One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) by Celeste Norfleet Page A

piercing blue eye, ever watchful, saw and observed everything in a single glance.
    The butt of many ER jokes and pranks, he was oblivious to most things. He was perfectly suited for his position, clinical, professional and detached. His only fault, as far as Maxine said, was his inability to loosen up.
    Hope smiled. Divine justice would be to send him on a blind date with Maxine. That would definitely loosen him up.
    “Surely, you can find better use of your time Dr. Adams,” he chastised firmly. “This is a hospital, not an amusement park.” Dropping an octave or two, he spoke with his usual deep purposeful commanding inflection made more pronounced by his pompous, self-righteous attitude. Hope opened her eyes and with great difficulty focused them on her colleague.
    She looked at him and smiled menacingly. Her first instinct was to lash out, but the spinning had left her more unsteady than she first realized. She glared at him before a broad smile spread wide across her face. Remembering an old vaudevillian response, she cocked her head to the side and said, “Don’t call me Shirley.”
    Giggles and chuckles arose from the nurses standing at their station nearby. Scott gaped in stunned surprise. He expected the usual sarcastic remark. He hadn’t expected a comedy routine.
    Tiny gurgling sounds emanated as words choked in his throat. She grinned politely, spun the chair a final time before stopping with her legs neatly tucked under the desk. Unable to articulate his displeasure, Scott looked to the nurses fiercely. They instantly dispersed.
    “Dr. Adams, your unprofessional behavior with your patient’s guest must be reported. Your voice could be heard all the way down the hall.” Hope remained silent.
    “I’m afraid I have no alternative be to inform Hugh.”
    “Whatever,” she mumbled as he marched away. She knew that another reprimand had just been added to her employment record. But at this point, it was the last thing she cared about.
    Almost everyone knew that she and Hugh had a history, but no one knew exactly what that history was. As far as Hope was concerned, the past should be left in the past, but apparently Hugh had different ideas. Oftentimes openly hostile, he made it a point to have her assigned to the worst shifts and most difficult patients. He did everything within his power, which was considerable, to publicly belittle and embarrass her.
    Hope was still amazed that of all the hospitals in the country, Hugh was assigned to this one. Apparently fate had a wicked sense of humor.
    Hope sat staring at the light box. With several frustrated clicks she toggled it on and off several times before Maxine plopped down next to her holding a medical chart.
    “You and Scott playing nicely?”
    Hope looked in the general direction that Dr. Wallace had gone. “He’s such a joke.”
    “You’re playing a dangerous game. You know Scott and Hugh go way back. They even worked together at Johns Hopkins. So if Scott catches you doing anything wrong, you can best believe that Hugh will hear about it.”
    Hope gave her a do I really care at this point look. Maxine shook her head. “Girlie, don’t you know that Hugh can hurt your career?” Hope’s expression didn’t change. Maxine continued to shake her head as they watched Scott shuffle from room to room.
    “Sometimes I wonder why he even became a doctor.”
    “I’m sure he had his reasons,” Maxine answered matter-of-factly.
    “With his lack of personality, he’s probably not good at anything else.”
    Maxine chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I heard of few things he’d be good at.” She smirked and raised her brow suggestively.
    An unexpected laugh took Hope by surprise. Several heads turned in her direction as she tried to control herself.
    “No way, get out of here.” Hope laughed loudly.” I don’t want to hear it.”
    “That’s the word,” Maxine assured her.
    “You’ve got to be kidding. The man lives by rules and