Wildfire: Texas Heat, #5

By Octavia McKenzie

Widowed at a young age, Doctor Quinn Dailey is married to her work of saving lives, until her late husband's best friend shows up with a bucket list her husband wanted them to complete together. She can't be within five feet of Adam Hunter without a burning, off-the-charts chemistry that threatens everything she thought she knew. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Octavia McKenzie
• Release date: Feb 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201919733

Book preview

Books by Octavia McKenzie

Historical Romance

She Walks in Gold Dust

She Walks in Gun Smoke

Pride and Prejudice and Pirates

Texas Heat Novels in Order

Blaze

Slow Burn

Where There’s Smoke

Burn it Down

Wild Fire

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Chapter One

Something weird happened the first time she met him. Quinn barely had time to register the fine specimen who stood before her. His masculine beauty sent shockwaves through her body. She’d never felt anything like it. Her eyes ricocheted from his chiseled face to the navy tee shirt over a broad chest, rippling six pack and faded jeans that rode his lean hips. She blushed furiously when they shook hands. His palms were big, rough, his touch gentle. Her nervous system went haywire. She pulled her hand away, dropped her eyes and trembled in silence.

Quinnie, her husband said, This is Adam Hunter, he was deployed during our wedding or you would’ve met him long ago. He’s like a brother to me.

A pleasure to finally meet you, Adam’s voice stroked her like velvet.

Her stomach fluttered when Adam flashed a heart stopping grin. He felt overwhelmingly masculine to her, like a threat somehow. Quinn knew with every fiber of her being, she had to keep her distance and stay the hell away from him.  

6 YEARS LATER

Doctor Quinn Dailey continued chest compressions without let up. The Code Blue team worked frantically around her. She rapidly ordered intravenous medication and prepared for another jolt of defibrillation.

Come on Gina, she whispered under her breath. The family sobbed outside in the hallway. Damn it, come on! Quinn breathed a strand of red hair out of her line of vision.

The door opened. How long has she been down?

Quinn cringed at the sound of that voice. The attending physician shoved nurses out of the way to get to the patient. Quinn glared at the bully in scrubs.

Forty-eight minutes, Quinn said. Her arms were getting stiff from pumping on the woman’s chest.

Doctor Sigfreed Hayes snapped off his gloves. I’m calling it.

No.

Time of death 16:43.

Quinn continued CPR.

Step away from the patient Doctor Dailey. The older man barked.

Not a chance! The nurses exchanged pointed looks. This wasn’t the first time these two clashed.

She was in V-Fib but we got her back.

Yes and now she’s in PEA, her brain is mush.

I need an amp of Epi, prep Vasopressin, Quinn called. The nurses shifted uncomfortably.

If anyone gets her that medication, they’re fired! the physician yelled. Beads of sweat glistened on the crown of his bald head. His cold eyes raked her with a look of arrogant dismissal. Quinn defiantly continued chest compressions. Amp of Epi, she repeated. This time, every nurse in the room moved to do her bidding.

The attending’s face twitched. How dare you, he blustered, his beer belly protruding, I’m writing you all up, he said, no empty threat. He threw his gloves at a nurse and stormed out. He had one foot in the hallway when the heart monitor beeped. One of the nurses looked at the screen. Normal Sinus rhythm, pulse sixty and climbing! The nurses cheered.

Doctor Hayes sneered on his way out. One of the nurses gave his retreating back the middle finger salute. Quinn sighed in relief. Her patient regained consciousness. The family rushed in, sobbing, thanking Quinn and The Code Team. Quinn and Meeko, the respiratory therapist, did a fist bump.

You a badass queen, he said.

She’s okay now, that’s all that matters, thank you everyone.

The nurses smiled and trailed out.

I am sick and tired of her demeaning my authority in front of the staff! Sigfreed said bitterly. They stood before The Chief of Surgery’s ornate desk. Doctor Rose Tilman pinched the bridge of her nose. The Jamaican glared from one to the other. Jesus have his mercies, why can’t the two of you just get along?

Gee, I dunno, Quinn said, He’s obnoxious, rude, incompetent-

Sigfreed flushed purple splotches. You see! The insubordination! I’m the attending physician, I called time of death.

The patient lived no thanks to you, Quinn shot back, Stop throwing your weight around - literally. Quinn stared at his protruding gut. And do your job...if you can.

Rose smothered a laugh by coughing profusely.

I want the name of every nurse in that room, Doctor Hayes said with a muscle twitch in his moon face.

No, Quinn said.

Excuse me?

They saved that patient, unlike you.

I followed Advanced Cardiac Life Support protocol, you had no right-

Are you angry the patient lived? Quinn asked, aghast.

Yes! I mean, um, no, no of course not.

Then get out of my way and try acting like a professional for once. Shoving the nurses, throwing gloves at women who cover your ass and work twelve hour shifts, you have some nerve.

Nurses are idiots! he blustered.

Ugh! Who did you bribe to pass medical school?

Sigfreed bared his teeth like an animal poised to strike. My family’s name is on the new maternity wing of this hospital, not yours. I don’t care how many awards you’ve won, you’re a pathetic widow in a pair of scrubs.

Quinn gasped at the personal attack. Rose looked as if she wanted to clobber him.

You’re a nobody, he snarled, Remember your place Doctor Dailey. In the pecking order of things you’re at the bottom of the food chain. I’m a Hayes, I’m not going anywhere, you on the other hand... He let the threat linger like rot.

Quinn rolled her eyes. Rose did her utmost to look stern. She sat ramrod straight, hands gripped together on a stack