Here And Now (American Valor 2) by Cheryl Etchison Read Free Book Online Page B

about her, Rachel appeared at the foot of the bed.
    “K NOCK, KNOCK.” S HE smiled at Mrs. Hembree. “Sorry to interrupt, but, Lucky, there’s someone at the desk to see you.”
    “Who is it?” he asked without turning around.
    “I didn’t get her name. Do you have a sister?”
    “I don’t have a sister.”
    The little old woman’s eyes widened with interest.
    “A girlfriend, then?” Rachel asked.
    “Nope. No girlfriend either.”
    “Well, she asked for you specifically. She has long blond hair. Younger. Really young come to think of it.”
    Lucky spun around on the small stool and looked her straight in the eyes. “You’re joking.”
    When Rachel shook her head, he swore under his breath. Then remembering himself, he asked Mrs. Hembree to pardon his French. “I’ll be right back.”
    The little old woman smiled. “Take your time, dear.”
    He grabbed up the chart and lab work, then yanked the curtain closed behind him.
    “I’ve got to run these to the lab. Can’t you tell whoever it is that I’m busy?”
    “Sorry.” Rachel bit back a smile. “I’m just the messenger. Dottie’s already told her you’re here and that you’ll be right out. If you’d like I can take those to the lab so you can go on break. It looks like she brought you dinner.”
    She followed him through the emergency department wanting to see how this little melodrama played out. Dottie and the other nurses watched with bated breath. Even Ferguson was standing there, just leaning on the desk like he didn’t have anything better to do. Sadly, it was the most interesting development they’d had all night.
    Lucky peeked around the corner, catching a glimpse of the young blonde messing with her phone while sitting in the waiting room. He closed his eyes, leaned his head back against the wall, and pressed the heel of his hand to the bridge of his nose. “Fuck me.”
    “It’s awfully late. Won’t her daddy be mad she’s breaking curfew?”
    His eyes shot open and he stared down at her. “She’s not . . .”
    “What?” Rachel interrupted. “Your plaything? Your friend with benefits? I have to say I’m kind of hurt. What would your girlfriend think if she knew we went to breakfast together just this morning?”
    “She’s my lab partner. My assigned lab partner.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I think she has a bit of a crush on me.”
    Rachel laughed. “You think? Well, good luck with that, Romeo.”
    She headed for the front desk to claim a front row seat, but he grabbed hold of her arm and tugged her back to stand in front of him. “Could you, please, tell her I’m not here? Tell her I went home sick. Tell her anything.”
    “Can’t do that. Like I said, Dottie’s already told her you’re here.”
    “Rachel, please. Help me out here?” Lucky pressed his palms together and begged. “I’ll owe you.”
    She’d swear on a stack of Bibles that a heavenly ray of light shone down when he said those three little words. “Will you help me move?”
    His hopeful look was replaced with disbelief. “Are you kidding me?”
    “No.”
    “That’s blackmail.”
    She shrugged her shoulders in an “oh, well, tough shit” manner and turned to walk away.
    “Okay,” he called after her. “You win.”
    She turned to face him, unable to hide her triumphant smile. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it? What’s the girl’s name?”
    “Brittany.”
    Rachel had to laugh. “Are you serious? Does she dot the i with little hearts?”
    “You know what, maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
    Good Lord, he was such a nice guy. One look in his eyes and anyone could tell he was truly concerned about this girl’s feelings.
    “She’s a nice girl. Very smart as a matter of fact. It’s just that she’s very young. Very innocent.”
    “Oh, honey, you’d be surprised,” she said, patting his arm. “She’s probably not as innocent as you think.”
    L UCKY SHOOK HIS head in disappointment at Chad and the rest of the staff