Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“It means tomorrow at the hospital, you will meet with Dr. Joseph Simmons and whoever he brings with him at one and bring them back to me.”
“I’m working at the hospital tomorrow until six. I can’t bring them here.”
“Then you can give them the address. Be as discreet as possible.”
“I’m a doctor. Discretion is my job.”
“And saving lives.”
“Get some sleep,” her father added.
“Why didn’t you have me meet with them?”
“Because they won’t trust you as much as they’d trust a woman. Second, it’s not likely that Grace could have pulled me out of the water, so if the cartel suspects that I’m alive, which I doubt, they won’t look at her.”
Chapter 5
Grace
I had to leave the house before I was tempted to call in or show up late just so I could spend time with him. Sneaking into our guest bedroom to watch Ricardo sleep this morning couldn’t have been more wrong unless I’d climbed into bed with him right then and there.
My father would shave him once a week, but now that the scruff had grown on his face, I wanted to run my fingers over it, feeling it scrape my inner thighs as he explored my body. I acted like a walking teenager all over again. Talk about freaking pathetic.
Even as a teenager or even an adult, I never behaved like a crazed horny thing. Maybe I had a kink for almost-dead guys. I laughed as I rushed out of the house and to my car.
I smiled all the way to work, knowing that I wasn’t alone in the attraction. He’d barely woken up when he declared that he wanted to kiss me, and hell if that admission didn’t go straight to my pussy, dinging my bell.
Pulling into the hospital lot, I looked around to see if I’d been followed. No one looked out of place. There were very few people coming and going, and a couple of them were my colleagues. I didn’t know why all of a sudden the paranoia had crept in. Just because my father and I knew he was alive didn’t mean anyone else did. Well, except the people he wanted me to meet today.
“Good mornin’, Dr. Holden. It’s been pretty quiet here. I guess it’s still early enough.”
“Let me get changed, then, since you jinxed us both, Sonia.” I wagged my finger at her. She pretended to be contrite, but the smile on her face gave her away.
“Sorry.” We knew the moment we said something about the ED being calm that a storm of patients would be flooding the department very shortly. Truthfully, I didn’t care. The busier I became, the faster the day would pass and I could get back to Ricardo.
I waved as I walked back to the locker room, changing and preparing for the long day ahead. Like clockwork, the EMTs brought in multiple ranch mishaps and car accident victims, keeping my morning busy. I barely remembered to take a bite of my sandwich between surgeries.
By the time the clock struck one, I moved to the lobby area to wait for Ricardo’s friends. I watched as two men walked into the hospital both in dress pants and white dress shirts, buttoned almost to the top. One had a doctor’s coat over his shirt. They were both handsome, one with a longer beard and gave off an alpha male vibe without even trying. Their gaits were imposing. Could this be them?
Both men appeared curious, stealing small glances around as they approached me. The one in the lab coat addressed me. “Hello, ma’am. I’m Dr. Joseph Simmons. Are you by any chance Dr. Grace Holden?”
“Yes. How did you know?” I questioned. Ricardo didn’t give them any more information than what I’d seen.
“It says Dr. Holden on your tag.” He pointed to my name badge.
“You looked up my last name, didn’t you?”
“Of course we did.”
“And who are you?” I asked the bearded tough guy.
“I’m the one your patient texted. What room is he in?” He came off curt, but I saw an honest concern flicker in his eyes. I’d seen it many times with dads whose sons had done some stupid stunt that landed them here. They would pretend that they were angry about their kid doing something dumb, but underneath their hardened exterior, they were scared.
“Please follow me.” I took them into the chapel because I knew we wouldn’t be disturbed.
“Please don’t tell us he took a turn for the worse.” They glanced at each other, then back at me with panic in their eyes.
“Thankfully, no. I just didn’t want prying eyes and ears. Who are you, exactly? He didn’t fill me in because he said he wasn’t sure if only the doc would come.” I tipped my head toward the doctor.
“I’m Garrett “Boomer” Steele. The founder of Steeleville.” He along with Dr. Simmons pulled out their IDs just to ease my mind.