Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“Oh, I didn’t notice.”
“You need some close watching.” Then he drew himself up straight, letting go of her.
And all she wanted was to beg him to touch her again.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She bit off the Sir, even though the word lingered on her tongue.
“Are you claustrophobic?”
She nodded. “Sort of.”
“Sort of?” he asked.
“I like to hide in bathtubs,” she blurted out.
“Good to know,” he replied with a nod. “But I’m guessing that’s not the same feeling as being enclosed though since bathtubs don’t have a lid.”
Yeah, dumbass.
She dropped her gaze.
“Hey.” He grasped hold of her chin. “I didn’t say that to make you feel bad. I just want to understand what scares you. Okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Let’s see if we can work out a way to make you less nervous. Did you bring Ziggy with you?”
Her face lit up before she bit her lip. “Uh-huh. He’s in my handbag back with my clothes.”
“Why don’t we send Ian to get him so you can have him in the MRI with you?”
“Won’t people think I’m weird?” she asked.
“Who gives a fuck what people think,” Ian said. “If you need Ziggy, you’ll have him.”
She looked up at Ian like he hung the moon. Jameson couldn’t help but wish she’d look at him that way too.
“No one cares. I promise,” Jameson told her. “What about if you went feet first into the MRI machine?”
“That’s not what Doctor Evans said. He said I had to go head first.”
Jameson frowned.
“That Doc is a dick,” Ian muttered. “Asking her about past and current sexual partners. What’s that got to do with her hip?”
“Maybe he wants to make sure I’m not going home to have wild monkey sex with a harem of my own.”
She swallowed heavily at their looks. Jameson was the first to glance away. “I’ll have a word with him. But going feet first should be fine. I know it’s still loud and a bit scary, but we have some headphones and we’ll be able to speak to each other. Would that help?”
She twisted her fingers together. “I know I’m being a wimp.”
“Don’t you dare call yourself that,” Ian snapped.
Jameson waved him back and took hold of both of her hands again. “You are not a wimp. Everyone is afraid of something and we shouldn’t be made to feel bad about our fears.”
“Even you guys?”
“Yes,” Jameson said firmly.
“Jameson is afraid of com—” Ian broke off as Jameson sent him a look. “Comic books.”
“Comic books? That’s, um, okay . . .” she said. Weird, but hey, it wasn’t like she could say anything.
“Ian is joking,” Jameson said stiffly. “He’s afraid of that white packing stuff they use in boxes.”
She started giggling, thinking Jameson was joking. But Ian was scowling at him. “I’m not afraid of it, asshole. I just don’t like the feel of it. Or the way it squeaks.”
“Feeling better yet?” Jameson asked her, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah. I actually am.”
“Do you want to give this a go?”
She nodded. “Let’s do this.”
37
Brave little subbie.
Jameson couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride in her. Which was ridiculous. She wasn’t his sub.
Ian had been about to tell Maggie that Jameson was afraid of commitment.
Which wasn’t entirely true. He just didn’t want to make another bloody mistake like the one he had before.
She was pale as they wheeled her down to the other room, her shoulders hunched as though to protect herself.
He didn’t like it.
A wave of protectiveness filled him.
“Finally,” Doctor Evans blustered. “You’re keeping everyone waiting, young lady.”
“Do not talk to her that way.” What the hell did Frank think he was doing? Did he speak to all of his female patients this way?
Frank reared back slightly. “You asked me to do this as a favor, and she’s been nothing but a problem. She’s kept us waiting. I do have other patients to see.”
Ian took a step forward and Jameson knew he was about to blow. But this was Jameson’s fault. He had asked Frank to take Maggie on. Now he was seeing what a mistake that was.
“And now you’re dismissed. You might want to pay attention to how you address female patients. Maggie is not a bother, nor is she wasting our time.”
Frank just glared at him, then at Maggie, before storming away. Jameson glanced down at Maggie.
She shouldn’t be made to feel bad by one asshole.
“Maggie, eyes on me.” He crouched in front of her.
She sighed. “You’re very big on seeing my eyes.”
“I am. It helps me understand where you’re at. Come on, sweetheart. Look at me.”
She raised her gaze to his.
“You’re being so brave. Don’t let one asshole bring you down, all right? I’m going to have a word about him with the head of the department.”
“Don’t do that. I’m really not worth the bother.”
“Stop that,” Ian grumbled. “You’re not a bother. And you’re worth everything.”
She huffed out a breath. “Fine. Fine. I’m worth all the bothers. Let’s just . . . get this done with. Please?”