“Always,” he repeated without hesitation, bouncing Gia as she started to fuss. “See ya at seven, my beloved.”
Beloved. A nickname that I adored. Probably my favorite.
He knew that, of course.
I headed toward the garage, pausing to hug Gavin and Gage before I left the house.
“I want kisses, Mama!”
“Me too!”
I laughed as I snuggled them both close, nuzzling their cute little faces before I finally had to go or I’d be late. Leaving the house was harder on some days than others. As I glanced at Rael and the kids, I almost wondered why I chose to work outside the home. Until I heard a crash and Gavin’s giggle as Rael used a stern tone to tell him that using his brother as a human bowling ball wasn’t okay.
I had to bite my lip to prevent laughing as I caught my sexy biker’s head shake. There was something undeniably attractive about him holding our baby girl in his heavily inked arms, sparking a wave of desire to sweep through me. Rael was handsome, no doubt about it, but seeing him so domestic and happy made me want to jump him and practice having more babies.
His head swiveled my way, and his eyes blazed with heat like he knew my thoughts. “Beloved, keep staring at me like that and I’m gonna make those fantasies come true.”
Gavin tugged on Rael’s jeans. “What’s a fantasy, daddy?”
Yep. Time to get moving.
I arrived at work with five minutes to spare, stashing my lunch in the employee fridge and my purse in my locker. After checking in at my station, I logged in to the computer and began reviewing the current list of patients. We divided them amongst the current staff, and I began my rounds.
Work kept me busy for several hours. By the time I ate lunch, I had been on the clock for nearly two-thirds of my shift. It was like that some days. We weren’t a major hospital, but we still saw almost every level of trauma since there wasn’t anything within a hundred miles of our location. You had to drive to Reno or Vegas for that. But our little urgent care handled most basic medical needs or concerns. Having only a couple of doctors on staff meant our patients had to wait longer when the lobby was full.
I scanned the chart outside one of the rooms and entered, offering a greeting as my gaze swept over the man seated in a chair instead of on the exam table. He was a big guy, broader and more muscular than Rael but not quite as tall. Thick dark hair, long past needing a haircut, brushed the top of his shoulders and matched the short beard he wore. With jeans, work boots, a gray shirt, and a reflective vest, I guessed he worked construction. I knew he came in with complaints about chest pain and tightness. He wasn’t heavy, and at thirty-five, he was healthy—no major concerns in his chart.
“I’m going to check your vitals, and then we can discuss how you’re feeling, Tony.”
I took his blood pressure, noting it was within normal range. As I moved closer, preparing to listen to his heart, he reached out and stroked a finger down my forearm. Surprised that he touched me, I met his bold gaze.
“Sorry. Your skin looked so soft.” He blinked and dropped his hand. “Go ahead.”
I frowned, trying not to get irritated because I was a professional, and this jackass who didn’t understand about consent wasn’t going to piss me off. As I listened to his heart and lungs, I found nothing alarming. He sounded healthy—a strong, steady heartbeat and clear lungs.
As I backed away, I felt him staring at my ass. Flustered, I typed into his electronic medical chart, logging his vitals and adding a comment about his behavior. My fingers pressed on the keys hard as I finished. When I faced him, his gaze shot up to my face, then lowered to read my name badge.
“Nylah.” He tilted his head. “Pretty.”
Ugh. This wasn’t the place to flirt.
“I’ll let the doctor know you’re ready.” I moved toward the door, keeping an eye on him as he stood.
“Wait. You didn’t ask me how I’m feeling.”
I turned my back to the door as I placed my hand on the doorknob. “Pain level?”
“Nearly zero now. Must be your smile.”
I wasn’t going to respond to that remark. “That’s good.”
He watched me. Too closely. This wasn’t normal.
“You should know I’m with a Graven Bastard,” I informed him. The danger was implied, and so was the warning.
Everyone in Tonopah knew the GBMC. Hell, the whole state probably knew not to mess with them.
He smiled like it didn’t worry him. “Which one?”
