Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Damn it. Should she pretend Romeo was nothing more than a distant acquaintance?
If he was fishing for details on her and Romeo’s “relationship”… Good luck, Chuck. “We do know each other, but not as well as he tends to insinuate.”
Chuck’s dark eyebrows rose. “But you didn’t want him as a patient?”
“I figured you’d be better suited to work with him.” That wasn’t quite a lie.
Her coworker frowned. “Don’t you think it’s kind of odd that he self-referred himself into our care instead of going to a doctor first?” Chuck turned and leaned back against the counter with a coffee mug in hand.
“Ro—” Her brain glitched. If she called Romeo by his road name, it would only spur more questions. “Marvin tends to march to the beat of his own drum.”
“I’ve experienced that,” Chuck said dryly. “He tried to tell me how to do my job.”
Oh shit. But that wasn’t surprising, either.
Maddie rolled her lips instead of her eyes. “He’s not being cooperative?”
“Oh, he is, but he has some very strong opinions.”
That he did.
“That he shares. Often.”
“On therapy?”
“On everything. And he asks a lot of questions about Roger. For some reason, he seems to be obsessed with our asshole boss.”
Of course. “Be careful. You don’t want to get caught complaining about you know who. That will only make it worse.”
“I’ve managed to dodge most of Marvin’s questions.”
Good.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take him for your patient roster?”
The pleading in Chuck’s eyes had her feeling guilty for pawning Romeo off on him. However, not enough to agree to take him back. “I don’t think it would be appropriate,” was the last thing she said before slipping out of the break room with a peach swiped from her own lunch bag.
As she was about to head back out onto the floor, she noticed the man they were just discussing coming through the door.
She turned her head and called out, “Chuck, your appointment is here.”
“Already?” came his response.
Apparently, Romeo wasn’t late every time. Or Chuck learned to tell him an earlier time to make sure he arrived before his appointment started, instead of after.
That trick was used often by women tied to bikers. If their ol’ ladies wanted them somewhere at eleven, they told them ten-thirty. It worked until the men caught on.
“Can you tell him I’ll be out in a few minutes?” Then she heard mumbled, “I should make him wait as long as he makes me wait.”
Maddie pulled in a breath before reluctantly answering, “Sure.” She wouldn’t do it for Romeo, but as a favor for Chuck since he took the stubborn Knight off her hands.
As she headed toward the front, she glanced longingly at the peach clutched within her fingers. She had hoped to eat it before her next appointment showed up.
She ignored the fact her heart did a tumble, and her pulse quickened the second Romeo spotted her heading his way and blinded her with a 100-watt smile.
Then took his time inspecting her from head to toe.
She almost smoothed her hair into place, then got annoyed with herself for even having that urge.
She stopped at Maribeth’s desk. “I’ll take him back for Chuck. He’s running a little behind.”
She missed the receptionist’s response because Romeo was staring at her so hard, Maddie swore he had X-ray vision and could see right through her clothes. Especially when he said, “Nice peach,” in a way that made her pussy clench.
“Come with me, Mr. Carter,” came out more breathless than she’d like. Annoyed at her own reaction, she set her jaw, turned, and strode past a few other patients working with their therapists. “You should probably wear sneakers for your appointments. Does Chuck let you wear your biker boots while he’s working with you?”
“Think I fuckin’ got sneakers?”
Who didn’t own a pair of damn sneakers? “Weren’t you wearing them while running that marathon? If you ran over twenty-six miles in heavy biker boots, no wonder you pulled your hammy.”
She heard a snort behind her. “Woman’s got plenty of jokes.”
Making light of the situation was the best way to deal with it.
She stopped at a matted area along the wall and pointed to a large inflatable exercise ball. “You can sit on that and wait. I’m sure Chuck will be with you shortly.”
Of course, he didn’t follow her directions. Instead, he turned to face her. “Don’t give a fuck about Chuck. Ain’t why I’m here.”
“So, how are you recovering from that devastating injury?” Maddie asked. “Are you enjoying Chuck’s massages? He’s got some very strong hands and a special touch, doesn’t he?”
“The best,” Romeo muttered.
She finally lifted her eyes and met his. “When are you going to end this farce?”
“Soon’s I find out the info I came for.”
“I can’t believe you continue to go to this extreme. It has to be costing you a fortune.”