Chapter Two
It had been surprisingly easy to get an appointment at Leary’s office once he had given his name.
JJ had expected to have to wait months. The waiting room looked like any other.
White walls and digital posters made the place feel sterile.
A small TV played a cooking show, and everyone fixated on it like it was their lifeline.
JJ stared at the floor. His mind raced. Since Leary had made this offer, JJ hadn’t stopped thinking about it or him.
Technically, he always thought about Leary, but this appointment had consumed him.
He had spent hours online researching bionic hands.
It seemed he would likely have to undergo surgery to prepare his arm.
The prices were astronomical, but JJ could handle it.
He had talked to the head of security, Henry, about possibly needing time off for this.
Henry had asked for all the bills to be sent to Beau, and he would cover it.
Working for Beau was big money. JJ could do it on his own.
Still, he appreciated the fact that since the loss of his hand had been work-related, he wouldn’t have to pay.
“JJ.”
When his name was called, JJ shot to his feet. He returned the nurse’s smile.
“How are you today?”
JJ wasn’t sure how to answer that, so he lied. “I’m good. How are you?”
“I’m fine. I appreciate you asking. We’re going right in here in room four.”
A man in a white coat looked his way and then did a double take. JJ stepped into the room and ignored him.
“Just take a seat in that chair and we’ll get your blood pressure.” She stepped out and grabbed a rolling vital signs machine.
JJ glanced at the badge she wore as she came back into the room. Katelyn. He made a mental note to try to remember that. JJ would likely be here a lot from what he’d read.
Before Katelyn could close the door, the guy in the white coat burst in. He was all slimy smiles. The guy grabbed his paperwork. “Hey there. I’m Dr. Highman.”
Oh, he definitely got made fun of in school for that name.
“What brings you in today?”
Katelyn looked every bit as confused as JJ felt.
“I’m here to see Dr. Justice.”
The doctor’s smile grew. “Oh, you don’t want him. I’m much better.”
JJ’s fury hit the roof at the statement.
With her back to the doctor, Katelyn rolled her eyes and started the blood pressure machine.
Leary stood behind Dr. Highman. He had gotten there just in time to hear the statement. His shoulders fell, and his gaze slid away.
“I’m here for Dr. Justice,” JJ repeated. This time, the deadliness in his tone couldn’t be missed.
Dr. Highman sighed. “If you change your mind and decide you’d like a competent doctor, you’re free to switch to me.” He turned and handed the papers to Leary, proving he had known Leary stood there the entire time.
The cuff released, and an alarm blared.
Leary shut the door in the douchebag’s face.
Katelyn’s eyes widened when she looked at the screen. “Whoa. I’ll let you calm down for a minute and take this again.”
He nodded toward her, but his eyes never left Leary. “That’s probably a good idea.”
Leary grabbed the rolling stool and moved to take the machine’s place when Katelyn got it out of the way.
Katelyn spoke before Leary could. “Please ignore Dr. Highman. His ego is a mile wide, but Dr. Justice is the best.”
Leary flashed her a smile. “Thanks, Katie.”
She winked.
Finally, Leary’s gorgeous eyes focused on him. “Are you ready for this?”
Everything inside JJ calmed. “Yes.”
A kind smile touched Leary’s lips. “I’ll need to take a look at your arm.”
“Oh.” JJ chuckled. “Yeah.” He held his arm out for Leary’s inspection.
Leary held his arm and felt around.
JJ couldn’t look away from the way his lashes framed the sweetest eyes he had ever seen. Leary didn’t understand. JJ didn’t know kindness. His entire life, he had been forced to be hard. Leary was an anomaly. Being with him was the only place JJ felt warmth.
Leary rolled backward a few feet. “I think he’s ready for that second try.”
Katie jumped right in and started the machine again. This time, it went quicker, but it felt like it took centuries. Leary had moved too far away. JJ’s gaze never left Leary. This time, when the cuff released, no alarm sounded.
“Much better.” She made a note and then took the cuff off. “You’re in good hands.” She grabbed the machine and rolled out, closing the door behind her.
Leary immediately rolled close again. He looked amazing in a white coat. His name was embroidered and everything. It really hit JJ that Leary was a full-fledged doctor. Like a really genius guy. JJ’s chest warmed with pride. He was proud as fuck of Leary.
“Now we can speak freely. I hate asking questions, but I kind of have to. It looks to me as if you had a competent doctor care for this. I know you told me a little the other night, but I need to know the details—like exactly how your hand was removed and who your surgeon was afterward.”
It somewhat took JJ aback that Leary didn’t know he could ask JJ anything he wanted.
“We’re friends. You’re always allowed to ask me anything.
Obviously, there’ll be things I can’t answer due to who I work for, but I know you won’t disclose anything.
So, it’s okay. My hand was taken off with a meat cleaver.
” He paused for half a second and clarified.
“Actually, my fingers were taken off one by one with a cigar cutter. Then they cut off my hand.”
Leary’s eyebrows were raised, and he looked as if JJ had slapped him.
JJ remembered he hadn’t answered the whole question. “Oh, and it was repaired by Dr. Austen Flowers.”
Leary rallied. “I know Dr. Flowers. He’s an amazing surgeon.”
JJ nodded.
To his surprise, Leary touched him again, setting his hand on JJ’s handless arm. His gaze never budged from holding JJ’s stare. “Thank you for sharing that with me. I’m so sorry you had to go through something so horrific. I can’t even imagine. You’re an incredible person. You didn’t deserve that.”
The urge to cry slammed into him. Leary was the only person who had tried to comfort him. Unfortunately, he had been taught men didn’t cry and they couldn’t keep discussing this. “I read online I’ll need surgery first.”
Obviously understanding JJ’s need to move on, Leary rolled back to the open laptop where the nurse had left it.
“We’ve got two options here. Surgical and non-surgical.
First, we’ll test your muscle strength and to see if the nerves are still sending signals.
You’ll have to undergo an EMG. They’ll use a device to check your responses.
We can get that done before you leave. If your muscles aren’t sending the proper responses, then you’ll need surgery to reroute things and a titanium bar will be implanted to affix the hand as part of the body.
That process, due to healing and whatnot, would take about six to nine months.
” He sounded so confident, and JJ was blown away.
JJ couldn’t even put the two very different sides of Leary together while watching him now.
Leary kept going. “If you’d prefer to go the non-surgical route, it’ll be more like three to six weeks.
In this option, we use electromyography sensors worn against the skin to move the hand.
With either option, you’ll have to go into this with determination and dedication.
You’ll have to go through training and physical therapy.
We ask you also see a therapist for your mental health. ”
“I already am.”
Leary smiled. “See. There you go. You’re already on your way. So do you want to do the testing today, or do you want to take some time to think about it?”
“I’m highly motivated. Let’s do it and figure it out from there.”
Leary stood and opened the door. He poked his head out. “Katie, can you grab the EMG?”
“Sure.”
JJ smiled. He didn’t even know why. It just kind of felt like he hadn’t had hope in a really long time. Now, thanks to Leary, he did.
Leary saw another patient while JJ went through testing. He kept working until Katie handed him the results. Leary read them as he headed back to room four.
He started talking as soon as he walked through the door. “It looks like you’re a candidate to go the non-surgical route, if you’d prefer.” He had kept his gaze on the results until he sat and focused on JJ.
JJ chewed his bottom lip. Longing swept over Leary. No one could ever know how badly he wanted to kiss those lips.
“Which do you feel is the best option for me?”
He loved that JJ was trusting him like this. “If it were me, I’d do the surgery. It’s much better for longevity, range of motion, and bearing weight. It would be a lot more natural feeling by the end.”
JJ went back to chewing his bottom lip. “How long would it take me to get started?”
“If you want to proceed with the surgery, we can get you on the schedule before you leave. Normally, I’d ask you to do a few visits with a therapist first, but you already do that and you’re reading today looked fantastic.
I believe the last time I checked, I had a cancellation for this Thursday.
Since you’re going the self-pay route, and we don’t have to fight insurance, if no one else has snagged it, we can speed right into this. ”
“Are you serious?” JJ sounded excited, like he couldn’t wait to have his hand back. Leary didn’t blame him.
“Very much so.” He stood and grabbed the laptop. “Come on. Let’s poke our heads into the scheduling nurse’s office and see.”
JJ practically jumped to his feet. His smile was everything. Leary adored how excited he was.
They moved down the hall together until they reached an open door.
Leary still knocked as he stepped inside. “Hey, Linda. Can we get JJ here on the books? I believe I saw an opening for later this week.”
The older lady immediately turned her attention to her computer and started typing. She smiled. “Yep. This Thursday. First surgery of the day.”
“Perfect.” Even Leary heard the smile in his voice. He was about to change JJ’s life.
Linda waved JJ into her office. “Come have a seat. I’ll need to get some information from you.”
JJ dipped his chin and stepped inside.
Before he could sit, Leary turned his way. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Jacobs. I’ll see you again this Thursday.” He held out his hand to shake.
For a second, JJ seemed caught off guard. Then he obviously realized they would have to be strangers here. He shook Leary’s hand. “You, as well. See you then.”
Leary left him to get his surgery scheduled.
He spent a little too much time hanging out in the hall.
He just wanted to set eyes on JJ one more time before he left.
If he had needed any confirmation that JJ was incredibly beautiful—he hadn’t—but Highman’s attempt to bully his way into taking him as a patient had given him that.
Highman’s ego was big for more reasons than being a good surgeon.
He was also a slut. Leary didn’t like using that term with anyone, but he really never cared for the guy, so…
By the time JJ stepped out, Dr. Highman stood between them and spotted him first.
“Hey, did you change your mind yet?”
The expression that took over JJ’s face was terrifying.
He was a killer in that moment, showing the side of himself as the Bosi employee he was.
If he noticed Leary, JJ didn’t show it. His gaze never wavered from Highman before he turned and left.
Leary’s heart sank and soared. On one hand, JJ obviously wasn’t interested in Highman.
On the other, he wasn’t so sure JJ was into men at all.
Leary had never seen JJ at The PlayPen before Cairo had dragged him there.
He never interacted with anyone else. Honestly, Leary should probably take a step back and assess.
He fully recognized he was already falling for JJ.
His fantasies were getting a little out of control.
He had vowed this wouldn’t hurt. If he kept letting his mind stay on this course, he would definitely get his heart smashed.
His phone buzzed. Leary pulled it from the front of his doctor’s coat.
It was JJ. The smile that lit him from the inside told the real story. There was no going back.
JJ: I hate that I didn’t get to tell you goodbye. Have dinner with me tonight to celebrate.
Leary bobbled the phone, trying to answer as fast as possible.
Leary: Okay.
JJ: I can pick you up around seven. Is that good?
Leary: Yes. 269 Gateway Lane.
JJ: Got it. See you then.
Leary: See you.
The happy clap dance went on in his mind. He couldn’t stop smiling.
“Who’s that smile for? Have you finally found someone desperate enough to date you?” Highman snort-laughed at his own joke.
Wow. Highman always knew exactly where to strike. Leary put his phone away to give himself a moment. He met Highman’s gaze. “Yes. Your dad.”
A loud laugh burst from Highman and followed him down the hall as he walked away. That was the one thing about the guy. He dished it out all day, but he could always take the same treatment when his insults got thrown back at him. At least, because of him, Leary knew he wasn’t weak.