Seaside Heartbeats: A Sweet Romance (The Seaside Hunters Book 2) (2 page)

"All in all," Brayden said, "if you're going to have a heart condition, it may as well be SVT. Can I get your blood pressure?"

Lana nodded. "The nurse took it before you came in, though."

"I understand, but I like to check it myself." Brayden stood, and walked to the other side of the room. "I'll need to wrap this around your arm, and the machine will do the rest."

"Okay." Lana walked over to him, standing only an inch away.

Brayden wrapped it around her arm and then he pressed the button for it to start.

"Your blood pressure is high. Is it usually high when at rest?"

"I…I'm not sure."

"Let's try this again." He readjusted the strap around her arm, trying to ignore how soft her skin felt against his. He pushed the button, and it came up with the same high number.

"Hmm. You can sit back down." He flipped through the chart and saw that her heart rate had been normal when the nurse had taken it before he came in. "I'll be right back."

"Okay."

Brayden went into the hall. He got the attention of Eugene, one of the most experienced on the nurse staff. He explained the situation, and sent him into the room to take Lana's blood pressure again.

He studied the chart before going back in.

"Everything is normal," Eugene said.

"Let me see that." Brayden walked over and looked at the machine. Sure enough, it showed numbers within the normal range. He turned to Lana. "Mind if I give it a try again?"

She shook her head.

Brayden wrapped the strap around her soft arm again, and then he started the machine. The numbers came high again.

He frowned. "We'd better get this serviced. Eugene, can you take her to another room to use another machine?"

"Sure thing, doctor."

Two

Lana Summers stopped in front of a fountain near the hospital entrance.

That had been the most embarrassing experience of her life. Cardiologists had no right to be that hot. None at all.

Every time Dr. Hunter touched her arm to get her blood pressure, Lana's heart pounded, nearly exploding out of her chest. She was so glad that neither he nor that nurse had figured out why her numbers were so drastically different when Dr. Hunter was there.

He was tall, well-built, and had a smile that could melt an iceberg. And that cologne…it smelled heavenly. She could stand there all day with him adjusting her arm.

She needed to drop coffee cold turkey and stay out of the sun. Whatever it took to keep her SVT under control. There was no way she could face that again. Dr. Hunter would either figure out that she was attracted to him, or he would think she broke all of his equipment.

"How did everything go?"

Lana turned around to see her mother. "Oh, fine. They just told me how to manage it. No big deal."

"Why do you look flushed?"

"Just frustrated, I suppose. It sucks that I have to deal with it, but like the doctor said, if I'm going to have a heart condition, at least it's not more serious."

"Not serious? He obviously didn't see you last night."

"Mom, I'm fine. Really."

"They didn't give you any medicine?"

Lana stepped away from the fountain. "Nope. I just have to exercise more. Oh, and avoid caffeine."

"Like I've been telling you for years." Her mother shook her head. "No one ever listens to me."

"Ever? Stop exaggerating."

They walked to the car in the garage, Lana telling her mother everything about the visit—except for the hot, young Dr. Hunter. If she kept thinking about him, she was going to have another episode. Her heart sped up just picturing his face or thinking about him standing so close.

On the car ride back, Lana allowed herself to daydream about the doctor as she looked out the window and watched the beautiful northern California coastline.

When they got to the rental beach house, her father stood at the kitchen table with papers covering it. He had a pencil behind each ear, and looked perplexed.

"What's the matter, Dad?"

He looked up at Lana. "Just trying to figure out where to put the game room."

"It's a mansion. There's plenty of room."

"Yeah, but the clients want it close to the bedrooms, but not too close." He took a pencil from behind his ear and chewed on the eraser, staring at the blueprints.

"Dad," Lana said. "They know you're taking the summer off. Don't worry about it."

"I never stop planning. What do you think, Lana?"

Her mom smiled. "Yes, let's hear from the newly licensed architect."

Lana groaned. "My brain hurts from so many years of studying, you guys. This is supposed to be a vacation."

"Just a peek." Her dad begged with his eyes.

"You know I can't say no to that." Lana walked over and looked at the prints. "Why do you insist on hand drawing everything? It's so much faster on the computer."

"New isn't always better, little one."

Lana rolled her eyes. She stood only an inch shorter than her dad. The old nickname was outdated, but she had a feeling it would stick, just like her dad's insistence to draw out plans.

"What do you think?" he asked.

She studied the page with the bedrooms. "If you move the guest bathroom next to the last bedroom here," she pointed to the spot, "and you moved this coat closet next to the bathroom, the Wii room would fit perfectly, and it would have enough space between the last bedroom and the game room."

Her dad brought his hand to his chin, obviously thinking. "You know, I hadn't thought of that."

"Also," Lana said, "you could move the picture window over next to the closet if you wanted a little more space between the rooms."

"Genius!" Her dad smiled, and then looked at her mom. "Did you see that, Susan? Our daughter is a prodigy."

"What else would you expect, Dwight?"

"Nothing."

"When are Cora and Marcus arriving with the kids?" Lana asked. Her sister and family were supposed to have arrived days earlier, but Cora wouldn't pull herself away from her interior design business. She'd hired some of the most competent people in the field, but she didn't trust anyone to do their jobs when she was away.

"Supposed to be tonight," said her mom.

"That's what you said the last two days." Lana frowned.

"I know. I can't wait for them to see this cute town. They're going to adore it."

Lana looked over at her dad scribbling away on the plans. They were a family of workaholics. She was determined to be successful without being obsessed. Everyone raved about her natural talent, so it shouldn't be a problem. Or so she hoped.

Besides, if she had someone to come home to that looked like Dr. Hunter…. There was no way she would work overtime. Lana sighed, imagining his gorgeous smiling face as she came home every night.

"Are you tired?" asked her mother. "Have a seat. I'll make you some chamomile tea."

"Sounds good to me." Lana wandered over to the sofa and flipped on the TV. She'd agreed to this vacation to rest and relax. Let Cora and their dad work the whole time.

She found a movie and watched it until her eyes grew heavy. It had been a long night going to the ER and waiting hours to get released. After coming back home, she remained shaken up from the whole thing and hadn't slept well. If the ER staff hadn't insisted that she return to the hospital for the follow-up visit, Lana would have stayed at the beach house in her pajamas all day.

Her eyelids grew heavier until she couldn't fight them any longer. She listened to the movie, trying to follow it, until she drifted off to sleep. Sweet smelling steam woke her. Lana opened her eyes to see her mom holding a mug in front of her face.

"Asleep already? Here's your chamomile, dear. Maybe you should go up to bed."

Lana stretched. "Thanks, Mom." She took the tea and sipped it. It certainly wasn't a mocha. Every morning on the way to her internship or architectural exams, she got a different flavored mocha.

She couldn't imagine going the rest of her life without caffeine. Maybe she could make weak coffee at home. It wouldn't be the same as the little stand she always went to, but it would be better than having another episode.

"I'm going to go lie down." Lana got up and took her empty cup to the sink.

"Get some rest," her dad said, not looking up from the papers. "I'm sure you need it after last night."

"Don't you need some extra sleep, Dad?" she asked.

He held up a liter of pop. "This'll keep me going. Want us to wake you when Cora gets here?"

"Yeah," Lana said. "If she gets here. Though I'm sure the kids will wake me if you don't."

He chuckled. "True, true."

Lana went upstairs to her room. Well, not technically her room, but it was hers for the summer. She turned the air conditioning unit higher, afraid to wake up from another episode. That was part of the reason she'd had such a hard time sleeping after returning from the hospital.

She couldn't fall asleep knowing it could happen again, then when she finally did get to sleep, she had nightmares. Now she was too tired. If heat was part of the problem, at least she could freeze her room as she slept.

Lana woke up with her teeth chattering. She pulled up the comforter to her face, trying to warm up. She felt rested, so at least she had gotten some real sleep. No nightmares, either.

There was a thud downstairs. Could Cora and company have actually arrived? Lana got up and stretched. Her clothes were wrinkled from sleeping, so she put on some fresh clothes. Her hair was a wreck, too. She looked in the mirror and brushed it. That didn't help, so she pulled it back into a loose bun. It wasn't like she was trying to impress anyone.

She went downstairs, and her two nephews, Nolan and Ryder, immediately shrieked. "Auntie Lana!" They ran over to her, and nearly knocked her over with hugs.

Lana picked them up. "You guys are getting big. I don't know if I can carry you two around at the same time anymore."

They squirmed and laughed. She set them down, and they proceeded to run circles around the kitchen and living room.

"I wish I had their energy," she said.

"You and me both." Cora came over and gave her a hug. "Congrats to the new architect. How does it feel to be official?"

"I'll let you know when I start. I'm determined to take the summer off. Dad on the other hand…."

They both laughed, looking over at him still poring over the papers.

"How's business?" Lana asked.

Cora's eyes lit up as she spoke about plans to expand into a nearby city. "Business is booming, and if I can set up another office we'll have the boys' college funds complete before they turn ten."

"Or even earlier," said Marcus. He kissed Cora, and then gave Lana a hug. "Good to see you again."

"Likewise. How's the team?"

"This year looks good. We have some stars from the junior high moving up, so I have high hopes of making it to state."

"Oh, good." Lana went into the kitchen and helped her mom with dinner. She talked with Cora and Marcus while they made sure Nolan and Ryder didn't break anything as they ran and tackled each other.

By the time dinner was over, Lana felt caught up with their lives. It was almost like it hadn't been over six months since they'd last seen each other for Christmas.

After clearing the table, Cora leaned close to Lana. "Any love interests?"

Lana thought of Dr. Hunter, and her cheeks burned. She looked away, hoping her sister wouldn't notice.

No such luck. "Oh," Cora said in a sing-song voice. "Do tell."

"There isn't anything to say."

Cora squealed. "You're blushing."

"Honestly, it's nothing."

Cora bumped her with her hip. "You can have both, little sis."

"Little, huh?" Lana asked, trying to change the subject. "I'm pretty sure I've been two inches taller than you since the eighth grade."

"Doesn't change the fact that I was born first." Cora stuck her tongue out.

Lana laughed. "Doesn't mean you're more mature, either."

A crash sounded in the next room, followed the sounds of both Nolan and Ryder crying. Cora ran out of the kitchen.

Saved by the wild twins.

Three

"You know what you need, Brayden? A tattoo."

Brayden stared at his brother, Cruz. "That's the last thing I need." He leaned against the counter of the Hunter Family Shop where Cruz manned the register for the evening shift.

"Dude, what you got against tats? They're a great conversation starter."

"What makes you think I need an ice breaker?"

"I haven't seen you with a chick since you dated that redhead when you were a resident. That was, like, three years ago, dude." Cruz pulled up his sleeve, showing off his latest tattoo. It was a heart with
Mom
in the middle and a flower wrapped around it. "You think Mom will like this one?"