“I don’t want to talk about him right now.” I see a defeated look on her face. It has me backing off the subject of him. It’s not a look I’m used to seeing on my sister. She’s always so put together and fearless. She has such a spark for life and for anyone to try to put a damper on that has my blood boiling.
“We can just go home,” I suggest. Even as I say the words they taste like dirt in my mouth.
“Hay bales.” Danny lets out a long sigh before dropping down onto the loveseat. “We grew up there. Doesn’t make it home.” She says the same thing she’s been saying to me for years.
“Don’t you want us to live closer to one another?” I bite my lip.
“I’m not leaving you.” She reaches up grabbing my hand pulling me down to sit with her. “I’m not abandoning you.”
“Why you gotta use the A word.” I roll my eyes. “You’re not a head doc. Don’t be psychoanalyzing me. You only took a few of those classes.” That makes her crack a smile which makes me happy. She reaches over, taking my hand in hers.
“Come on, Hay Bales, it will be an adventure. Something new for the both of us. Whaddya say?”
“You really want to stay here? I know you don’t want to talk about Brandon right now but you can’t let someone run you off from your life.” As much as I hated my sister living in a big city that gave me anxiety just thinking about it, I hate it more that some man ran her off.
“Don’t get me wrong. Brandon gave me a nice shove to leave. He’s the head of the hospital. No one listened to what I had to say about him.” She makes a disgusted face. I try and keep my face passive. Both of us don’t need to be mad. “But I wasn’t fond of that hospital anyway. I feel as though I could be doing more. Really helping. I can do that here, Hay Bales. I really want to make a difference in people’s lives and I think this is where I am meant to do it.”
“They do seem to be doing some good around here.” I admit. “And it’s only a long drive for me to get here.”
“Yeah, but you could stay.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.
“Maybe I need to get back to Ethan.” I elbow her in her side, teasing her.
“Coming in!” King announces before the door flies open a second later. “Sorry.” He looks a little sheepish about barging in but he still did it. “Who’s Ethan?”
“You going to help me talk my sister into staying?” Danny asks him, ignoring his question.
“You’re supposed to be on my side!” I smack her jean covered thigh.
“That hurt.” She smiles big as her eyes dance with mischief. “Hayden.” My mouth falls open and I know she’s calling my bluff.
Chapter Thirteen
King
“Whatever I’m paying you, it is clearly not enough. Please give yourself a raise,” I say to Hayden’s sister Danny. I didn’t expect this kind of support but I appreciate it. I thought she might give me a fight on me wanting her sister but I am glad she is on my side. I can use all the help I can get when it comes to Slick.
She smiles warmly. “Nice to see you again, King.”
“So you’re taking the job? Not just staying here for a little while?” Hayden ping pongs her eyes between me and her sister.
“Offered her a job when she reached out about coming here to begin with,” I confirm. Convincing doc was easier than I thought it would be, but that was primarily because of the stalker. She needed to get away and I promised good pay, an opportunity to help other women, and protection against the stalker.
“Why didn’t you tell me all this?” she demands of her sister.
Doc lifts her shoulders. “I did tell you. I wrote you a letter saying I was leaving the hospital and coming up to King’s estate.”
“No. Why wouldn’t you tell me about him? The job.” Hayden jerks her thumb in my direction.
Doc looks perplexed. “Why would I tell you about King?”
“Because he’s…the….person,” Hayden flounders.
I lean back against the door jamb and fold my arms across my chest. I, too, am interested in the answer. “The person?” I prompt.
“You be quiet,” she snaps. Returning her attention to her sister, she says, “Why didn’t you tell me about the person who hired you? I want to know that you’re safe.”
“No one safer than me,” I drawl. “You should know that by now.”
She covers her ears. “Just because we kissed a little doesn’t mean I trust you.”
“Hayden,” chides her sister.
“What?” Hayden drops her hands to her lap. Annoyance flashes across her beautiful face. “Kissing means nothing these days. People kiss strangers. Pick them up and have one night stands.”