“New country. New town. New people. New mate… it’s all…kinda overwhelming. Then you add in the fact that a mass murderer wants me dead… what if, because of me, Danny showsup in Drago? He could kill innocent people, Jude. You guys can’t possibly want that kind of shit at your door. You guys have enough to think about without adding me into the mix and if someone dies because of me…”
“Stop right there,” Jude snapped, drawing Rain’s eyes to his. “First of all, I get how all of this might be overwhelming. I do. Trust me, I lived my own hell before finding my mate and I’ve continued dipping my toes in hell since finding my mate. Shit happens and if anyone would understand that it would be every single person that lives in Drago. We’ve all been where you are, Rain.”
“Yeah, but…”
“No buts about it. Wiz and River can help with the visa issue so that isn’t a problem. Your mate dotes on you, and anyone with eyes can see how he is with you all the time and how you are with him. Hell, watching the two of you together when you shift is the most adorable fucking thing I’ve seen in a long time. That means that isn’t an issue,” Jude stated firmly.
Rain looked down in his coffee, softly saying, “It sucks, you know.”
“What?”
“I worked my ass off to become a nurse practitioner. I was set up to start working in a clinic and had to take off before I could even start. What am I going to do in Drago? According to you guys, when I go I really can’t leave because I’m only protected on Drago land. How do I get a job if that’s the case?” Rain asked with a sniffle.
Jude snorted, “Rain, you do know what I do for a living… right?”
Rain looked to Jude in confusion, “Huh?”
“I’m a fucking doctor, Rain. Do you not think that I might want you to come and work for me?” Jude asked.
“You do? But you don’t even know if I’m any good,” Rain said in awe.
Jude huffed, “Please. I’ve seen you in action, Rain. Maybe not in the medical aspect, but I’ve seen how smart you are, and there’s one other thing.”
Rain raised a brow at Jude and the man didn’t miss a beat. “I believe in my gut feelings I get. My gut has never done me wrong, Rain, and I don’t think today is the day it will.”
“Your sure you would want me to come and work for you? I mean, I’d give you all I got and more. I just don’t want you to feel like you’d have to hire me on…”
“Rain, I’m not wanting to hire you on because I feel sorry for you. First off, I would never trust our town to someone I didn’t trust or believe can do the job. The people in Drago deserve the best I can give them. Second, I’m going to need someone to help me if I’m going to be a daddy,” Jude said with a smile.
“Daddy? You guys are…”
Shaking his head, Jude quickly interrupted, “Not yet, no, but we will be. Rance, Smoky and I are waiting for the move to be complete and then we’re going to start our family.”
“That’s fantastic, Jude. I’m happy for all of you,” Rain said.
The smile couldn’t possibly get wider when Jude said, “Thanks. I’m really excited. I honestly can’t wait for this new chapter in our lives and that means I’m going to need help.”
“Is there even much to do in Drago? I mean, I heard you talking with Bren, and it sounded like you guys were working in both Drago and in the town near you.”
“We were, but we’d already been talking about having to close shop in town because Drago was so damn busy. Hell, there were times I’d be working so much I could go two even three days without seeing Rance because of all the work I had… emergencies all the damn time, and I can’t tell you how many times I actually had to catch a few ‘z’s’ in the Drago clinic from all the emergencies that would come up. I don’t want that when I have a child, Rain. Hell, if I need to, I’ll be looking for a third person to help us out,” Jude said, then sat up, gasping, “You can be my business partner!”
“What? Wait, no, I can’t…”
“Yes! If you’re my business partner it means we can run our clinic together. When we lived in the PA Drago, Bren and I shared a place, but in this new one, I’ll have my own place. If you and I were partners, it would mean I wouldn’t have to make all the decisions. Yes, you’re a nurse practitioner and not a doctor, but all that means is I handle the complex shit and do surgeries if they’re needed, but you can do comprehensive care, prescribe meds, manage any treatments I prescribe or ones you do. There’s no reason we can’t go into this together. It would be a win win for you and me,” Jude said, sounding more excited as he went on.
In his excitement, Jude jumped from his seat, knocking over his cup. Rain leaned over to get it when dirt and rocks smacked him in his face.
“Shit!” Jude shouted as he leaped onto Rain, “Stay down!”
“What are you doing? Get off me,” Rain said, trying to wiggle out from Jude’s hold.
Jude leaned straight into Rain’s ear, “Stop fucking moving. Someone’s shooting at us.”
“Shooting? Who’s shooting?” Rain asked in a panic.
“Well, let me think… hmmm… maybe the men that are trying to collect on the bounty held over your head? But it’s just a guess,” Jude snapped. “Just stay down. Rance and the guys should be…”
Jude didn’t get to finish what he was saying when another bullet hit next to their heads.
