Chapter 23
I liked it
Scarlett
The following week
The bad news is, I kissed the enemy and liked it.
The good news is, said enemy has kept his distance ever since.
It’s been over a week (Who’s counting? Not me.) and I haven’t seen him at the house or at the clinic.
Both of which I’ve come to enjoy. At the house, I take care of the puppy and bathe in what I consider my own private spa, and at the clinic, I work.
Work has always brought me joy. I hate that the work I’m doing in the enemy territory can do that, and that I don’t hate it, but I can’t help but love my job.
People in this town are genuine, a rarity in my world back home, where we have to maintain social poise, which often requires aloofness. I didn’t even know I enjoyed this level of warmth from people until I started working here.
Most of them are interested in my relationship with Endo, but I don’t share any of my private affairs. I think that might get me killed, and I like being alive, thank you very much.
I’ve noticed his name evokes reverence around here, and when Declan drops me and the puppy off, he always stands by the door for about an hour.
When I asked if he was guarding me, he said he was “just standing here.” I doubt that’s the case, but I’ve learned not to keep asking, because I’ll get nothing in return.
Dec is loyal to Endo. Everyone I’ve met is.
They’re also generous people.
They give me flowers daily.
And chocolates.
And a week of free drinks at the local pub.
Yesterday, I reopened the clinic right after we closed and stitched up a boy whose father offered me a horse afterward. I admit I hesitated, but politely declined.
However, if someone offered me a car or an airline ticket to anywhere in the world besides here, I’d jump on it, but I doubt they’d do that. Judging by the month of August, which is booked with preschool screening appointments, the townspeople are convinced I’ll stay.
Even if I could tell them I’m moving overseas, I don’t think I would say that. There would be lots of broken hearts, mine included.
And it’s all Endo’s fault.
I’m trying not to think about Endo or his kiss or how he smells or how he manhandles me like he’s a caveman. I’m definitely not acknowledging that I think his caveman is oddly sexy.
I don’t think about Endo at work at all. But the moment Dec’s car enters the forest road, which is every day, I think about how Endo kissed me. Then I get stuck on how he smells, and it takes an effort to get him out of my head.
Thinking about him is unhealthy.
A knock sounds on my door before Rie pokes his head into the break room. “Hey, sorry to bug you, but I just wanted to give you an update. Marquis walked up and down the hallway today, so he’s excited about the release.”
“I’ll see him in an hour.”
Rie makes a face as if he’s constipated.
“What?”
“He’s kind of leaving right now.”
I rinse my lunch plate and put it in the dishwasher, then walk outside. Marquis’s room door is wide open, and he’s sitting up in bed, looking pale and sickly but not dead, so that’s an improvement. While the surgery was serious because of the location of the bullet, his recovery is looking good.
“Doc.” He slides out of bed and stands. He has to stretch out his arms for balance. “I’m like new.” He moves his hair out of his face. “I just need a long bath in a spa.”
“We agreed that you’ll stay until tomorrow.” I pick up his chart and check his latest vitals. They’re good. His blood pressure is a little low, but he’s told me he runs low, so that’s fine.
“I have work to do.”
I drop his chart, and we chat while I examine him. “What kind of work can’t wait till tomorrow?”
“The kind I’d have to kill you for if I told you.”
I flash a bright light into his eye.
He winces.
I turn off the light. “One more night, then you can leave tomorrow morning. You can ride at dawn if you wish.”
“You can watch me at the Keep. I’ll be staying there.”
“But I don’t have the same equipment over there that I have here.”
“I’m leaving, Doc. You can release me or not.”
“Technically, you’ve never been admitted,” Endo says from right behind me. When I turn, dark eyes watch me over the bouquet of yellow tulips.
I cross my arms over my chest to prevent my heart from leaping out of my body at the sight of him with flowers. Are they for me? “You wouldn’t have anything to do with this early release, would you?”
Endo sniffs the flowers. “No.”
“The flowers are nice.” I extend my arms, but Endo moves around me and hands the bouquet to Marquis, who laughs because these two are equally evil.
“You can look at them in the kitchen at home all you like.” Endo winks and offers his friend an elbow. Marquis leans on Endo and walks slowly.
“He is being released against medical advice.”
“Duly noted, Doc,” Marquis says.
“Close up, Scar, and come have lunch with us.”
“No.”
“Your loss.”
“I’ll be late tonight. Take the puppy home. She’s been here all morning.”
“Will do.”
“You guys sound domestic,” Marquis says. “If I didn’t know better, I’d believe it.”
“Believe what?” Rie walks by and grabs Marquis’s elbow, then looks at me. “What are we believing?”
“That ring on her finger,” Endo says.
Rie seems shocked that Endo answered. When Endo looks over at him, Rie blushes like a schoolboy.
“I didn’t know you guys were engaged,” he barely squeezes out. He gapes at me, bug-eyed. “Am I the last person to find out?”
“No,” Endo says. “First one in town. It’s official.” Endo’s dark eyes look threateningly at me. My dad didn’t come through yet, Endo is pissed, and I’m the collateral that’s going to pay.
“Doctor Pembroke,” Rie says, addressing me formally for dramatics. “Why have you not mentioned that important detail?”
“It didn’t seem that important.”
Rie gasps. “This news will spread like wildfire. My sister does events for the town. I need to call her before that vulture Ica shows up with her plans for your wedding. She can do the engagement party, but not the wedding. My sister needs the wedding. Please.” He inhales a breath and goes on.
“Since you’re already staying late today, I’ll call her right away, and she’ll meet you after three. ”
Endo leans in and whispers in my ear, “You might want to come with us.”
Goose bumps rise on my skin. “No, thank you.”
“Suit yourself.”
Black SUVs with tinted windows swarm the little square. Dozens of men dressed in military cargo pants step out of the cars.
I retreat behind Endo. “What’s going on?”
“They’re also here for Marquis.”
“Why?”
“Because he took a bullet during a mission.”
“Oh.” I hadn’t thought about it in a mission-type context, but I do now as Marquis opens the clinic’s door and they cheer and hoot, encouraging him to walk to the car where his husband awaits with a bouquet of roses.
I wince every time one of them claps him on the shoulder because I know Marquis must be hurting. But he kind of deserves it for not staying until tomorrow morning.
On my left, Rie is on the phone, and after he hangs up, he approaches me. “Good news. My sister is coming over right now. Mr. Macarley canceled all our appointments for the rest of the day, so we’re free to plan all afternoon.”
“He did what?” I glare at Endo. Too bad he can’t feel the fierceness of my glare daggers because he’s busy celebrating with his men. I intensify my glare.
Nothing happens.
I give up on Endo and tell Rie, “I’m not ready to plan a wedding just yet.”
“But the summer is perfect for a wedding. Not too hot or cold. We’re in season, and the tourism will boom if we do a traditional Macarley wedding.”
I’m afraid to ask. I really am. A traditional Macarley wedding sounds big and formal. It has a name. It’s not just a wedding.
He puts his hands together. “Please. Pretty please.”
“We’re not getting married,” I bite out at the same time that Endo joins us.
The look on his face makes my heart skip a beat, and not in a good way. I never want him to look at me that way again, but I can’t unsay what I said. I’m not sure how I’ll save our fake engagement now that I’ve said we’re not getting married.
“This month,” he adds.
I nod. “We’re not getting married this month.”
“Rie, don’t give her a hard time.”
“You know my name?” Rie might hyperventilate. He grabs a folder and fans himself. “You got it, Mr. Macarley.”
“Good. When your sister shows up, tell her to take it easy. Yeah?”
Rie nods vehemently. “I will.”
Endo pulls me toward him and plants a kiss on my cheek. “My wedding has no budget,” he whispers into my ear, his stubble tickling my cheek.
Philip walks in with the bouquet of roses he held outside. “Sorry I’m late, Doc.” He’s in his chef’s uniform. “Mary sent me away when I came for my shift. I rushed to grab something for you.” He hugs me. “Thank you. I owe you one for saving his life.” He hands me the roses.
I accept them and sniff. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
Marquis waves from inside the car. I wave back, and Endo’s people clear out. All but Endo. He stays behind and jerks his head at Rie, who disappears into the back of the clinic.
Once alone, I expect Endo to chastise me for saying we’re not getting married when he told me I needed to pretend that we’re engaged so he doesn’t have to kill anyone for messing with me.
“There’s nobody at the clinic,” he says. “Why won’t you come to the Keep?”
“I’m behind on my administrative work, and tomorrow is the weekend.”
Endo sighs. “I’m trying to rescue you from wedding planning. If you come with me, you don’t have to deal with anything else today.”
“Rie has already called his sister. They’ll be disappointed.”
“And we care because?”
“We work together.”
“You don’t work with him. You’re his boss.”
“That’s not how I see it.”
“A Macarley woman is the boss wherever she is. You should get used to that. For the time being.”
Endo heads out. At the door, he turns. “The tulips will wait for you at home.”
A redhead with freckles and clearly in her third trimester of pregnancy walks in. She carries a teal linen beach bag over her shoulder.
“I came as soon as I could. Dropped everything.” She dumps the bag in front of the desk, her messy bun sticking out on top of her head. “Are you Dr. Pembroke?”
I extend a hand. “Scarlett, yes.”
“And you’re marrying Endo Macarley?”
Rie rushes out from the back. “She is!’
His sister squeals. “Oh my God, a Macarley wedding!”
Guilt over wasting this woman’s time and lying to this entire town grips me like a clamp around my heart. I should have left with Endo.