Emmett’s eyes go wide. “Yeah!”
Luc hands him his phone, and I want to kiss the man more than ever.
Luc gets up and paces around the waiting room, giving me a chance to check out his profile. And his butt in those jeans.
If I know anything for sure, it’s that Luc Valencia is going to make some lucky woman very, very happy one day.
I stifle a sigh and pick up a magazine on the table in front of us. My eyes are just running over the pages when Luc sits down in the empty chair to my left. He manspreads so his right leg bumps my left.
I look over at him.
“You okay,linda?”he asks in a whisper.
I frown. “Doeslindamean the same thing asboba?Because if so, the answer is no.”
His teeth flash in a sudden smile. “You’re so funny.” Then he shakes his head and looks at me from under those curling lashes. “No. It meansbeautiful.”
My jaw unhinges. Before I can say anything, the interior door opens, and a teenage boy comes out. He goes to the guy waiting on the other side of the lobby, and they gather coats and keys. Then the nurse pops out again.
“Delacroixes?” she calls, eyeing us.
I stand. “Emmett, give Luc back his phone.”
Emmett doesn’t take his eyes off the screen. “But—”
“C’mon, buddy. It’s our turn,” I urge. I glance back at the nurse with a look of apology.
“Your boyfriend can come back, too, if you want.”
My eyes must bug out of my head. “Oh, he’s not my—”
“Yay!” Emmett cheers in triumph, clutching Luc’s phone close.
I glance at Luc. His brows are raised, the scarred one make him look just a little wicked. As does the half-amused-half-cautious look in his eye.
“Buddy, I think that might be a little awkward for him,” I say. When I glance back at Luc, he’s smirking. I can almost read his mind.More awkward than everything else?This man has smelled my stinky scrubs; viewed the inside of my dirty fridge; seen nearly all of my underwear; watched me cry; kissed me senseless; slept in Emmett’s bed; slept in my bed; glimpsed me pulling up my pants; and witnessed my brother puking.
At the thought of it all, I blush to my roots. Yeah, maybe he’s seen enough.
“C’mon, bud. It’ll be quick.”
“In and out,” the nurse promises with a nod.
Emmett goes still. “Wait a minute,” he says with suspicion, eyeing the nurse. “Are you going to give me a shot?”
Her poker face is terrible. “Only if it’snecessary.”
Damn.Emmett has a thing about needles. It’s understandable. I give injections nearly every day, and I’m still not jumping for joy at the prospect of being stuck by one. But Emmett has always hated shots.
And this is the first time without Mom and Dad that he’s had to face one.
I look back at my little brother to find his eyes wide and his lips compressed. His gaze flicks to Luc. He’s trying very hard to be brave. Emmett pulls in a deep inhale through his nose. I watch his chest rise and fall.
“I’m not a baby,” he says under his breath, and I’m pretty sure he’s saying this for no one but himself.
But bless his heart. He’s only eight.
Emmett gulps and nods, looking resolved. “Luc, would you come back with us?”
