Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
That sounded worse than it actually was. But Doc didn’t believe in taking temperatures the normal way. Nope, he had to use a rectal thermometer. He claimed it was more accurate. She wasn’t buying that baloney. She was certain he just liked sticking things up people’s butts.
Okay, that sounded bad too.
Only up Littles butts. He had a normal thermometer for when the men on the ranch were ill or injured.
Then there were the vitamin suppositories that he liked to prescribe for Littles. Yeah, there was a lot of butt stuff. And she hadn’t even gotten to the things Clint liked to do to her backside.
She could feel herself blushing at the thought.
“She’s flushed. She’s ill,” Clint said worriedly. A huge, cold hand rested on her forehead and she jumped, letting out a startled cry.
“Your hand is like an icicle,” she said, her throat scratchy.
Oh shit. She wasn’t actually ill, was she? Nope, she didn’t have time for this. She had stuff to do. She needed to call the caterer. She had to check with the florist. Her bridal shower was soon.
She reached up and lightly pushed Clint’s hand away. Then she opened her eyes, nearly gasping at the sight of three men staring down at her, concern filling their faces. She glanced quickly around, noting that she was lying on her bed, with a blanket over her.
“Umm, hi.”
She tried to sit but Clint reached out and grasped hold of her shoulder, keeping her flat on her back.
“Lie there, Charlotte. Don’t move.” Clint’s voice was so stern that she immediately nodded.
She reached up and rubbed her throbbing head.
“Charlie, do you remember what happened?” Linc asked. He was the other voice she’d heard. “Do you remember seeing me outside the barn?”
She frowned, thinking. Bits of memories came back to her. “Ahh, yes. What happened next?”
“You went all pale then you collapsed. I picked you up and brought you home.”
“What were you even doing out there?” Clint frowned as he sat on the bed, facing her. “It’s freezing outside. You shouldn’t be leaving the house. Where were you going?”
She cleared her throat. Hmm. This was going to take some explaining. And she wasn’t sure she wanted an audience for this chat.
“What is everyone doing in here? Why are you all crowding over my patient? Can she even breathe with all the looming?” a deep voice barked grouchily from the doorway.
Doc was here.
She’d thought he might be less grumpy now that he’d found Caley. Both he and his brother, Archer, were involved with Caley, which had kind of surprised Charlie. Doc didn’t seem the sharing type. But it seemed to work well for the three of them. She guessed Archer’s smooth calm evened out Doc’s gruffness.
But, unfortunately, he only seemed to soften when Caley was around. At least from what Charlie had seen. Then again, if he could get the room cleared of Kent and Linc she’d be grateful. She wasn’t really in the mood to be stared at.
“Out. I have work to do and I can’t do it with all of you in the way.” Doc stepped into the room and made shooing motions with his hands.
Kent sighed and glared at him. “You do know you work for me, right?”
Kent owned Jensen Security International. His headquarters were situated on Sanctuary Ranch. While Kent ran JSI, Clint ran the ranch. Technically, Doc was employed by Kent although he looked after everyone on the ranch.
“I’m vaguely aware of it,” Doc replied as he set his bag on an armchair in the corner of the room. “What of it?”
“You’re not supposed to shoo me.”
“I don’t remember that being in my employment agreement. I’m supposed to do what is in my patient’s best interests. And right now, what Charlie really wants is for me to shoo you, isn’t that right, sweetie?”
Sweetie? That was new. He’d never called her that before. In fact, mostly he didn’t address her, preferring to bark orders at Clint, which she’d always thought was rather brave of him.
Perhaps having Caley around was making him soften up.
Kent reached down and squeezed her hand. “Feel better soon, Charlie. Let me know if you need anything.” That last part was directed at Clint who nodded in reply.
“Hope you’re okay, sweetheart,” Linc told her, giving her a smile. She hoped he found someone special soon. She just knew he would make a great Daddy.
“Right, now that they’re all gone, someone tell me what happened.” Doc reached for her hand, resting two fingers on her pulse.
“I was outside for a walk and Linc called out to me. I must have turned too quickly or something. Because the next thing I knew, I woke up here.”
“Right. Did you feel sick? Have a headache? Have you noticed any dizziness before this?”
“Umm.” How much to tell him? She didn’t want him to think she was actually ill. She didn’t have time for that.