Page 40 of Eye of Her Storm

“Ms. Szuzman, this is Dr. Jeff Collins. I’m a colleague of your father.”

“Okay…”

“I’ll be brief. Your dad spoke with me about your tumor, and I think I can help you. I’d like to take a look at your files, see what I would be dealing with, but the fact of the matter is: my team and I are some of the only ones doing the surgery to remove tumors like yours—something your dad knows. He was one of those on the front lines for getting me funding throughout my development of the procedure I use—”

River sank to the ground, her legs unable to hold her. Her brain buzzed, drowning out his words as he went on to describe his location and some of his work.

“You mean…you might be able to…save me?” she asked, her voice weak and thready. She could barely believe what she was hearing.

“Very possibly. My success rate is eighty percent—if a tumor’s within my operable parameters, which are far greater than anyone else in the country. I have to see what I’m dealing with though. I won’t know until I see the data. Please get the files sent to me today. I know it’s a rush, but I have an opening available right now. I can meet with you tomorrow, and if everything looks good, I can operate the following day. Can you get out here to California by tomorrow afternoon?”

She didn’t have to think. She’d find a way. “Yes. I’ll be there.”

“All right. Good. Give me your email address, and I’ll have my office send you all the information and forms you’ll need.”

Afterward, River just sat there, her body cold with shock but hope surging through her. She could live… She would live. She’d live! Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked the future in the face and it beckoned her toward it, the possibilities so far-flung and immense she could barely comprehend. The past month, everything had shrunk to a tiny, suffocating box, and now…hope. So much hope.

She jumped to her feet then took a minute to steady herself, her tumor reasserting itself. Her fingers clenched on the back of the couch as she prayed this would all be over soon. Her mind raced with all the things to accomplish in the next few hours. First, a call to her doctor’s office then she needed to tell the guys.

No. As quickly as the thought came, she pushed it away. She couldn’t. She couldn’t get their hopes up only to have them dashed. Who knew what the outcome of tomorrow’s appointment would be? Seth and Tai had said they’d be with her every step of the way, but… As hopeful as she was right now, if there would be more disappointment, she just couldn’t handle giving that to them. She’d find out what Dr. Collins decided then she’d call the guys. Yeah, that was a good plan. A better one anyway.

Moving as quickly as she dared, she dialed her doctor’s office and asked for the files to be electronically transferred immediately. Once she explained the urgency and approved a huge debit from her checking account, she was assured it would be done by the end of the afternoon. After dealing with that paperwork, she made a plane reservation for tomorrow morning. She’d have to leave just a little after the guys went out for the day. Hopefully, she’d be able to go undetected. If they caught on to what was happening, they’d pitch a fit and possibly delay things. Guilt plagued her. She hated keeping this a secret, but she couldn’t drag them into one more unknown.

Those two hurdles leapt, she called Madison. She needed a huge favor.

* * * *

Tai hadn’t seen such a huge smile on River’s face since… God, he could barely remember when. Last summer, maybe? He glanced at Seth, who shrugged, then looked back at her, his own grin growing wide as her infectious happiness seeped into him.

“What’s up?” he asked as he started to toe off his boots.

“Leave them on!” she said quickly.

“Okay…”

“We’re going out.”

“Where to?” Seth asked.

“Well, it’s pretty warm. The work-study kids are at Last Chance for dinner. I’m feeling great, and I want that horse ride you offered yesterday. I packed dinner, blankets…lube.”

“Baby,” Tai growled, his cock growing hard enough he wasn’t sure he could ride. “Get over here.”

She hurried over, smacking into him with an oomph! What had gotten into her? He didn’t know, but he sure would be getting into her soon. He lifted her into his arms, his hand under her ass, pushing her against his iron-like erection while his other hand speared into her hair. “You’re so fucking hot,” he muttered.

“Back atcha. Seth, get your ass over here. I want both my men.”

“Yes, ma’am.” But he was already behind her, his hands stroking up her torso and occasionally brushing Tai with the lightest of touches. Tai shivered at the feeling of both his lovers. Seth’s fingers slid up Tai’s arm to cup the back of his head while Tai devoured River’s mouth, and Seth kissed the back of her neck.

“I love you both,” River gasped as she pulled away from Tai’s mouth, “but if we keep this up, we’re going to fuck in the front hallway. I want to make love by the river, with the clouds overhead and just nature around us…the mountains and trees as our background.”

“You’ve thought this out.”

“I want to make a memory.”

Tai’s throat closed, and he swallowed hard. “Let’s do it, baby.”

She wanted to make a memory, but for him, every minute was a memory. He’d grasp them all tightly and never let go.

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