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I let go of the breath I held. Thinking about Linc was enough to ease my nerves around King, because the anger he induced cleared my head of the disorientation King caused. “My ex is being an asshole.” I remembered what King had said about having exp
erience raising girls. “Tell me, would you allow your fourteen-year-old daughter out on a date at night?”
“Only if I had eyes on her at all times.”
I frowned. “You’d stake out her date?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I know the shit that runs through a fourteen-year-old boy’s mind.”
“Oh, God.” I yanked my phone back out and hit Linc’s number. Looking up at King, who continued to watch me with that damn intensity I wish he’d let go of, I said, “One sec, I have to rip my ex a new one.”
Amusement flickered in his eyes and across his lips again.
When the call went to message bank, I let loose on Linc. “You better get your ass over to my place quick fucking smart, Linc, and tell your daughter that you made a mistake by saying yes to her date tonight. If you don’t fix this, I swear to God, you will regret it. I will find all the ways under the sun to make you regret it.”
I stabbed at the phone when I was done and looked at King and demanded, “What?” when I saw the way his eyebrows had arched. “You think I’m a bitch to my ex? He deserved that, for so much more than just this! I’m sick and tired of putting up with his crap.” My heart raced with anger and frustration. Why did I ever take this journey with Linc? He’d given me nothing but heartache and grief for years now, and I wasn’t sure how much more I could handle.
King shook his head. “No, I’m just thinking ‘good fucking luck’ to your ex.”
“Yeah, he’s going to need it,” I muttered before blowing out another long breath and changing the subject. “Are you heading up to see your sister?”
“Yeah. How’s she doing today?”
“Good this morning. She managed to put weight on both legs, which I’m really happy with. I’m just going for a smoke before I do this afternoon’s session with her. I’ll see you there if you’re still around. I have a list of physios for you to check out, too.”
He nodded and continued on. I watched him walk away, wondering again about that scar on his face. Heck, there were a lot of things I wondered about that man. Things I’d never find the answers to. Things I would probably rather not know. And yet, I’d found my thoughts drifting to him since we met.
That’s because you’re the good girl who always falls for the bad boy.
It’s time you got your shit together and found yourself a nice stable man.
Ugh.
I sounded like my mother.
Brynn was right.
I was turning into her.
“So you think she may be able to leave here in a couple of days?” King asked as I finished up Skylar’s session.
I smiled at Skylar who settled herself on the chair next to the bed. She’d worked hard today, and I was more than happy with her progress. “Yes.” I passed him my list of recommended physiotherapists. “Here’s that list I promised.”
“Appreciate it,” he said, taking the list and perusing it. “There are only a few names on here.”
“Yes.” When he glanced back up at me, questioningly, I added, “I’m fussy with my recommendations. I would never give you the name of someone if I wouldn’t personally use them.”
“Good to know.” He folded the piece of paper and pushed it into the pocket of his jeans. Then to his sister, he said, “I’ll get the guys to set up a room for you with everything you want, so text me a list today.” He glanced back at me. “Is there anything you recommend I get to make shit easier for her?”
Yesterday, I’d thought King a rude man. Maybe he was, but I couldn’t help softening my opinion of him as I took in how much he cared for his sister. I’d worked with a lot of families in my role at the hospital, and sadly, I wasn’t surprised anymore when it was clear some of them treated caring for an injured family member as the biggest burden they’d ever endured. That kind of scenario happened all too often. King was different. He cared deeply and by the looks of it, would do whatever it took to help Skylar recover.
I listed a few things I thought would help and had just finished when his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and said, “I’ve gotta take this,” before stepping out of the room.
“Thank you for all your help,” Skylar said, distracting me from watching King go. It was hard to draw my gaze from him though. When jeans hugged a man’s ass the way King’s did, it was almost impossible.
When I finally turned to Skylar, she watched me like she was entertained by me. Ignoring that, I said, “Absolutely.”
Smiling, she shook her head. “I can never work out why women are so freaking attracted to my brother.”
