A Hunka Hunka Nursing Love (Women's Fiction) Read Online Free

irritation, “what about Greg?”
    Oh, Christ . Why did every conversation have to lead back to her marriage? “What about Greg?”
    Now Mom looked exasperated. “How do you expect to save your marriage when you’re running two businesses?”
    “I didn’t realize saving my marriage was my job alone.”
    Mom frowned. “Oh, honey, of course it isn’t. But you know how he feels about your career.”
    “What about how I feel about my career? Doesn’t anybody give a damn about that?”
    “Hoot.”
    “What?”
    “You could say: ‘Doesn’t anybody give a hoot about that?’ You don’t have to resort to profanity.”
    Okay, Satan, take me now! “Please, Mom, can we stick to the subject?”
    “I’m just concerned that you don’t have your priorities straight. Shouldn’t your marriage come first?”
    Shouldn’t it? Valerie hadn’t even considered Greg’s reaction. What did that mean? Later. Think about it later.
    “Look, I just wanted to get your opinion about my business idea, not rehash my marital woes. Please.”
    Mom shrugged her surrender. “All right.” Then her baby blues softened. “I just want you to be happy, dear. That’s all.”
    “I know, Mom. And I appreciate that. But I’ll tell you what, if this new business flies, we may both have something to be happy about.”

Chapter 2
    Two months later, as Valerie and Pam sat in a conference room facing a small group of potential investors, Valerie’s dream for the new business seemed like an Etch-a-Sketch drawing being shaken away.
    She recalled how Eric, her financial adviser, had briefed her about the people sitting across the table from the three of them.
    “These are ‘angel’ investors, which means they’re wealthy people who finance start-ups that the banks and venture capitalists won’t touch. I hand-picked these investors from among my most adventurous clients, and I think they’re gonna eat it up.”
    But to Valerie’s chagrin, they were spitting it out.
    “I’m not convinced you won’t face sex-discrimination suits,” said the widow of Oscar Van Something, her face lifted so tightly it resembled a drum.
    “Our lawyer has studied the Hooters’ litigation, and he’s convinced we can create job categories that will satisfy the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.” Valerie struggled to keep her voice steady.
    The old guy with the bolo tie spoke next. “I know you said you expect little need to advertise because of the publicity you’ll get, but that publicity will be short-lived.”
    “We realize that.” Pam sat up straighter and unbuttoned her ill-fitting blazer. “So we’ve done a comprehensive market analysis of where it would be most effective to advertise. One important thing we discovered is that using media that only targets seniors would be a huge mistake, since most of the care-buying decisions are actually made by the adult children.”
    Oscar’s widow grimaced. “I would hope they’d be made jointly by the children and the parents.”
    “Well, of course,” Valerie attempted the save. “I think what Pam meant is that the actual purchasing of the services is generally done by the children.”
    The guy in the navy suit, whose bald head looked like finely polished mahogany, asked them how two people who’d never worked in health care themselves could possibly run a visiting-nurse service. Pam explained they would hire a nurse manager who could handle all the legalities, education, infection control, and so forth. After she finished, an awkward pause suggested the presentation had ended.
    “So!” Eric slapped his hands together and gave the investors an enthusiastic smile. “What do you think?”
    “I’ve got to be honest with you,” the widow said. “You’ve got a cute idea, but I’m just not convinced you can make a go of it. I’m going to have to pass.”
    The others followed suit, and Valerie felt like she’d been punched in the sternum. Her “brilliant solution” to the dilemma of how to