Jack Patterson worked in a downpour of slashing rain using security lights to see what he was doing. The brilliant meteorologists had missed the trajectory and intensity of the tropical storm; leaving him no choice but to do the job as it hit land.

He pounded the side of his fist against the storm shutter, gave it a jerk, and finally slid it over the window. After securing the latch, he shoved his wet hair back from his forehead and wiped the rain from his eyes. The wind pounded against him as he trudged on to the next window to repeat the process. The bright side of this, it wasn't a two-story building.

His godfather owned and operated the clinic, and Jack wasn't about to let him work outside in weather like this. He was where he should be—inside with his patients. Since the weather had turned severe, sending anyone home was more dangerous than having them stay. The Memory Center was a soundly built, fifty-five hundred square-foot brick structure on high ground, with a generator and reinforced roof it was safer than most places. Jack had made sure of it.

As he finished securing the windows, he decided to talk him into purchasing electrical roll up storm shutters. Jack worried he could be out of town when bad weather hit, leaving Doc to do this.

By the time he approached the front door and pulled the storm chain down over the glass, the winds were trying to knock him down. He kept a firm hand of control on the door as he slipped through, and then shoved it closed until it latched. A large rubber backed area rug just inside the door caught the water dripping from his coat. Fat beads of water dripped from his blond hair and ran down the side of his square jaw. He reached up and ran both hands over his head like a squeegee to stop the tickle, then removed his slicker and hung it on the peg by the door.

Across the room, Janet Simms reached into a linen closet and pulled out a towel. She called out, "Catch," and he watched the rolled towel sail at him like a football. He snatched it out of the air and popped it open, burying his face in the thick, dry warmth. A few seconds later, he rubbed it over his head and neck, then over his muscular arms. There wasn't a raincoat invented that could keep the water from running down inside when your arms were held up. He wiped the bottom of his boots against the rug to dry them before crossing the wood floor to join her.

"I feel like I've had a swim in my clothes." He swiped his fingers through his hair to keep it from standing on end and folded the towel before laying it down on the receptionist counter.

Janet had taken the gloom out of the room by lighting the gas logs in the fireplace and burning orange citrus candles scattered around on tables. She was like an aunt who was always happy to see him walk in her door. On a night like this, he felt more at home here than his apartment.

Twenty years ago, Janet had begun working with Doc as his registered nurse. Over the years her job expanded to a do-all-he-can't-do helpmate. It left him free to focus on his patients and continue expanding the reaches of BENA.

"I'm grateful you came by to help with the shutters," she said. "By the sound of the wind, the weather is getting worse."

"That's the prediction. The city lost power over on the eastside, Norfolk too. Virginia Beach is reporting wind damage." Jack glanced out the glass door at another rumble of thunder. "Did the guy show up to replace the automatic switch for the generator?"

"What do you think? They said they'd come on Monday. Course that was the week before, but they promised for sure this week."

Disgust was written on his face. "They just don't get it. He has millions of dollars invested in equipment, and they can't find an hour to replace a little switch that would help protect it? That is totally unacceptable. Don't use them anymore."

"They've been friends for thirty years." Janet defended. "You know Doc's loyalty. Besides, he has you taking care of him. You're a good son, even if you aren't related."

"Then I'll compromise. If it's in any way connected to the lab, you call me and I'll see it gets done. You can use Bob's Electrical for other jobs. Deal?"

"Fine. How's your dad?"

With the quick change in topic, he knew the discussion was over. He leaned his hip against the counter and started sharing news of home when a gust of wind blew in through the door carrying a woman with it. She seemed to be holding onto the handle to keep her balance while struggling to get it closed against the force of the storm. Jack hurried over to help by grabbing the edge above her head. She ducked and moved back while he latched it shut.

She tilted her head back to peek up at him, but her hood drooped down covering her eyes. "This wind is ridiculous. Thanks for helping me."

"No problem." Jack stood waiting to help her out of the dark orange raincoat she had begun to unbutton. With the release of the last button, her hood fell back revealing hair like flaming fire. It curled damply around a face so beautifully sweet; he couldn't imagine her any other way. As he stared at her face, he found himself entranced by her exotic blue eyes, framed by thick lashes. Freckles touched her creamy complexion making him grin.

"This is kind. Thank you."

The fact that she spoke broke his trance. He believed he smiled but wasn't sure. He did nod. The anticipation of seeing what was under the coat had his full attention. She spread it open, expecting him to remove it from her shoulders, and it took him an embarrassingly long time to respond. Watching her was like having a gift unwrapped just for him. To him, she was a goddess. Full breasts, a slender waist, and long legs encased in leggings that hugged every glorious inch. His eyes kept trailing down the length until he stopped at her feet wearing matching burnt-orange rain boots. Thankfully, sanity returned along with his humor.

"Nice outfit."

She raised a booted foot to wiggle it back and forth showing it off. "It matches my hair."

His eyes flew back up to once again admire her dark-red tresses, then he reached out to help her remove the coat. To his delight, soft curls flowed down her back like a waterfall. She stepped away, leaving him holding her coat, to sit in one of the leather chairs by the door. He couldn't help but stare as she slipped her long fingers inside the top of a boot and pull her foot free. She peeked up and grinned, and he knew it was because he stood there like some kind of mannequin, while her coat dripped over his boots.

"Hey, Handsome, you can put that coat over on the coat hook if you want to."

The suggestion had him feeling like an idiot. He took a breath to regain his senses. A half dozen coat hooks he had installed for Doc were right behind him—along with his slicker. Feeling like a tongue-tied sixteen-year-old, he turned and checked for a loop inside the neck of the coat and hung it up. How one woman could do that to a man was beyond his understanding. He turned back around, trying to hide his reaction to her, only to see her placing tiny feet into slippers that looked like ballet shoes. This female had every asset he was fond of in a woman.

She stood to pick up her boots, but he was already there wrapping his fingers over the tops to move them by her coat. As he set them down, he noticed his wet hiking boots and rubbed them off on the back of his damp pant leg. He turned and caught her watching him with that same delighted grin.

Her cheeks turned a pretty peach-colored pink. "Thanks for helping. Do you work here?"

"That's a trick question. I work here but not for pay." He raised his hands, palm up in a shrug, but then chuckled as he admitted, "Doc's a friend. I closed the storm shutters." He mentally groaned at the way that sounded... I closed the storm shutters? Good lord, how lame can you get?

He watched her try to keep a straight face, but those expressive eyes gave her away. Her lips quivered into a smile before hurrying to the reception counter with shoulders shaking with silent laughter. He didn't care. She would remember him.

"Hi, Janet." She cleared her throat to contain the laughter. "I realize I'm early. There are a few streets I wanted to avoid with all this rain."

He watched Janet glance at him and then return her attention back to whom he thought of as Red.

"Maggie, I'm glad you managed it in this weather. I'll show you where you'll be sleeping."

Janet moved from behind the counter and winked at him. (He assumed it was because he hadn't moved an inch.) "Jack, why don't you go to the break room? I'll join you later."

He nodded but kept his eyes on who he now knew as Maggie. She glanced over her shoulder to take a look at him and then continued down the hall with Janet. And like a dummy, he realized what he'd done. The same hallway leading to the bedrooms also led to the break room. Janet could have introduced them. He hurried to catch up but was too late. He watched Janet lead her inside one of the bedrooms.

Of all the places to see a woman he wanted to meet, it had to be here. If his brain had been working, he could have introduced himself when she asked if he worked here. He passed by her open door, but refused to look and add snoop to his list of foolishness for one night.