Page 45 of Always a Bridesmaid
She began to stand, horrified at the idea of Ford driving a screeching ambulance down the streets, announcing to everyone that her own father didn’t have a clue about her allergies—or her.
Not that the siren would say that, but Dad had alluded that secrets were unheard of in this town, so it was essentially the same thing.
“You’re seeing a doctor,” Ford said, pushing on her shoulders until her bum hit the chair.
“I’m not. I don’t need one.” She spread her arms. “I’m totally fine.”
“Oh, really? And have you been trained as a medical professional?”
“I’ve had an allergy attack before that required the EpiPen, which practically makes me a prof—”
“If you’ve had medical training, raise your hand.” His green eyes challenged her, and she set her jaw, her arm remaining at her side.
Ford did a double take at the grizzled dude a table over with his arm up.
“Taxidermy doesn’t count, Bob.”
“I took anatomy.”
“When one of those animals you’ve stuffed comes back to life, we’ll talk. Until then, it’s my show.” Ford grabbed her hand and braced his other palm at her elbow. “Nice and easy.”
“I’m neither of those things,” Violet muttered as she let him tow her to her feet. She didn’t even object to the arm he secured around her waist. But she was going to have to get out of this doctor thing somehow.
“Do you want me to ride in the ambulance with you?” Dad asked. The genuine concern in his voice and on his face was the only reason she bit back herWon’t Cheryl find out?response.
“There’s no call for an ambulance, so no.” Arguing with two frustrating males sat low on her things-I’d-like-to-do list, so she figured she’d let Ford escort her outside and then plead her case.
The fresh air made it easier to breathe, and sucking in a lungful cleared her head. She turned to Ford, the guy who was supposedly “bad stock.” She couldn’t care less about that.
The player thing, on the other hand?
A pinch worrisome, considering she was beginning to like the guy more than she should.
Right now, though, she simply needed to get him on her side.
“So, kinda embarrassing to admit, but my medical insurance lapsed, so I can’t afford the ER or even a doctor visit. Going broke won’t help my health. Especially when I’m fine.” She batted her eyes and added a hair flip for good measure. “Can’t you just check me out?”
“Sweetheart, I’ve been checking you out since the moment you got into town.”
The blush couldn’t be helped. Wiggle room, on the other hand, could be exploited, so she ran a fingertip down his arm. “What’s it going to take to keep this between you and me?”
Ford loudly exhaled, that crinkle in his forehead showing up as the wheels in his brain turned.
“Another puppy-training session,” he finally said. Then he tapped her on the nose. “That way I can watch you closely. Both so you don’t cheat and give Trouble undeserved snacks—the rascal still hasn’t made it to the pad—and so I can keep an eye on your allergy symptoms and make sure you’re as fine as you claim.”
“Oh, I am, Ford McGuire.” She flashed him a flirty smile. “And you have yourself a deal.”
“Oh, and one more condition: you have to bring your camera.”
Chapter Nine
As soon as they reached the prettiest spot in all of Alabama, Trouble jumped out of the back of the truck. He took a running leap at Violet and gave her the type of greeting Ford would’ve liked to: a big kiss.
Although he would use less tongue—somebody should teach that pup the art of finesse.
Once Violet admitted to not having insurance, the case he’d planned to launch in favor of the ER fell flat. Growing up, he and his family only went to the doctor if they were on the brink of death.
“If we have to shell out money for a doctor, you’ll be complaining about your empty stomachs,” Dad would say whenever he or his brothers were sick. “Better do some research and find plants to cure what ails you.”
