Page 10 of Bear Outlaws


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“I told you I don’t date. Especially patients.”

“But I’m not a patient!” I sounded like a whiny child. Calm down. Regain control.

“That’s true you aren’t. But your brother is and things could get complicated. And you’re triplets for crying out loud!”

“What does that have to do with it?”

She paused to collect her thoughts. “I know that you are three different people. But, I’m sure you have some sort of connection to each other that other brothers do not. Dealing with one man in my life would be too much at the moment, let alone three.”

“You don’t have to interact with my brothers more than you want to,” I lied through my teeth. Jared would have my head if he heard what I just said, but I was desperate. How was I going to convince her to be with me if she never spent more than a few minutes at a time near me?

“You have no idea what you’re getting into. My life is more complicated than you could imagine.”

As is mine, my dear. Try I’m a shapeshifting triplet whose brother happens to lead the largest and most dangerous biker gang on the East Coast. Complicated doesn’t begin to cover it. “I can deal with complicated. It keeps it interesting.”

“Yeah, well that’s what I used to think and look where it got me.”

Her head tilted to the side and she looked like a lost little girl.

“A super cute nurse that would have tons of fun with a guy named Wes?”

“A single mother of two with a stalker ex-husband that’s probably going to kill me.”

She said it so quietly that I thought I misheard. “What?”

“My ex-husband. It’s…messy.”

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Never mind. It’s personal.”

“With all due respect, I’m highly interested in your personal business. I’m trying to become a part of it. And I think I can help.”

The look on Jen’s face morphed into stone. “Listen, I don’t need someone prying into my private life. If I wanted you to know something I would tell you. And if I wanted to go out with you, I would. Please just leave me alone.” She replied hotly, and left the room quickly, nearly toppling the supply cart on her way out. An anger like nothing else I have ever experienced burned brightly in my chest. It wasn’t that she was rude to me, or her clear disregard for social niceties or my feelings. Those stung, but I knew it was only her way of trying to keep a stiff upper lip. She didn’t want to be vulnerable. Not to me. Not to anyone. And that’s what fucking pissed me off. Because whoever did this to her, broke her. And I wasn’t going to stop until I found out who this asshole was and where I could find him.

Chapter 9

Jennifer

I’ve successfully crushed my crush. The look on Wes’s face as I essentially told him to fuck off keeps playing in my mind over and over again. Why do I have such trouble with the nice guys? Men like Tim can break my heart time after time, and I turn into goo in their presence. However, nice guys like Wes I swipe like an annoying fly in my way. What’s wrong with me?

I threw myself into work to avoid making myself miserable. My mother was coming soon, and I just needed to make it until then.

After making my usual rounds, I stopped by the break room to refuel with a cup of coffee. Today was a slow day, which was something unusual enough that I wanted to take advantage of it. One of the other temps Jeannie reached into the fridge and grabbed some pumpkin spice creamer. It was International Delights, not the hospital provided off-brand stuff.

“You look like you could use some of the good stuff.” She winked. I held my cup out to her. She tilted the container and sloshed a bit into the chipped turquoise mug I usually selected.

“Thanks. You’re right. This whole week has been strange.”

“Family troubles?” She flashed a concerned look.

Here it was. I was careful, but apparently not enough. My secret was out. How were these vultures finding their information?

“Just a little spat with my mother. Nothing to worry about.” I tilted my fresh steaming coffee out into the sink and quickly cleaned up. Sadness pricked my heart. I couldn’t remember a time in my life where I wasn’t lying to protect myself. No one knew the real me. Except the guy that decided the real me needed punishment. Even though I know it’s not logical, there is a part of me that felt like I deserved it all. Like if I had done something different, better, I wouldn’t be in this situation, living this life. Tears pooled in the corners of my tired eyes.

Jeannie patted my forearm and looked up at me with crinkled eyes. “Oh honey, did I say something wrong?” Her concern ripped my heart further. There were so many facets of my life that were empty; friends, lovers, colleagues even. I was a ghost sliding through something that looked like a life on the outside. But it wasn’t. I couldn’t let anyone in. Not now. Tim could use anyone against me. I ripped my arm back away from her, knocking her own cup from her hands. It crashed to the floor and brown liquid sprayed up onto our scrubs. Jeannie was wearing white.

“Shit! I’m so sorry. I told you today wasn’t my day.” I grabbed a musty dish rag from the counter and dabbed at the puddle on the floor. The cheap fabric smeared the sticky liquid around. How much sugar had she put in her coffee? Blech.

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