Page 13 of Wine & Whiskey: Everything for You
Her fingertip traces the white and silver face, following the second hand sweeping downward. Eighty grand yet worthless to him. The two hundred thousand dollar car. The over-priced suits. Enormous mansion. All meaningless. Everything that helped him play the part of the arrogant asshole, using and being used. None of it ever filled the void. Nothing and no one until her.
“Me too, sweetness. Makes me wonder how I ever lived before I met you.” He brushes her long hair from her cheek. “Or how I thought I could survive without you. But, neither of us will ever know that feeling again.”
She scans his features, hopefully seeing the absolute commitment in his eyes, before kissing him as the light dims from the darkened entrance of the parking garage. Her elegant fingers squeeze his after she accepts his outstretched hand helping her from the limo. The reassuring smile she offers him contrasts with the worry lining her forehead. “It’s going to be fine.”
“Of course it is.”
Oscar and Leo trail a few steps behind them as they hustle down the corridor. Not what he wants for her visit to the obstetrician, but he has no choice. Not when she needs him to be her strength. Or be distracted by the threats swirling around them. He clutches her against him, helping her keep up with his quick steps to minimize their exposure in the open. She glances at him, but doesn’t utter a word, seeming to accept his vigilance without protest.
He nods to his men standing guard at the glass door. The physician’s office and exam rooms already searched and confirmed safe before their arrival. He pauses once they step inside, loosening his tight grip, yet not letting her go. Never able to relax completely when it comes to her safety.
She leads him to the counter, past the empty, beige chairs lining the exterior of the room, short stacks of magazines covering the tables wedged between small sofas in the opposite corner. A redhead with the tightest curls he’s ever seen smiles and picks up a white file. “Hi, Shae. Please come in. We’re ready for you.”
“Thank you.”
The woman nods toward him. “It will only take a few minutes. Your bodyguard is welcome to wait here.”
Normally, that would piss him off. Being mistaken for anything other than the boss. But, when it comes down to it, that’s what he is—her protector. He’ll never let anyone or anything hurt her again. Including himself.
Shae smiles at him, her eyebrows lifting in amusement. Yeah, she’s going to tease him about that later. And he’ll love every minute of the sweet torture. “This is my fiancé, Nick DeMarco.”
Wide eyes and gaping mouth precede the receptionist’s reply. “I-I’m so sorry. I just thought…I read on Total-E-News…”
“It’s fine. We’re ready when you are.”
Her head bobs vigorously, huge circles as crimson as her hair dotting her cheeks. “Yes. Of course. I’ll take you back.” They follow her through the doorway into the first exam room. “Dr. Patterson got called to the hospital for a delivery, but her nurse will take your blood and send it to the lab.” She motions toward the exam table. “Go ahead and have a seat. She’ll be right in.”
“Okay, thank you.” The paper liner crackles under Shae as she slides onto the cushion. Her legs dangle over the side, swinging slightly, reflecting her nervousness. He drops down onto the rolling stool across from her and entwines her delicate hands in his. Her head shakes, but she still smiles at his temerity. “I think that’s the doctor’s seat.”
He winks and gives her an exaggerated whisper, “She’s not here. She’ll never know.”
“You’re so bad.”
“That’s why you love me.”
The door opens again, and a blonde woman in scrubs covered with tiny rainbows strides in and smiles at them before washing her hands at the stainless steel sink in the small work area. “Hi, Miss Armstrong. I’m Kathryn. Are you ready?”
“Yes, please.”
He gives her trembling hand another squeeze and stands up, moving next to her. Kathryn pulls on latex gloves and lifts up Shae’s arm, gently tapping on the crook and rubbing her finger over the skin. A frown darkens her expression as she squints, grabbing the glasses from the top of her head and sliding them onto the bridge of her nose. “How have you been feeling, honey?”
Shae hugs herself with her free arm, glancing at him before looking back at the nurse. “I’m a little bit tired. It’s been kind of hectic the last few days.”
An inaccurate description of the hell she’s gone through. Always protecting him from himself. He can’t let her diminish the truth to spare his feelings. “She collapsed and was released from the hospital yesterday. The doctor said she was dehydrated.”
“I think you still are, and I’m afraid I might not be able to get a clean stick without the vein collapsing. I don’t want to miss and put you through that.”
Hell no. Shae’s not going to be the victim of this woman’s ineptitude. He steps closer, ready to create a barrier between the women. “Then you better get someone who—”
“What should we do?” Shae strokes his fingers, attempting to soothe his worry. Once again, the calm to his storm, even when he’s supposed to be her shelter from the turmoil.
“I’m going to get you some water.” The nurse looks up from her inspection, giving Shae an encouraging smile. “That’ll help us plump up those stubborn veins.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“No problem. Be right back.”
After the woman departs, Shae nods toward the closed door. “She’s sweet. I can tell she knows what she’s doing.”
