Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“Sure.”
“So what happened this time? Did you strain your hip?”
“The pain has been building over a few days.” Maggie tried to sit up when Jack returned with the water. Ian immediately moved over and sat behind her, pulling her so she lay back against him. Jameson gave her the pills and she put them in her mouth. But when she went to grab the glass of water, Jack brushed her hand away and held the glass up to her mouth.
“You’re doing so well,” Ian said. “Drink that all down.”
“I guess the stress of the last few days hasn’t helped,” Jameson said as Jack moved away. “And there’s been little time for yoga. Or taking care of yourself.”
She glanced away at the light scolding note in his voice.
“Hey, look at me.” Jameson waited until she turned her face back to him. “I know that there has been a lot going on. But that’s even more reason to take care of yourself. Because you getting sick or hurt isn’t going to help anyone.”
Right. Great.
Now the really sexy doctor was telling her off.
She sniffled. It was kind of the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“What the fuck, Jameson?” Ian snarled.
“Why did you say that to her?” Jack snapped. “You upset her!”
Jameson’s mouth dropped open. Then he closed it with a scowl. “And this is why the two of you shouldn’t be in here.”
“Why? So you can make her cry without an audience?” Ian asked.
“Guys,” she said. “Chill out. I’m fine. I just . . . I don’t like being a disappointment.”
She heard someone suck in a breath. Then, there was the sound of a thud. She quickly glanced back to find Jameson rubbing his arm.
“Did one of you hit him? Bad guards. Bad,” she scolded.
Okay. She was losing it.
Jameson cleared his throat. Then, to her surprise, he crouched down beside her. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like a disappointment. You could never be that, all right?”
“Sure.” Unfortunately, he had no idea how much of a disappointment she already was.
Jameson’s gaze narrowed. “I mean it. You are not a disappointment.”
Her eyes widened in surprise at his stern tone. Yikes. She expected this from Ian. Not Jameson.
“I want to hear you say it.”
“What?” she asked.
“Say you’re not a disappointment.”
“Do you do this to all your patients?” she asked with a huff.
“The ones who call themselves a disappointment, I do. Although that’s only happened once.”
She blew out a breath. “I’m not a disappointment.”
“Good girl.”
Did he know what those words did to her?
Jameson leaned in closer. “Someone likes being a good girl.”
“Um. No. No idea what you mean.”
He grinned, but his smile quickly faded into a more professional look.
“Now, last I knew, I was the one with a medical degree, missy. So I’ll be the one that will do the diagnosing. Understand?”
She sighed, but nodded.
“Right. Are you all right with me pulling down your pants to get access to your hip?” he asked.
A blush filled her face which was silly, but she nodded. “Yes.”
She winced as she attempted to get her pants off.
“Stop,” Ian grumbled. “You’re hurting yourself.”
Yeah, but she had to get them down somehow. To her surprise, Ian slid out from behind her, before he carefully stood her up. He held her so she was several inches above the ground. Then, Jack kneeled and gently drew her yoga pants down to the tops of her knees.
“Can you . . . can you take them right off?” she asked, feeling her cheeks grow red with embarrassment. “It will be easier if I don’t have to keep pulling them on and off. I’ll need to find something else to wear.”
“I’ll get you something to wear,” Jack told her as he slowly removed the pants.
By the time they were done, she was feeling ridiculously exhausted.
They laid her back down and Jameson prodded and poked at her hip, which had her hissing in pain. Jack returned with a pair of track pants that definitely weren’t hers.
And Ziggy.
She took hold of him, blushing slightly. Jameson knew about Ziggy from the hospital the other night, but it felt different having him see her with him now in the light of day.
“Don’t be embarrassed. We’re here to take care of you,” Ian told her. “And you don’t need to worry about anyone else’s feelings or what they might think of you.”
Right. Easier said than done.
“You need your zebra,” Jameson said. “What was his name again?”
“Ziggy.” She rubbed her face with the zebra. “Uncle Willy gave him to me when I was five. He’s getting a bit worn, but I love him.”
“I’m sure he loves you too.” Jameson smiled at her and she smiled back. “All right, Shortcake. I think you’ve been on your leg a bit too much. You haven’t been listening to your body when it’s told you to slow down and now you’re at the point where you need to stop or you’re going to do some permanent damage.”