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“Hi, my sweet Penny. How are you feeling?”
“My leg hurtses, Daddy.” She wails. But after a minute, she eyes Landon and I standing in the door and tries composing herself. The next thing I know, her eyes are round and her mouth is dropped open.
“Lando, is that your bestie? She IS stunning!”
Whipping my head to Landon, I stare at him like he’s crazy. He was telling this precious little girl about me? Before I can ask him what that’s all about, he’s answering her.
“She sure is Princess Penny! Isn’t she just the prettiest thing you’ve even seen?” Stunned, all I can do is watch as she nods her head up and down and just smiles back at him. This whole time I forget Cash is even in the room until I hear him chuckling. I turn to see him grinning at us all and just taking it in.
“I don’t know all about that, but I am here to check on you. So, you said you’re still waiting to see the doctor? Let me go check and see where he’s at and I will be right back.” I make my way out the door and am halfway down the hall before Landon catches up to me.
“Well, that was pretty interesting?” He snickered.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, don’t play all innocent with me. Cash is fucking gorgeous, and I saw the lingering glances you two were throwing each other. Not to mention the palpable tension when I walked in the room and saw you put that man in his place. And damn, did he take it like a champ when you called him out.”
Rolling my eyes, I try to ignore how true everything Landon just said is. “Sure, he’s hot, but he was a complete ass when I first got in the door. Immediately going all alpha asshole without even giving me a chance to see what I could do for them.”
“Eh, yeah, but I bet he looked hot as hell doing it. Besides, he was upset because his precious angel is hurt, and he DID apologize.”
“Yes, he did. I was actually a little surprised by that. And what the hell was all of that talk about me being stunning? You know I love you, but you don’t need to try and talk me up to other people.”
“I wasn’t talking you up, Chayse. It’s the truth! You’re stunning and intriguing and you don’t even realize. Not my fault you can’t see what everyone else does. I’ve been telling you for years. Maybe if a hunk of a man like Cash takes notice, maybe then you’ll actually believe me.”
“I don’t need him to take notice. I’m not looking for a man. Especially one with a child. She’s absolutely adorable, but I barely have time to devote to a guy, let alone give a kid the attention they deserve.”
“Well, you don’t have to marry him, but a tumble in his sheets would probably be a hell of time. Did you see how big his hands are? Not to mention the muscles?”
“I think you’ve got a little drool there.” I point at his chin. Just then we get a page for an incoming trauma.
“I’ll go take that. You go find Dr. Carson and make sure growly daddy Cash doesn’t get all worked up again. Although, I don’t know if that would necessarily be a bad thing.” With a smirk, he darted down the hall back to prep the trauma room.
Thankfully, I was able to find Dr. Carson in between seeing patients. Knowing that she was in for a leg injury, he orders an X-ray. With the orders, I headed back to the precious Penny and her growly, gorgeous dad.
My heart about stopped when I walked in to see Cash curled up on the bed with Penny who was coloring a picture and chatting away. At 29, I know I still have plenty of time to settle down and have a family, but I’ve never really longed for it until right this moment. Not really wanting to deal with that thought at the moment, I knock on the door to let them know I’m here.
“Chayse!”
“Hey there little lady. Good news. I found Dr. Carson and he ordered an X-ray of your leg. That means you and I get to go for a ride!”
“Okay! Do I get to ride in the neat chair? Is my daddy going to come with us.”
“Yeah, we can take a wheelchair instead of your whole bed. We’ll make sure that we have your leg protected and head out. Unfortunately, your daddy is going to have to stay here, but I will be with you the whole time. I also am glad to see that you love to color. You think you can help fill in some of the lines on my arm?” I whip out my stash of markers from my scrubs that I keep on hand for occasions just like this.
“Really!?! I can color in your pretty tattoos? Daddy, did you hear that?”
When I look at Cash, he doesn’t look too thrilled about the idea of me letting his daughter color on my arms and I get it. He’s probably worried that she’s going to want to color on her own arms. Before he can make any objections, I speak up. “I forgot to tell you that this is only a one-time deal. These are special markers that are okay to use on skin, but that doesn’t mean you can color your skin, or anybody else’s whenever you want, got it?”
“Yes, I get it! It’s only okay to use your special markers and color on your skin today.”
“You got it, sister!”
“I don’t have a sister or a brother. I asked my daddy for one last year, but he said he didn’t think that would happen any time soon. I also asked Ashley, she’s my mom but I doesn’t call her that, but she said I was the perfect kid and how could she ever make another one as cool?”
I eye Cash who is rubbing the back of his neck looking pretty uncomfortable. I was wondering where Penny’s mom was, but it’s definitely not my place. I can’t help but tuck away the possibility that she’s not really in the picture and maybe Cash is single. Not that that really matters to me since I’m not looking for a relationship.
“Pen, I don’t think Chayse wants to know all the nitty gritty about all of that.” He seems exasperated and I can’t help but find it kind of adorable.
