“Already on it. It won’t help her today, but I’ve already got her on an IV and gave her the migraine cocktail.”
“You’re the best, Luz. Reach out if you need anything else.”
We said goodbye and I leaned against the house, taking it all in. Maybe it was the newbie doctor in me, but I was pleased down to my bones that a patient trusted me enough that she’d asked for my opinion before making a decision. It was a rewarding feeling. And validating as well because it proved I was doing something right.
The door creaked open and Bodhi stuck his head out. “You good?”
I nodded. “Call about a patient. I was just taking a second to breathe. It’s loud in there tonight.”
Bodhi wrinkled his nose. “Yeah. And your boyfriend is looking a bit overwhelmed. He probably thinks we should run every guest by him too.”
I tried to jab Bodhi in the arm but he was too quick. I scowled. “Don’t be an asshole. He’s doing his job. Security is important. Besides,” I shot him a look, “youwere the one pushing for securing the property.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Bodhi seemed to realize he was acting like a child instead of a whole ass adult, and he straightened up. “I don’t know what his problem is with me.”
I had an inkling but I knew better than to mention it. Instead, I gave him a look. “You could, I don’t know, actually talk to him about it. What happened to see the hill, take the hill?”
A dark cloud passed over his face. “I left the Corps. Get back inside and finish dinner before your mother comes looking for you.”
With that, he turned away, the door nearly slamming behind him. Worry pooled in my gut. Bodhi had been out of sorts since he came back, and I knew something had happened. He still wasn’t talking to anyone about it, except maybe Dad. But it was clear I touched a nerve, and it hurt my heart to see him change that way. I wanted my brother back, and I wanted to help heal whatever part of him was hurting.
But I couldn’t help him if he didn’t want to be helped. At least not yet. So instead, I had to focus on the people I could help. Like my patients, who wanted my opinion before choosing a course of treatment. And Ville, who needed to be squished as hard as I did, even if he didn’t know it. He’d at least let me do the squishing.
In fact, that sounded like a great idea. I’d go back in, finish dinner, and then escape with Ville. I’m sure we could find all sorts of things to get up to that would put us both back together.
Chapter 15
Ville
Things rolled on steadily at the ranch. I worked either on the remaining tweaks in security or wherever a pair of hands was needed.
I relearned to enjoy mucking stalls, which shouldn’t have surprised me as much as it did. I’d loved it as a kid at grandpa’s place, after all. It felt good to do something to both help others and to make sure the animals were well cared for. Not that there was ever any doubt on that front, because the Harringtons and their staff were nothing if not diligent about animal welfare.
I spent most nights with Emery in my bed, and sometimes, if he was home in the daytime, we’d sneak in a quickie somewhere private.
Becoming addicted to him wasn’t a surprise. The sex was the best I’d ever had. We played with the power exchange a little bit more as the days passed, but not every time.
That wasn’t the issue though. The issue was that I got the vibe that everyone was starting to see us as a real couple, and we weren’t that. We couldn’t be, because I would be leaving with Wren to keep him safe first at the studio and then his tour in another two weeks.
As I waited for the private jet to land, I felt the usual itch to get moving. I was always excited about the tours, traveling aside. It was never boring, and I could concentrate on my job most of the time. It left less time for thinking, which I took as a blessing.
Even waiting like this wasn’t great. I had too much time and it made my mind wander to Emery. He was just such a good person, like all the Harringtons. He deserved someone who could be there for him after long days at work and keep his bed warm at night, and that wasn’t me.
The jet rolled toward the hangar, stopping right in front of the massive, open doors. I grinned and got out of the SUV, unable to stop myself from jogging to the plane.
Grinning, I stopped at a safe distance so they could lower the stairs, then laughed as I heard Wren tell Abigail off for not letting him out first.
“You know Ville would want me to go first—”
He pushed her aside. “He’s right fucking there, Abi!”
And then he flew down the stairs and into my arms, and I felt oddly whole again.
I’d never believed in platonic soulmates before I met Wren. There’d never been an ounce of sexual attraction between us, and that was a fucking blessing in so many ways.
I squeezed him tight. “Welcome to Colorado,” I told him, then let him go to take a look at him while he did the same to me.
The bags from under his eyes were gone. He’d had fun, even if his hours must’ve been horrible like every creative’s who got really into doing their thing.
