The Vet's Unexpected Hero: Get swept away with this sparkling summer romance!

By Traci Douglass

In the midst of the hurricane…

…will she find safety in his arms?Vet Lucy Miller is happy with her quiet, ordered life. But when a tropical storm bears down on her Florida Keys animal sanctuary, the arrival of devastatingly gorgeous, yet equally guarded, emergency medic Jackson Durand brings disorder—and desire! He’s there to rescue her, but Lucy suspects her red-hot reaction to Jackson will be much more dangerous than the storm raging overhead…

From Harlequin Medical: Life and love in the world of modern medicine.

First Response in Florida

Book 1: The Vet’s Unexpected Hero

Book 2: Her One-Night Secret

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harlequin Medical Romance
• Release date: May 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781488075124

Traci Douglass

Traci is a USA TODAY bestselling romance author with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her books are sometimes funny, always emotional stories about strong, quirky, wounded characters overcoming adversity to find their forever person. Heartfelt Healing Happily Everyone Afters. Connect with her through her website: tracidouglassbooks.com. 

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

DISASTERS USUALLY HAD most people running away from danger. EMT Jackson Durand wasn’t most people.

His rig stopped outside the ambulance bay doors at Key West General ER and Jackson hopped out the back, followed closely by his EMT partner, Ned. Jackson’s adopted brother, Dr. Luis Durand, met them at the entrance ready to take on the case.

Forty-one-year-old firefighter with Key West FD, Jackson said as he and Ned lowered the gurney from the back of the rig down to the ground. Riding his motorcycle and thrown from the bike, no loss of consciousness on scene. Obvious open left femur fracture.

The patient on the gurney moaned loudly and tried to get up, but Jackson held him in place with a hand on his chest as they wheeled him into the ER and down a brightly lit hall to an available trauma bay, picking up nurses and techs as they went.

Sir, Luis said, stepping in beside Jackson. Can you tell me your name?

The patient bucked as they transferred him from the gurney to the hospital bed and one of the nurses lifted the sheet covering his lower body to look at the wound. Reed, the man on the gurney said. What’s wrong with my leg? It hurts so bad.

Your leg is broken, sir. Luis placed his stethoscope on the man’s chest and listened before continuing. Pretty badly, I’m afraid. But we’re going to take good care of you. He nodded to Jackson then took over his brother’s position at the patient’s bedside. Okay, we’ve got a good airway here. Good breath sounds bilaterally. Sir, can you open your eyes again for me? Looks like you’re getting drowsy. Reed, can you wiggle your left toes for me?

The patient screamed then, writhing on the bed. Argh! It hurts...it hurts. I can’t... I can’t. My leg hurts so bad.

Blood pressure? Luis asked the nurse across the table.

Seventy over forty, Doc.

Jackson hid his wince, barely. He felt for the guy. With an open compound fracture of the femur like that, it had to be sheer agony, but they couldn’t risk giving him any pain meds for fear of his blood pressure dropping even lower, which would cause even more problems, including death if he stopped breathing.

Right, Luis said. Let’s give him six units of blood, stat.

Jackson and Ned cleared the room to allow the staff more room to work. While Ned took the gurney back to the rig, Jackson headed down the hall to the supply room to stock up on supplies before his shift ended. Along the way, he greeted staff as they passed by. He knew just about everyone here and had a well-earned reputation as the go-to guy when it came to EMT services in the Keys. He liked being the man with the plan and the popularity that went with it. Mainly, though, he liked the control. Hopefully his rep would earn him a coveted promotion soon; he just needed a chance to prove himself.

He entered the supply room and began to fill his kit with fresh gauze packs, elastic bandages, syringes, gloves, and Steri-Strips. The neatly ordered shelves were a perfect reflection on his brother, Luis, who was the head of this department. Thoughtful, quiet, efficient. Everything in its place and a place for everything. All equal. Yep. That all fit Luis Durand to a tee. The complete opposite of Jackson, who thrived on chaos, quick decisions and excitement. Always better to keep moving, keep going, because those who fell behind got left behind.

He’d learned that lesson the hard way.

Hey, a nurse said, coming around the corner of the aisle where he stood. She was dressed in pink scrubs with a jacket covered in cartoon babies. OB floor. Jackson’s gaze flicked to her face then back to the supplies he was sorting through. She was cute, maybe late twenties, Asian. He didn’t remember her name, but from the expectant smile on her face, she obviously remembered his. Probably because they’d gone out, had a good time, maybe more. He had a reputation outside the medical field, too.

Hey, he said, not meeting her gaze. He wasn’t embarrassed about his flings. He only slept with women who knew the score. No strings, no complications. If they’d been together, then she’d gone into it with her eyes open, too. He grabbed a handful of alcohol wipes and shoved them into the outer pocket of his pack, ignoring the hot prickle of her stare on the side of his face.

When he didn’t say anything more, she stepped closer and smiled, shaking her head. You don’t remember me, do you?

Of course I do, he said, concentrating on the zipper of his pack and thinking maybe it was time to get out of the game. Not settle down, because he didn’t do relationships—get in too deep and all you ended up with was heartbreak and disappointment—but his thirtieth birthday was coming up soon, and frankly he was getting too old for this crap. Maybe he’d get a dog or something to live on the houseboat with him. He hazarded a side glance at the name tag on her jacket. How could I forget you, Susie?

Her snort rang loud in the quiet supply room. And that proves my point. I’m Amy. Borrowed this jacket earlier because I was cold. Heat crept up his neck as he straightened, hiding his wince. But don’t worry. I’m not offended, she said, jovially. We hooked up at the St. Patrick’s Day party at Durand’s earlier this year. The night’s pretty blurry for me, too, since we’d both had way too much to drink. It’s all good.

Right.

His adoptive parents owned one of the most popular bars in the touristy section of Key West, Durand’s Duck Bill Pub. He’d had a lot of good times at that bar—a lot of forgotten nights, too. He flashed her a slow smile, hoping his charm might get him out of another sticky situation. Ah. Yes, right. I do remember you now, Amy. You won the green beer contest and hung a T-shirt from the rafters.

She shook her head and laughed. I lost the whiskey duel and ended up having to kiss that gross leprechaun statue near the entrance. Nice try, though.

Thanks. He winked and sidled past her. Gotta go.

Of course you do, she called as he walked out of the supply room fast. Thanks for the memories.

’Bye, Amy, he called back, glad to be out of the firing line. By the time he returned to the bustle of the ER, his brother was at the nurses’ station barking orders into the phone to what Jackson assumed was the OR.

Yes. Fireman thrown from his motorcycle with a known bad femur fracture. Suspected pelvic fracture. I’m also worried he may have an as-yet undiagnosed solid organ injury, perhaps liver or spleen, that’s adding to the loss of blood. We’ll need ortho to assist for the leg, but my primary concern right now is saving his life. Okay. Yes. I’ll be up ASAP. Thank you.

Another busy day in the neighborhood, huh? Jackson moved in beside him at the counter and placed his refilled equipment pack at his feet. You think he’s going to make it?

I’m going to do everything I can to make sure he does, Luis said, heading toward the stairwell up to the third floor, only to be cut off by the man’s family and fire crew. Jackson concentrated on filling out the requisition forms for his supplies while his brother did his best to put the new arrivals at ease. Yes. Reed has got a bad leg fracture from the accident, and we’re taking him to surgery now to repair it and also to make sure there’s not more bleeding internally. If you have a seat in the waiting room, I’ll be down as soon as I can with an update. I...

His brother’s voice trailed off and Jackson glanced up to see what had cause the rare occurrence. Luis was always well-spoken, always prepared, always on top of things. He had a mild case of Asperger’s, so that kept him constantly thinking, constantly working through problems in his head that usually spilled out of his mouth as well. So, him going speechless was quite an event. But all Jackson saw were the same people as before. A middle-aged woman sobbing on the shoulder of a teenaged boy and girl, who he assumed were the patient’s wife and kids. Behind them was Reed’s fire crew in their uniforms, their fire truck parked outside the doors beside the ambulance, lights still blazing. Jackson recognized the firefighters, as they often went on the same runs as EMS, since many of them were trained as first responders as well. Bud Landry, John Cheeves and Stacy Williams. Luis definitely wasn’t gay, so the guys were out as the source of Luis’s sudden silence. Which left Stacy.

Blonde, twenty-seven or twenty-eight maybe. Pretty, in a natural, wholesome, beach bunny sort of way. Curvy and cute, but more than capable in the field and courageous as hell. Looks could definitely be deceiving in her case. Luis was staring at her like he’d seen a ghost.

Huh. Interesting. Maybe he’d been bitten by the love bug at last.

An overachiever in nearly every facet of his life except the personal, Luis pushed himself hard. Always working, always helping, always growing. He’d told Jackson once it was because his parents had died bringing him to the US from Cuba, sacrificed everything to give their son a better life. Luis felt obligated to live up to the legacy they’d given him, one of bravery and selflessness, even if doing so was to his own detriment. It was the one area he and Jackson had in common, but for very different reasons.

Luis’s past was rooted in affirmation and acceptance. Jackson’s in abandonment.

His mother had left him behind at four years old with no explanation and no word since.

He had no idea why she’d given him up, just that she had left him, and deep down he knew he probably deserved it.

The nearby elevators dinged and broke Jackson out of his thoughts. Seemed to break Luis out of whatever spell he’d fallen under, too. He excused himself and shoved into the stairwell like his butt was on fire. Jackson went back to finishing up his blasted paperwork, pushing the painful past away.

Of all the aspects of his job, the bureaucracy was his least favorite. He much preferred being out on runs, saving lives, helping others, protecting those who needed it. In fact, protection was his calling, his reason for being. Plus, being an EMT meant he got in, got out, got on with the next patient, never getting too attached to any one person or case. Attachment—that’s where you really got in trouble.

Because everyone left, sooner or later, once they saw the real, unworthy you.

Dude, I’m going to take off, Ned said, clapping him on the shoulder as he walked by, jarring Jackson out of his thoughts. You need anything from the rig before I go?

Nah, man. Thanks. Jackson planned to use the staff locker room downstairs to shower and change after his shift before heading to the latest meeting of the local emergency response team in the hospital conference room. He was incident commander for this one, and if things went well, it could lead to him landing the recently vacated regional director spot for the local ambulance authority.

Oh, wait, Jackson said, initialing and signing on the dotted lines. You can take this full pack back with you if want.

Will do. I’m going to run down to the cafeteria and get a soda real quick first, then I’ll be back to get it. Sure you don’t want anything? Ned asked as he walked over to the elevators.

No. Thanks, man. Have a good rest of your shift. Jackson smiled over at his partner. If he got in and out of the showers fast enough, he’d grab a bite himself before the meeting. Coming off a twelve-hour rotation, he needed time to wind down, though, before thinking about a meal. Take your time.

Jackson flipped to yet another sheet on his clipboard and started on the next form, only half listening to the drone of the TV in the waiting room behind him.

Tropical Storm Mathilda is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by the time it reaches the Gulf early next week. As of right now, projections are still vague as to exactly where the eyewall will make landfall, but we do expect it to at least brush the Keys on its way toward mainland USA.

Jackson sighed. Another early August day in southern Florida. They’d been having meetings off and on since the start of the hurricane season in May. Each week a few new faces appeared in the conference room, and the team was rounded out as conditions changed. The incident commander’s job was to coordinate all the different team members into a cohesive whole and direct their resources to the areas that needed them most during the crisis. Considering he’d worked as an EMT in Key West since leaving the coast guard four years ago, and had pretty much seen and heard it all, it was a task he was well prepared for. Plus, he loved what he did. But he also had more to contribute, and being named regional director would give him that opportunity.

Jackson dotted the last i and crossed the last t on his paperwork, then handed it back to the nurse behind the desk, just as a female voice behind him asked, Excuse me. Can you tell me where the conference room is, please? I’m here for the ERT meeting.

He turned to see a petite, dark-haired woman with a huge, panting golden retriever at her side. The dog was almost as big as she was, with a goofy doggo grin on its face, tongue lolling, and a red therapy vest on its back. Jackson couldn’t resist crouching to scratch the pup behind the ears. Who’s a good boy, huh?

His name is Sam, and he’s working, the woman said, her tone edged with annoyance this time. Directions, please? I don’t want to be late.

Jackson glanced back up into her anxious dark eyes. He straightened and gave her a polite smile. Sorry. I should’ve asked to pet him first. Come on. I’ll show you the way. He stowed the pack for Ned with the nurse behind the desk then gestured for the woman to follow him. You’re way too early, though. Meeting doesn’t start until three. It’s only two now.

I know. She moved around him, and the dog trotted obediently at her side. I’d rather be early. I always like to be prepared.

They walked out of the ER and into a quiet corridor leading to the administrative wing. He gave her a side glance, their shoes squeaking on the shiny linoleum and the dog’s leash jangling in time to the clatter of its nails on the floor. Trying to ease the awkward with humor, he joked, Isn’t that the Boy Scout motto? Always be prepared.

Could be. I really wouldn’t know. She stared straight ahead, her steps evenly measured to avoid all the cracks between tiles. Hmm. Her cheeks were pink, too, and he couldn’t tell if it was because it was hot outside—almost ninety today—or if she was still mad he’d petted her dog. Either way, it

Reviews for The Vet's Unexpected Hero

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good book with an unusual heroine. Lucy is a veterinarian who runs an animal sanctuary on one of the islands in the Florida Keys. She suffers from OCD and anxiety issues, so it is a sanctuary for her too. With a hurricane bearing down on the Keys, Lucy decides to volunteer with the emergency response team. There she meets Jackson, the EMT tasked to lead the team. From the moment they met, sparks flew between them. I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Lucy and Jackson. Both have trust issues. Jackson was abandoned as a small child, and even though a loving family adopted him, he doesn't let other people get close. His romantic relationships lean toward short-term flings. Jackson is a protector and believes that taking care of people proves he is worthy of others' care and attention. Because of her OCD and anxiety issues, Lucy's parents kept tight control over her and told her she couldn't care for herself. Her fiancé was even more controlling and appeared more interested in her as a case study than a person. When she broke free of their control, she earned her vet degree and promised herself she would never be controlled again. This includes deciding to ride out the hurricane at her sanctuary. When Jackson discovers Lucy disobeyed team rules and refused to take refuge in Key West, he can't leave her in danger. He rushes to her island, determined to drag her away, only to find a woman equally determined to stay. I enjoyed watching them face off, though I think she was wrong to stay. When the storm intensifies too quickly for them to evacuate, they are forced to ride it out. Huddling together in Lucy's basement, she and Jackson spend the time getting to know each other. I loved how Jackson accepted her OCD quirks and helped her through her panic attacks without judging or trying to control her. But when attraction overcomes wariness, Lucy panics and pushes Jackson away, reinforcing his feelings of rejection. It takes some soul-searching for both, and advice to Jackson from his brother to help them see that they belong together. I liked the ending and their honesty about their fears and hopes.