The hospital is bustling though it’s late evening by the time we arrive.Locke tells me to go home and then he heads to the VIP floor while I wait downstairs in the lobby to meet with Jacklyn.She works as one of the hospital’s financial counselors but also helps out in other departments.
“Yours truly is now off for two days, baby,” she exclaims as she finds me.She hooks her arm through mine.“I would so let’s go party but I just paid my bills and I’m a broke-ass woman, so let’s go watch TV and order a pizza.”
“That sounds good.I’m too exhausted to do anything else anyway.”
“Nice jacket.”She tugs on the arm of the one Locke draped around me on the yacht.
“It’s Locke’s.”
Her eyebrows shoot upward.“Locke?Not Mr.Montclair?”
“I meant Mr.Montclair.”
She makes a face.“Uh huh.What’s this expression?I think you look a little guilty of something.”
“Nothing happened.”
“You sound unhappy about that.”She frowns.“Did youwantsomething to happen?”
“What?Of course not.”
Jacklyn taps her chin.“The jury is back.The verdict is unanimous, Your Honor…she’s lying.”
“I’m not.”I toy with one of the buttons on the sleeve of Locke’s jacket.Just because I can still feel the imprint of his hands on my waist doesn’t mean I wanted…I wanted…
“Look at that!”Jacklyn pounces.“You’re flushing.”
I can never fool my best friend.“He’s handsome and charming.”
“True, but you could never get with him.One, because he’s probably like Doug, the knuckle-dragging asshole.”
“He’s not.”
She ignores my defense of him.“Two, you’re lying to him.”
“I know, but it’s not like I can tell Locke…Mr.Montclair the truth.”
“The truth about what?”he says as he approaches us from the side.
I whirl around, my heart thumping.Did he overhear us?
He holds his hand out toward his jacket.“I left my wallet in the pocket.”He takes it out, then glances at Jacklyn.
My friend nearly melts beneath his gaze.“You look so much hotter in person,” she gushes.Then she grins widely.“I’m single.”
Locke laughs but I don’t see the humor.After warning me, she’s flirting with him?
Irritated, I ask her, “Can you pull the car up?”
Jacklyn looks at me with surprise then glances at Locke.“Ah.I see.Okay.”
“How’s your family?”I ask him once we’re alone.I didn’t want to ask about his private family affairs in front of Jacklyn.
“Oliver is fine.Some scratches and bruises.My grandfather needs to have some cardiac tests run tomorrow.”
“I’m glad they’re both okay.”
He shakes his jacket out, then drapes it around me.I move to take it off, but he holds the lapels together.
