Page 108 of The Science of Attraction

But I wasn’t taking any chances. I pulled free and fronted Bradley whoever-the-hell-he-was, backing him against the wall. “You better be as good as you say you are. Takereallygood care of him, understand?”

Bradley nodded and squeezed my shoulder kindly. “I understand.”

I eyeballed him a moment longer just to make sure we had an understanding, and then before anyone could stop me, I quickly crossed to Jules and kissed him on the lips. “I’ll be waiting outside, baby. You’re mine now, understand? So don’t you think about going anywhere except right back to me.”

* * *

Spencer dragged me out of the cubicle and down to a surprisingly spacious waiting room where he slapped me in a chair and pushed a cup of tasteless coffee and a chocolate muffin into my hands, neither of which I could look at without wanting to throw up.

What followed was the longest couple of hours of my life, and if it hadn’t been for Shona popping her head into the waiting room with updates on a regular basis as promised, I’m not sure I could’ve stopped myself from barging back into Jules’ room to check on him myself.

The Mackenzie grapevine worked lightning fast, and it wasn’t long before the waiting room filled like an incoming tide. Zach, his parents, and Connor were the first to arrive. Connor wrapped me in a much-needed hug before putting me on the phone with Bron for a delayed update on my love life and current crisis. There was a lot of cursing and bodily threats made before my sister finally burst into tears and told me she’d be arriving the next day and would take Connor back with her on the weekend so I could stay. I didn’t know if I was happy or horrified at the idea but figured I could live with it. I sure didn’t have the energy to fight.

“She can stay at the station, of course,” Norma offered as soon as I’d hung up, having clearly overheard the ear-splitting rant. It was thoughtful of her, and I was more grateful than I could say although I wasn’t sure how the reality would pan out. But when she stood and pulled me into her arms, her kindness and clear love for Jules, and her support for us finally undid me. All the fear and worry I’d been desperately keeping at bay suddenly erupted in a gush of fierce tears.

“He’ll be okay.” She gripped me tight. “Jules is a strong man, and he’s lucky to have you.”

I could only hope she was right as we clung to each other, rocking in place until she finally let me go. As I slumped back down into the hard seat, I noticed Paddy watching me with a strange, guarded expression. I held his gaze for just a second then looked away, staring through the window at another perfect spring day in the Mackenzie.

Ten and Brent followed quickly on the heels of Zach. They’d left Stuart back at the station, along with Marty who’d been told it would be best to keep his distance for a bit. Luke appeared next with his business partner, Gary someone, and then almost the whole crew from Miller Station rocked in, including Holden’s mother, Em, and her new husband, Harry. Em took one look at the crowd gathered, threw open the windows, and set about organising some of the townsfolk to rustle up food and a ton of coffee.

“The good stuff,” she added pointedly.

I could’ve kissed her, because even though my stomach soured at the thought, my adrenaline was crashing and I needed something to keep my mind sharp, for Jules’ sake if nothing else.

As time passed, more and more people arrived until it felt like half the town had gathered in support. Some I knew, some I didn’t, and even though the reception staff encouraged anyone without a close family connection to go home, nobody moved.

An hour in, a hand landed softly on my shoulder, and I looked up to find Laura studying me with red-rimmed eyes. “I heard, and I wanted to be here, if that’s okay with you? If not, I’ll go.”

I took her hand from my shoulder and squeezed it between both of mine. “You’re welcome to stay. He’s your friend.”

She gave me a gentle smile. “Thanks. Maybe we can get to know each other better when all this is over. He’s going to be fine, you know that, right? We grow them tough in the Mackenzie.”

“I hope so.” I managed a weak smile and watched as she took a seat alongside Ten.

Charlie was the last of the Miller crew to make it into the waiting room. She made a beeline for Ten and I thought about what Jules told me. Their desperate embrace raised more than a few eyebrows. When they finally peeled apart, Ten ignored the stunned silence and simply pulled Charlie down next to him. He tucked her into his side and cast an I-dare-you look around the room while offering zero explanation.

Good for him.

And also, secret blown.

I stole a sideways glance at Norma to gauge her reaction, relieved to find her watching the couple with a tiny smile on her face, while next to her, Paddy gave little away beyond a thoughtful frown. I was about to look away when he turned unexpectedly to face me, and for the first time since the station kitchen that morning, we locked eyes.

It wasn’t for long, but in that one fateful shared look, it suddenly occurred to me that it would only take one word from Paddy—Jules’ father and likely next of kin—to stop me from going back into Jules’ room.

I readied myself for a fight.

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

Jules

Hey!But the shout was hijacked somewhere between my throat and lips because all that came out was a feeble guttural cry.

“Easy there, sunshine. Give him a top up will you, Shona?”

Yeah, you do that, Shona.I sucked in a gulp of air then huffed it back out, and—fuck me—something must’ve died in my mouth because, damn, if my breath didn’t smell like Zach’s armpits at the end of a week-long muster.

I knew that voiceandthe name Shona, but as I fought to grab onto the memory, it slipped through my brain and disappeared into the ether. Then a hand clasped my wrist and something sharp pricked into my shoulder, making my eyes twitch and, Jesus, even my corneas hurt.

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