Jeni jumped in at the first break in conversation. “Do you know Lauren well, Mandi?”

His phone was suddenly much less interesting.

“The pharmacist? Sure. She’s our oncology resident this year. The best one we’ve ever had, if you ask me. I really hope they find a job for her here when she’s done. I know she wants to stay, but from what she’s told me, persuading the hospital administration to fund another position isn’t easy.”

Andrew had no idea pharmacists even did residencies. He wondered how long it was. Would she finish and move on while he was still getting treatment? Had she said anything about that before? He thought back to his first office visit, trying to remember.

“Is she single?” Jeni asked.

Andrew shifted in the chair, the movement creaking across the leather material. He glared at Jeni, and she shot him a deceptively innocent expression.

Mandi paused. “Yes, I think she is.” Her eyes went to Andrew as she answered, like he’d been the one to ask the question.

He looked at her blankly, not sure how to respond.

Mandi offered a small smile. “You’re all ready to go. I’ll be back when it’s time to switch them out.”

“Thank you,” Rhonda said, and Andrew realized he’d almost forgotten she was there. She’d always been the quiet one.

Maybe she should be his new favorite sister.

Mandi walked away and Andrew immediately whisper-yelled at Jeni, “I’m going to kill you.”

The smug expression on her face grated on his nerves.

“We’ll see about that.”

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Lauren exited the infusion center with mixed emotions.

Gavin had cornered her as soon as she’d arrived, which had put her on edge. He was one of only two male nurses employed on the third floor—the other a graying, fifty-something who was happily married and showed off photos of his grandkids at every opportunity. Gavin was young, single, and clearly ready to mingle, chasing after anything with breasts. He’d dated his way through half of the female nursing staff and a few weeks ago had set his sights on Lauren. At first it had been harmless flirting, but then he’d asked her out.

Too bad for him, she’d been warned.

Even if she hadn’t, his arrogant approach wouldn’t have gotten him far. She’d politely declined each invitation for dinner or drinks, but he didn’t seem deterred. It was almost as if her disinterest was a challenge Gavin was determined to overcome, which only deepened her dislike for him. A guy who didn’t know the meaning of the word no was one she wanted nothing to do with.

And then, not ten seconds after she extracted herself from Gavin’s wandering eyes and condescending chatter, her gaze had landed on Andrew. And her heart had leapt so high, it’d nearly lodged in her throat.