Page 84 of Attraction & Repulsion

As he read each word, Jax’s sleepy eyes became more and more alert withangst, triggering his heart machine to beep angrily.

“Youwhat?” he hissed, then cringed at the pain that shot through him.

Frantically she waved her hands and shook her head, which made her a bit dizzy. Then she took his hand again and squeezed.

I’m fine, she mouthed, rubbing her hand down Jax’s forearm and back up. The beeping quieted, but he continued to frown. Then he squeezed his eyes shut for a second before focusing back on her.

“Are you insane?” he asked.

Most definitely. Insane. Crazy. Stupid. All of it. She shrugged her shoulders.

Face softening, Jax relaxed his head into the pillow. “What am I supposed to do with you?”

A grin spread on her face, and she kissed his hand. A hushed voice floated through the hallway speakers behind her, something about a doctor needed at station six.

When the announcement was over, she stole back her whiteboard.

You look like shit.

After reading it, he let out a laugh, then sucked in a breath. “So do you,” he said through the pain.

Wrinkling her nose at him she wrote,HA HA.

Footsteps sounded in the hall, and Carson’s nerves shriveled. She wasn’t ready to leave him. She still had so much to say. Who knew the next time she would see him again? Relief spread when the footsteps disappeared into the room adjacent to his.

No more precious seconds to waste.

I have something to tell you . . .The script looked like a toddler using a crayon for the first time because Carson’s fingers were trembling so much. The board shook when she tried to hold it up, so shegently placed it on Jax’s stomach and controlled her tapping heel as it made the wheelchair creak. If she had still been hooked up to her heart monitor, it would have been dinging uncontrollably.

A single black eyebrow rose as Jax looked at the board, then her. “What?” His voice was deep and still, like the bottom of the sea.

Not bothering with the white board she took in a steady breath, even if the air scratched her blistered throat, and mouthed,I love you.

A groan rumbled out of his mouth. “I know that, Carson,” he said, exasperated, causing her to draw her chin in. Weakly, his fingers reached for hers and interlaced with them. “I know you love me because when we first met, you were at your lowest, yet you still took a chance on me. You loved me enough to step away and let me decide for myself about having children of my own.”

It must have taken all of his energy to talk, because he stopped to take in a few breaths. Carson was sure his doctor wouldn’t approve of strenuous declarations of love until he was off bed rest.

“And it was your very stupid love that saved me,” he finished.

Carson’s gaze dropped to her feet, kept warm with a fuzzy pair of canary-yellow socks.

Unraveling their fingers, Jax used his knuckle to lift Carson’s face. For the first time in a long time, he was smiling at her. Really smiling. Lines forming around his eyes and all. And it was clear to Carson that Jax had made his choice.

“Now, can you please letmeloveyouthis time?”

Chapter thirty-one

Eight months later . . .

Carson was baking in the hot sun. Her shoulders weren’t used to the exposure, but the warm rays felt good on her skin. Thankfully, she had lathered herself with sunscreen before she and Jax left. It was freeing to relax and soak up Vitamin D in just shorts and a tank top, her riding gear slung over her dirt bike behind her. The breeze tickled her scars.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. The leasing agent called this morning,” Carson said, sitting on the edge of the rock and swinging her legs back and forth, toes barely skimming the surface of the Verde River.

“What did she say?” Jax asked, chucking a few pebbles into the bubbling current below.

“The office will be ready to move in by March. I should be up and running no later than April.”

“Is that enough time to get a firm started?”

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