Page 39 of Tangled Up

“No problem.” I go to the coffee pot and refresh my mug. It readsThou Shall Not Try Me, Mood 24:7, and I turn around to lean my hip against the counter, making sure the message is clearly visible.

He grins in that annoyingly sexy way and lowers his arms before sitting in the chair in front of my aunt at the table. “Tell me about this fall you had.”

“Oh, it was nothing.” She sits straighter. “I didn’t get enough to eat is all. It was low blood sugar.”

“Maybe. I’m the doctor, so I just have a few questions, okay?” His voice switches to kind, and my aunt is putty in his hands.

“Jeb couldn’t stop talking about what a fine doctor you’ve become.” She beams at him, and I roll my eyes.

“Did you notice any numbness in your face or sudden weakness?”

“Before or after I fell?”

“Before. Do you mind if I just listen to your heart?” He pulls a stethoscope out of his side pocket.

“Of course not.” She straightens, and he gently touches her shoulder.

He really has a nice bedside manner, but I won’t swoon over this big man treating my elderly aunt like a piece of delicate china. Much.

Okay, I’m swooning.

“Breathe normally.” He moves the disc around her back. “Did your vision blur or your head hurt suddenly?”

“I don’t remember any of that happening.”

“How about now? Have you had difficulty remembering things? Any weakness or fatigue or difficulty swallowing?” His voice is as tender as his touch, and I’m caught off-guard by his questions.

It’s the first time I’ve considered something might happen to Aunt Viv, and an urgent desperation for her to be okay tightens my throat. I put my mug down and step up behind her, putting my hand lightly on her shoulder.

“Not a bit.” She smiles, patting my hand. “I’ve been knitting blankets for the church, thanks to Carly here, and I haven’t dropped a stitch yet.”

He leans back, smiling up at me. “I think we’re all good here. No signs of stroke.”

“That’s what Henry said.” My voice is quiet.

“Here.” Aunt Viv hops out of her seat and walks over to the counter. “Take some of these scones for Henry. They’re his favorite.”

I watch as she makes a little bundle then pours coffee into a thermos. Closing the space between us, I pull her into a tight hug, kissing her cheek. “I love you, Aunt Viv.”

“My sweet girl.” She pats my arm, giving me a kiss. “Now you two run along. No point hanging around here with an old woman. You’ve got things to do.”

“Text me if you need anything.”

“I won’t.” She gives me a smile, but the glint in her eye tells me she’s up to something.

I have a pretty good idea what it is, and she can keep on scheming. I’m only walking him into town. Nothing more.

CHAPTERTWELVE

BECK

“This brings back memories.” I watch the wind lift Carly’s skirt higher on her thighs as she walks ahead of me on the white-sand path.

It reminds me of being a teen and how badly I wanted to touch her. She was the prettiest girl I’d ever seen, three years younger than me, the little sister of my best friend. Basically, she was completely off-limits, and she made my teenage dick so hard—like that has changed.

She was sassy and sexy and so damn smart. She had the biggest heart. She’d find a kitten and immediately start posting fliers and searching for its mother. She always wanted to do something big, and I was a total, fucking goner for her.

I didn’t have anybody in my life like her. My mom’s health had gradually deteriorated, and she was spending more and more time in bed. My dad buried himself in work, and when he was home, his favorite pastimes were drinking too much and hassling me about what I was going to do with my life.

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