Florida fling with the s.., p.2
Florida Fling with the Single Dad, page 2
“She seems very nice, but that doesn’t mean you can ask her a bunch of questions. She’s had a long trip to get here from New York, so she’s probably too tired to feel like talking right now. How about we give her a few days to settle in before you give her the Violet inquisition?” Dylan said as he adjusted the basket of fruit and cheese in his arms so that he could hug his daughter to his side.
It amazed him to think of this perfect little eight-year-old as his. Not having known about her until a year ago, he was still new to fatherhood. Some days were harder than others, but they were making it work. His only fear was that her mother would show up one day and undo everything he’d done to make Violet feel like she had a stable home here with him. The idea of her mother taking her back out on the road with her, never knowing exactly where his daughter was...that was something that he couldn’t let himself dwell on.
“How many are a few? Two?” she asked.
“Honey, if you make it to two days without driving this poor woman crazy with your questions, it will be a miracle.” The door opened and the woman they’d been discussing stood in front of him. Her dark blond hair was down now and it fell past her shoulders and she was wearing an old Mets T-shirt and a pair of torn shorts. She looked much different from the every-hair-perfectly-in-place woman he had met earlier that day. Now she was a woman he could picture himself spending time with.
And where had that thought come from? He didn’t have time or any interest in spending time with anyone besides his daughter.
“Ah, hello,” Katie said as she blinked her eyes against the sunlight.
Her hair was a bit mussed up and her feet were bare. Did they wake her up from a nap? He should have taken his own advice and let her settle in before he came over, but he was worried he’d been rude this morning. He wanted to make sure she felt welcome in the community. Even if she was only here temporarily.
What Alex had somehow forgotten to mention was that the big-city girl from New York was also a looker. And right then it was taking all his concentration and the fact that his daughter stood beside him to keep his eyes from a pair of long legs that brought out a very unwanted reaction from him.
“Sorry, we should have waited until tomorrow, but Violet wanted to meet you.” He smiled down at the little girl, who was studying the newcomer seriously. “We won’t disturb you. I’ll just give you this—” he pushed the basket he’d bought at the grocery store into her arms “—and now we’ll let you get back to it. I mean get back to resting or whatever.”
As he tripped over the words coming out of his mouth, he tried to understand what was happening to him. Yes, this woman with her sleepy emerald bedroom eyes was damn sexy right then, but he didn’t even know her. She was a temporary coworker. That was all she could be.
Setting down the basket, she bent down to his daughter and held out her hand. “Hello, Violet. My name is Katie. I’m so glad to meet you.”
“I’m glad to meet you too, but I’m not allowed to ask you any questions for at least two days,” his daughter said with a smile that could charm even the most hardened heart.
“Really? And why is that?” Katie asked.
“My daddy says you’ve had a long trip and are too tired. Are you too tired?” Violet asked, the determined glint in her eyes telling him that there would be no stopping his daughter now.
Katie looked up at him and smiled before turning back to Violet. “I think I could handle a few questions. Would you like to come in?”
“Can we, Daddy?” Violet asked, her eyes begging him to let her have her way. If she ever realized just how hard it was for him to say no to her he’d be in big trouble.
“Are you sure?” he asked. They did need to discuss a few things before the next day.
“Of course. I’ve still got a few bags to unpack, but most everything is out of the way.” She bent to pick the basket up, but he beat her to it.
“I’ve got this. Do you like the place?” he asked. It would be a little awkward if she started complaining about the cottage.
“I love it! When Alex said he had the perfect place for me to stay, I didn’t expect anything like this,” she said as they headed inside. For someone who had been half-asleep just seconds before, her face was now animated with a pleasure that for some inexplicable reason pleased him to no end. “You need to see the view in the back. And there’s a path that leads down to the water. It’s amazing.”
Violet giggled from behind the two of them as Katie led them to the large sliding doors at the back of the cottage.
“We think it’s the perfect view too,” he said. Turning back to his daughter, he winked.
“You do?” Katie asked as she faced them. “You’ve been here before?”
“My friend Janna lived here for a few weeks, but she had to go home with her parents,” Violet said, her tone leaving no room for doubt that she was not happy with her friend’s parents.
“Oh, is that how Alex heard about the property?” Katie asked Dylan.
“Sort of. He asked me about a rental and I told him this place was open. I’ve only had it on the rental market for a couple months.”
“You’ve only had it on the rental market for a couple months?” Katie said, repeating his words. “You own the cottage? You’re my landlord?”
“Yes. I assumed Alex would have mentioned my name and the fact that I owned the rental.” But there seemed to be a lot that Alex had forgotten to mention. Like how long it would be before he would return and let Dylan get back to his own responsibilities.
“And we’re neighbors too,” Violet said as she pushed past her father. “Come see.”
Violet walked over to the sliding doors and slid one open. “That’s our place next door. Isn’t it pretty?”
They walked out to the small deck that he had built onto the back of the cottage, so that Katie could see the slightly larger cottage only a few yards away.
“It is very pretty. I love that color of green,” Katie said before looking over at him. “You didn’t think you should tell me this morning that we would be living next door or that you were my new landlord?”
“I really did think that Alex had told you. It’s not like him to forget something like that.” Which had him wondering even more what exactly was going on in Alex’s life?
“Dylan... I mean Daddy...let me help with all the colors,” Violet said. “And he bought me my own tool belt just like his...but it’s pink. Do you like pink?”
“I do like pink,” Katie told his daughter before turning back to him. “Did you build this yourself?”
“We both did,” Violet answered before he could speak. “It’s our investment property. Daddy says we need it so that we can pay for our house before he’s gray and wrinkled.”
“Violet, why don’t you run down to the water and see if there are any shells for Katie? I bet she’d like to collect a few to take back to New York,” Dylan said. He waited until his daughter was out of earshot before continuing their conversation. “Sorry, she gets a little excited when she meets new people.”
“She’s adorable. I just wish I had some of her energy,” Katie said. She pushed her hair away from her face, but the soft gulf breeze blew it right back. “Would you like some water? I’m afraid that’s all I have right now. I should have stopped at the store on the way here, but I was so tired of driving. I don’t think I, or the Jeep, could have gone any further.”
“No, we’re good,” he said. “I was surprised when Alex said you were driving down. That’s a trip not too many people would be willing to make.”
“It seemed like a good time for a road trip. You know, get some fresh air. Clear the mind. I am glad, though, that I don’t have to think about that return trip for a few weeks. I was surprised with how tired you can get just sitting in a seat for twelve hours.”
“I’m sorry we got interrupted this morning. And I admit even though I thought Alex had mentioned my owning the cottage, I should have discussed it with you this morning.” He’d known the minute he’d gotten off the phone call from the regional office that he should have made some comment about being her landlord instead of just throwing a map and key code at her as she walked out the door.
He had a lot to learn about being a landlord.
“It was a little crazy this morning. How did the flight go?” she asked, taking a seat on one of the wicker chairs he’d purchased for the deck. It was strange seeing this big-city woman in an old ratty shirt and shorts appearing so at home on the deck of his little cottage. He’d only known her for a day, even less, but something about her intrigued him.
Or was it just his need to take care of everyone? He’d learned from Alex and her employee file that Katie had been through some difficult times and he knew they weren’t over yet. No one went through what she had without coming out scarred.
And he couldn’t help but think that the last time a woman had interested him this much, it hadn’t ended well. Except for Violet. Violet made all the heartache her mother had caused him worth it.
“He had an open-head injury, but the prognosis was good when the crew dropped him off at the Miami trauma unit. We’ll check back with the hospital tomorrow and see how he’s doing,” he said as he took a matching chair across from her.
“Do you get many of those? Pedestrian versus vehicles injuries? Most everyone I saw on my way to the cottage was on a bike or walking in this area.”
“There are more than a few tourists that decide getting on a bicycle after drinking or driving a scooter when they haven’t been on one for years is a good idea. Fortunately, most only end up with skinned knees or broken arms that can be treated in the local hospital. But there are enough of the serious injuries to keep us busy flying back and forth to the mainland. Of course, we have our share of boating accidents and drownings too.”
“It sounds much different from what I’m use to in New York,” Katie said. She was looking into the thin line of trees that separated the cottage from the water, but he could tell her mind was somewhere else. Was it back to the night of the shooting? Alex had told him enough about the incident that he knew she’d required several weeks in the hospital.
“About what I said this morning, about me having doubts about you coming here at first, I don’t want you to think we aren’t glad to have you. You will find that our small crew works well together and I have no doubts that they’ll be happy you are here to help. And with Alex speaking so highly of you, I do think this is a good place for you.” Hearing his daughter coming up the path, he stood to go.
“I understand. The New York office was concerned about me coming back after the shooting, but I proved myself to them.”
“I know. Alex told me they were impressed.” He didn’t tell her that Alex himself had mentioned some concerns after talking to her, though his boss hadn’t been able to pinpoint what was wrong. “How about we start with your orientation tomorrow morning?”
“Look what I found for you, Katie,” Violet said as she climbed the step up to the deck as she held out two shells for Katie to examine.
“They’re very pretty. I’ll have to get something to keep them in so I can take them back to New York with me.” Katie took the shells from his daughter.
“We have a bunch at our house if you want to come see them,” his daughter offered.
“Why don’t we let her get settled first,” Dylan said as they walked back through the cottage to the front door.
“But...” Violet started to protest.
“What have I told you about our neighbors?” Dylan asked his daughter, brushing his hand over her curls. It was the only thing she’d gotten from him. Her slim build and baby blue eyes were a replica of her mother.
“They’re not here for our entertainment. We have to respect their privacy.” Violet repeated to him in a sad singsong voice.
“What time do you want me at the office?” Katie asked as they reached the door.
“Shift change is seven. If there isn’t a call we’ll take a ride over the islands so you can get your bearings. Then we’ll get your schedule set up.”
“Sounds great. I’ll see you then. And, Violet,” she said, calling out to his daughter who was skipping up and down the sidewalk, “maybe you can come back to help me gather some shells another day?”
His daughter jumped with joy and he listened all the way home to the description of all the shells that she hoped to collect for her new friend, Katie.
CHAPTER TWO
THEY LIFTED OFF the ground and as the helicopter skids rose, so did Katie’s spirit. She’d missed this when she’d been injured and unable to fly. She’d missed all of it. The tight quarters, the equipment bags, the speed as they climbed higher and then shot through the air. There had been no way for her to accept that her job as a flight nurse was over. This was as much a part of her life as breathing. It wasn’t just what she did. It was who she was. It was why she had worked so hard to get back in the air as fast as possible.
Then she looked down and caught her breath. While Key West was larger than she had first assumed, from the air, with its small landmass surrounded by an unending view of blue water, it was like looking down on a small neighborhood in New York City. And the trees. Everywhere she looked there were colorful flowering trees that based on their size had to be hundreds of years old. That was something she didn’t see much of in the city.
“Roy, can you take us south and then north up Highway One?” Dylan said over the headset.
“That’s the highway I came in on. The only way in or out, right?” she said, speaking into the headset.
“It’s the only road access, but we have a lot of boat traffic. We get called out for boating accident victims a few times a month. We also have a port where the cruise ships stop.” He pointed over to where a large ship sat. “Occasionally there’s a passenger that needs to be flown out to Miami, but most of the time their passengers end up in the local hospital for minor problems. Most of what we see is traumas or transfers from the hospital to a higher level of care.”
“And this is what is known as the southernmost tip of the island,” Roy said as they passed over a small area of rocks and water before they turned and headed north.
They quickly crossed the rest of the island and were following the path of the highway that would take them all the way up the coast and back to the mainland when both Dylan’s and Roy’s radios went off. She listened as the county dispatcher gave out coordinates of a motor vehicle crashand the channel on their radio where they would receive info on their landing location.
“Ten-four. We’re in the air and responding to call. ETA under five minutes,” Roy answered back to the dispatcher as they continued heading north.
“We’re taking the call?” Katie said as she opened a drawer labeled IV Supplies and began to prepare a bag of fluids. Fortunately, all the Heli-Care copters were stocked the same, with their drawers labeled for quick access. “I thought this was an orientation flight.”
“The Marathon crew the dispatcher was talking about is our sister crew. They’re already on the scene and have requested backup. There must be more than two injured needing to be flown out to Miami. You said you were ready. Is there a problem?” Dylan said as he began checking their bags for supplies that could be needed if an intubation was required.
“No, of course not,” she said as the adrenaline began to pump through her. If only she didn’t feel like an trainee that was about to perform for their preceptor. She’d done these calls hundreds of times. Why was she second-guessing herself? This was just what she was wanting a few minutes ago.
“Switching to channel three for landing zone instructions,” Roy said.
She listened over the headphones as Roy contacted the local fire department, which had secured the landing zone on the highway. As they got closer, she could see where traffic was backed up for at least a mile headed both north and south. Bringing traffic to a standstill on the only road in and out of the islands had to put more pressure on the first responders.
“This is Heli-Care Key West awaiting instructions for landing,” Roy announced over the radio.
She saw another helicopter lift off into the sky and head north, freeing up the area for their own landing.
As the helicopter lifted, a voice came over the channel “This is local Conch Key fire and rescue. Is that you, Roy?”
“Yeah, Jones. What’s happening down there? All we got from dispatch was MVC. Is the landing zone secured?” Roy asked.
“Zone secured, but it’s a mess down here. Camper jackknifed into oncoming lane. Driver and passenger of second vehicle are headed to Miami for trauma. They’re working on a passenger in the vehicle pulling the camper right now,” the firefighter said. “The sooner you get down here the better.”
Katie’s stomach clinched as they started into their final approach. She forced herself to take a deep breath, and then glanced over to see that Dylan was watching her. “I’m fine. Just a few nerves. New place and everything.”
Her confidence might have taken a beating, but except for a few bruises she was fit and ready to work. She just had to remind herself of that sometimes.
The skids touched down, and the two of them quickly unloaded their stretcher and scene bag as they stayed below the rotors.
Following the man she assumed was Jones, they hurried toward the scene. What was once a small travel trailer was now in pieces scattered across the middle of the road with a small compact car crushed beside it. There was no doubt that the driver and any passengers in the vehicle would be in critical condition.
Crossing a small medium, she saw a pickup truck on its side against a tree with several firefighters surrounding it. An ambulance crew was stationed beside the truck, but it was easy to see that their patient was still trapped inside the vehicle.
