Slade was shaping up to be a good husband. Who’d have thought a doctor had it in him?
    When it was time for her to have dinner, she was in her office doing some of the paperwork that never seemed to end. She rubbed her eyes, wishing she could just go home, but she needed to stay for at least another hour or two. She was hungry, though, and needed to eat something. She had forgotten to pack an extra lunch, and she wasn’t about to venture into the cafeteria there. The food wasn’t worth eating.
    She thought about ordering a pizza, making a face. It didn’t really sound good, but that was the only place that would deliver, and she didn’t want to have to leave to get anything. That would delay her even more.
    She looked up at a knock on the door, fully expecting it to be one of her nurses or CNAs with a question for her. Instead, her heart jumped into her throat as Slade stood in front of her, a Taco Bueno bag in his outstretched hand.
    “You are the most wonderful husband who has ever lived,” she said, her eyes on the bag.
    He laughed. “Are you telling me that or your tacos?”
    “You, but gimme tacos!”
    “You really do love the things, don’t you?”
    “They’re my crack!”
    Slade walked to her and handed her the bag, watching as she grabbed it, digging through for the tacos. He took the empty chair across from her, pulling out a Whataburger sack.
    She wrinkled her nose. “Whataburger? And you had the nerve to insult Taco Bueno?”
    “I like their burgers.”
    “You would.” She bit into the first taco and sighed happily. “You saved my life! I was just thinking about ordering a pizza, but I didn’t want a pizza.”
    “So I saved your life?”
    Heidi nodded. “It was a noble gesture.” She started to add that she’d be forever in his debt, but she didn’t want him to get a big head.
    “Obviously.” He bit into his burger, wishing he’d thought to get drinks. “Is there a vending machine around here?”
    She nodded. “In the staff break room. What do you want? I’ll get a drink for each of us.” She stood, digging change out of a little cup she kept quarters in.
    “Coke is fine.”
    Heidi nodded. “I’ll get it.”
    Slade stood up. “Let me walk with you. I’d like to see where you work.”
    “Just make sure you’re nice to my nurses. I don’t put up with any rude doctors in my facility.”
    He casually draped his arm around her shoulder. “Haven’t I convinced you yet that I’m a nice doctor?”
    She shrugged. “Nope. I don’t know that anyone can convince me of that.”
    “Heidi!” The call came from one of CNAs. “I need you!”
    Heidi didn’t ask any questions as she turned on her heel and jogged down the hall. She wasn’t even aware that Slade was right behind her. “What’s wrong?”
    “Mr. Jones swallowed the lid of his water bottle again, and I think it’s stuck in his windpipe!”
    Heidi hurried around behind the man, whose face was turning blue. “Did you try the Heimlich?” she asked, carefully placing her hands in position to do so. Mr. Jones was always putting things he shouldn’t into his mouth. He had advanced dementia, and they tried to keep things that were small out of his reach, but it didn’t always work. She tried two compressions, but nothing happened. “Mr. Jones!”
    Slade jumped into action. “Let me try. While I’m working on him, someone get me a straw and a scalpel.”
    Heidi nodded to the CNA who ran to do as ordered. She stood helplessly while Slade tried the same maneuver she’d just used. She hoped it wouldn’t come to a tracheotomy!
    When he constricted the man the second time, the white lid popped out of his mouth and Mr. Jones gasped for air. Heidi stepped forward. “Mr. Jones, you know you’re not supposed to put things in your mouth.”
    With Slade’s help, she got him onto his bed, and