Page 75 of Hayden's Haven
“There’s still a guard outside. I dismissed two to return to border patrol. Unless you prefer more.”
He would know better than her if she needed any guards at all. She didn’t need any guards, but Hayden was being cautious. “That’s fine. I’m just heading to the lab. Will you come get me when you’re ready?”
“Ready for what?”
“Talk. A meal. Sex. Anything.”
“Watch it, Doctor. Or someone might accuse you of playing mind games with your patients.”
That was more like Hayden. Joking, flirting. He probably simply needed time. “Later then?” she said as she reached up and combed his thick black hair back with her fingers. “Whatever you want to do later, Hayden. Your choice.”
The corners of his mouth quirked. “The best offer I’ve had in a while.” He kissed her cheek. It wasn’t a kiss on the lips, but it would do. “Later, sunshine.”
As soon as he left, Mila dressed and headed to the lab. While she was crazy busy with cataloging results and setting up the next stage of testing, the day dragged, likely because she kept looking at the door.
“He’s not coming,” Mila said.
“Give him time,” Anna replied.
“It’s been eight hours.”
“And Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
“You’re not helping.”
“Sorry. How’s that last test going?”
“Slow as molasses.”
“Hmm. Pancakes.”
“This isn’t a word association game.”
“You’re the one who mentioned molasses. I can’t help if it made me think of pancakes. Ooh. . . pecan pie! I miss pecan pie. And now I’m hungry again. Thanks a lot. Are you coming with me?” Anna said as she rose and grabbed her coat.
“You could just find something in the kitchen here.”
“Not pancakes. Besides, I think with how hungry I’ve been, I’m better off taking the long walk to the cookhouse to get some exercise in before I turn into a boat.”
“You’re not going to turn into a boat.”
“Is that Mila the doctor promising or Mila the friend who doesn’t want me to worry?”
“Both.”
“He’ll come for you.”
“I know,” Mila said, but in truth, she didn’t feel so confident.
Mila went through the rest of the day without seeing Hayden. She had her guard trailing behind her that evening, but no sign of Hayden. She went to sleep in her bed at Aloe’s and woke, alone, cold, and disheartened. It wasn’t like Hayden to break a promise. As she dressed, she played over everything in her head for the hundredth time. Ultimately, she had come to the same conclusion as Damien. She wondered if Hayden had too.
“Hi,” Hayden said from the sofa as Mila descended the stairs.
Oh, how she had missed him. It had only been a day, but they had never talked about what had happened at Damien’s. Her stomach was churning and her wolf was pacing, worrying about Hayden. She had wanted to be there for him, to support him, but he hadn’t needed or wanted her.
“Hi back,” she said, standing at the base of the stairs.
“You okay?”
