Iwhistle down the hallway, devising the perfect plan to lure Kayla onto my bike and then into my bed. With most women, it’s easy —-I just blow and their panties go poof. Not with Kayla, though. She’s the north wind to my autumn breeze. It’s what drew me to her automatically. Her tenacity. It’s easy to adopt a kitten; it’s a whole other thing to tame a wild cat. And I have no doubt that in the bedroom Kayla is as wild as they come.
“Twenty-four hours and you’re already causing problems.” I stroll into Reese’s room. He’s in the exact same position I left him. Miserable. Speaking of untamed animals, my brother is the leader of the pack.
“She told you it was my fault, didn’t she?” He’s instantly defensive.
“No, she told me Dr. Lipschitz was being a douche and you intervened.” I fudge the truth.
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Because you’re a shady, cynical bastard who doesn’t trust a soul. Even his own brother.”
“You know that’s not true,” Reese gripes.
“Okay, yeah. I embellished the last part. You trust me with your life.”
And all your dirty secrets.
“So are you here to scold me or what?”
“Scold you? No. You’re beyond discipline.”
“You would know,sir,” he digs, like the insolent teenager he is.
I ignore his comment and continue. “I’m here to implore you to be nice to the staff. They’re here to help you. Not hurt you.”
Reese shifts uncomfortably. “I hate being here.”
“I know, but you have nothing to worry about.”
“I always have something to worry about.” He eyes me guardedly.
“Not now. You know I would never let anything jeopardize your career.”
“I’ve learned fate is out of both of our hands.”
“I’m a doctor. I know how to play God. Just trust me, okay? Get well, and then you can get out.”
Reese nods reluctantly.
“I’m working on getting you moved out of here. You’ll stay with me. I’ll hire a home nurse, and you can recuperate in private. That’s really what I came to tell you.”
“How soon can that happen?” Reese actually gets excited.
“I’m working on it. A few days max.”
“That sounds like an eternity.” His excitement instantaneously deflates.
“A few days? I don’t know how you’re ever going to survive,” I heckle him. “And to be forced to spend time with your estranged twin brother. The travesty.” I stab myself in the chest.
“Shut the fuck up. You know I never have an issue seeing you.”
“When you need something,” I toss in.
“Aw, fuck off. And that’s not entirely true.”
“Isn’t it? I haven’t seen you in months.”
“That’s because I’ve been working. You know, racing all over the world,” he states the obvious.
