Quintons quest, p.1
Quinton's Quest, page 1
Quinton's Quest
Love in Mission City Book 6
Gabbi Grey
Quinton
After the best one-night stand ever, I discover the man I thought was perfect is anything but. Leo Rodgers is an arrogant surgeon who lords his expertise and experience over everyone. Well, not me. I’m a competent nurse who refuses to be pushed around. By anyone.
So I flirt with him to annoy him, but there are more fish in the sea than Leo. I have no problem getting a date with a man or a woman when I want one. The problem? I find myself increasingly hung up on a cranky surgeon, whose soft moments with his two children give me hope there's a good man under the arrogance.
Leo
Quinton Li is a pain in my ass. After our disastrous but oh-so-memorable one-night stand, I find myself having to work with him. His flirting is driving me nuts, so I can't be blamed for snapping at him. What part of one night doesn't he understand?
My ex-husband once tried to tell me that I was a pompous asshat. On the contrary—I just have no time for trivia. I need to be skilled and focused so my patients have the best chance of survival. One devastating loss, though, sends me spiraling. Suddenly, I’m realizing how fallible I am. And that by rejecting Quinton, I might’ve lost my best chance at finding happiness again.
Quinton’s Quest is an enemies-to-lovers, interracial, age-gap, grumpy/sunshine, single father, small-town gay romance novel. This story has a grumpy, egotistical surgeon and a sunshine, sassy nurse who might just give him his comeuppance.
Copyright © 2025 Gabbi Grey
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously.
References to real people, events, organizations, establishments or locations are intended to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
NO AI/NO BOT. We do not consent to any Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarize, or otherwise replicate any part of this creative work, via any means: print, graphic, sculpture, multimedia, audio, or other medium. We support the right of humans to control their artistic works.
No generative AI was used in the creation of this book.
Edits by ELF
Cover by Jo Clement
Dedication
Rye
Randall
ELF
Wendy
Contents
1. Chapter One
2. Chapter Two
3. Chapter Three
4. Chapter Four
5. Chapter Five
6. Chapter Six
7. Chapter Seven
8. Chapter Eight
9. Chapter Nine
10. Chapter Ten
11. Chapter Eleven
12. Chapter Twelve
13. Chapter Thirteen
14. Chapter Fourteen
15. Chapter Fifteen
16. Chapter Sixteen
17. Chapter Seventeen
18. Chapter Eighteen
19. Chapter Nineteen
20. Chapter Twenty
21. Chapter Twenty-One
22. Chapter Twenty-Two
23. Chapter Twenty-Three
24. Chapter Twenty-Four
25. Chapter Twenty-Five
26. Chapter Twenty-Six
27. Epilogue
28. Interested in knowing more about Gabbi?
Chapter One
Quinton
“He’s a total fucking asshole.” I paced back and forth in the staff room at my hospital.
My hospital.
Dr. Lucia Maroni sat at the table and munched on her apple. She swallowed. “Who precisely are we talking about?”
“Dr. Leopold Rodgers.” I put as much derision into the doctor as I was capable of.
Lucia arched an eyebrow.
“Not all doctors,” I was quick to clarify.
This was an ongoing joke between the two of us. Nurses hated doctors. Doctors disliked nurses.
Until they like, married or something.
“Isn’t today Leopold’s first day?” Lucia examined her nails. “Excellent reputation—did really good work at Royal Columbian over in New West. Abbotsford was lucky to nab him.”
I waved her off.
She glared back. “Cardiothoracic surgeons are tough to find, Quinton. You know that.”
“As opposed to nurses.”
She tut-tutted me. “Nurses are critical to the functioning of the hospital. That said, nurses like you are extra special.”
“You’re just buttering me up.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you want an invitation to my Absolutely Amazing Valentine’s Shindig.”
She rose. “Quinton, darling, you already invited me. Considering Foster and Arnav got engaged at the New Year’s party, I can only imagine what’s happening next week.”
I pressed my fingers against my temples. “I can’t think of a party.”
“Because you’ve got a shift to work?”
“Because the best-slash-worst one-night stand of my life is now roaming the halls of our very hospital.”
“Ah.” She grasped my cheeks in her hands. “Get over yourself. Truly. You’re a good nurse. Hell, you’re a great nurse. You know a lot about a lot—which means you can rotate in where you’re needed.”
“Do you think I can ask to be taken off surgical rotation permanently?”
“One. No. Two…what would you do?”
“Oncology. Pediatrics—” I flip-flopped my hand. “Surely there’s something. I mean, I met you through your nephrology practice.”
“And you were great with my patients. But you grew bored.”
“Did not.” I jutted my chin.
“Sick kids make you sad.”
I pursed my lips. “They still need nurses.”
“Talk to Marlena. She’s got a soft spot for you.”
Marlena was the administrator of the nursing rotations. And yeah, she did have a sweet spot for me. “I’m on surgical rotation this week.”
“Maybe your surgeon won’t have any surgeries.” She tossed her apple core into the compost bin. “Exactly what made him the best-slash-worst one-night stand ever?” She rinsed her hands in the sink and washed them thoroughly.
I closed my left eye in deep contemplation. I always tell Lucia everything. Why stop now?
Because it’s embarrassing? Annoying? Makes me look childish?
Yeah, except when has that ever stopped me?
I put my hands on my hips. “We met up at the gay bar in Langley.”
She dried her hands. “And? Nothing you haven’t done before.”
“He got a hotel room for us.”
“Did you at least talk first or did you just move straight to fucking?”
I huffed. Semi-indignantly.
She raised an eyebrow.
“We talked.” A tad defensive? Yep.
“And you told him you were a nurse at Abbotsford Hospital, and he told you he was the new surgeon, and you were so excited to realize you’d be working together that you what? Just fell into bed together?”
I pursed my lips.
“Did you lie?”
I shook my head.
“Did he lie?”
“He didn’t tell me the truth.”
She laughed. “And you didn’t volunteer your life story either. Was he a bad shag?”
I held back the laugh. “No. Best fuck all year.”
“Uh, Quinton, it’s the beginning of February.”
“Well—” I tried not to replay the amazing sex in my life.
“Oh-ho.” She rested her hip against the counter. “So are you lying to me, to yourself, or to both?”
“Both?” I might’ve squeaked that.
“How good?”
“Lucia.” I hissed that.
“You’re saying he was the best lay this year. I’m thinking a lot longer than that.”
She wasn’t wrong. I was someone who loved to party. That said, I didn’t go home with every guy I met. “Okay…like really talented.”
“So just good in the sack? No personality? Butt ugly?”
“Uh…no.”
“To which?”
“To both.”
Another arched eyebrow.
“Okay, the guy’s unbelievably gorgeous. And definitely knows how to fuck.”
“Ah.”
“He’s also a pompous jackass.”
“Oh.” Her dark-brown eyes flashed—obviously expecting juicy details.
“He said, and I quote, I hope the nurses aren't as lazy in this hospital as they were at my last place. Always on their phones while patient call bells were ringing.” I used air quotes—just in case she questioned my use of his exact words.
“Oh.” She scrunched her nose. “Yeah, that’s bad. What did you say?”
“After discovering he was a surgeon? Something like nothing like arrogant surgeons to not understand how much nurses have to cope with. I’ll see myself out.” Again with the air quotes. “Uh, and then, li ke, and lose my number. As a lazy nurse, I don’t date people above my station.”
“Wow.” She examined her blunt fingernails with clear polish. “That was—”
“Witty? Sharp? Brilliant?”
“I was going to say bitchy.”
“What?” I pressed my hand against my chest. “He insulted me. He insulted all of us.”
“You don’t know what his experience was.”
“You’re saying all the nurses at New West sit on their phones and ignore their patients?”
“Of course not.”
“Right. So his generalization was out of order.”
“He also didn’t know you were a nurse.”
“Doesn’t that make it worse? That he’s spreading gossip about nurses to people who don’t even know us?”
She shrugged. “You don’t have any scruples about calling him an arrogant surgeon.”
“Well, because clearly he is!”
“You’ve called many doctors arrogant. In front of your friends and God knows who else.”
“Are you calling me a hypocrite?”
“If the stethoscope fits.” She glanced at her watch. “I have rounds in a few minutes.” She tweaked my nose. She was petite—and therefore shorter than my own five-ten. Funny how Dr. Arrogant was just a few inches taller, but he made me feel delicate.
Probably all those muscles. No doctor deserved to have muscles that…sculpted.
“You know I love you.” Lucia met my gaze.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Then find a way to make peace with the doctor. It’ll be hell on you if you don’t and, frankly, doctors are usually harder to replace than nurses.”
I huffed. She was right. My skill set was in demand—but nabbing a competent surgeon was more important. I’d do best to remember that.
Lucia walked out of the staff room just as Marlena breezed in.
“Oh, Quinton, perfect timing. Dr. Long is giving our new surgeon, Dr. Rodgers, a tour. I was hoping you might put in an appearance. A way to show the nurses will always be there to support him.”
Breathe.
“Of course. Anything for the team.”
“Great. I’ll see you later.” If she found anything amiss in my tone, she certainly didn’t call me out on it. Instead, she breezed back out.
I tucked my lunch into the fridge, pulled up my big-boy pants, and headed over to the surgical wing.
Chapter Two
Leo
Dr. Charles Long was a blowhard.
Takes one to know one.
Perhaps. But I couldn’t ever remember droning on and on about my accomplishments to a total stranger. I certainly hadn’t enumerated them to Quinton, the nurse, who told me to lose his number this morning.
My phone burned a hole in my pocket.
I hadn’t deleted his number, of course. Whether because I intended to apologize or because I hoped I might butt dial him and wind up with another quick hookup was entirely up for debate.
At least I’d removed my wedding ring. I wore it at the last hospital where I’d worked because there’d been a particularly flirtatious nurse who refused to take no for an answer. I’d simply declined to share the status of my marriage—divorced by then—and had carried on. Since I wasn’t going to get involved with anyone—least of all a nurse who didn’t understand how to back off—wearing the ring felt obvious. Gideon and I might’ve been divorced, and certainly not amicably, but I wanted the outside world to think I was still taken. I removed it every night when I came home, though. I didn’t want to confuse our children.
The picture of Melodie and Trevor Gideon sent me this morning warmed my heart. My kids meant everything. My marriage had meant everything until it had fallen apart. Finally, my job meant everything. Sometimes, those three things came into conflict.
“Did I tell you about the time we had a six-car pileup on the highway?”
I shook my head at Charles’s question.
“We medevacked a number of patients to Vancouver, but I treated three patients myself. Back-to-back surgeries. Saved some lives that day.”
“That’s great.” I hoped never to have to send patients to Vancouver, but I was only one person. Abbotsford was right on the TransCanada highway, and plenty of accidents occurred in the region. Should keep me busy for the rest of my career. Of course, I didn’t just handle traumas.
“Oh, here’s Quinton now. He’s one of many nurses you’ll work with, but he’s, uh, versatile.”
My ears perked up at the word. I doubted Charles had any idea of what he’d just said. Unless he knew about Quinton’s proclivities. I eyed the general surgeon, who was nearly sixty years old.
Nope. I couldn’t see him with Quinton.
But then, I didn’t know either man.
“Hello, Dr. Long.” Quinton grinned. “And how are you this lovely morning?”
Cold, damp, and pouring rain—typical for the Pacific Northwest in early February. Somehow, though, the nurse’s smile made things just a little brighter.
Until he turned his gaze to me and the air turned as frigid as an Arctic winter. I held out my hand. “Dr. Leopold Rodgers.”
He shook my hand, gripping it tightly. “Quinton Li, nurse extraordinaire.”
“Yes, very well.” Dr. Long eyed the corridor. “I need to check in with a patient who isn’t doing as well as I’d like. Perhaps Quinton can show you the rest?” Without waiting for assent from either of us, he departed.
I met Quinton’s gaze.
He rolled his eyes. “Forgets where his glasses are when they’re on top of his head, but he’s a damn good surgeon.” He eyed me. “What have you seen so far?”
“Just the surgical suites.”
“Naturally, he started there. Why don’t I take you through the entire process that a patient goes through so that if they’ve got questions, you can answer them?”
I blinked. I hadn’t even considered this. I thought he might show me recovery and then to my new office. “Uh, certainly. If you believe that’s what’s best.”
“I believe medical professionals should be empathetic to their patients—especially those who are here for the first time.”
Whether he meant patients or me, I couldn’t be certain. “Well, can you spare the time?”
He pursed his lips.
His very kissable lips.
Sheesh, knock it off. That’ll never happen again.
“Marlena has assigned me to get you organized today. I have a few patients I want to check on, but that can wait. Let’s do a tour, shall we?”
“Look—” I took a breath. “I think—”
“Don’t think, okay?” He snapped that. “I know what you think, and I suggest you keep any other brilliant thoughts you might have to yourself. Now, our OR suites are always busy, so this will be just a quick in and out. Abbotsford just keeps growing, and the hospital can barely keep up. Bursting at the seams.”
“Which is why they opened up a spot for me.” I was well-aware of the responsibilities associated with being the first of my specialty here.
“I must say, not having to send patients all the way to New West will be nice. I believe it’s always better to keep patients as close to home as possible.” He eyed me.
“That’s a wise observation.”
He guided us to a set of doors. He waved his keycard, and we were granted admittance.
“Hey, Grace. How are the kids?” Quinton offered a truly lovely smile.
Too bad it’s not directed at me.
“Jace has a bad cold. Flu shots are great—why can’t they make something for the common cold?” The lovely hazel-eyed woman’s blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. “But that’s just the mom in me who doesn’t want her kids to suffer. Lisa hasn’t caught it yet, but it’s just a matter of time, right?” She pivoted her attention to me. “Grace Bunson.” She squinted at my ID badge. “Dr. Rodgers?”
I nodded.
“Great! We’re looking forward to working with you.”
No hint of sarcasm or derision. But then she likely wouldn’t—to my face. God only knew what she and Quinton would say behind my back.
“I’m excited to be here.”
“We’re going to head out for a quick tour.” Quinton waved. “Thanks.”
Grace was already staring at her computer screen by the time we headed off.
The tour really didn’t take long. The place was bustling with energy as patients were moved through the various stages of pre-op, surgery, post-op, and then onto the wards or into the ICU. Everything appeared efficient. Nothing felt panicked.
