“She’s not playing any cards with Rene at all.” Even through the pain, he could find a way to be jealous. He might always have this problem because his wife was stunning and sexy, and there would always be men attracted to her intelligence and complexity.
But he would also remember that she’d chosen him.
She wrinkled her nose his way. “He’s just doing it because I saved his life.”
Noelle shook her head. “Nope. According to everyone in town, he’s mad crazy in love with you and wants to marry you.”
He was going to kill Major. Or Quaid. One of the two had been talking. Hell, maybe it had been Remy. He wouldn’t put it past Lila’s brother-in-law to try to shake him to his senses. He didn’t need it, though. “Rene is going to have to find his own city-slicker bride.”
“Is that right?” Lila asked, her lips curled up.
“Damn straight.” His body was in pain, but his soul had finally found some peace. “But, chérie, you’re going to have to take care of our honeymoon. I’m an injured man.”
“Eww,” Noelle said, and she turned and started out of the room. “Too much information.”
“Payback can be hell, baby girl,” he managed to shout.
The door closed and he was alone with Lila. With his love, his almost wife.
She leaned over to kiss him and it was more than enough.One month later
Lila looked at the clinic with its shining countertops and all that glorious brand-new medical equipment sitting in boxes. Turned out there was plenty of money for her brand-spanking-new, top-of-the-line clinic. Doc Hamet hadn’t seen the point in applying for state or national funds. Lila didn’t mind. She’d had plenty of time while the clinic was being rebuilt to fill out a whole lot of paperwork. Between two large grants, Rene’s donation, and the shocking number of tickets Armie could write, the Papillon Parish Clinic would be open for business soon.
“It’s looking pretty good, huh?” She glanced down at her constant companion. Peanut liked coming up to the clinic. He’d kind of become their mascot.
The big dog thumped his tail and gave her one of those doggy smiles that always made her lips curl up. Even when she was in the worst of moods, that dog could make her smile. Not that she had many bad moods.
Well, except when she’d had to go out to the island and pronounce the last of the Petrie family dead. Lorna Petrie had been found dead in her small home, a week after her sons had been killed. The cause of death had been an opioid overdose. Lila had no idea where she’d gotten the pills. There was no record of her ever coming into the clinic. Doc Hamet certainly hadn’t written a prescription, but that was a mystery for another day. She wanted to settle into her new clinic and enjoy her life for a change.
“The phone lines work and I’ve got the schedule for our first week,” a chipper feminine voice said.
Lila looked up at the newest member of her staff. Carrie was standing behind the reception desk. Even though they weren’t open for business yet, she’d embraced scrubs as workwear. “How’s it looking?”
There was something confident in the younger woman, something peaceful that hadn’t existed before she’d made the decision to fight for herself. Lila rather thought being welcomed back in her hometown with open arms and apologies had done wonders for Carrie, too. She’d been surprised when Carrie had shown up on her doorstep asking for a job, but Carrie had told her this was her home and where she wanted to raise her baby.
“We’re going to have a full week,” Carrie replied. “Also I scheduled some extra time because Gene is due for a colonoscopy and you’re going to have to explain that.”
Lord. She would need a good argument for why the government didn’t need to probe his colon for information. “I’m going to give it some thought.”
“Or we could just sneak up on that old man, give him a nice dose of sleepytime drugs, and haul him in.” Mabel joined Carrie at the desk. The pair had become a formidable twosome. Mabel had taken the younger woman under her wing. Carrie’s baby wouldn’t lack for a grandmother. “When you think about it, it plays into all of Gene’s crazy conspiracy theories. It’s a gift to him.”
Gene wouldn’t see it that way. She would likely spend some time in that jail cell. Of course, then the sheriff would have to perform a search to make sure she didn’t have any weapons, and that might go really well for her.
“Hey, pretty lady.”
She hadn’t heard the doors open, but oh she knew that voice. For a big man, Armie moved so quietly. He could sneak up on her, but he was always a good surprise. She sighed and leaned back against her man, breathing him in. Armie wrapped her up and kissed her cheek. “Hey, babe,” she greeted him. “I’m ready to go. You said you wanted to take me somewhere.”