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)
“Good girl,” he told her. “If you’re brave, I might have something for you after the MRI.”
Her eyes lit up as excitement filled her face. “For me?”
Jameson couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness and pride at putting that look on her face. Although he hoped she wasn’t disappointed by what he had planned. “Yep.”
“Get her out,” Ian barked, pacing up and down the small room that he, Ian, and the technician were crowded into while Maggie was in the MRI machine.
“We can’t get her out, she’s halfway through.” Amy, the technician, rolled her eyes at Jameson. “What’s up with the big brute?”
“I’m her bodyguard,” Ian said. “And she’s clearly scared.”
She was. They could all hear her through the speaker, but only Jameson could speak to her.
“Maggie? How are you doing, sweetheart?” Jameson asked.
“A-all right. I guess. Is it almost done?”
The wobble in her voice nearly undid him.
“Let me speak to her,” Ian demanded, looking like he would wrestle control of the audio system away from him if necessary.
Jameson shot him a look. “No.”
Ian clenched his jaw.
“Don’t diminish the strength she’s already shown. She’s come this far. She’s being so courageous. If you pull her out now, it will undo all of that, and you know it.”
“Yikes, Doc. It’s getting steamy in here,” Amy said, fanning herself. She grinned when he glared at her.
Amy was born in the US but had moved here several years ago with her now-husband.
“Just didn’t know you could be so commanding.” Amy winked at Jameson.
“J-Jameson?”
Fuck. “I’m here, sweetheart. I’m sorry, I just had to talk Ian off a ledge.”
“What?” she asked, sounding shocked.
“He’s just being bossy, as usual. I’ve been looking into therapists for him.”
Ian shot him the bird.
“That’s good. He really needs it. And w-while you’re doing that. Tell the t-therapist that he thinks his hand has a-a brain.”
“He thinks his hand has a brain?” He glanced back at Ian, who rolled his eyes.
“It keeps wanting to . . . you know,” she said.
“No, please elaborate. What does Ian’s hand keep wanting to do?”
Amy let out a giggle as Ian gave him an exasperated look.
“Spank me.”
“Oh. Somehow I thought you might be going to say something else.”
Ian was muttering under his breath at this stage.
“Like what?”
Oh, his innocent little subbie. He had to rein in his response.
Damn, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had this much fun.
Careful . . . you’re not part of their relationship anymore. And she isn’t your sub.
He cleared his throat. “How are you doing on a scale of one to five, Maggie?”
Time to bring things back to where they should be.
“I . . . I’m all right.”
“That wasn’t what I was asking. Scale of one to five? You’re doing so well, sweetheart.”
“I . . . I guess I’m a three.”
“Let’s see if we can get that down to a two. What’s your favorite thing to do?” Jameson asked.
“Oh, um. I don’t know. I don’t really have any hobbies. Well, I guess I like to read.”
“That’s right. Medical romances.”
“Sometimes,” she said shyly. “I like other romances too.”
“But I’m sure medical is the best.”
Amy cleared her throat.
Right. He had an audience.
Once the scan was done, it felt like a huge weight was off his shoulders. He jumped up to go help her get down, ignoring Amy’s amusement.
Jameson lifted her into the wheelchair.
“I can get in myself,” she whispered.
“But I like helping you.” More like he enjoyed touching her.
He tucked the blanket back around her legs and then took hold of her hands. Ian was still in the other room talking to Amy, so they had a minute to themselves.
“I’m so proud of you, Shortcake. You were so brave and did such a good job.”
“Really? The technician didn’t think it weird that I had Ziggy with me?” She tucked the zebra under the blanket.
“Hey, no.” He risked cupping her cheek with his hand. She had the softest skin.
This wasn’t right. She wasn’t his. And Ian was just in the next room.
“No one here cares whether you need a toy with you. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Ready to get out of the hospital gown?” Ian walked into the room and Jameson stood, feeling awkward.
Ian wheeled her away to get dressed while Jameson looked over the scan. He also had her other results sent to him.
Fifteen minutes later, he met Ian and Maggie in his office. She was still in the wheelchair and frowning up at Ian as he pushed her into the room.
“I really don’t think the wheelchair is necessary. I can walk. My hip is good. Nothing came up, did it?”
“The good news is that there are no signs of tissue tearing or fractures. The X-ray showed us where the old breaks were. It looks like it was a bad injury.”
“Yes. But I’m all good now. So, no more wheelchair?”