My life was generally straightforward. I had a part-time job at the bar and transcribing Mr. Evans’ notes. So, my days were taken up with work, plus volunteering at the senior citizen home twice a week, and babysitting Cara when Petra needed me. All simple things. Until Jack and that kiss. It tipped everything into chaos…
The soft sound of a door opening a while later, dragged my focus to the bathroom. Jack emerged, a towel slung low on his lean hips, his hair damp and tousled, my gaze drifted down his hard, ripped body…I swallowed. Mad as I was at him, Jack was one delicious hunk of a man—not that I’d ever tell him that. Then his big head would never fit through any doorway.
He paused near the bed and cut me an unreadable look where I lay prostrate like an offering to the gods. I pressed my lips together, whether in a pout or a scowl, I didn’t care.
“The antibiotics are on the nightstand.” He nodded next to me. “Take it now, and you’re to finish the dosage.”
As he headed for the dressing room, I rolled my eyes at his muscled, tattooed back.
“I saw that,” he called out, tone amused.
What was I? A child that had to be reminded about antibiotics? I’d seen the bottles and water glass on the bedside table. Scowling, I stared at the huge, abstract, monochromatic painting on the wall opposite the bed.
Several minutes of silence lapsed, and drowsiness crept through me.
“I can understand why you’re so testy at being bed bound,” he drawled from the bedroom, his voice stirring me awake. “If I was in bed with you, you’d be purring, not glowering, not with my mouth tasting every inch of you…” He strolled back into the bedroom. I forgot his taunt, my heated face, and stared.
I’d always known Jack was too damn gorgeous for his own good. But this image facing me? Wow.
He’d tamed his damp, tousled hair into its typical neat style, the overlong top brushed back. Dark gray pants fitted his long, muscular legs, and a light-gray dress shirt covered his broad shoulders, concealing his tattoos and ripped torso. He tossed the matching suit coat on the bed.
Silently, he watched me with an inscrutable stare, as if he knew something I didn’t, and started working on his tie—a stunning purple and pearl-gray silk.
The Jack I knew from the bar with his player buddies, I could ignore. This Jack was dangerous to me with my yo-yo-ing emotions.
He shrugged on his coat, the suit obviously custom-made for him. Heck, he looked like he should be modeling the thing rather than being the hard-faced businessman I faced—one I’d never seen before.
He strolled to the bedside table, picked up his cell, and slipped it into his pants’ pocket, then glanced at me again. “I’ll see you later. Try not to get into any trouble.”
There it was, the warning.Don’t leave.Lovely.
Tongue-tied as I was, I could only nod like a bobblehead.
Then he walked out, softly shutting the door behind him, leaving an echoing silence in his wake…as if he’d taken every bit of energy in the room with him. The fight in me whooshed out like a deflating balloon…missing him.
Wait—what?
Yup, the meds were making me loopy.
I took the antibiotic with some water and finally succumbed to sleep…
* * *
A knock stirred me awake. Groggily, I turned to lie on my back as the door opened and a vaguely familiar, tall, older man trailed inside. Blinking like an owl, not sure if it was a mirage from my medicated clouded brain or if I was at the senior home, I rasped, “Nigel?”
“Hello, my dear.” He smiled, but concern furrowed deeper lines in his brow as he drew closer. I shifted, wanting to sit up, and pain fisted me in the chest—crap. I flinched. That’d seriously hurt, my rapid movement pulling at the stitches.
“No, no, don’t get up. Please don’t stress yourself,” Nigel hurriedly said, settling at the foot of the bed. His concerned gaze glided over me, while my face burned with embarrassment.
I sucked in a lungful of air and pushed up to lean against the carved, dark wooden headboard, panting as if I’d run a mile. “Now I don’t feel like an invalid.”
“Touché.” He laughed. “I didn’t want to intrude, but when Jack told me he had a guest staying over and mentioned your name, I hoped it was you. I only know of one Ray. It’s why I took a chance and came for a visit. It is a small world.” He chuckled as I rubbed my hot face, then winced at the flare of pain in my jaw. “No need to feel uncomfortable, my dear.”
“It’s not what you think—”
“I know.” His gaze settled on my injured jaw. “Besides, Jack told me what happened. How do you feel?”
Oh, thank God. I liked Nigel and didn’t want him to think I was another of Jack’s one-night stands.
