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pelvic ultrasound to rule out a small cyst.” She didn’t want to alarm the woman about the potential for cancer due to her age, but finding any pathology early was the name of the game when it came to that disease. “I’ll request the study ASAP.”
    The grateful woman thanked both of them and on her way out she hugged the student RNP, Maria. “Good luck with your pregnancy, and keep up your training. We need more people in the field.”
    Her comment drove Stephanie to ask, “Are you in medicine?”
    “I’m a nurse.”
    Stephanie figured, being a nurse, the patient was already in a panic about what her slightly enlarged ovary might be.
    “Don’t drive yourself crazy worrying about the worst-case scenario, Ms. Winkler, okay? The nodule didn’t feel hard or immovable. It’s most likely a cyst.”
    The extra reassurance helped smooth the woman’swrinkled brow, but nervous tension was still evident in her eyes when she left.
    Stephanie briefed Maria on possible reasons why she’d missed the subtle change in the ovary and offered suggestions on hand placement while performing future examinations for best results.
    They walked back to her office as Stephanie explained further for Maria.
    “The worst thing we can do is leave a patient waiting for results, but sometimes our job is like a guessing game. We have to go through each step to rule out the problem. Fortunately, modern medicine usually gives us great results in a timely manner.”
    “Waxing philosophical, Doc?” Phil’s distinct voice sent a quick chill down her spine.
    How long had it been since that had happened with a man? Not since the first morning when she’d seen him, to be exact. “Can I do something for you, Phil?”
    With a slow smile, he glanced first at Stephanie then at Maria, whose cheeks blushed almost immediately. What was with his power over women?
    “Yeah. You can meet me at Stearn’s Wharf Saturday morning around nine.”
    Was this his idea of asking her out? In front of the student nurse practitioner?
    “Uh. You sort of caught me off guard.”
    “Hmm. Like how you bamboozled me into being Santa?”
    Okay, now she got it. It was payback time. She grimaced. “If it matters at all, I abstained from voting.”
    “Warms my heart, Doc.” He patted his chest over his white doctor’s coat.
    But meeting at the beach for what was predicted tobe yet another gorgeous Santa Barbara day sounded more like reward than payback.
    Maria cleared her throat. “I should be going and let you two work this out.”
    “Oh, right.” Stephanie felt a blush begin. What kind of impression would she make with her student, making plans for a date right in front of her?
    “Thanks so much, Dr. Bennett. You’ve been fantastic and I’ve learned a lot today,” Maria said.
    “You’re welcome, and I guess I’ll see you next week?”
    “Actually, that’s Thanksgiving. But I’ll be here the week after, that is if I don’t go into premature labor first!” The otherwise elfin woman beamed a smile, looked at Dr. Hansen again, subtly turned so only Stephanie could see her face, and mouthed, “Wow!” with crossed eyes to emphasize his affect on her, then left.
    Stephanie didn’t even try to hide her grin. Yeah, he’s hunky.
    Stephanie couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day on Saturday morning. There wasn’t a cloud in the cornflower-blue sky, and the sun spread its warmth on the top of her head and shoulders, making the brisk temperature refreshing. The ocean, like glittering blue glass along the horizon, tossed and rolled against the pier pilings, as raucous seagulls circled overhead. At home, the clean desert air was dry and gritty, but here on the wharf the ocean breeze with its briny scent energized her.
    She hadn’t exactly said yes or no to Phil’s proposition on Thursday. She’d said she’d think about it, and he’d said he was planning to surf that morning anyway, socome if she felt like it. Well, she’d felt like it, and by virtue