Right as Rain: Diamond Bay, #3

By Rose Bak

When a stubborn alpha surgeon butts heads with an equally stubborn natural medicine practitioner, can their jaded hearts heal each other?

Rain Waters had always fought against her hippie background. She left her family and her name behind to make millions in the pharmaceutical business. Unfortunately, her wealth was useless when she experienced a major health scare. After she healed herself with alternative medicine, she reinvents herself as a medical intuitive and herbalist and starts over in the small beach town of Diamond Bay.

Surgeon John White thinks alternative medicine is nonsense. The last thing the doctor wants is his patients delaying care while they go to some witch doctor and try to heal themselves with herbs and energy work.

When life – and a crazy puppy – keep putting them into each other's path, Rain and John realize that they may be opposites, but there's definitely something between them. They could learn to like each other and maybe find love, if only Rain would stop working with his patients….

"Right as Rain" is the third book in the Diamond Bay series. Each book in the series is standalone featuring a mature couple, steamy scenes, and a guaranteed HEA.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rose Bak
• Release date: Jun 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201652395

Rose Bak

Rose Bak has been obsessed with books since she got her first library card at age five. She is a passionate reader with an e-reader bursting with thousands of beloved books.  Rose's contemporary romance books focus on strong female characters over age 35 and the alpha males who love them. Expect a lot of steam, a little bit of snark, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Book preview

By

Rose Bak

RIGHT AS RAIN

© 2020 by Rose Bak

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No portion of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage retrieval system in any form by any means without express permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

For permissions contact:

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For Elizabeth Blackwell and all the women healers.

About This Book

When a stubborn alpha surgeon butts heads with an equally stubborn medical intuitive can their jaded hearts heal?

Rain Waters had always fought against her hippie background. She left her family and her name behind to make millions in the pharmaceutical business.  Unfortunately, her wealth was useless when she experienced a major health scare.  After she healed herself with alternative medicine, she reinvents herself as medical intuitive and starts over in the small beach town of Diamond Bay.

Surgeon John White thinks alternative medicine is nonsense.  The last thing the doctor wants is his patients delaying care while they try to heal themselves with herbs and energy work. 

When life – and a crazy puppy – keeps putting them into each other’s path,  Rain and John realize that they may be opposites, but there’s definitely something between them.  They could learn to like each other and maybe find love,  if only Rain would stop working with his patients....

Right as Rain is the third book in the Diamond Bay series.  Each book in the series is standalone featuring a mature couple, steamy scenes, and a guaranteed HEA.

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This book includes a special except from Until You Came Along,  book one of the Oliver Boys Band series, available now from select retailers.

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Rain

Rain looked up as the bell on her shop door rang.

Welcome to Rain’s Remedies, how may I –

The man interrupted her with a dark glower.  Are you the charlatan who runs this place? he demanded as he stalked towards the counter.

Rain stood up from her seat behind the counter and studied the newcomer.  He had dark brown wavy hair, streaked with silver, and a strong square jaw with a shadow of scruff that suggested it had been many hours since his last shave.  

His eyes swept the room, taking in the jars of dried herbs and displays of essential oils with a look of disdain.  His eyebrows raised as he saw the massage table in the back corner.  He turned back to face her with a glare.

His lips were pressed into a thin, angry line but somehow still looked sensuous. His eyes were a beautiful but intense shade of blue, although they were currently narrowed as he glared at her. 

She lowered her gaze to check out the rest of him.  He looked like an ad for professional casual. He was lean and lightly muscled, with no hint of fat on him despite the fact he was clearly in his late 40s or early 50s.  Probably a runner,  she thought to herself.  He had that look.

Well? he growled impatiently, waving one hand at her.  Are you the owner of this place?

His voice dripped with a combination of anger and disdain, clearly showing what he thought of her shop.  A shop she was very proud of. 

Rain straightened her spine and raised her chin, meeting his gaze without flinching. She felt a shiver of attraction, which was inconvenient, because the guy clearly was a jerk. Idly she wondered when was the last time she felt attraction for someone. It had been a while. A long while.

I’m Rain Waters, the owner, she responded, her voice icy.  How can I help you?

The guy looked non-plussed for a second.  Rain Waters? he asked incredulously, his eyebrows moving towards his hairline.  Your name is really Rain Waters? Seriously?  That’s what your parents named you?

Rain sighed.  It wasn’t the first time someone had mocked her ridiculous name.  She had considered changing it many times in her 42 years, but never had the heart to do it, although she had gone by her middle name for many years.  She knew her parents would be offended if she dropped the name Rain – they thought it was a perfectly good name.  And in their little co-op community in rural Oregon,  it was.  But in the real world....

Yes, that’s my real name, she answered evenly, giving him her best superior stare.  And you are?

I’m Dr. John White, he answered stiffly.  Chief of Surgery at Diamond Bay Medical Center.

He looked at her like she was supposed to be impressed.  She wasn’t.  Not by his title or by his having the blandest name in the world. This guy was a weird contradiction of totally bland and totally hot.  She wondered which was real.

What can I do for you John? she asked.  He bristled, presumably because she hadn’t called him doctor.  She mentally rolled her eyes.  God save her from arrogant men.  She really didn’t miss working with doctors.

He gave her with a hard stare. I want to know why you’re trying to kill my patient.

She refused to show a reaction to his provocative statement.  I assure you I’m not trying to kill anyone, she answered evenly.  But why don’t you tell me what you’re going on about so I can get back to work.

His angry blue eyes met hers and hers and held, and for a moment she forgot to breathe.  He went silent, his eyes widening slightly, as if he felt the same connection between them. A long moment passed, and Rain could feel her body tightening, waking up from its long slumber. He shook his head slightly, as if to clear his head, his eyes breaking contact.

My patient Jim McConnell is refusing to have his tumor removed surgically, because you have convinced him that he can heal himself with witchcraft or whatever it is you peddle here.  He leaned his long surgeon hands on the counter,  which brought his handsome face closer to hers.  You need to quit scamming him and tell him the truth – he needs surgery. Now.

First of all, John,  she started, noting with a tinge of satisfaction how annoyance flashed on his face as she called him by his first name again. I can’t confirm or deny that I’m working with any person named Jim McConnell. I have an obligation to maintain people’s privacy that I take very seriously.

Are you kidd—-.

She interrupted him before he could finish.  Secondly,  I’m a medical intuitive and an herbalist, not a witch. 

She reached forward across the counter and poked him in the chest with her index finger, noting absently that it felt like a nice solid chest.  She really needed to get out there and start dating again if she was getting turned on poking a judgmental asshole in the pecs. 

Third, you don’t get to barge into my shop and insult me, she continued, her voice firm and laced with ice.

His mouth opened and closed a few times, as if he were unsure what to say when someone stood up to him.  It probably never happened. Rain had worked with doctors extensively in the past; she knew they were unaccustomed to being questioned, particularly surgeons.

An angry red flush crept across his cheeks.  John inhaled slowly then blew out a breath, visibly calming himself down.

Miss Waters, he started with a tone of exaggerated patience.

Rain, she interrupted him again, just to be contrary.

Rain, he continued, a slight edge of sarcasm to his tone.  I’m worried about my patient.  He has a tumor that is likely cancerous, and he has this ridiculous idea that he should try to heal it naturally first instead of listening to his doctor. 

His tone clearly indicated his disdain for that idea.  He said you encouraged him to make surgery his last resort.  If the tumor is cancer, it will likely grow and kill him while he’s messing around with your magic potions.  Cancer can be lethal, especially for people from families with a history of it. If he dies it’s going to be on your head Rain.

Rain ignored the second reference to witchcraft.  Have you heard of HIPAA? she asked with a purposely casual tone, referencing the strict federal medical privacy laws.

He sputtered.  Are you trying to tell me you think your work is covered by HIPAA? he asked incredulously.

No, but I know yours is, she said smugly.  Did Jim McConnell give you a written release to discuss his medical history and cancer diagnosis with me?

His eyes widened and the red flush on his cheeks spread across his face and down his neck like a cartoon character whose head was about to explode. She could practically see his blood pressure rising.  Not exactly, he finally admitted.

Well, if neither of us has permission to talk about this case, it sounds like our work here is done, she rejoined, moving around the counter towards