Despite what must have been overwhelming grief, Gloria had taken in her four grandchildren and raised them herself, all the while managing four restaurants. Anyone who had suffered that much had earned the right to be a little difficult.

“I’ll go introduce myself, then,” Lori said. “The ambulance is already here to transport her home. I’ll pick up the paperwork on the way out.”

Vicki nodded. “Sure thing. I’ll be right here. Good luck.”

Lori waved and walked toward Gloria’s room.

The poor woman. Everyone was determined to see her as difficult. But from what Lori had been able to find out, no one in her family wanted anything to do with her. Gloria was injured, lonely and probably feeling frail. Isolation was never good under any circumstances.

She found the right room and knocked once before entering.

“Mrs. Buchanan,” she said as she smiled at the small, white-haired woman lying in the hospital bed. “I’m Lori Johnston. I’ll be your day nurse while you’re convalescing.”

Gloria put down the book she’d been reading and glanced at Lori over her glasses. “I doubt that. Reid was going to be choosing the nurses who would care for me. I’m sure he found the idea hilarious. He only likes beautiful women with large breasts. Unfortunately they have IQs smaller than their waist. You’re neither attractive nor well-endowed. You have the wrong room.”

Lori opened her mouth, then closed it. She was too surprised to be insulted, which was probably a good thing. “I don’t doubt your grandson’s taste in women. In fact it fits everything I already know about him. I may not be his ideal, but I’m still your nurse. At least during the day. You’ll have an evening and a night nurse.”

“You’re not anyone I want to work with.”

“How do you know?”

“I have a sense about people. I don’t like the look of you. Go away.”

Now this was a level of crabby Lori could relate to. She smiled as she crossed the room to the bed. “Here’s the thing. I have an ambulance waiting right outside. There are a couple of burly guys who are going to drive you home. At your house, there’s a bed waiting downstairs, food and privacy you never get in a place like this. Why don’t you wait until we’re there before firing me?”

“You’re humoring me. I loathe that.”

“I’m not thrilled about being insulted, but I’m going to go with it. What about you?”

Gloria narrowed her gaze. “You’re not one of those perpetually cheerful people, are you?”

“No. I’m sarcastic and demanding.”

“Have you had sex with my grandson?”

Lori laughed. In her dreams, perhaps, but never in real life. After all, she was neither attractive nor well-endowed. Talk about being dismissed. “There hasn’t been time. Is it a requirement?”

Gloria sighed. “The man has no Off switch. If it has a vagina, he’s probably been in it.”

“Not mine. I’ll agree he’s shallow but pretty. Isn’t that always the way? So are you packed?”

Gloria’s expression tightened. “I do not pack my own belongings. Even if I did, my condition would prevent any such activity.”

So the momentary rapport was gone. Well, it had been good while it lasted.

“No problem. I’ll collect everything. Do you have a suitcase? If not, I’m sure there are some shopping bags in the staff’s lunch room.”

The older woman practically crackled with outrage. “You will not put anything of mine in a shopping bag. Do you know who I am?”

Lori was careful to keep her back to her patient as she pulled a suitcase out of the closet by the bathroom. Gloria knowing she found this conversation kind of funny wouldn’t help things. “Sure. You’re Gloria Buchanan. Speaking of which, I think I’m going to call you Gloria. Mrs. Buchanan is so formal and we’re going to be getting really close.”

“Not after I have you fired.”

Lori set the suitcase on the only chair in the room and opened it. “You don’t want to fire me, Gloria. I’m really good at my job. I have experience with both heart and orthopedic patients. I’m tough enough to bully you into doing everything you should be doing. That’s going to get you on your feet faster. Because here’s the thing. Old ladies who break their h*ps have one of two outcomes. They get better or they die. My patients don’t die.”

Gloria glared at her. “You’re not a very nice person.”

“Neither are you.”

Gloria stiffened. “How dare you? I am incredibly polite and thoughtful.”

“Really? Want to hear what the staff here has to say about you?”

“They’re a group of incompetent fools. Everything about this place is substandard.”

“Then you’re going to love my standards.” She leaned close and lowered her voice. “I’m a real bitch about getting it right. You should respect that.”

“You will not swear in my presence, young woman. I won’t tolerate it.”

“Fair enough. I won’t swear and you won’t act annoying.”

“I’m never annoying.”

“Should we take a vote of your peers?”

“I have no peers.”

Which, Lori remembered a little too late, was sadly correct. From what Reid had told her when he’d hired her, Gloria didn’t have any friends at all and her grandchildren rarely had anything to do with her. No wonder she was so difficult. It was heartbreaking.

Lori finished packing Gloria’s belongings. There had been a few nightgowns, some undergarments, the clothes she’d been wearing when they’d brought her in, two books and a few cosmetics. Nothing else. No flowers, no get-well teddy bear, nothing personal. Nothing from family.

It was one thing if the elderly were alone, Lori thought, getting really annoyed with the Buchanan grandchildren. But when there was plenty of family hanging around and they were all just too busy with their own precious lives, it really pissed her off.

Lori pushed aside her feelings and moved next to the bed.

“So here’s the plan,” she said, lightly touching Gloria’s arm. Physical contact helped with healing. “I’m going to get the nurse to give you something for the pain. The trip home is going to jar you and that will hurt. The stuff she’s using is pretty strong, so expect to be a little out of it for a while.”

Gloria’s eyes narrowed as she jerked her hand free of Lori’s touch. “There is no need to speak to me as if I’m eight. I’m completely capable of understanding without a lengthy and moronic explanation. Fine. Get the nurse in here. She’ll be delighted to indulge her sadomasochistic tendencies on my person one last time.”

“Okay, then. Be right back.”

Lori walked to the nurses’ station where Vicki was ready. “We’re good to go. If you want to give her the shot, we’ll head out.”

Vicki stepped from around the counter. “So? What did you think?”

“I like her.”

Vicki stopped in midstride and stared. “You’re kidding. You like her? Gloria Buchanan? She’s mean.”

“She’s alone and in pain and scared.”

“You’re giving her way too much credit, but, hey, if it gets her gone, I’m all for it.”

REID SAT in his houseboat and wished he’d bought a condo in a security building instead. Here, on the water, he was too exposed, too accessible. He’d closed all the blinds and pulled all the shades, but that hadn’t kept the press away, dammit. They were everywhere—setting up cameras on his dock, crawling up to his balcony. Speedboats kept zipping by outside.

They wanted a story and they wanted it now. No one cared that he was totally humiliated. His manager had told him the interest would die down in a few days and to just lay low until then. Great advice, but where was Reid supposed to go? This was his town. Everyone in Seattle knew who he was.

His cell phone rang. He glanced at the screen before answering it, then frowned when he saw his grandmother’s name and number. If she’d read the morning paper, he was going to be verbally beaten and left for dead.

“Yes?” he said, his voice clipped.

“It’s Lori Johnston. Your grandmother’s day nurse. Your grandmother is leaving the rehab facility now and should be home within the hour.”

He grinned. “Let me guess. You want me to stop by and cheer her up.” So much for Miss Priss’s disdain. She needed him. Eventually they all did.

“Not exactly. She’s been given some medication and is pretty out of it.”

“You’re drugging my grandmother?” he asked in outrage.

Lori sighed. “My God, don’t be such a girl. Of course I’m not drugging her. I asked the doctor to prescribe some pain medication. In her condition a car ride can be excruciating. Not that you would care.”

He ignored that. “How did you get her phone?”

“I took it from her purse and before you start squealing in protest, I did it because I need to get in touch with you. No one sent the woman flowers or anything. There wasn’t a get-well card or note in her room. I find that astonishing. I’m surprised any of you could bring yourself to actually give her medical care. Why didn’t you just put her on an ice floe and push her out to sea?”

Reid opened his mouth, then closed it. To anyone who didn’t really know Gloria, the lack of attention was pretty horrible.

“She’s not a flower kind of person,” he said at last.

“Is that the best you can do? Claiming an allergy would have been a lot smarter. So you’re the rich baseball player, right?”

“Ex-baseball player. I was a pitcher.”

“Whatever. Order your grandmother some flowers. A lot of flowers. Have them delivered at regular intervals. Do you hear me? Throw in a few stuffed animals. Bears, cats, giraffes, I don’t care. Something to give this poor woman the illusion that her family cares if she lives or dies. If you don’t, you’ll be answering to me and you won’t like that.”

Her concern was misplaced, but he respected her enthusiasm. “You don’t scare me.”

“Not yet, but I will.”

CHAPTER TWO

LORI GOT GLORIA SETTLED at home with a minimum of fuss. Of course, the fact that her patient was practically unconscious really helped things along.

Lori unpacked Gloria’s suitcase, confirmed her physical therapy appointment for the next morning and picked out something light for her evening meal. While the older woman was getting better, she’d lost a little too much weight in the past few weeks. Lori intended to put some meat back on her fashionably thin bones.

She was on her way to look in on her patient when the doorbell rang. She answered it and found two delivery men, each holding several vases of fresh flowers. One had a giant giraffe tucked under his arm.

“Perfect,” she said as she motioned for them to leave the flowers on the floor of the foyer. Lori had already picked out several strategic spots for floral displays in Gloria’s room. “I appreciate the fast service.”

“The guy who ordered these wanted us to ask if you’re satisfied now.”

She grinned. “Tell him not even close.”

The man shrugged, then he and his partner left.

Lori grabbed two of the larger vases and headed for the study. She’d just finished with the last arrangement when Gloria opened her eyes.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice surprisingly strong for someone who had, until this second, been zonked on pain medication.

“Putting out flowers. Your grandchildren sent them. Aren’t they beautiful?”

“No. I hate flowers. And I see no reason for my grandchildren to send me anything. They’re far too selfish.”

Lori agreed with that, but kept her smile cheery. “I love the smell. Don’t you?”

“Absolutely not. Cut flowers die quickly and that depresses me. Take them away.”

“Sorry, no.” Unfazed by Gloria’s complaints, Lori made one last trip to grab the giraffe and returned with it.

Gloria actually raised her bed slightly and glared at the stuffed animal. “What is that? It’s awful.”

Lori hugged the cuddly creature. “It’s here to make you smile. I think it’s adorable.”

“You have very low standards.”

“I don’t think so.” She propped up the giraffe in a corner. “Okay, that’s all done. Let’s get you something to eat. You must be starved.”

“I’m not hungry at all. Go away.”

Lori did as she requested, but only went as far as the kitchen. She popped the entrée into the microwave and checked the rest of the tray. Everything seemed to be in place.

After the microwave dinged, she collected the steaming food and carried it back into the study.

Gloria might claim to not want dinner, but she’d raised her bed in anticipation of eating. A good sign.

“Here you go,” Lori said, setting the tray on the table in front of her.

Gloria stared at the food, then pushed at the table. As it was on wheels, it slid away.

“This is disgusting. I will not eat it. Take it away. I’m not hungry.”

Lori put her hands on her hips. Most of her crabby patients at least started out being pleasant. It usually took a couple of days for the anger and fear to come out. She had to respect that Gloria started as she meant to go on.

“You’re too thin,” she said calmly. “There are one of two ways to fix that. You can eat and gain back a couple of pounds, or we can hook you up to a feeding tube. I have to tell you, based on professional observation, you’re going to want to eat. The feeding tube route is pretty unpleasant. However, it’s an option. After all, you’re rich, right? Nothing but the best for you.”