Take Me by Locklyn Marx Read Free Book Online Page A

made it clear that the feeling wasn’t mutual.

    The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the waiting room, and a doctor appeared in front of Jaxon and Anna. Another person interfering on their moment was enough to snap the spell, and Anna jerked out from under Jaxon’s arm.

    “Are you two here with Katie Randolph?” the doctor asked. He was an older man, probably about sixty or so, with a shock of gray hair and a kind-looking face. His white coat was pressed and immaculate, a fact that Jaxon somehow found comforting.

    “Yes,” Jaxon said, standing up. “I’m her brother, Jaxon, and this is her friend, Anna.”

    The doctor nodded. “I’m Dr. Gallagher. Your sister’s baby seems to be having a hard time getting oxygen.”

    From next to him, Jaxon felt Anna tense. He reached out and grabbed her hand.

    “It’s nothing to be too concerned about right now, although we don’t want the baby to be in distress for long. So Katie’s going to go in for a c-section. The quicker we can get the baby out, the better.”

    Jaxon nodded. “Can we see her?”

    “She’s being prepped for surgery right now,” Dr. Gallagher said, shaking his head. “Will you be waiting here for her?”

    “Yes,” Jaxon said.

    Next to him, Anna nodded.

    “I’ll send someone out to update you as soon as she’s out of surgery.” He gave them both a kind smile. “And please, try not to worry. Katie and her baby are going to be fine.”

    ***

    The next three hours were torture. Anna couldn’t believe how keyed up and anxious she felt. While she knew intellectually that a c-section was a very safe procedure, she couldn’t get over the fact that her friend was having surgery. A major surgery that was predicated by a doctor using phrases like “baby in distress.”
    She felt completely helpless, and she just wanted the whole thing to be over with.

    Jaxon had been great – he’d taken control of things immediately, bringing her that tea, then walking with her outside when she was too jumpy to sit still in the waiting room.

    “Should we go back in?” Anna asked as they walked along the sidewalk outside.
    The morning sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, warming her skin. The hospital was starting to become busier, with cars pulling up to the traffic circle and doctors and patients filing in through the automatic doors. The dawn made things seem more hopeful, and Anna felt herself relaxing just a tiny bit.

    “We can go back in if you want,” Jaxon said. “But they’re going to call us as soon as she’s out.”
    Jaxon had charmed one of the labor and delivery nurses into promising to call his cell phone as soon as Katie was out of her surgery. Anna had stood by and watched, biting back the sting of jealousy she’d felt, telling herself she didn’t care who Jaxon flirted with if it was going to get them information about Katie.

    “Okay,” Anna said now. “Maybe one more lap around?”

    “Sure.”

    They walked in silence, falling into step next to each other, their feet tapping out a steady rhythm on the pavement. Anna had always been a walker. Back in London she would get up early, slip on her sneakers, and slide outside. She’d watch the city wake up as she moved through the streets, never taking the same path twice, tracing a zigzagging route all around her neighborhood. Walking calmed her.

    Anna appreciated that Jaxon was staying silent. She found his presence comforting, but at the same time, she didn’t want to talk about what was going on with Katie. She liked being alone with her thoughts.

    When Jaxon’s phone rang, breaking the early morning tranquility, Anna jumped.

    “She’s ready,” Jaxon said when he hung up.

    They trooped back into the hospital, hurrying up to the labor and delivery floor.

    As soon as Anna rounded the corner and walked through the door of Katie’s room, her breath caught in her chest.

    There was Katie, holding a tiny little bundle in her arms.

    “Oh, my