She smiles, and my heart twitches in my chest. “But you may want to get a drink. You look a little pale.”
I raise my eyebrows and run my tongue across my front teeth. “Yeah, it’s been a weird day.”
She grins on a nod. “The world is a weird place. Small too.”
She lowers her legs back down flat under the sheet, and I hope that means she’s relaxing a little.
At least one of us is.
“Seems so.” The feelings I’ve had for her pile up inside me. I still want to give her everything, just now I’ll need to figure out how to quell the desire she brings out in me. Even now. Even knowing who she is.
Just then there is a knock on the door, and the doctor pokes his head inside.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have some…relevant news.”
I see her face pull tight and there’s worry in her eyes I hate. I don’t want her to worry.
About anything.
Ever.
I turn and stand next to the bed, wanting to protect her from whatever might be coming. Memories of the day my brother was diagnosed with AIDs, and the day years later when I sat in the doctor’s office with James, comforting him after his own diagnosis, run through my mind.
“Nicci.” He looks at her then shoots me a quick glance. “Would you like Mr. Klement to step out so we can talk about your test results?”
I look down and see her face go white. She stalls and I reach over and touch her shoulder. A shock wave reverberates through me at the contact, but I steady myself and catch her eye.
“I’ll go if you’d like. But I’d like to stay.” I’m honest.
I want to be here for whatever it is, good or bad. I don’t want to miss another second of her life. And I’ll do whatever the fuck has to be done to make sure she’s okay because I fucking refuse to lose another family member.
Family member.
She looks from me to the doctor. The black of her pupils’ bleeds into the sparkling gray as she brings her hands up to gather her hair and twist it in a bundle down over her shoulder. “It’s okay. He can stay.”
The doctor nods. “Well, I have two things. First, the radiologist looked at your MRI. The spot on your liver looks like just a cyst. It’s small enough it shouldn’t have been the cause of such acute pain. But he did confirm that you definitely have what we call a fatty liver. This can cause bouts of extreme pain, but it’s not overly dangerous.”
I see her eyes narrow. “But, I’m like the healthiest eater I know. How can that be?”
The doctor blinks and raises his eyebrows. “Genetics sometimes. Particular foods can exacerbate the condition. I’m going to give you a discharge packet with all the information. Like I said, it’s not overly dangerous, just a pain the ass to be honest.” He smiles and clears his throat then adds. “I’m discharging you with a couple of prescriptions for pain.”
Her face takes an odd turn. “I won’t take them.” Her voice is harsh, and I look at the doctor who tips his head to the side. “I won’t.” She finishes squaring her shoulders and giving us both a dark glare.
“Well, that’s up to you. I’ll send you with the prescriptions if you don’t fill them that’s up to you. But the pain,” he nods toward her, “as you know can be acute.”
“I’ll be okay.” The cut of her voice is still there as we all seem to take a collective deep breath.
In the moment of silence, I chime in. “You said there were two things.” My voice is even, trying to keep things as level as possible while waiting to see if the other shoe is about to drop.
“Yes,” The doctor stands up a bit straighter and clearly weighs what he’s about to say. “The…other news is a bit odd. Mr. Klement, you are type O positive blood type. Which genetically speaking makes it impossible for you to be Ms. Parr’s biological father. Her blood type is AB negative. That means neither of her parents could have type O blood.”
The hammering of my heart in my chest is the only sound in the room until Nicci’s soft voice rises from below me.
“Then, he’s not my father?” I swear I hear relief in her voice.
I’m not sure what the fuck is going on here, but I have a feeling fate decided to give me a hand and deliver my obsession right to my metaphorical doorstep.
4
NICCI
WHEN GEO FIRST CAME through the door, I thought I would pass out. He filled up the doorway in a way I’ve never seen, and up close his undeniable masculinity radiated from him. His size is more magnificent at a distance.
That undercurrent of danger was still there, only this time it was topped with a kindness and concern that only made him sexier. The muscles in his jaw drew my eye, hardening and flexing making him look determined to do something.