“Okay.” She couldn’t protest when it was his career.
“Doc’s coming in here in a few minutes to give you some information. I’ll wait until after, then head to the shop, and be back to pick you up in time for release around lunch, okay?”
“It’s fine, Lochlan, really.” She tried to smile to reassure him, but she was certain it didn’t reach her eyes.
“You break my heart, Sage.” Pulling her forward, he placed a gentle lingering kiss on her lips. Not giving her time to ponder his confusing statement before there was another knock on the door and someone else was entering the room.
“Miss Marlowe!” The older man greeted boisterously. “I hear you’re ready to get out of here?”
“Yes, sir, I am.” Loch was holding her hand as the new doctor walked closer. She couldn’t help her reaction. The tensing of her muscles, the shaking of her limbs, the excessive pounding in her heart, she was helpless to stop any of it. Thankfully, Loch understood it all and squeezed her fingers for support.
“Everything’s looking good. No more reactions to the antibiotics or painkillers. I’d like to run more blood tests just to clear you of everything, and then, you’ll be free to go home around lunch. Sound fair?” He finally looked up, and she didn’t like what she saw in his gaze.
While his smile may be welcoming, his eyes were ruthless. She’d seen that look every time Morgan had his attention on her.
It was the look of a predator.
Loch had been reluctant to leave Sage after her blood was drawn. From the moment the doctor walked into her room, she had grown quiet, withdrawn in a way he hadn’t seen since the first couple of days. After another angry phone call from Nox, he’d been forced to leave.
Driving down Main Street, the jewelry store caught his eye, and he suddenly remembered the gift he’d forgotten to give Sage for her birthday. He’d wanted to it to be special for her. With her discharge from the hospital looming, Loch knew he could take her out on a real date, show her around, and let her explore. He’d give her a night to remember.
Parking his car, the customer who started out as a pretty good guy then turned into a complete dick was waiting in the parking lot leaning against his oversized truck. Elianna had joked that he was overcompensating for something with it. He couldn’t agree anymore.
“Good morning, Mr. Shultz,” he greeted with a forced smile.
“Well, it’s about time. I thought you’d be done by now.”
“No sir, we’re right on schedule.”
Op
ening the front door, Soph was waiting with her own strained look. “I was hoping to have it back by now. There’s a car show over in Denver I’d like to attend this weekend.” The man was oblivious to the tension around him.
“The only thing left for me to do is put the drawing on the hood of the car and paint it,” Loch explained as the man followed him through to the back.
As they stopped in front of his Fairlane, the man had a look of astonishment on his face. Almost like he expected Loch to be lying to him about the progress of the car. “Well, I’ll be,” he muttered. “Just the dragon left to put on, huh?”
Loch didn’t like his tone. “Yes, sir. Asher will be doing that later this afternoon.”
“I’d like it back tomorrow.” His words didn’t shock Loch in the least.
“Not possible. Not if you want the image to dry properly. I have to hand sketch this onto the hood. It’s too large for our printer.”
“You have all day to do it. I’m sure it can be done.”
Unable to lie, Loch agreed. “It’s possible, but I won’t be here this afternoon.” He refused to give the man any information about Sage.
“I’m paying you for a job, son. You’ll get it done for tomorrow.”
“No, sir, I won’t.” Sage was a hell of a lot more important than this egotistical asshole.
The man’s face was turning read as a tomato as Nox and Asher walked up to them, admiring the job Loch had done on the vehicle in the few months he’d had his hands on it.
“Looks good, Loch.” Nox patted his back once.
“Better than when it came in, amigo,” Asher laughed.
“Look!” Mr. Shultz yelled. “I want it done tomorrow, or I’m not paying.”