Page 34 of Big Trouble
10
Lo
For lots of reasons, I was in a great mood.
The sun was shining.
My patients were working hard, and it was paying off.
I’d had sex with Jack Cairney in the back of his car.
It made me feel like some horny teenager again.
I couldn’t stop the stupid, cheesy grin spreading across my face every time I thought about it.
When I’d gone back into the bar last night, the table of expectant faces waiting for me, wanting to find out if I was okay, made my heart swell. I had supporters - friends even - who cared about what had happened. Even if Jack was the common enemy.
“Did you let him have it?” Ciara asked, thrusting a large glass of wine into my hand.
“I sure did.” I tried to keep a straight face, but I think Lyla was onto me as she snickered into her own drink.
Scarlett eyed me strangely. “I saw Jack this afternoon at the hospital. He didn’t seem himself after the appointment with his doctor. He was less… cocky than usual, subdued almost. I don’t know what the doctor said, but it was enough to knock the wind out of his sails.”
My eyes narrowed. He hadn’t mentioned anything about a doctor’s appointment. Was something said which made him forget about our date? Was he not recovering as expected? Did I have more work cut out for me?”
“He didn’t mention anything.”
“Typical! Jack doesn’t really talk about his feelings. Usually lashes out at the people he cares for instead.” She sighed and sipped her sparkling water. “Does anyone want that last chicken wing?”
Her words stayed with me, all through the night as I tossed and turned. I tried not to think too much about how Jack had felt inside me. How much his touch burned my skin. My hand sneaked between my legs.
Look what you’ve reduced me to.
I had a full schedule of appointments the next day and couldn’t stop yawning. I mainlined coffee all morning until Ciara persuaded me to go to the cafe with her. I half thought it might have been another setup, but there was no sign of Jack.
Lyla came in while we were waiting for our sandwiches.
“Hey, Lo, Ciara! How are you both feeling today? I’m so hungover.” She made a face.
“What are you doing here?” asked Ciara. “I thought you’d be working.”
She looked a little sheepish. “Might have called in sick and spent the morning with Maddox.” She glanced over at me. “Jack came by to work on the bike.”
I tried to look nonchalant. As if it didn’t matter to me one bit what Jack Cairney did with his mornings.
“You okay after last night?” She touched my arm and I was genuinely surprised by her concern.
One day, I’d have to tell them what happened in the parking lot, but now wasn’t the time.
“Yeah, I’ll get over it. Move on, I guess.” I covered my true feelings with a casual shrug.
“Good for you,” she agreed. “What are you guys up to at the weekend? We could make plans?”
This was definite progress. For the first time in a long while, I felt like Cali Cross was the place I should be.
We got back just in time for my one o’clock appointment. This cute kid was a total warrior. He’d been a teeny tiny preemie, and now he was working on balance and strengthening his core. He’d come so far in the last few months and the look of delight on both his and his mom’s face made everything worthwhile.
No wonder I was riding high.
