JUDE: Hope my two sunshines are having a good day
That’s it? That’s all he’s going to say? I swear to God, this man is driving me insane. The time stamp of his message is from earlier this morning, and there’s nothing else. No missed call, no voicemail, nothing.
I write out and delete a response what feels like a hundred times before dropping my phone on the desk, my head following to rest on the cool surface, feeling way too overwhelmed with pent-up energy to type anything. The combination of elation at being free of my family, and worry over where I stand with Jude, is making my stomach churn.
Sukhi chooses that moment to stick her head in the break room. She doesn’t seem to react to my slumped posture, instead simply asking, “Hey Lily, your next patient is early. Do you want me to bring them back?”
I lift one hand into a thumbs-up gesture. Might as well drown myself in work and try to ignore the fact that my boyfriend is leaving me in the dark about our future. Sitting up in my chair, I keep my eyes closed and make myself take a few deep breaths.Forget the boyfriend issues and focus on my next patient, then the next, then the next.I’ll go home and wallow in confusion later.
I make my way out to the main area of the clinic, but all the beds are empty. “Sukhi, where’s my patient?” I ask, and she points toward the private room. Weird. I didn’t realize I had another patient who needed that space. Anyone can request it if they want privacy, but normally, we save it for patients who need massage.
“The chart?” I ask when my eyes don’t immediately see it in the usual place, the folder by the door.
“Oh, sorry, I put it inside with the patient.”
I frown at that. We don’t normally leave charts with the patients, mostly so we can do a quick review before a session. “Okay, next time can you leave it out here for me, please?”
Sukhi nods without looking at me. I don’t really feel like digging into why she’s acting so weird. I’ve got enough of that to do with Jude.
Knocking softly on the door, I open it slowly. “Hi there, it’s Lily.”
“Hey, sunshine.”
I gape in disbelief at the handsome man sitting on the table in front of me. “Jude?” I whisper, moving into the room slowly. “What are you doing here?”
He gives me a gentle smile, but the passion burning in his eyes makes me shiver. The man certainly does have great bedroom eyes. “I’m here for physical therapy. I don’t want to miss a session.”
The door snicks shut behind me and I lean against it, still keeping some distance between us when what I want to do is run over and jump into his lap.
“Don’t the Blaze have trainers that could have treated you?”
He pushes off the table and covers the short space between us in one large step. Then he’s there, right in front of me, so close I can smell his minty breath, layered with the earthy scent that is just Jude.
“They’re not as good as you.”
I suck in a breath, overwhelmed by his very presence.
“I know it was only a couple of days, but I missed you a hell of a lot.” His gravelly voice, combined with his echoing how I’ve felt this entire time, makes my eyes flutter closed as warmth floods my body.
Lips land on my forehead just before hands, rough and strong, cup my face with all the gentle care and tenderness in the world. My eyes open as he kisses me lightly. But that touch is enough. My arms go around his neck and I jump, confident he’ll catch me. With his arms holding me up, Jude walks us back over to the table where he sits down with me straddling his lap.
“Fuck,” he growls against my lips as my hips automatically press into his. I can feel him hardening underneath me. Our kiss turns me into molten lava, every part of me melting into him. Vaguely, I’m aware that we’re at my place of work, and this is completely inappropriate, but having him here in my arms is making all the uncertainty I’ve felt over the last forty-eight hours disappear. And that is euphoric.
But sounds from the clinic trickle in, voices walking past the closed — but not locked — door, and I pull back. “Damn. I… We…” I blow out a frustrated breath as I climb off his lap, straightening my shirt that went askew when he reached underneath to palm my breast. “Not here.”
Jude gives me a rueful smirk. “Sorry, sunshine. You’re irresistible.”
Narrowing my eyes in a mock glower, I take another step back. “You’re here for physical therapy. That’s all.”
He shakes his head. “That’s definitely not all.”
His statement is loaded with meaning. But I know if I start to unpack it, any chance of maintaining my sanity and professionalism will disappear. The high I was riding after confronting my mother has faded into the background, and while part of me desperately wants to know why Jude’s here, and what his plans are, I also know I can’t let myself go there now.
“Can we focus on therapy?” I ask quietly.
Jude studies me for a minute, his expression undefinable. “Yeah. For now.”
I give a sharp nod. “Great. Okay. I hope you took some care in Vancouver and didn’t push too hard.”
