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Zander chuckled as if Max was the best source of entertainment he’d had all month. “I do love how you don’t give me any ground. Come, come, hospital first. I’ll show you which cars you can drive as we head out. Most of them are fine for you to take, but not the superbikes; they’re tuned for racing.”
Max had seen what was in the garage on the way in last night. Zander didn’t own a single sensible vehicle, just sports cars and Ducati bikes. “I’m not driving any of those.”
Zander patted him on the head, smiling like Max was just the cutest thing. “If you say so.”
Why did he get the distinct impression he’d just lost this argument too?
Chapter 3
Max had more or less been living at the hospital since his father’s accident, so reception knew him well. What he did not expect was for them to recognize Zander and start fawning over him.
“Mr. Zander, how are you?” The charge nurse, whom Max thought of as Atilla the Hun, was all smiles as she approached.
“Ms. Raquel, you look stunning. I love that new haircut.”
Atilla the Hun blushed. It just about stopped Max in his tracks. The woman known to terrorize this entire floor was capable of blushing?
Max suspected vampire charm was at play here. Either that or he was inThe Twilight Zone.
She glanced at Max curiously as she stopped in front of them, but her focus was on Zander. “Are you here to donate?”
Donate…what exactly? Max was so very lost.
“I can, if you need me to, but that’s not my main purpose today.” Zander rested a hand against the small of Max’s back. “My Max’s father is in intensive care. I’d like to arrange Mr. Monroe’s care and settle his current hospital bill.”
“Oh! I didn’t realize the connection. Of course, please come with me.” She addressed Max as they walked toward the room, dodging other patients and parked gurneys. “He’s doing well this morning, no change from yesterday.”
“Good.” Max was relieved. He sometimes woke up in a cold sweat, dreaming the hospital had called to tell him his father had unexpectedly passed during the night. Stress dreams were the worst.
“I’d like to transfer him to a private room so he can rest without noise and distraction.” Zander said this like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Oh, of course, we can do that,” Nurse Raquel assured him.
Max caught Zander’s arm and gave a minute shake of his head. No. This wasn’t what they agreed on. Zander was just supposed to maintain his father’s current care, not go overboard.
Zander gave him a smile. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” Max hissed, trying to keep his voice down. “This isn’t what I asked of you—”
“I don’t want you stressed and worried about him. Oh, Ms. Raquel, it’s fine if he has a nurse assigned to him ’round the clock, correct?”
“We can arrange that.”
Trying again, Max pulled Zander to a stop and shook his head firmly. He didn’t even want to know what this would cost him later. His father was fine where he was, he didn’t need any VIP treatment.
“Why are you so mad at me?” Zander whined.
“Because you’re going overboard,” Max replied, tone flat. “You’ve been going overboard all morning.”
“But I’m doing things that will take stress off you!”
“In the process, you’re stressing me out. Damn counterproductive if you ask me.”
“Just take it.” Zander winked before moving ahead with the nurse. “Ms. Raquel, I don’t mind donating—as I said—but can we do that while I fill out the necessary paperwork? I have another errand today.”
“Oh, of course. How much do you want to give today?”
“A pint, maybe? I think I can manage that.”
