Protein Shake

by Alexis Angel

  “You drive me so fucking crazy, Cara,” he whispers, running his long fingers through my hair, the sound of his voice forcing my rational side to start shutting down. I can feel instinct taking over me and, hell, it feels amazing to give in to it.

  “Maybe you’re the one driving me crazy,” I tell him, taking my gaze off of his cock and looking into his eyes teasingly.

  “Maybe we’re driving each other crazy,” he replies with a soft chuckle, and that just makes me want him more. Biting on my lower lip, I take my hands to his shoulders and push his jacket down; he lets it fall down his arms and onto the seat, and by then my fingers are already fast at work on his tie. I loosen its knot and then pull it over his head, allowing the velvety fabric to slide off my fingers.

  “I want you,” I find myself saying, unable to stop the words from escaping between my lips. His lips curl into a soft smile, and he brushes his lips against mine once more.

  “So do I,” he whispers. I smile back at him, my mind succumbing to a whirlwind of lust. I start working on his shirt then, unbuttoning it slowly and revealing the toned muscles hiding under it. I’ve already seen how ripped Liam is but, to undress him like this, it feels like I’m unwrapping a present on Christmas’ morning.

  I’m about to push his shirt down his arms when I feel something vibrating against my leg, a loud ringtone then making itself heard. “Crap,” Liam mutters, plunging his hand into the right pocket of his pants and taking his phone out. He looks at the screen and then looks up at me. “Cara… Sorry, I have to take this,” he tells me, and I simply roll to the side and pat down the front of my dress, straightening it over my legs.

  “Hey,” he says, pressing the phone against his ear. “What’s going --” he starts, but then the words die in his throat and a heavy seriousness casts a shadow over his eyes. “Shit,” he mutters, pursing his lips, and then just stays in silence as he hears whatever the person on the other side of the line is telling him. “Okay, I’m on my way,” he finishes off, ending the call and throwing his phone to the side.

  I remain in silence for a while, just watching the lines in his face grow deeper. More than just worry, there’s fear in his eyes.

  Whatever happened, it was serious.

  Liam

  I lean forward and punch the button to lower the glass divider between us and my driver and tell him, “Take us to the hospital. As fast as you can. I don’t care how many laws you have to break.”

  I raise the glass, then slump back against the seat, my mind spinning with the bomb my mother just dropped on me.

  Cara looks over at me and rests her hand tentatively on my arm. “Liam? Is everything okay?”

  The sound of her voice jolts me back to the present. Fuck. I’m so shell-shocked by what Mom just said that I momentarily forgot she was sitting right here. Looking down at my cock that obviously hasn’t forgotten where this night was headed, I tuck myself away, button my pants back up and give her a regretful smile.

  “God, Cara, I’m so sorry.”

  She shakes her head, her hair floating around her, making her look a bit like an angel. “Why are you sorry? Obviously something is very wrong. Are you all right?”

  I blow out my breath through my teeth, almost a hiss. “Yes. No.” I shrug, struggling to find the words through the panic that’s starting to set in. “I mean yes, something is wrong. And no, I’m not sure I’m okay.”

  Her eyes flick back and forth between mine, concern creasing her smooth forehead. “Is there anything I can do?”

  She’s so unbelievably sweet right now, trying to make sure I’m okay, but also not wanting to pry. It makes me want to tell her everything.

  “It’s my father,” I say, my frown deepening. “My mom just called to tell me he had a heart attack and he’s in the hospital.”

  Cara’s hands fly to her mouth. “Oh, God. Liam, I’m so sorry.” She wraps her hands around my arm. “Is it… Is it serious?”

  I shake my head tersely. “I don’t know. She didn’t say too much. Just made it clear that I needed to come now.”

  I have no fucking idea how serious it is. All I know is that my family means everything to me. The idea of losing my dad—it makes me want to come unglued. Makes me want to take out the frustration I feel at being so completely helpless right now on something.

  So I slam my fist into the leather seat, stress and adrenaline combining to create excess energy in my body that threatens to explode while I sit here in a fucking limo unable to do anything but wait on goddamn New York traffic.

  I feel Cara’s eyes on me, and I look back at her, not sure what I’ll find on her face. I don’t let women into my personal thoughts, my personal life. That part of me is carefully guarded. Sealed away. Protected. I don’t like that right now everything I’m feeling is exposed, making me vulnerable.

  But when I meet her eyes, all I see is kindness and compassion. Like she gets what I’m feeling right now. It makes my chest feel tight, and I reach for her, putting my arms around her shoulders and tucking her into me as I drop a kiss on her forehead.

  “I’ll be fine,” I reassure her. “He’ll be fine.” That’s to reassure myself.

  Cara fits comfortably against my side, and surprisingly, just having her there next to me makes me feel slightly better. She wraps her arms around my waist and squeezes, nodding against my chest.

  We ride in silence for a bit, and some of my agitation returns when we get caught in heavier traffic. Cara’s hand moves in slow, steady circles on my lower back as if she’s trying to ease my tension.

  “I’m sure he’s got the best doctors attending to him, Liam.” She smiles up at me. “I mean, nothing less for the father of the Liam Donovan, right?”

  A small smile tugs at my lips. “Yeah. Nothing but the best.” I look at her regretfully. “I’m sorry our date has to end like this. I know this isn’t exactly what you expected. Hopefully you’ll give me another chance to take you out and show you how a proper date with me should end.”

  Cara lets out a little laugh. “I think I have a good idea how that goes.” She shakes her head. “But please don’t apologize, Liam. This is your family. They come first.”

  I kiss her forehead, wondering when I became the kind of guy who gives those kind of kisses. “I’ll have my driver take you home after he drops me off at the hospital.”

  She jerks away from me, looking at me like I’ve just told her I believe the earth is flat. “Are you kidding me right now?”

  “Um, no?” I say, my eyebrows lifting.

  “No way. I’m not going anywhere. Other than to the hospital with you.” She takes my hand and squeezes it softly. “You think I’m just going to let you go in there and deal with it alone?”

  I look at her, stunned. “You want to do that?”

  She nods, looking as if she thinks I’m crazy for thinking otherwise. Taking both her hands, she cups my cheeks and stares me in the eye. “Absolutely. That’s not the kind of thing you let someone you care about face alone.”

  She pauses as we both realized what she said. That she cares about me. Of course, that could mean anything. I care about lots of shit. The gym. A good book. A funny TV show. It doesn’t mean I care. But it still makes a warm feeling spread through my chest.

  I smile. “I think I’d like that a lot.”

  More than I care to think about. I think back to what Connor said about finding the one. It’s crazy to think like that after only two dates. But I can’t help it. I like the idea of Cara beside me. Supporting me.

  I shove the thoughts away. Now isn’t the time. I have no idea what I’m about to face at the hospital, and I need to be functioning at full capacity, not distracted by these unfamiliar feelings.

  But when we pull up in front of the hospital and I climb out, extending a hand to Cara, it feels damn good to intertwine my fingers with hers and walk into the hospital with her at my side.

  Liam

  We blow past the nurses’ station and go straight into the private waitin
g room where I see my mom sitting. I go straight to her, and she stands when she looks up and sees me.

  “Liam.” Her voice is full of relief, and I pull her into my arms, hoping to comfort her, but taking just as much comfort when she looks up at me. She looks worried, but not to the point that she’s fearful for Dad’s life. I blow out a heavy sigh. Thank God.

  “Can we see him?” I ask.

  Mom shakes her head. “The doctors are with him right now, running some tests. They should be here with a report soon, and then we should be able to go back.”

  “How serious is it?”

  She presses her lips together. “I’m not sure, but from what I’ve gathered, he’s going to be okay.”

  I nod, my initial fears somewhat abated. “What happened?”

  “We were just in bed, and all of a sudden he was clutching his chest and struggling to breathe.”

  I look at her suspiciously. “Just in bed?”

  Despite the circumstances, my mother has the audacity to laugh and give me a wink. “We may be getting older, Liam, but we aren’t dead.”

  Aw, fuck.

  I groan. “Mother. Seriously?”

  She lets out a throaty laugh. “You asked,” she says with a shrug, her eyes twinkling.”

  “Jesus Christ, Mom.” I roll my eyes and catch Cara hiding a smile behind her hand. “And that’s my mother for you.”

  Mom looks back and forth between Cara and me, her eyebrows arched.

  “Mom, this is Cara. Cara, my mother.”

  Cara steps forward and extends her hand, a small smile on her lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Donovan. Though I’m sorry it’s not under better circumstances.”

  Mom takes Cara’s hand in both of hers and gives her an appraising look before breaking into a genuine smile. “The pleasure is all mine, my dear.”

  She looks like she’s about to say more. Perhaps give Cara a full interrogation. I mean, I did just show up to a serious family thing with a woman in tow. That’s never happened. Like, ever. And my mother is an intelligent woman. She’ll recognize that Cara isn’t like the women I usually go out with. Though I’m not quite sure what that means right now.

  Instead of subjecting Cara to questions that even I’m not ready to answer yet, I turn the conversation back to the matter at hand.

  “Okay, Mom. Tell me everything. Has Dad been having any other issues we should be aware of? Shortness of breath? Has he been taking his blood pressure medication? How’s his diet been? You know he has a stash of candy in his closet, don’t you?”

  My mother places a hand on my arm with an affectionate smile. “Did you go to medical school when I wasn’t paying attention?”

  I chuckle. I know she’s trying to lighten the mood, but I’m serious. I can function much better in this moment if I feel some sense of control over the situation. Because I fucking hate not being in control. And that’s exactly how I feel right now.

  “Seriously, Mom. You’ve been keeping him in check, right?”

  “Well,” she says slowly, “you know your father has a mind of his own. There’s only so much I can do to make him behave.”

  Don’t I know it. My dad was the original lady killer. Like some old school movie star who can charm the pants off any woman. And before he met my mom, that was exactly what he did. The apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree in our case, something Mom has told me plenty of times. Followed immediately by her assertion that one day I’ll meet my match and I won’t be able to look at another woman ever again.

  Up until a few days ago, I dismissed that notion without a second thought. But I’m starting to wonder if my mom knows what she’s talking about. She came into my dad’s life, all soft, striking beauty but with an iron will and feisty attitude to match and he was never the same. At least to hear him tell it. I’ve never seen two people more in love. Ironic, considering love is something I’ve sworn off for years.

  I laugh lightly, slinging my arm around my mom’s shoulders and winking at her. “I don’t believe that for a second. You trying to tell me you don’t have Dad right under your thumb?”

  She smirks slightly and lifts a shoulder. “Perhaps.”

  Cara lets out a little laugh, and I meet her eyes with a grin.

  Mom looks between us again, smiling at Cara. “I like this woman, Liam.”

  Yeah. Me too. It doesn’t even feel weird that she’s here with us in what should be a private family matter.

  “I’m going to get some coffee,” my mother says, slipping out from under my arm after she gives me a quick peck on the cheek.

  Then she’s gone, leaving Cara and I alone in the otherwise empty waiting room. She slips her arms around my waist and looks up at me.

  “You okay?”

  I stare down at her, and it hits me full on just how different she is from any of the other women I’ve ever dated. I mean, I obviously recognized that at some point, but not like this. I can see in her clear eyes that she truly cares how I’m doing right this minute. There’s no pretense. She’s not thinking about my money. Conniving about how she can get her hands on it and what I can do for her. Not concerned with how I can get her off with my huge cock—though I can certainly make her more than interested that. But that’s not the point. The point is that right now, standing here together, all she’s worried about is how I’m holding up. I don’t think any other woman has ever cared about anything below the surface when it comes to me.

  Except Cara.

  “I’m okay,” I say, almost mechanically. I’m putting on a good show of having it all together, laughing and joking with my mom, taking charge by asking all the right questions, trying to be a rock for her. But inside I’m a mess, and I will be until I see my dad for myself.

  She smiles as if she sees right through me, but all she does is place her palms on my chest and looks at me. “I’m here for you, Liam. Just so you know. Whatever you need.”

  Cara seems to know exactly the right thing to say, and I wonder if she’s been through something similar in her life. Before I can ask, my mom reappears, her shrewd eyes taking in the scene she walked in on.

  Cara steps to the side, dropping her hands from my waist, but before she can move too far away, I grab her hand and interlock my fingers with hers again. I don’t want her anywhere but by my side right now.

  It doesn’t escape Mom’s notice. “So, how did you two meet?” She smiles sweetly at Cara, but I know her curiosity is barely restrained.

  “At the swim club,” I say, then laughingly tell her the story of Cara spilling her drink all over me.

  “Hmm,” Mom says, her eyes still darting back and forth between us. “And how long have you been seeing each other?”

  “Oh, just a few days,” Cara says, waving her hand dismissively, as if we’re barely more than friends.

  Fuck that. I wrap my arm around her waist and tug her more tightly to me.

  “Why don’t we sit down and you can tell me more,” Mom says, a mischievous smile playing at her lips.

  I know she can’t wait to get the dirty details about this woman who is obviously getting to me. Normally I’d do anything to avoid a conversation like this, but right now it’s almost welcome compared to the alternative of sitting around in silence thinking about what’s going on with the doctors and my dad down the hall.

  “You know,” she begins, “I don’t think Liam has let me meet a single one of his dates since he was in high school.”

  I laugh, trying to make light of it. “That’s because you always mixed up their names.”

  Her eyebrows arch. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have changed girlfriends so fast.” She looks at Cara and gives her a conspiratorial little wink. “You know, Liam and his brother had new girlfriends every single week. I never knew what to expect with those two.”

  Cara’s gaze flicks to mine at the mention of a brother. Not ready to go there, I change the subject. “So, what about you, Cara? It’s only fair you tell us about all your boyfriends since my mother i
s intent to air all my dirty laundry.”

  She laughs. “I think everyone who has ever seen a tabloid knows all about your dirty laundry, Liam Donovan.”

  I roll my eyes and laugh, but for whatever reason, I don’t want Cara thinking about me as that guy. She doesn’t linger on it, though, and entertains us with a few funny stories of how her parents embarrassed her growing up.

  My mom sits there and watches us, and when I catch her eye a few minutes later, she has a knowing smile on her face like she sees something I don’t. I give her a questioning look, but she simply keeps chatting with Cara like their old friends.

  I know I should be freaked the fuck out that my mom and a woman I’m dating—because let’s face it, it’s more than one date and I don’t intend on this being the last, either, so we’re dating—are sitting here discussing childhood stories. But I’m not. It feels oddly normal.

  And I have no idea what to make of that.

  Cara

  “Mrs. Donovan?” A tall man in a long white coat asks, reading the name from a stack of document in his hands.

  “That’d be me,” Liam’s mom says, going up to her feet so fast you’d say she’s still in her twenties. Both Liam and I follow suit, eager to hear whatever the doctor has to say. “Any news?”

  “Yes,” the doctor says with a sigh and, for a moment, I ready myself for the bad news. But then he cracks a semi-serious smile and the lines in his face soften. “Mr. Donovan is going to be okay. We’ll still have to run some tests, just for precaution, but this wasn’t a life-or-death situation. You acted fast, Mrs. Donovan, and you got him here in time.”

  “Thank God,” she exhales, one hand over her heart, and I breathe out in relief as well, feeling as if a heavy weight had just been lifted off my shoulders. Even though I barely know the Donovan family, I simply couldn’t help but empathize with the darkness of the whole situation.