Doctor Dragon: Earth Dragons Series: Book 6 Read online

  “We thought you might feel that way.” Sand shrugged. “We don’t blame you for it.”

  “Thank you,” she sighed, feeling relieved. Sand and Macy were her clients, but after the intense experience they had shared, she also considered them to be her friends.

  “Would you be able to recommend a couple of excellent gynecologists?”

  “Of course.” She nodded.

  “They would have to have an open mind and be willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement. They would need to be dependable,” Sand said. “I can email you a list of requirements, as well as the remuneration structure.”

  “Perfect. I’ll email you back with a list of potential candidates. I can think of two off the top of my head.”

  “You’ll let us know if you change your mind?” Macy said.

  “Of course.” Brittney smiled back. A Feral. A couple of months away from her practice. Nope! That wasn’t going to happen.

  “We’d better get going.” Sand took Macy’s hand.

  “Yeah,” Brittney looked at her watch. “My next appointment is more than likely here.” It wasn’t fun when appointments ran over which usually caused a snowball effect. Brittney walked them out and they said their goodbyes.

  Her receptionist handed her a file. It was her next patient. “Hi, Mrs. Cameron, how are you?”

  The middle-aged lady nodded and smiled. “Great thanks, although this isn’t my favorite day of the year, I must be honest.” She made a face to show how much she hated it.

  “Follow me,” Brittney said with a laugh. “You know the drill. You can change into the gown through there.” She pointed at the door that led to the bathroom.

  Brittney sat down, checking her schedule. After this was another annual check-up. Then a twelve-week ultrasound appointment. Followed by two more annual check-ups. Her last appointment was a thirty-eight-week ultrasound examination. Maybe Mrs. Sheard would have started dilating by today. Maybe she would need to be admitted because she was in labor. Birth was a wonderful thing. Then again, she’d caught over a hundred babies over the years. Maybe even two hundred. It wasn’t as exciting anymore – but still more interesting than a microwave dinner.

  Chapter 3

  Three days later…

  So this was the height of desperation and boredom. It was a Friday night and Brittney was having dinner…alone. She’d chosen the new restaurant just up the road from her and was having some serious regrets.

  “Are you sure you don’t need another menu?” the waitress asked, a wide smile on her very young, very fresh face.

  “No, thanks. I’m not expecting anyone else.” She forced a smile. Why was it so hard to believe that a person could dine alone?

  The waitress looked confused for a few seconds before smiling again…this time it was a smile that oozed pity. “No problem. You can let me know when you’re ready for me to take your order.”

  “I’m ready now,” Brittney said, closing her menu. “I’ll have the Prawn linguini, please.”

  The waitress nodded once. “Anything else?”

  “I’m all set.” Brittney looked down at her glass of chilled chardonnay and tumbler of water.

  “Your food won’t be long.” The waitress took back the menu and left to take the drink order from a table next to hers.

  Yep, maybe she should have ordered in. No, perhaps she should have chosen somewhere else. The restaurant was filling with couples. Or, like the table next to hers, what looked like a double date. The bar section was buzzing. The restaurant was an interesting concept that seemed to work. An a la carte menu on one side and new age bar fare on the other. Couples and groups of singles. It irritated her that she didn’t fit in on either side. At least, it felt that way since, at thirty-five, she was too old to still be single, even if she didn’t look her age. Boy, did she feel it sometimes. Most available guys were far too young for her. Seriously immature. It was that, or they came with truckloads of baggage. There was never an in-between. Not in her experience.

  Brittney took a sip of her wine. She’d enjoy her meal and then head on home. There was a ton of paperwork to catch up on the next day and lunch with her brother’s family on Sunday. Then back to it on Monday.

  She took another sip of the wine, thinking about the email that had arrived the same afternoon she’d seen Macy and Sand. Both the requirements and the offer had been rolling around in her head. If she didn’t have her own practice, she would have thrown caution to the wind and applied for it.

  The document had referred to an exotic location which she knew was shifter lands. The unknown. Adventure. Something new and interesting. Brittney fit the brief exactly. To a T. She knew that this position could be hers if she wanted it. Problem was, she did want it. She burned to apply but it would be stupid to throw away all her years of hard work. She’d built her own practice one patient at a time.

  Maybe because her patient in the exotic location would be a Feral. How would that make her feel? It didn’t matter. She knew that a whole species could not be defined by the actions of one individual.

  “Is this seat taken?”

  Before she could answer, the guy just plonked himself down on the chair opposite her. He had an arrogant smile on his face. “I’m Sean.” The smile widened up a whole lot. He was blond with bright blue eyes. A good-looking guy for sure. He was also at least ten years her junior. Brittney could tell right away that he would probably be of no interest to her. She just knew.

  “What is a gorgeous girl like you doing here all alone?” He took a swig from the bottle of beer in his hand.

  Girl.

  Argh!

  Her immediate assessment had been accurate. “Trying to enjoy a quiet meal.” Hopefully, he would take the hint.

  He grinned at her like she’d said the funniest thing. “What’s your name?”

  “Look, I’m not interested.” Might as well head him off before he could get his hopes up.

  The grin didn’t falter. It was like her words hadn’t registered at all. “Come on, tell me your name, gorgeous.”

  “I’d rather not.”

  He laughed. “You are a tease.”

  A tease. Really? “I’m not.” She shook her head. “Not at all. I really am just trying to enjoy a quiet meal, on my own.”

  “You’re too pretty to be on your own.” He took another gulp of beer. “Why don’t you tell me something about yourself.” He winked.

  Did this actually work for him? Did he pick up women using these half-baked lines? “I’m too old for you.”

  He looked her up and down frowning. “No. I don’t think so. You look great. Better than great.” His eyes lingered on her legs before drifting back up to meet hers.

  “I’m thirty-five.” Britt raised her brows, waiting for his expression to fill with horror at her geriatric age. It was certainly the case compared to him.

  It didn’t happen. In fact, the opposite was true. They filled with wonder and interest. He looked her up and down all over again. “A cougar.” He bobbed his brows. “Niiiice!”

  What was wrong with this guy? She couldn’t help but choke out a laugh. Bad move on her part! It gave the impression of interest in him. Interest she most certainly did not feel.

  He smiled; it was about a mile wide. “What do you say we get out of here? You can teach me a couple of new tricks?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I’m not interested at all.”

  “Oh, I see.” His expression turned into a stupid knowing grin. “You bat for the other team.”

  “What?” She frowned.

  “You’re into girls. I understand completely. I’m into girls too.” He chuckled at his own stupid joke. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind about that? Maybe you need a real man to show you what it’s all about.” Another gulp of beer, followed by another grin. It was getting old fast.

  “I’m not gay ‒ not that there’s anything wrong with being gay, mind you ‒ and I’m not interested. Not at all! Please leave me alone.”

 
; “Don’t you like sex then?” He raised his brows.

  Actually, it had been so long that Brittney wasn’t sure if she liked sex or not. Work had pretty much consumed the last few years of her life. Her practice kept her busy, sometimes for even seven days a week. All hours of the day and night. One thing she did know was that she definitely would not like sex with this loser. “Can’t you take a hint?”

  He held up his hands. “I’m just trying to be nice.” He grinned some more.

  “You’re not being nice at all. You’re putting me down because you can’t seem to fathom that I’m not interested. Look, you’re a good-looking guy, why don’t—”

  “Oh, so you are interested and are just playing hard to get.” He chuckled.

  Just then, the waitress appeared with her order. “On second thought, I’ll take that to go,” Brittney said.

  The waitress nodded and turned around, heading back to the kitchen.

  “Good idea. We can get out of here.”

  “’We’ nothing…I’m leaving on my own.”

  “Sure you are.” He smirked. “What do you do for a living?”

  “Are you really that hard of hearing?” Possibly that much of an idiot. Maybe a little of both.

  “Come on. Tell me already,” he said, moving closer to her.

  Brittney was just rolling her eyes when her cellphone vibrated on the table. It was her work phone. “Dr. Baker,” she answered.

  His face lit up. ‘A doctor,’ he mouthed. Brittney ignored him, looking away.

  “Hi…evening, Doctor.” The voice was panicked. “My wife…oh, I’m Ed by the way…Ed Sheard. We saw you the other day for our thirty-eight-week check-up. My wife, Anne, is having contractions. They’re still six…six and a half minutes apart, but…she’s in quite a lot of pain. I know you said five minutes or if the water breaks, but I don’t want to wait. Can we go to the hospital now?”

  She heard Anne Sheard moaning softly in the background.

  “How long has Anne been in labor?”

  “A couple of hours. At least four. She went to lie down late this afternoon. Her back had been killing her. She just dozed off and bam, a contraction hit and then another and then another. They haven’t let up.”

  “Have the contractions been getting stronger?” she asked, nodding as the waitress put her food down with her check.

  “Yes…she’s in a lot of pain.”

  Britt put her credit card in the folder and held it out to the hovering waitress. “It will probably be hours yet before the baby is born, but you can check in. I’m sure your wife will be more comfortable. I’ll meet you there.”

  “Thank you,” he pushed out, sounding relieved.

  She pushed the end button and put her phone in her purse. The guy was still there. His eyes were wide and he looked shocked. “You’re a doctor,” he gushed.

  “Yes, a gynecologist.”

  “Cool!” He grinned. “You have the best job in the world.” Eyes still wide.

  “It’s a job, like any other position.” She typed in her pin in the credit card machine and it spat out a receipt.

  “No,” he shook his head, “it’s an amazing job. I number crunch all day…you get to look at—”

  “Trust me they all start to look the same after a while, and it really is just a job.” She stood up and walked out, rooting around in her purse for her car keys.

  Just a job.

  To think that once upon a time Brittney had believed that she could make a real difference, when the fact of the matter was that she was replaceable. If she left tomorrow there would be another gynecologist to take her place. Sure, she did make a difference in her patient’s lives. She was important to them, which was important to her, but after all these years her work had become mundane. Britt just hadn’t realized it until right then. There was nothing special about her life. Nothing special about what she did or how she did it. The truth was that life was passing her by. She was going to deliver this baby, then she was going to go home and take another look at that email Sand had sent her. Maybe she could help find a cure for a species. Imagine that! She could meet new people. See new things. Experience new things. Her heart beat faster. Maybe she could make a real difference. Save lives. Change the future of a whole species.

  Chapter 4

  Druze looked down at the file in front of him. He flipped it open, paging through the contents. The female talked a lot. She had been going on and on for the last ten or fifteen minutes, telling him all about herself, and of course, her career.

  “Why do you want this position?” he asked when she stopped to take a drink of water.

  “It sounds exciting. Something different.” She shrugged. “The brief mentions an exotic location.” She raised her brows and narrowed her eyes on him. “Is it Hawaii? Come on, you can tell me.”

  “I’m not at liberty to say, at this point in the process.”

  “Come on.” She licked her lips. “I swear I won’t say anything.” She touched a hand to her chest. “I’m hoping somewhere with white beaches and—”

  “You do realize that this is a work assignment? There will be long hours.”

  She nodded. “Of course I do, and I’m ready to give it my all.” She tucked some hair behind her ear.

  “And you’re prepared to leave your friends and family for the next couple of months, maybe longer?” The team might be reassigned. Druze was counting on it.

  “Yes.” More head bobbing. “I would be fully committed.”

  “Did you have any questions, Dr. Walker?” He folded his hands on the table in front of him.

  “Yes, was there a mistake on the brief regarding the salary?” Her eyes held his.

  “No mistake.”

  She smiled. “It’s just that it seems rather…a large amount.” She pulled in a deep breath and licked her lips. “Not that I’m complaining. I mean, it would be great to make that kind of money in such a short time.”

  Maybe they shouldn’t have mentioned remuneration, Druze thought to himself. This female seemed more eager to lie on a beach and make lots of money than take the actual position.

  “It will be long hours of hard work in a location or locations that will test your…grit. Your tenacity. Don’t let the word exotic fool you. You’ll have to sign a non-disclosure agreement and won’t be permitted to talk about anything you witness or any work you carry out, but you would be making a difference.”

  “When you say grit…” she widened her eyes, “what do you mean?” She pulled in a deep breath. “There will be running water and basic amenities won’t there?” She looked up at the ceiling. “Hopefully more than that,” she muttered to herself.

  Druze folded his arms, watching the female squirm in her chair. “I’m not sure you’re right for this position, Dr. Walker.” Too bad she was the last candidate.

  The female snorted. “I am. I would cope in any conditions for that kind of money.” She giggled, sounding nervous.

  “Why did you become a healer…a doctor?” he quickly added.

  “Both my parents are specialists. My father is a neurosurgeon and my mother is a pediatrician. There was never a question as to whether or not I would be a doctor. It was always a given.” She shrugged. “The only question was how I would specialize, and I chose to become a gynecologist.”

  “Why?”

  “Women will always have babies. It’s a fact of life. There will always be patients for me to see.”

  A terrible answer. They all had been. This female didn’t give a damn. “Thank you for your time, Dr. Walker.” Just then a message came through on his phone. It was from Sand. It looked like he had another candidate after all. She would arrive in an hour.

  She shook her head. “And, do I get the position?” She fluttered lashes that were far too long to be real. Why did human females do such strange things? They painted their faces and put fake things on and even into their bodies for the sake of beauty. It was a turn-off. Not that females held any interest to him. It was just an obser
vation.

  “I still have one more candidate to interview. I will let you know either way.”

  She nodded, smiling broadly. “I appreciate the opportunity and hope it’s good news.”

  Druze took her outstretched hand and shook it once before letting go. He breathed out as he watched her leave.

  * * *

  One hour later…

  The female blustered into the room. Her hair was escaping from the loose bun on her head. Her face was a rosy pink. “I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to talk for very long. I have a patient who’s already seven centimeters dilated. I need to get back to the hospital ASAP.” She took in a deep breath, put her phone on the table and gave him a sheepish look. “I have to be contactable for cases of emergency. I’m Britt, by the way – Dr. Brittney Baker. I tried to schedule a meeting for another day, but Sand said you’re leaving town today and wanted to get done with interviewing ‘yesterday’.” She chuckled at her own little joke, clearing her throat when he didn’t react.

  Druze paged through the file that had only been sent to him fifteen minutes before. He had read this female’s resume from start to finish twice. “You can take a seat, Dr. Baker.” He gestured to the chair across from him. “I hope you don’t think that your friendship with Sand and Macy is going to influence my decision in any way.”

  She looked taken aback for a moment but quickly recovered. “No, I don’t think that at all.” She removed her jacket. “I hope you don’t mind? It’s hot in here. That, or it’s all the running around. Probably the latter.” She smiled, taking a seat.

  Dr. Baker wore a cream-colored blouse under the formal jacket. It was figure-hugging but not meant to be flattering in any way. It failed.

  Druze shifted in his seat, sure to keep his eyes on hers. They were dark and framed by thick lashes. Her eyes were kind, they shone with intelligence. He closed the file. “I read your resumé. I know where you studied. I know your grades. That you finished one of the top in your class. You are a perfect candidate on paper. Why are you here, Dr. Baker? It is my understanding that you initially turned the chance at this position down.”