“What did the doctor say?” I asked him.
Tense lines bracketed Cliff’s mouth. Other than that, nothing else showed on his calm face. “A heart attack.”
Naturally, he wasn’t going to divulge anything else to me. I wasn’t family.
A moment later, the attending doctor, a middle-aged man sporting close-cropped gray hair, walked out of the room and disappeared down the corridor.
Without anything to focus on, my mind crawled back to what had occurred at my home. Even now, my face heated at the memory of Jack and me. He knew exactly how to work my body, made me so desperate for him. The sensation of his mouth, his hands on me, of him finally moving inside me, had been surreal.
Did I get my O-card filled?
That would be a big fat resounding YES!
My entire being still thrummed from what he’d done to me. He’d shown me how to let go of my inhibitions when it came to intimacy. My heart thumped hard then dipped, knowing I’d never be with him in that way again. It was why I’d wanted to do the deed with an unknown, then I’d never have to see him again.
God. I rubbed my hot face, struggling to move past the breathtaking experience.
I was here in the hospital, not only for Jack—who needed someone since his family seemed to be a no-show—but also for Nigel. A man I’d met through Chuck, and who I’d come to like and respect before I even knew of his connection to Jack.
The door opened. Jack emerged, his expression drawn. He frowned at me. “Why are you sitting out here?”
“I thought you’d want time alone—”
He shook his head. “Come.”
I got to my feet and followed him back into the ward. Machines beeped from cords attached to Nigel’s chest. Seeing him so frail and lying in bed, my chest hurt. His haggard features sported a pronounced ashy undertone, but when he saw me, a wan smile appeared. “Ray, my dear… You came.”
The words were low, barely audible, but his tone was warm. “Yes, I did.” I hurried over and clasped his cold hand in mine, trying to rub some heat into it. “Once I heard, I had to.”
“This old ticker in me is determined to interfere with my fun. They want me to stay a few days.”
“Bedrest will help,” I said softly, knowing he hated being confined.
He grimaced. “So they say.” His grip tightened on my hand. “You’ll be home when I’m discharged?”
Oh, man. Did he mean about the job? No matter how easy it would have made things financially for me, I couldn’t accept it, not now. My stomach twisted in anxiety. Everything had changed between Jack and me, and…and it wouldn’t be right. Hell, it wouldn’t work.
“I-I—of course. I mean, we’ll be here for you.” I gave him a reassuring smile and lightly squeezed his fingers because I would come and visit him, no matter what.
“Then I’ll find resting more tolerable.” A shallow sigh escaping him, he shut his eyes but didn’t release my hand. The tension I sensed in him strained features. This wasn’t good. Helplessly, I glanced back at Jack.
His expression remained grim. His eyes, as they met mine, were dark with anger. What had happened to Nigel to cause the attack? Then something else struck me hard in the chest. Did Jack not want me to tell Nigel I’d be around? Gently, I disengaged my fingers from Nigel’s.
As we walked out, Cliff nodded at Jack and entered the room.
“I’m sorry about that, telling Nigel I’d be here,” I said.
He didn’t respond.
Okay, then.
Late noonday sun streamed into the car as we got in, but Jack made no move to drive off. He just sat there, staring at the steering wheel for several long minutes.
I wanted to reassure him that it would be all right, but I knew how precarious these illnesses could be. A little fight, worrying about something, could set it off. Sometimes, nothing at all could send a person stumbling down the stairs, breaking an arm or hip—God!
Shutting out my own pained memories, I reached out and touched Jack’s arm to let him know I was still here. The stiffness in his forearm shocked me, but my touch seemed to pull him back. “Your family will be here, you don’t have to shoulder this on your own, Jack.”
Because when one was alone and held in fear, one did stupid things. Like me. I’d slept with Travis after my mother’s first stroke.
