by Brook Wilder
“No arguments. You sit there and put your feet up.”
Maddie was still trying to form words after the kiss. She opened and closed her mouth before she could find the words.
“I’m not infirm, Jace. I can manage.”
“But you need to rest lots. I’m going to make sure that you do.” Jace stepped back and folded his arms. “Now, would you like something from the kitchen?”
Maddie was about to protest but then she stopped herself. It wasn’t often she got someone willing to wait on her and that wasn’t something Maddie was going to pass up.
“A glass of water?”
Jace grinned and her heart flip-flopped.
“Coming right up.”
Maddie shifted around so she could watch, as Jace stepped into the kitchen and placed his jacket over the back of the stool by the counter. He moved around the kitchen, stepping carefully around the vomit still on the floor as he filled a glass of water. Then he brought it back and handed it to Maddie with a smile.
“You chill there for now. I’ll sort out the kitchen.”
“I can’t let you…”
“You can and you will.” Jace winked and tapped her nose. “You lie there and let me deal with the mess. I don’t mind.”
Maddie wasn’t about to argue. She sipped at her water and put in on the coffee table. Laying back on the couch, Maddie closed her eyes and listened to Jace quietly singing to himself as he worked in the kitchen. He had a nice, deep voice that was beautiful when he sang. That had been the only nice thing about him as a child.
Maddie found herself smiling as he heard him singing Frank Sinatra. That was what he preferred to sing rather than anything more recent. She had found herself listening to him singing when he thought no one else was paying attention.
He sang beautifully. Maddie could listen to him all day and not get bored.
When the singing stopped, Maddie opened her eyes. Jace was kneeling beside the couch, smiling at her.
“The floor’s been mopped, and your washing up is done. All nice and tidy.”
“Thanks.” Maddie yawned and sat up. “That was quick.”
“It took me an hour.”
Maddie stared.
“An hour? What are you talking about? I was only dozing for a few minutes.”
Jace chuckled.
“You’ve been lying here snoring for over an hour.”
“I don’t snore!”
“You don’t have anyone around to argue otherwise.” Jace sat on the edge of the couch. “I was about to move you to your bedroom, so you could sleep more comfortably.”
That was tempting. Maddie wanted to go to bed. She was so tired. But she couldn’t stop staring at Jace.
Would he accept if she asked him to come to bed with her? Maddie wanted tempted to ask. Chances were he would say yes, considering how he was looking at her. If she said the right words, Jace would be taking her to her room and getting into bed with her. Her pussy tightened at the thought of have Jace in her bed again. Even after her couple of hours in the hospital, her body was up for the suggestion of sex.
Maybe it would take her mind off what had happened in the last few hours.
Her question died on her lips when someone started hammering at the door. Maddie stiffened. Jace also tensed, glancing at the clock on the wall.
“Expecting someone at two in the morning?”
“No.”
Jace’s smile had died away. He reached into the back of his jeans and Maddie’s eyes widened when she saw him withdraw a gun. Jace put a finger to his lips and moved to the window, twitching aside the curtain. He stepped back with a growl.
“It’s Doctor Roberts.”
“Martin?”
What was Martin doing here at two in the morning? He had surgery later and he was one of those people who didn’t stay up beyond eleven at night. Why was he here?
Maddie hoped she wasn’t about to deal with a drunken declaration of love. That was all she needed at this time of night. After Beth’s revelation about Martin being her white knight, Maddie didn’t want to be around him more than necessary. She didn’t want a good white knight coming to her rescue.
She seemed to have a penchant for the evil villain.
Martin banged on the door again. Maddie’s head hurt. She sighed and settled back against the cushions, pressing her fingers to her temples.
“Let him in, Jace.”
“Are you sure?”
“He won’t go unless I see him.” It was best to get whatever Martin needed to say out the way now than in the middle of work. Maddie had a feeling that would be more humiliating. She swallowed. “But would you stay with me?”
Jace’s expression said he had no intention of going anywhere.
“Of course.”
He moved around the couch towards the door, bending over and kissing her head as he passed. Then he unlocked the door and stepped back. Martin almost barreled into the lounge. He looked like he hadn’t slept, his tie loose with the top three buttons of his shirt undone. His hair was sticking up at angles.
Why was he here? Maddie was still staring at him as Martin came around the couch, completely ignoring Jace, and knelt before her.
“Thank God, Maddie!” He grabbed her hands. “I heard what happened and I knew I needed to check you were okay.”
Maddie glanced at Jace, who was glowering at Martin. Martin holding her hands like this was making her nervous; he was being too full-on. Maddie managed to pull her hands away without snatching them back.
“I’m fine. The doctors have checked me over.” She managed a smile. “There’s nothing to worry about, Martin.”
“How did you know she had gone into hospital?” Jace demanded. He folded his arms, his gun very clearly on display. “And how did you know when she had got back?”
Martin scowled at him.
“None of your business, Howard.” He snapped.
“But it is my business.” Maddie pointed out. “Jeremy was the only one Jace called. Not even Beth knows right now. And Jeremy would not even consider calling you about it.”
Jeremy wouldn’t even know what Martin’s number was. Maddie was surprised Martin even knew where she had gone and why he thought arriving at this time of night would be a good night to try a visit.
“A friend of mine checked you over in the ER.” Martin didn’t even blink. “She let me know when I called about you.”
Maddie stared. She had liked her doctor. Now she was beginning to wish she could smack the woman in the face.
Her head was really hurting.
“Hang on, I’m confused. She shouldn’t have given that information out in the first place.”
“We’re colleagues.”
“You don’t work in the ER. Either you had to be working directly on my case or you looked at my notes. I know how hospitals work. She shouldn’t have given out that information in the first place.” Maddie narrowed her eyes. “And second, why were you calling? What made you think I was in the ER?”
“He was watching you,” Jace said with a scowl. “He had to have been watching the condo and he saw the ambulance.”
Maddie stared at him. What was he talking about? There had to be a logical explanation about all of this. Then she looked at Martin, whose expression hadn’t even changed. He didn’t look chastised about being caught; he actually looked smug.
Maddie suddenly felt very cold.
“You’ve been spying on me?”
Martin didn’t even try to deny it.
“I was worried about you, so I came over. But the ambulance was just loading you in. I called around to see where you were.”
Maddie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Martin was very strict on the rules of doctor-patient confidentiality. He never divulged anything he shouldn’t, not even in social circles. The fact he had broken not only hospital policy, but his own code of conduct, was not only startling but frightening.
“That…that’s a violation of my patient rights!” she gaspe
d. “You, of all people, should know that.” She shoved at his shoulder, barely knocking him over. “How dare you?”
“I was scared for you.” Martin didn’t even look apologetic. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Maddie was beginning to feel scared. It was warring with the angry building up in her belly. Martin was starting to show that, where she was concerned, he didn’t care about the rules he normally followed very strictly. He was very particular about them.
Even if he had come up to talk to her at such a late time and saw the ambulance, resulting in calling around looking for her, Martin couldn’t have known that she was back. Maddie could have been kept in all night. Judging from his appearance, he had been watching her condo all night.
Maddie didn’t want to think about what could have happened if Martin had managed to get in, or if Jace hadn’t stayed. Would he have broken in? Maddie didn’t want to think about it.
“I was scared for you,” Martin protested but Maddie shook her head.
“You didn’t need to be. If you were that concerned, you should’ve called Jeremy or Beth, not called in and risked not only your job but your colleague’s as well.”
“She won’t say anything.”
Martin looked smug about that. Maddie glared at him.
“But I might. I don’t like how you’ve been with me lately and this just makes me more creeped out than before.” She shifted back on the cushions as Martin leant forward. “You shouldn’t be this concerned about me.”
“But I am.” Martin reached for her again. “I do worry about you, Maddie. You mean a lot to me.”
Maddie flinched. She didn’t want this man touching her. He had risked someone else’s job and shown that he was watching her. With the pregnancy, the Wild Leopards threat and her unsure relationship with Jace, this was the last thing she wanted. Then Jace was there, standing behind the couch as he glared at Martin.
“I think it’s time to leave, Doctor Roberts.”
His voice was low, almost a growl. Maddie felt it ripple across her skin. She couldn’t begin to imagine how much he would be able to intimidate once he really started work. Martin scowled up at Jace.
“This is Maddie’s place, not yours,” he sneered. “You have no say.”
Maddie had had enough.
“Get out.”
“What?”
Martin started back. Clearly, the man had not been expecting her to tell him to leave. Maddie couldn’t believe the arrogance of the man. She sat up and jabbed a finger at him.
“You violated my privacy and you’ve been stalking me. I don’t feel comfortable around you. I want you to go.”
“But…I’m just looking out for your best interests.”
“Bull!” Maddie shouted. She drew her legs up to her chest, wrapping them tightly against her. She could feel her nausea churning in her stomach. “Get out!”
Martin looked like he wanted to argue but then Maddie felt Jace shift behind her. She didn’t know what he did but it had Martin scowling and rising to his feet. Giving Maddie one last look, he stalked around the couch.
“You’re going to get her killed.” Maddie heard the venom in Martin’s voice. “Being associated with bikers doesn’t help her reputation. People think she’s easy and you’re going to make her a target.”
“Easy!?!” Maddie spun around. “You’re calling me easy? How dare you?”
Jace’s expression didn’t change but his eyes darkened. He barked out a humorless laugh.
“Trust me, Doctor, Maddie is anything but easy. I’m the one you should be worried about.”
Martin’s nostrils flared. He looked like he wanted to take a swing at Jace. Taller than Jace, Maddie was sure Martin thought he could overpower him despite the gun. But Maddie would place her bets on Jace. The man was like a coiled spring. The slightest thing was going to set him off.
Finally, after a tense moment, Martin backed down. Giving Jace one last scowl and Maddie a soft, mournful look, he left. The door slammed behind him enough to make Maddie wince.
Jace let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing. He lowered the gun and put the safety on before tucking it into the back of his jeans as he came around the couch. He touched Maddie’s head.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know.” Maddie didn’t know what to think anymore. She rubbed her hands over her face. “I can’t believe he did that.”
Before, Maddie would have thought Martin Roberts was harmless. Now she was beginning to see someone completely different. Martin was more than happy to stalk her and not think it was wrong. That was scarier than worrying about a potential miscarriage.
Jace sighed and his hand left her head as he paced away.
“I thought he was more interested in you than he should be.”
And his gut instinct seemed to have been correct. Maddie wished she had better instincts when it came to those she was around every day. She sighed and lowered her legs, her stomach rolling.
“I guess this means I’m going to be handing in my resignation now. There’s no way I can go to work after this.”
“Don’t worry about that now.” Jace said firmly. “Focus on you. And right now, you need some sleep.”
Maddie knew he was right. She had to get some sleep. And after everything that had happened that evening, bed sounded very inviting. But now, after discovering someone was showing signs of being obsessed with her, the thought of having sex had diminished. She didn’t feel like fucking anybody.
But she didn’t want to be alone. And she didn’t want Jace to go. Pushing herself to her feet, Maddie went to Jace and slipped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder.
“Would you mind staying the night?” She whispered. “I don’t want to be alone right now.”
She could feel Jace’s heart beating against her. It seemed to pick up speed. Jace sighed and his arms went around her, holding her close as he kissed her head.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he growled.
Chapter Eleven
Jace sensed that Maddie had wanted him to come to bed with her before they had been interrupted. If they hadn’t, Jace would have jumped at the chance. The opportunity to have her in his arms again, even if it was simply for one more night, was too good to pass up. But then Martin Roberts had to come into the picture and ruin the moment.
But he wasn’t about to leave Maddie alone. He wouldn’t be able to sleep in the same bed without wanting to touch her more than Maddie wanted right now, but he could stay nearby. The couch was comfortable and there were extra blankets in the closet. He would be able to sleep on that.
Leaving Maddie to go to the bathroom and get ready for bed, Jace fetched the blankets and a couple of pillows, laying them out on the couch. He would just about fit on it without his legs dangling over the side. But even with the bedding out, the couch didn’t look as inviting as Maddie’s bed.
Jace’s body was wired. His cock was demanding that he went into Maddie’s room and seduced her. It wanted to feel her pussy wrapped around him. Jace wanted that, too. But Maddie was more important than how much he wanted sex.
When he went to check on Maddie, Jace found her already asleep. She had changed into her pajamas, one leg of her bottoms bunched up around her knee as her leg poked out from under the duvet. She was snuggled down, clutching onto the pillow as she slept, her hair spread across the pillow beside her.
Jace didn’t think she could look any more beautiful.
He didn’t want to disturb her and, if he were to into the bed, Maddie wouldn’t be wearing her pajamas anymore. So, he left her alone and lay down on the couch, unbuttoning the top button of his jeans. The gun went onto the coffee table and the remote into his hand. Jace didn’t think he would be able to sleep anytime soon. Maybe some crap night-time TV would help him fall asleep. Or a movie. From what he remembered, Maddie was a movie buff. She loved her old movies. Jace thought anything black and white was boring and was guaranteed to make him fall aslee
p.
Then he found that Maddie had a load of boxsets on her Skybox. That would easily keep him quiet. Jace selected an episode and lay back to watch. His body was tired, and his eyes were burning, but his mind was still wired. Events from the evening were still fresh in his mind and Jace couldn’t switch off.
The revelation that Martin was willing to push the boundaries of patient privilege was scary, considering his occupation. And the fact he was clearly enamored with Maddie made it even worse. But Jace was still thinking about earlier, when he had laid himself bare to Maddie about his father.