Chapter 14 #2
“Seriously? You don’t mind? It’s just that having my mother there will be a lot to deal with. I know we aren’t marrying for love, but when she finds out who you are and what you do… She would expect something. She always does,” she rambles.
So, her mother is the problem. Noted.
“I understand.” I reach out, grabbing her hand and easing it away from her earlobe. “You can call the shots. You’re helping me, not the other way around. My happiness depends on your happiness, okay?” I gently squeeze her hand, and she lets out a deep breath.
“Sure, but you’re helping me as well.”
“Tomato, tomahto.”
“Thank you. For understanding,” she says, and I smile, feeling like a fresh page has been turned.
I let the comfortable silence wrap around us for a moment before finally voicing what’s been on my mind. “What happened in the ER a few days ago?”
“Nothing.”
“If she thinks I’m your boyfriend, something happened. Talk to me.” I lean forward so we’re almost touching, and a slight tremble passes through her body.
“I might have threatened to end a few careers if they didn’t give you the best care possible.”
I feel a slow smile spreading across my face. “My fierce little doctor,” I say, and she doesn’t pull away when I slide my hand to the nape of her neck. The tension between us shifts, thickens. I can’t remember the last time I wanted to kiss someone this badly. “I should ask this time.”
“Ask what?” she whispers.
“Can I kiss you?”
“Yes,” she breathes.
I lean in, and then there’s a knock on the door. Shit. Karina steps back quickly as it opens, and Harry walks in carrying a carafe of coffee. I see everyone had the same idea today.
“I suppose I should start my rounds. I’ll try to see you before you’re discharged.
Even though I think you should stay.” She places my file back on the bed and heads toward the door.
I consider telling her I’ll have a doctor visiting me back at my penthouse, but as long as I’m not at work, I think that’s all she really cares about.
I watch as she greets Harry and then exits.
Harry wiggles his eyebrows. “Getting cozy with the doctor, I see.”
“That’s my future wife you’re talking about.” I’d rather get it out of the way now.
“Wife?!” He puts down the coffee container and starts pacing in front of me. “What did I miss? Is she pregnant?”
“Why is that the first thing you think of?”
“I’ve only seen you interact with her once, and that was at the bar weeks ago. So, if she isn’t pregnant, what is it? Don’t take this the wrong way, but is she in a tough spot financially, and you are playing suga daddy?”
My blood starts to boil. “Why do you think she is using me? Why can’t it be me using her? What if I just want to marry her before someone comes in and sweeps her off her feet. And if I ever hear you say that shit again, I will beat the shit out of you.”
He raises his hand in a gesture of surrender.
“Whoa. Sorry, Vul. I get it; you’re serious about her.
My bad. How about you start from the beginning?
I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on me.
Did you two know each other before you met at the bar?
Do you have some kind of kinky foreplay where you act like you don’t know each other in public and then go back home to fuck like wild rabbits? ”
“Seriously?” I rub my forehead with my good hand. “No, we don’t have some weird arrangement. I just don’t like sharing my love life with others.”
“But I’m not others. I’m like your unofficial best friend.”
“I’ve never been one to overshare. But now you know.”
“So tell me more.”
I tell Harry how we met but change the place and stretch the timeline slightly.
I don’t want anyone to doubt our relationship.
We both signed an NDA, but this has to be believable, otherwise what’s the point?
Convincing Harry’s easy, but I have a feeling things with Valkyrie will be a struggle.
Val is more of an “I need to see it to believe it” kind of person.
Karina and I will have to spend more time together before I let Val meet her officially.
Because one thing Val loves to do is overanalyze every little thing.
That’s just how she’s been since she was young.
Which means I have to go the extra mile to make sure she doesn’t find out the truth.
“I know I haven’t been gone too long but how have things been at the station?” I ask, wanting to change the subject.
“The higher-ups sent over Lieutenant Kendall from Station 34.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Kendall? That hothead from the west side? Why him?”
“They needed someone with captain experience to fill in while you’re out,” Harry says, dropping into the chair beside my bed. “He did say he won’t be touching that paperwork on your desk.”
That makes me laugh. “Of course he won’t. Kendall thinks paperwork is beneath him.” I shake my head. “How’s the crew handling him?”
We spend the next hour catching up on station gossip.
Apparently, Ramirez finally got asked out by that dispatcher who’s been pining over her for months, and Cruz has started some health kick that has everyone avoiding the kitchen when he’s making his protein shakes.
By the time Harry leaves, I feel more like myself.
The pain meds are working well, and I’m itching to get out of this sterile room.