Page 30 of Healer’s Betrayal

I drop my apron in the back and grab my phone and wallet. “Have a good night,” I call out to the kitchen staff as I make my way out the back door. I check my phone for messages as I walk around to the front of the building. When I see a voicemail from an unknown number, I stop walking. My heart rate picks up, and my hands shake. I force myself to take a calming breath before I look at the translation. I don’t want to listen to it yet in case it’s my uncle. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see it’s just a sales’ call.

“What’s wrong?”

Jackson’s words startle me so much, I jump and drop my phone. “Good grief.” He bends and picks up my phone before I can and hands it back to me.

“Sorry to startle you. What’s wrong?”

I try to force my heart rate back to its normal pace. “Nothing. You just gave me a heart attack when you appeared out of nowhere.”

He smirks. “I called your name.”

I frown. “You did?”

He nods, serious once again. “You were too engrossed in your phone to notice. Everything okay?” He asks the question casually, and yet, I catch the undercurrent of something dangerous.

“Yeah, it was just a sales’ call.”

I make the mistake of meeting his eyes. Those electric blues suck me right in again. “But you thought it was somebody else?” he pushes.

I narrow my eyes at him for a moment. “Maybe,” I tell him, not looking away.

He scowls. “And you’re not going to tell me who.”

I laugh. “No. Why would I? I barely know you, Jackson.”

“So, get to know me. Come have a late lunch or early dinner with me.”

“What?” I stare at him.

“Have lunch with me,” he repeats.

“I can’t. I have to go home to relieve Renee.” I realize he has no idea who that is. “My friend that watches Noah while I work the early shift on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

“Bring him with,” he says easily.

I stare at him in shock. “Bring him...”

“Yeah. I’d like to get to know him too.”

“He’s seven,” I blurt out.

He nods. “Okay.”

I can’t even begin to process this turn of events. “You want my seven-year-old brother to come with us on a,” I catch myself before I say date. I can feel my face heating at my near slip-up. “For lunch,” I correct.

“Yes. Do you want me to drive? We can swing by your place and pick him up.”

“Uh, no. I’ll drive. I don’t want to leave my car here.”

“Okay. I’ll follow you.” I continue to stare at him, trying to wrap my mind around this. “You have to walk to your car to be able to drive home,” he adds when I don’t move.

I scowl up at him. “Yeah. Got that.”

He smirks, and I force myself to walk to my car. I unlock it, and he opens the door for me, surprising me. “Oh. Thanks.” I slide into the front seat.

Right before he closes my door, he leans in. “And Kayla?”

“Yes?” My voice is not nearly as strong as I want it to be.