She quickly used the damp washcloth to wipe his semen off her hand and his velvety dome, and then she left his side only to return with a fresh warm cloth. Jo washed his abdomen and then she ran the cloth around his softening cock, and moved downwards to clean his strong legs.
Wes couldn’t stop looking at her. She had just blown his mind. He wished he could reciprocate, but he knew he couldn’t. When Jo finished his impromptu sponge bath she sat down in the chair by his bed. Wes patted a space at his bedside, signaling for her to sit next to him, so she did.
“Thank you.” He smiled at her while he ran his hands over her face and through her hair.
“It was my pleasure Wes.” She said seductively. If he knew how wet she was right now he’d probably try to take care of her.
Wes pulled her down for a kiss and they continued to kiss tenderly until the nurse came in to collect Wes’ tray, forcing them to break apart, embarrassed that they’d been caught making out like teenagers.
That evening Jace arrived bringing a sandwich from the cafeteria for Jo. She knew Wes had probably told him to bring her something. Jo thanked him and ate it while the men visited. Jill arrived and when she saw that Jo was still there Jo watched her visibly cringe.
When the nurse in charge of Wes came to check his vitals she reminded them that only two people could be in the room. Jo stood up, kissed Wes on the forehead, and told him she was just going to go for a walk. Wes grabbed her wrist. “Sure?” He said concerned.
“Yeah, I need to stretch my legs.”
Wes nodded and released her, but not before pulling her in for another kiss. Jace watched with an amused smile. He then caught the evil look Jill was casting towards Jo and an uneasy feeling tugged at his gut.
Jo left the room and Jace watched Wes follow her until she was out of sight. As they visited Jace noticed how Jill kept touching Wes and how uncomfortable Wes looked with the unwanted caresses. Wes kept looking at the door and Jace knew he was watching for Jo to return. The nurse came back into the room and gave Wes pain medicine.
"You need to get some sleep Mr. Tobin." She said eying his guests.
Jace knew the nurse wanted them to leave and he would have but he wanted to wait until Jo came back. Within minutes Wes’ eyes were starting to close and when Jace suggested that he and Jill leave, Jill told him to go ahead, that she wanted to stay a little longer. Wes finally succumbed to the medicine and fell asleep.
Jo walked outside for the first time in days and immediately wished she could go for a run. It was so nice out, the sun was shining, and she missed the natural high she always got from pushing herself on her work outs. She started walking on the white sidewalk around the outside of the hospital. She really had wanted to stretch her legs, and now that she had the opportunity she decided to use it and go for a brief, but fast walk before heading back up to Wes' room.
She was so grateful Wes was going to be all right. She thought back to the awful heaviness she had felt when she had learned he'd been shot and the memory made her shiver. Wes was so different than any man Jo had been with before. That thought brought a smile to her face as she rounded the final corner on her walk.
Jo felt her phone buzzing, in her back pocket, she had it set to vibrate, and she quickly pulled it out. She had lost all of her original contacts so she didn't recognize the number, but she answered it anyway.
"Hello"
"Hi Jo, it's Henry."
Jo stopped walking, surprised to hear from her old boss.
"Henry, hi. What's up?"
"I was hoping we could meet. I have a proposition for you."
"Really? Okay." If Jo could get her old job back, all her newspaper resources would be available to her again.
"Sure. When?"
"I was hoping we could meet in a half hour. I'm heading out of town and wanted to talk to you before I left."
Jo blew out a long breath, not even realizing she'd been holding it in. She didn't want to leave Wes but it would only be for a little while.
"Okay." Jo replied as she quickly thought about where she should meet him. She didn't have a car and she didn't want Henry to know she was at the hospital with Wes. She wasn't ready to share her personal life with him.
"How about if we meet at Bishop's Grille?" The Grille was a small tavern within walking distance of the hospital. She would run upstairs, tell Wes she was meeting Henry, and then walk there. Easy Peasy.
Henry faltered for a second before answering her.
"Henry?"
"Bishop's, okay. I just thought maybe you'd be home and I could meet you there."
"No, I'm out running errands."
"Well then, Bishop's in 30 minutes."
"I'll see you there."
"See you there."
They both disconnected.
Jo headed back to Wes.
When Jo got to the room she stopped short in the doorway. Wes was sound asleep and Jill was sitting in the chair closest to Wes. Jo couldn't help but notice how her hand was resting on his arm. Jace was still sitting in the chair at the foot of the bed looking at his phone. When Jace saw her he stood up.
"Hey, I was wondering where you went to."
"I went for a walk and then I got a phone call from my old boss at the paper, Henry. He wants to meet with me. He may be offering me my job back. He says he has a proposition for me."
"Oh Jo that's great."
Jill had taken her hand from Wes' arm and sat quietly listening to them talk.
"I have to meet him now over at Bishop's. Are you going to be here for a bit longer?" Jo said looking from Wes, who was sleeping peacefully, back to Jace.
Jace knew Jo was hesitating because Jill was there. Jo may trust Wes, but the woman was smart enough to know that Jill had a thing for him.
Jace shook his head and pointed at Wes chuckling. "He's sleeping pretty soundly Jo. I don't think any of us need to stay."
"I'll stay with him." Jill said a little too eagerly.
Jo looked to Jace for help.
"Jill that's nice of you. I guess I can stay longer too." Both Jace and Jo could tell Jill would have preferred to be alone with Wes.
Jo went to her purse and dug out her pen and notepad that she always carried with her. She wrote a brief note to Wes, in case he woke up, telling him she was meeting Henry at Bishop's. She signed it Love, Your Jo. Jo knew he'd like reading that part. Jo placed the note on Wes' tray table propped up by his blue breathing apparatus. She knew he'd see it right away. She then thanked Jace and Jill and hurried off to the tavern.
Jace and Jill talked about bar business. Jill was chatting enthusiastically about a new singer she had lined up. Jace wanted to ask why she wasn't using Jo anymore, but he didn't want to get into a discussion that involved Jo, so he remained quiet. His phone buzzed and when he saw the screen he knew he had to take the call.
"Jill I have to take this. I'll be right back."
Jill nodded as Jace put the phone to his ear and hurried out of the room.
When he returned a few minutes later Jill was looking at a magazine that she must have had in her humongous pocketbook. Wes was still sleeping.
"Everything okay?" Jill asked.
"Actually I need to leave." Jace had received a call from the law firm he had been hired by. They were hoping Jace could obtain proof; digital, paper, or photographic, that a wife was cheating on her husband. The wife had been laying low and Jace had not had any success so far. The lawyer had just called Jace to tell him that the wife had left the house hours ago and still wasn't home. The husband thought she was meeting her lover.
"You can go Jace. I'll stay."
Jace didn't have choice. He may not get another chance to either prove or refute the husband's accusations. Jace looked to Wes again who was snoring softly.
"Thanks. I appreciate this. If Wes wakes before Jo returns tell him I had a break in a case and give him Jo's note, otherwise he'll worry."
"Don't worry Jace." Jill said with a light laugh. "I got this."
Jace thanked her again and left the room.
Chapter 22
Jo
Jo waited for Henry at the bar. She had ordered a soft drink and she absentmindedly ate the pretzel, peanut concoction placed purposefully next to her. Henry spotted her when he walked in.
"Hi." He said giving her a hug.
"Hi."
"Let's get a table. I'll buy you dinner."
"Actually Henry I have to be some where soon." Jo told him. "Would you mind if we just sat here?"
Henry sat on the open stool next to hers. He flagged down the bartender and ordered a martini.
"So what's going on Henry?" Jo was anxious to hear what he had to say.
"Well I've got good news Jo."
A huge smile spread across Jo's face. He was going to rehire her. She knew it.
Henry took a long swig of his martini as Jo waited impatiently for him to continue.
"Jo we have an opening in advertising..."
Jo's stomach dropped. Advertising, what the heck!
"Advertising?" She interrupted.
"Hear me out." Henry said quickly.
Jo took a sip of her soda hoping to hide her disappointment.
"Marge in advertising has left and we need someone." Jo nodded, not happy at all with what she was hearing.
"I know it's not what you want, but in your spare time you can help Buddy."
"Buddy? Buddy who writes the obits?"
Buddy was an old timer at the paper who used to write headline articles, but as he got older he wanted to cut back on his time commitment. Now he was pushing 80 and he still went in to work every day to write the obituaries.
"I know it sounds awful, but it would be a steady paycheck; and if a reporter job opened up again, well obviously we would place you there."
Jo felt like she'd been punched in the stomach. How could he offer her the advertising job? It was a total slap in the face.
"Henry I appreciate you thinking about me, but it really is not what I want."
"Jo, think about it. You haven't found another job yet, have you?"
"No, not yet." She dismally admitted.
"Well then think about it, okay?"
"Alright, I'll think about it."
"So what have you been up to?" Henry asked after finishing his drink.
"Oh I've been doing a little freelance research for an article."
Henry fiddled with his napkin.
"Want to share?" He asked.
Jo decided he had already known about the story, and even though she had not crossed him off the list of people that could have stolen her original files she decided she would tell him. Maybe he would offer her the papers resources for a chance to publish first.
"I'm just kicking around that lead I told you about regarding the construction site."
"Oh. Anything promising?"
"It's becoming very interesting actually." Jo said skirting the question.
"Well if you come back to the paper perhaps you can use me as a sounding board. Like old times." He said sounding wistful.
Jo nodded. "Thanks."
Henry paid for their drinks, stood up, and then patted her shoulder affectionately.
"We miss you Jo."
Henry turned and she watched him walk away.
Jo remained at the bar; thinking about the position Henry had just offered her. He was correct, she could use the paycheck, but Jo couldn't help thinking that there was an ulterior motive attached to the job offer. Jo hated what she was currently thinking about her old mentor.
A hulking figure appeared in the bar's doorway, blocking the sun from entering the dim room. Jo realized it was Andy walking towards her. Her stomach lurched.
Andy was at her side quickly. “Jo? Are you okay?”
"Andy? What are you doing here? Is Wes all right?"
"Wes is fine. Well he will be when I tell him I found you."
"Why? What's going on?"
Andy sighed deeply before speaking and Jo's insides clenched uncomfortably.
"Jace had to leave and Wes was asleep so Jace didn't think it was bad if he left Jill with him. When Wes woke up Jill was sitting on the bed holding his hand. When he asked where you were she told him you had decided to leave."
"Andy I left him a note. I had to meet with my old boss."
"He didn't see the note. He freaked out thinking you saw Jill holding his hand and bolted."
They were both hurrying out of the tavern heading back to the hospital.
"I wouldn't have left Andy." Jo said seriously, trying to keep pace with Andy's long stride.
"I didn't think you would, but Wes, well, he's still feeling the whole Ginger ordeal. Jo, that crap with Ginger; I swear I've never seen him so upset. When he realized what you saw on television and what you must have been thinking. It was bad, really bad."
"I know she played him Andy." She was jogging just to stay even with the large man.
"Well waking up with Jill holding his hand, and with you nowhere in sight, well guess is that my man's trying to leave the hospital to look for you."
"How did you find me?"
"He called me after he got Jill out of the room; I tried to calm him down and told him I'd find you. I called Jace and he told me where you were going. I came right over."
When they arrived at Wes' room he was bracketed by two nurses and one of them was talking sternly to him. Wes had taken out his IV and had somehow managed to pull his pants on. He was sickly white from the energy he was expending trying to dress himself and sweat dotted his forehead.
“Mr. Tobin if you don’t get back in that bed I’ll have to call the doctor and he will not be happy.” She implored.
When Wes saw Jo standing next to Andy in the doorway he froze and the frustrated nurses saw Jo.
“There you are.” One of the nurses said sounding enormously relieved. “Please tell him to get back into bed.”
Jo didn’t move towards him. She knew that he thought that she had seen Jill holding his hand and had left. What slammed into her was the realization that as hurt as he was, he was trying to go after her. The enormity of what Wes was putting himself through to find her hit her hard. Her heart ached that he thought she would leave and she hated that he was physically hurting.
“Jo.” He said. His voice sounded pained.
He stepped towards her and Jo saw how unsteady, yet determined he was to touch her.
He placed a hand on her cheek tenderly and searched her eyes.
“Jo?” He repeated. Her eyes welled up with unshed tears. She hated how emotional she was. Wes gently pulled her into his chest as the nurses and Andy looked on.
Jo's arms wrapped her arms around his waist. "I left you a note big guy." She uttered into his chest.
Jo heard one nurse telling Andy as they left to, “Get him back into bed.”
Jo pulled back from Wes, wiped her wet eyes and turned him towards the bed. She signaled for Andy to help her and he went to the other side of Wes and helped to eased him down on the bed.
Jo reached for the button on his pants and Andy looked away embarrassed.
“Help me Andy, he’s weak.” Jo said softly.
“Not weak.” Wes mumbled, causing both Jo and Andy to smile.
Andy helped her take Wes pants off and then helped him lay back on the bed. His breathing was uneven and Jo hated how drained he looked.
Jo pulled the covers up to his waist; thankfully he hadn’t been able to get his scrub top off. She walked to the bathroom and got a washcloth, wet it and came back to wipe down his face. They looked at each other remembering what had transpired the last time she’d wielded the cloth.
“Where did you go?” Wes said clearly still upset.
Jo looked to the table where she had left her note and when she didn't see it she looked around and saw it on the floor under the bed.
"Here." She said after she retrieved it, handing it to Wes.
Wes read it then looked up at Jo.
“My neck was hurting and
the nurse gave me something for the pain. I remember falling asleep and when I woke up Jill was sitting on my bed holding my hand. She told me you had left. I thought something had happened. She made it sound like you were gone." Wes paused as he took a steadying breath. "For good.” His voice shook.
"I was just meeting with Henry."
Wes was searching her expressive eyes and settled back on his pillow relieved.
"Wes I wouldn't leave you." Jo said cocking her head. She was feeling disappointed that he thought that she would.
"I'm sorry Jo, it's just after Ginger, I was worried. I guess the meds are messing with my normally good senses." He said with a sad sarcastic chuckle.
"Yes, it must be the meds." She grinned at him playfully taking his hand in hers.
One of the nurses had returned and hooked Wes back up to the monitor and IV. Jo and Andy sat down in the two chairs near the bed.
When the nurse left, Wes looked at Andy, “Thank you.” He said and Jo knew it was for bringing her back to the hospital. Andy acknowledged his friend with a smile and a nod.
“Jo I can stay if you have things to do?”
Jo looked to Wes and he mouthed for her to stay. Jo told Andy she’d stay another night and immediately Wes relaxed. Andy stood and gave Wes a small salute. “Stay in bed man.” He admonished him. Wes smiled as Andy left.
“Jo come here.” Wes said patting to the bed when they were alone. Jo climbed onto the bed with him. Wes put one arm around her and Jo leaned back against him.
“I’m sorry I lost it.” He said leaning his cheek against the top of her head.
"I put the note on your tray table Wes. I hate to say it, but I think Jill tossed it under your bed."
"I'm sure she did."
"She really cares for you Wes."
“Jo look at me.” She tilted her face so she was looking at his handsome face. “I’m yours, only yours. You have to know that.”
Jo smiled at Wes tenderly.
“I do Wes. I know Ginger set you up. She's a bitch. I have to tell you, I probably would have lost it if I'd seen Jill on your bed, holding your hand, but I wouldn't have run Wes."
One Tough Love Page 18