Read Online Summer on Lovers' Island by Donna Alward - Free Book Online

dislocated, shifted to the outside of the leg. “Ouch,” she said lightly, looking down at the player. “Hey, sparky,” she said, kneeling down. “Take a deep breath for me and relax.”
    He did and opened his eyes to look up at her. “You a doc?” he asked. “Nothin’ against Josh and all, but it’s kind of humiliating to have the enemy fix me up, you know?”
    â€œYou guys and your pride,” she responded, giving a little laugh. “Hurts like hell, doesn’t it?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    She looked at Josh and nodded, and he nodded back. “Don’t call me ‘ma’am,’ it makes me feel old, and I just turned thirty last month. And don’t say thirty is old.”
    â€œNo, ma’am. I hurt it bad, didn’t I?”
    â€œIt could be worse. You dislocated your patella, but that’s easily fixed. Let’s see if we can get your leg straight, first.”
    He shouted as they manipulated his leg, and Lizzie tried not to wince. “Hey, guys? Can someone go get an ice pack or two?” There were too many people around, hovering. Still, this wasn’t the first time she’d seen one of these. When she was working in the emergency room, all sorts of sports injuries came through the door. This was pretty straightforward.
    She looked back at Josh, and once again he nodded. Now was the time to trust him. “You wanna switch spots?” she asked quietly.
    â€œI got this,” he answered. For a moment her ego flared to life, but she reminded herself that Josh had been a doctor in a war zone. He could handle an itty-bitty kneecap.
    â€œSo, what’s your name?” she asked. “Might as well make some small talk while we wait for that ice.”
    â€œShawn.”
    â€œOkay, Shawn. It kinda hurts running into a big bruiser, doesn’t it?”
    â€œTom’s like a friggin’ tree.”
    She laughed. “Did you run right into his leg or what?”
    â€œI could see him there. At the last minute, I tried to pivot out of the way—”
    Ah, that was it. He’d planted and twisted and pop! She put her fingers behind her back and started counting down from three.
    â€œSo you planted your foot?”
    â€œYeah, but I just couldn’t get around him and—” He yelled as Josh deftly put the kneecap back in place. “Holy shit!”
    Lizzie laughed and patted Shawn’s hand. His face had gone white for a few seconds, but the color was coming back now. “You’re still going to have to have it checked out, and no weight on it. We’re going to wrap some ice around it and carry you off the field. But everything’s back where it’s supposed it be. Say ‘thank you, Dr. Collins.’”
    â€œYuh, thanks,” he mumbled, but then turned his gaze back on her. “You’re a nice distraction—”
    â€œDr. Howard. And thank you. Now stop flirting. I’m old, remember?”
    He blushed and she laughed, then stood up. She’d worn cutoff denim shorts and a blue T-shirt today and the rusty-brown dirt of the field stuck to her knees. She brushed it off as Josh wrapped the ice pack around the leg and he and a couple of the guys carried Shawn off the field as the players and spectators clapped.
    She didn’t get a chance to speak to Josh again until after the game was over. The Pups won, but only by a run, and the Old Dogs were looking a little less spry than the kids, who were already talking about heading back to a teammate’s house for a barbecue and then picking up girls for the fireworks later in the evening. The older guys were ready for cold beers and some downtime.
    Charlie was starting to really feel the heat and Dave had taken her back to the car in the middle of the ninth so she could sit in some air-conditioning. Lizzie was making sure everything was in her tote bag when Josh, his gray pants streaked with brown from a