Page 5 of Ash

We had already discussed this yesterday, but I hadn’t been willing to listen to reason because the hurt had been too fresh. Now, I didn’t have much choice since I would see Eli soon. “Not until thirty minutes before, though. As far as I’m concerned, it was the same thing as standing me up and doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in his ability to commit to a relationship.”

Mark quirked a brow. “If you’re already thinking in terms of a serious relationship, then you and I both know that you’re going to need to find a way to get past this and put the guy out of his misery.”

I jutted my chin out. “Doesn’t mean I can’t give him heck so he learns not to take me for granted.”

“I’m not gonna argue with you on that.” He shook his head with a chuckle. “Susan did the same thing with me when we were first dating, and it’s something we’ve taught the girls, too.”

“Start how you plan to go on.” His daughters weren’t the only ones he’d given this advice to. I flashed him a quick grin as I made the turn onto the road where the Hounds of Hellfire compound was located.

“That’s right, but I don’t think you need to be worried about Ash not being willing to put in the work to build something with you. Look how much effort he’s put in over the past two weeks.”

“Fine,” I huffed, thinking about all of the texts Eli had sent since he bailed on our date. “If he’s there and wants to talk, I guess I can give him the chance to at least apologize in person. Again.”

Mark beamed an approving smile at me. “Atta girl.”

I’d been incredibly lucky when our ambulance company paired me with Mark. He’d been my mentor during my hands-on training and volunteered to be my partner when I’d been hired after passing the national certification exam. I couldn’t have asked to be paired with a better paramedic. Something I reminded myself of when I pulled through the gates and parked the ambulance in front of the clubhouse. Eli might have all his Hounds of Hellfire members to support him when we went in there, but at least I had Mark.

Knowing I was reluctant to speak with Eli, my partner headed straight for the guys after we made it inside. He asked them what was going on while I headed straight for the woman on a barstool with a big guy hovering over her. With the details the dispatcher had given us, it was safe to assume she was our patient. “You don’t look so good. Is there any medical history I need to know about or pre-existing conditions?”

“Nope, I’ve always been as healthy as a horse.”

“That’s good to hear.” Hoping to ease the concern that was clear in her eyes, I flashed her a quick smile before pulling a blood pressure cuff out of my trauma bag. “I’m Nora. What’s your name?”

“Thea.”

“Enough chitchat,” the big guy barked. “What’s wrong with my woman?

“Careful.”

If the warning had come from anyone other than Eli, I would’ve at least flashed them an appreciative smile, but I refused to let him distract me from my job. So I focused on taking Thea’s vitals. “Is there any chance you’re pregnant?”

“A whole lot of them,” she confirmed. “But only over the past two weeks, so isn’t it too soon for me to be having symptoms like this?”

“Nope.” My lips curved as I repacked my equipment into my bag, happy that the most likely outcome was something wonderful. “Your blood pressure is normal. Same with your temperature and pulse ox.”

Thea looked relieved as she murmured, “That’s good to hear.”

“The dizziness passed fairly quickly, and it’s often one of the first symptoms a woman experiences during pregnancy since it can be caused by hormonal changes or increased blood volume,” I explained, using all of my self-control to keep my gaze on her face without glancing up at Eli. But I didn’t manage to resist the impulse to poke at him verbally. “My recommendation is that you have your man send his friend out for a pregnancy test and take it as soon as possible.”

Her brows drew together as she asked, “His friend?”

“That one.” I pointed at Eli without needing to look at him since I was much too aware of the man. “It’ll probably embarrass him, which would be awesome.”

“Wouldn’t be bothered by it at all, Nora,” Eli disagreed.

I somehow managed to keep my focus on Thea as I advised, “If the test is positive, make an appointment with your gynecologist. If it’s negative, go in to see your primary care physician, even if you don’t get faint again. Better be safe than sorry.”

Her man squeezed her shoulder. “She’ll see a doctor soon, either way.”

“Good.”

With that reassurance, I headed back out to the ambulance with Eli following me. After I tossed my trauma bag in the back, Mark held his hand out. “Gimme the keys. I’ll fill out the PCR while you give the man a chance to apologize face-to-face for fucking up again.”

The smile Eli had aimed Mark’s way at the start of my partner’s statement quickly turned into a glare at the end. Laughing, I handed over the keys to the rig before turning toward the man I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about over the past two weeks, even when I was mad at him.

Considering Eli was six feet and three inches of pure muscle—combined with buzzed black hair, a short-cropped beard, tan skin, hazel eyes, and a killer smile—I didn’t think any woman alive would judge me for being mildly obsessed with the guy. Not even with how much he’d managed to mess up with me in such a short time.

“Missed seeing your gorgeous face these past two weeks,” Eli murmured as he prowled closer.

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