Claudia grimaces as she pushes her shoulders back and straightens her spine. “He’s going ballistic; he thinks you left and won’t be coming back in to see him.”
That was the plan but not if he’s potentially going to be mouthing off to my co-workers about the past. I can’t have him asking questions or getting answers about me and my present life, so it’s time to put out this fire.
I gather my lunch to toss in the trash. “I’m on my way back.”
Claudia’s expression is apologetic. “I shouldn’t have disturbed you on your lunch break. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Owen Bliss killed any appetite I might have had.
“I don’t know why my brother’s being so nuts. Anesthesia always makes him say funny things but he’s never been this way.”
“We’ll blame the drugs.” Not the fact that he’s waking up from anesthesia and recalling a night from five years ago.
Owen’s demanding I return to be his nurse? Going ballistic because he thinks I left? Why? Is he so egotistical he hasn’t gotten over being left in the middle of the night without a goodbye?
Martha laughs when she sees me approach the nurse’s station. “You weren’t gone long, missy. Let me guess. The bossy bastard in room six sent someone to get you?”
“The sister.”
“I figured as much when I saw her scampering out of his room. Guess he prefers a pretty, young thing over this old, wrinkled lady. Can’t say I blame him.”
Already half past the hour so vitals are due again. “Thanks for keeping an eye on him for me.”
“No problem. Maybe you’ll get some downtime for a lunch break after you discharge him.”
“Maybe.” Doubtful. There’s always another to replace the one you send out the door.
I stop at the curtain to Owen’s room before entering. Deep breath in, Ashlyn. Exhale slowly.
It really pisses me off he still has this kind of effect on me five years after the fact. One encounter. One damn night five years ago and the man can still wreck me today.
Fate is unkind to me. Why the hell couldn’t his body have gone to shit after he stopped playing college ball? Why does he still have to be so damn hot?
Fuck being hot. It doesn’t make up for being an asshole.
“What’s the matter, Ashlyn? Trying to think of a way to explain what you did?”
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
I yank the curtain back and march to his bedside, my hands fisted at my side. “What I did? I know you didn’t actually just say that to me.”
“That got your attention, huh?” His mouth tugs at one corner and the adjacent eye narrows as his brow arches.
Holy shit. Jacob makes that exact face…every time the little shit is up to no good.
And now Owen Bliss is up to no good. I’m sure of it.
Like father, like son.