by Gina Kincade
“No. But he knows I’m here, because he sent me.”
“Okay, would you like to come in the house? There’s a lot of food and—”
“Don’t be coy. You know why I’m here.”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” Oh, god. The shooter. Andy must be him. “What do you want?” She needed a clear head. Buy time and maybe, just maybe, Ty would come looking for her.
“You. Out of the picture.”
Shayne felt her hands shaking. Quickly she made a fist to hide her fear. “Why? What did I do?”
“What did you do? You fucked his dream. And my perfect existence. Yes. You. Les worked night and day to be the number one cardio and then right when he was close to making that happen, you showed up. A fucking girl, fresh from school. He’s mad. So he turned on me. He told me to get rid of you or he’ll tell the hospital that I’m the one stealing the painkillers. I can’t let that happen. I have a family to support.”
Shayne frowned. “You’re the one stealing the pills.”
“No. Les steals them for me and I would suck his dick in return. No one would suspect a highly respectable, known doctor like him would steal something like hydrocodone.”
Shayne thought about Lisa Mae. She died because of Les’ greed and Andy’s addiction. Holy shit! Shayne squared her shoulders. She wouldn’t let this asshole win. Both of them would spend a lifetime in jail. “You killed a little girl,” Shayne said. Her voice shook, but she continued. “For what, Andy? To keep your name clean? So you could keep taking illegal drugs? You could’ve told the authorities, instead you came here to kill me. You’re better than that.”
“Easy for you to say. You were born with silver spoon in your mouth. You could lose your job and still live a good life. If I lose my job, I’m fucking done. No one would hire me.”
“And that’s more important to you? Your job? You killed an innocent girl, Andy.”
Andy shrugged.
“Lisa Mae dreamed of playing a cello. She loved to hop and skip, instead of walking, she loved—”
“It was a mistake,” Andy grounded out the words then pointed a knife at her. It glittered in the dark. “But I won’t make that same mistake again. Tonight, you will die and I will go back to North Carolina doing whatever I love doing.”
Shayne swallowed. One step and Andy could reach her. She should move, but her feet were rooted to the ground. Oh, god. Think. Ty would be here soon. She knew it. She just needed to buy more time. “You opted for a knife?”
“Yup. I’ve seen you use this many times. Learned from you how to make a clean cut. I won’t make you suffer, Shayne.” Andy gave her an evil smile.
“Drop the knife, asshole, or I’ll put a bullet between your eyes.”
Andy whipped his head toward Ty. “Ah, the knight in shining armor. Do you think you can save this damsel?”
“Isn’t that how the fairytale goes?”
“Sense of humor. I love it.”
“Just drop the knife, dickhead, if you want to live.”
“Oh, I’ll live. But your lady love here…won’t.”
“Why would you do that? For your lover? Sad.”
Confusion registered on Andy’s face. “Sad?”
“You’re doing a job for Doctor Schnall, but he told the police you were here.”
“You lie.” Andy spat the words.
“He’d been caught stealing prescription drugs. Drugs that he would give you as payment for killing Shayne.”
“He wouldn’t tell on me! We made a deal. You’re fucking lying.”
“We already know everything, Andy. Checkmate. Drop the knife and I might just break your fucking bones. Refuse…and I’ll shoot. I don’t fucking care where you get hit.”
“Liar!”
Shayne watched as Andy took a step toward her, his knife above his head—then two shots echoed in the air.
Chapter Ten
Shayne sat on the chair. Her body began shivering. “Ty?”
“Sit here. Don’t disappear one me.” He removed his jacket and wrapped it around Shayne.
“Where are you going?”
“I have a lot to do. You’ll be okay here. Stay, okay?”
Shayne nodded.
Guests were all talking at the same time. Loud sirens were coming from everywhere. She tried to wrap her mind around what just happened, unable to believe that Andy, the nurse she worked with and trusted in the operating room, had tried to kill her. And Les...They sat down and shared a meal together many times, laughed and talked about their plans. She thought they were a team.
Her dad was deep in conversation with the police. Their voices were low, but Shayne heard. Ty had been hired to keep an eye on Shayne. So, that was it then. He only stuck with her because she was a job. Reality sucked. She made a move to get up but Nadia stopped her.
“Ty said stay put. Saw him in the backyard. God, so many men in uniform coming in and out of the house.”
Shayne looked over at her sister.
Nadia was the embodiment of a bride from hell with her mascara smeared around her eyes, her supposedly no stain lipstick smudged around her lips giving her a clownish image. Dear, oh, dear. She ruined her sister’s special day. “Nadia—”
“Oh, Shayne!” Nadia began crying. “You almost got killed! Why did you do that? You’re not supposed to let that happen.”
“I didn’t.”
“I thought you were smart! Oh my god, I was so scared. We heard shots and then Ty came in carrying you. I’ve never seen a man look as mad as he was. Like a crazy Mel Gibson or something. And you—you looked like a ghost. I hate you for doing this to me!”
“I’m really, really sorry, Nadia. If I could change everything, I would. I didn’t mean to ruin your wedding.”
“What? What are you talking about? Fuck my wedding! Do you think I really care? Good lord, Shayne. I’m glad you’re not hurt.”
Shayne was taken aback. Did she really hear Nadia right? She stared at her stepsister. Wow. She cared? “But, you said—”
“God! I want to kill you for scaring us like this. Oh, don’t look at me like that Shayne. What? Do you think I’m such a horrible person to care about this wedding, instead of you being alive? Come on, Shayne. You’re my sister. A super smart, beautiful, know-it-all, pain in my ass, stepsister. More than once, I wanted to break your neck and shoot you. I wanted you gone, so I wouldn’t have to compete with you for Dad’s affection. I even wished for you to break your beautiful legs, so you’d turn into a gimp. But isn’t that just a sibling thing? You’re my stepsister and very annoyingly perfect. Like Cinderella.”
“Oh, Nadia. All this time, I thought you hated me.”
“Yes! I hated you. Isn’t that what a stepsister is supposed to be? Hateful. I fit the role, don’t you think? You should be proud of me. At least I’m good at something.”
Shayne wiped the tears off Nadia’s cheeks and she did the same.” You are good at so many things, Nadia. Really, you are.” Together, they hugged and laughed. For a moment, Shayne forgot about Les, Andy and her close encounter with death.
Chapter Eleven
Shayne wondered why in the world did she invite Nadia to come over? Her stepsister did nothing but complain. But when she told her to stay in a hotel, Nadia refused and explained that bonding wouldn’t happen if they didn’t sleep under one roof and share food. And her sister went on and on about their missed years, so they had a lot of catching up to do. Like watch a silly movie, cook, or shop. She supposed, she had Les to thank for breaking the misunderstanding between her and Nadia. But good lord, she forgot how talkative Nadia could be. Brett was probably enjoying his time being alone.
“Are you sure you Brett is okay with you being away from him. I mean, you just got back from your honeymoon.”
“Oh, he doesn’t care.”
I do, she wanted to say, but didn’t want to hurt her sister’s feelings. They had just found each other, so to speak. She didn’t want to lose her again. “Glad you’re here.�
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“Me, too. But please. Stop, sighing, Shayne. He’ll be back.”
“Nadia, he packed his clothes and said he could go now and wouldn’t have to worry about me getting shot at. He’s in Seattle now, finishing things up. Whatever that is. I didn’t dare to ask. So, he left.”
“After he made smoking hot and passionate love with you and told you not to disappear on him.”
“Yes! Don’t disappear on him. What’s that supposed to mean anyway?”
“Shayne, Shayne. Here, I thought I was the dumb one. He loves you, peanut. He doesn’t want to lose you.”
Ty made love with her as if it was the end of the world. He held her so tenderly that it touched her deep inside and she cried. She loved him. But did he love her or was she just what he said she was? An addiction. And now he’d kicked it? “It’s been two days since he left. Haven’t heard from him since. Not even sure if I should wait for him or not. Don’t disappear on him? He disappeared on me! I’m just a physical addiction to him, Nadia.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
“A job, Nadia. I was just that.”
“Okay. Dad asked him to follow you around. So what? That’s an awesome story about how you two met and fell in love. I think it’s a really romantic story.”
“You don’t know that he’s in love with me.”
Nadia threw her hands up in the air. “You’re a do-do head.”
“Whatever. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. How about if I show you how to make Brett’s favorite spaghetti meatballs?”
Water was already boiling when Shayne’s phone rang. Quickly, she picked up the cellphone off the kitchen counter. Like always, her heart thudded against her chest when she saw the number. She was needed at the hospital. Not trusting Nadia to be left alone in the kitchen, she told her to order pizza instead. Giving Nadia last minute instructions, she left.
****
With Cat Stevens song How Can I Tell You playing, Shayne placed a stent on a seven year old. The little boy had congenital heart disease, a structural birth defect that prevented his heart from developing correctly. Blood vessels weren’t formed properly causing them to be obstructed. Whenever that happened, blood pressure rises, forcing the heart to work harder. For some, the problem wasn’t recognized easily, but with this lucky beautiful boy, his doctor did a great job finding his problems right away.
Right now, with the use of stents, his vessel would increase the size and hopefully, this baby would live longer. She hoped. Shayne wanted to kiss the boy, to let him know that he would be okay. But she couldn’t do that. Steadily and with confidence, she worked for hours. Her mind focused on nothing but her patient.
She looked at the monitor. His heartbeat seemed steady. “Get better and go home, little buddy.” Letting out a deep breath, she closed him up.
“Good job, Doctor Monaghan.”
Shayne smiled at Doctor Ramesh. The new doctor who transferred from Washington D.C. She liked him right away. Funny, very professional, and married with four children. She worked with Les for years. Interestingly, she didn’t miss him. Psychological, maybe. She acknowledged everyone in the room. “Thank you. Thanks, everyone.”
She patted Doctor Ramesh’s back then left him to finish up. As soon as she walked out of the operating room, Shayne’s shoulders sagged. She leaned against the door, then closed her eyes. The boy’s heart was so tiny and beautiful. Her confidence was high, but the fear of not seeing the heart beat again was there, hovering. Her hot tears began to fall. She wiped them off with the pads of her fingers. Oh, lord. If this continued, she too, would have a heart attack.
“Everything went well?”
Shayne opened her eyes.
There, right in front of her stood Ty. He looked tired, but wonderful. He wore his favorite crumpled jeans and white shirt that he couldn’t seem to tuck the tail.
“Yes.”
Slowly, Ty walked toward her. He didn’t stop until they were toe to toe. “How are you?”
“I’m good.”
“Did you miss me?”
“Very much.”
“I missed you, too.”
Shayne shook her head. “You could’ve called.”
“Can’t, love. Work wouldn’t let me call anyone. Too dangerous. But I never stopped thinking about you.”
Oh, god. Shayne felt as though her chest would explode. “Are you back for another case?”
“I’m back because I left a very important part of me here. I just hope she hadn’t disappeared on me.” Ty touched Shayne’s cheek. “I love you.”
I love you. Did she hear him right? “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
Shayne wrapped her arms around Ty’s waist. “I thought I was just an addiction.”
“One that I didn’t want to cure.”
“Oh, god.”
“I’ve loved you since I saw your picture, love. Only, I realized how much after.”
Shayne stared at him. “What picture?”
“The one your dad gave me.” Ty placed an arm around Shayne’s shoulder as they started walking. “When you first started working at the rehab center, he hired me to watch out for you. At a distance, of course. He didn’t want you to know, you see, because he respects your independence.”
Shayne listened. Her heart soared knowing that her father would forever look out for her, then laughed at Ty’s story about Shayne flirting with him and felt her face burn when he told her about his fantasies.
Ty stopped walking to face her. “When I saw Andy that night about to kill you, my heart stopped. I’ve never felt anything like it. I knew then that I would go to hell and back to keep you safe, Shayne. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.” Happiness filled her like sunshine on a summer day.
“Shayne…” Without warning, he went down on his knees.
“Ty…” A hush spread around them. Shayne looked around, everyone in the hospital was watching.
“Shayne Monaghan, with everyone here listening and watching, I want to let you know that my heart belongs to you. I want you to be the mother of my children, the one to cook my meals, while I do the dishes. To share the bathroom with, and see every night and day. I love you to the moon and back. Will you marry me?”
Shayne giggled nervously. “You don’t mind having Nadia for a sister in-law?”
“No.”
“What if I am gone most nights to do my duty as a surgeon?”
“I don’t care.”
“I want four babies.”
“We can start making them right away.”
Their audience laughed. “Do you promise to be mine forever, Ty?”
“Eternally.”
“Then, yes. I will marry you.”
Everyone there gasped, then they cheered.
Ty stood up and cupped Shayne’s face. “Don’t disappear on me.”
“I won’t.”
“I love you,” Ty said and then he kissed her.
Sex Is The Best Medicine by Kathleen Grieve
Chapter One
Grant Anderson stared down at the nondescript can of plain soup. Despair filled him. Fresh loneliness constricted his heart and seized his lungs. This was what his life had been reduced to for the past several years. Stuck in this large old house, unable to leave because of the fear. No, not true, he amended. He’d been getting better, hadn’t he? Taking short trips out into the world, lengthening the time he’d spent in society little by little until he’d found the courage to restart his life in a new part of town.
New office. New home. New me. No more negative bullshit.
His stomach rumbled and an image of Bandera’s Restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale popped into his mind. What he wouldn’t give for a dish of their juicy rotisserie chicken, hunk of amazing cornbread, and a glass of one of their signature reds. His mouth watered. He could almost taste the savory and sweet flavors.
But it’s Saturday night. That meant crowds of people and a very long wait.
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sp; So? his inner voice said with a derisive sneer. You’re a new man now. One who can conquer anything.
Coward that he was, he couldn’t quite gather the courage to grab his coat and head out to Bandera’s. Not even to pick up a to go order. The can of soup shook in his trembling hand. Grant looked at his quaking fists. A gruff curse left his lips. Damn it! He would conquer this fear. His fingers tightened on the can as he began to breathe in and out in slow measured breaths. He shouldn’t listen to that voice. The one who’d constantly degraded him over the years, especially after his grandmother died. Gramms. His heart constricted with fresh grief.
Grant had made great strides toward getting his life in order. The way it used to be when his Gramms was alive. Her fiery nature and penchant for not letting him wallow in his own bullshit had gotten him through the trauma and loss of his parents. He vowed not to back slide now. Too much was at stake. After all, he was in control of his own deep, dark compulsions, not the other way around. Wasn’t he?
Sure you are, but you’re still not willing to go get something hot and satisfying to fill your gut because you’re afraid to face a room full of crowded people, the voice mocked.
Grant glanced longingly at the neatly stacked boxes marked with a black sharpie with the word kitchen printed in his precise penmanship across each one that lined one wall. It was stupid, really. But when he stared at them all he thought of was freedom. Freedom to regain his life back. All his things were packed away to be moved to his new home tomorrow. His pulse leapt and his palms dampened with sweat. He would finally be free of this house and all of the memories that went with this place.
Damn. Damn the Agoraphobia that had taken over his life.
Agoraphobia… Fear of leaving your home. As a clinical psychologist he knew the term well. As a patient who suffered from the phobia himself, he not only knew the term well but had struggled with his demons on a daily basis.