The Girl Who Doesn't Quit (Soulless Book 12)

by Victoria Quinn

  I recognized that look—because her father wore the same one when he was deep in thought.

  “Unless…” She stepped forward and got a better view of the papers on the wall. “What if it moved?” She pivoted to look at Anthony.

  Anthony stared back.

  “Started as deep vein thrombosis then traveled to a different part of her body. It stayed there before it moved again—and again. It could be in her lungs right now, or worse, her brain. It makes sense, and it also explains why there’s no swelling—”

  “That’s fucking it.” Anthony stormed out of the office to get to his assistant to make the calls.

  Daisy hadn’t noticed me yet, so she started to dance without music and then did a couple karate chops.

  I couldn’t suppress my grin because she was both sexy and cute. “Good job.”

  She jumped in the air, her hand moving to her heart. “Jesus Christ, I almost shit in Anthony’s office.”

  I chuckled as I came close. “He’d forgive you since you helped him figure this out.”

  “No, I really don’t think he would.”

  I walked to her, my hands immediately moving to her waist so I could grab her ass and kiss her.

  She instantly stepped back, her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes guarded.

  “Shit…sorry.” I stepped back and moved my hands into my pockets. “Instinct.”

  “Your instinct is to grab my ass?”

  I took a seat on the couch, one ankle resting on the opposite knee, my arm over the back of the couch. “It’s what I live for.”

  She forced an annoyed look even though she was anything but annoyed.

  “Baby, you live for it too.”

  “Okay, enough of the baby talk. Anthony will come back any moment.”

  “Alright, then let’s talk about last night.”

  Her eyes narrowed.

  “You left without saying a word to me.”

  “Because I got what I wanted.”

  I grinned because she was so damn hot. “Is this a two-way street?”

  “Always.”

  “Good to know.”

  Anthony walked back inside. “Alright, got her on the phone. She’s on her way to the hospital. I’m going to meet her there and talk to her doctors.” He grabbed his bag and paperwork before he turned to Daisy and tapped his fingers against his temple. “Thanks for the brain, Daisy.”

  When she got compliments from her colleagues, she took them differently than when she got them from me. It meant a lot more to her, judging by the way her eyes lit up. “You were on the right track, Anthony.”

  I got to my feet and gave Anthony a pat on the shoulder. “Good job today.”

  Anthony hesitated before he gave a nod and walked out.

  Daisy watched him go then looked at me again.

  “Still doesn’t like me, huh?”

  “No.”

  My hands returned to my pockets. “I’ve never been good at making friends.”

  “You aren’t supposed to like your boss. You’re supposed to respect them—and he respects you.” She moved to the door, looking like a hot piece of ass in that tight skirt.

  My hand gently went to her elbow so she wouldn’t blow past me. “Can I come over tonight?”

  She left her arm there instead of pulling away, her skin soft against my fingertips. She stared at me for a few seconds before she gave a slight nod. “You can come over whenever you want, Atlas.”

  Her thighs squeezed my torso, and her arms remained locked around my neck, kissing me as I rocked forward, her crossed ankles digging into my ass as she tugged me into her. Naked and beautiful, she moved underneath me, tilting her pelvis to take my dick every time I gave it to her.

  Her eyes were watery with satisfaction, and she wasn’t afraid to give me a deep look to show her pleasure, her desire. She was passionate and fiery, every moan she made involuntary because I made it happen.

  I could do this forever.

  Her hand went to my ass and pushed me into her at a quicker pace, her breathing picking up, her lips parted and releasing heavy breaths. Our embrace ended because she couldn’t keep it up, not when she writhed in a climax so strong that more tears came.

  My hand dug into her hair, and I gave it to her exactly as she commanded me, my eyes hard on her face. “Baby…” I came with her, able to time myself with her often because she was so easy to read, her emotions words on a page.

  I filled her again, knowing there would be a big pool in her sheets once we moved.

  Our bodies went still, but she kept her thighs around my waist. Her eyes opened and looked at me, the watery film reflecting the city lights that came through the window. The moisture bubbled until they formed drops and spilled to her ears.

  My hand remained in her hair, and I stared at the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen—on the inside as well as the outside.

  The high wore off slowly, and she blinked her eyes until they turned dry. “Alright.” She gave me a pat on the shoulder. “You can go.”

  I leaned down and rubbed my nose against hers. “My job is done?”

  “You get a gold star.”

  I chuckled against her ear then showered her with kisses, one on her neck, another on her collarbone. I rolled off and lay beside her, her bedroom dark except for the city lights shining in.

  She pulled the sheets to her chest and closed her eyes, like she could fall asleep right on the spot.

  I should go home because I had an early day tomorrow, but it was hard to get myself up to go. It would be nice to fall asleep beside her without having to worry about waking up even earlier than usual to get my workout done and head to the lab before most people even considered awakening.

  She opened her eyes then scooted closer to me, her head moving to my shoulder, her arm over my waist.

  Now I wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Your dad invited me to the cabin this weekend, you know.”

  “Going to come?”

  “Unless you don’t want me to.”

  “Of course I want you to come.” Her leg tucked between mine, and she released a breath against my neck, showing her contentment.

  “Alright.” My arm circled her waist, and I lay there with her, her bedroom an oasis, a peaceful retreat. Life was constantly on the go, constant paperwork, constant worry. It was nice to take a step back and enjoy the quiet.

  “I’m glad that my dad decided to play cupid.”

  I turned my head farther in her direction, my fingertips lightly touching her skin. “Me too.”

  “He has better taste in men than I do.”

  He chuckled. “I’m glad he thought I was good enough for you.”

  “That makes two of us.” She released another sigh, giving a final stretch before she went still. “I’m going to fall asleep, so if you’re going to leave, you should do it now.”

  “What if I don’t want to leave?”

  “Then perfect.” She raised her head and gave me a kiss goodnight.

  Oh man, that kiss was so damn good.

  She lay down again, this time snuggling with me harder.

  My head rested on her forehead, and my hand lay on top of hers on my chest. My eyes took in the sight of the cityscape outside the window as I listened to her breathe. Her quick and shallow breaths became deeper and more even, and she quickly drifted off right away.

  I was exhausted, but the moment was so nice that I didn’t want to fall asleep.

  I knew something was wrong when he got to the lab before I did.

  He sat in the chair at the workbench, one elbow on the armrest, his closed knuckles supporting his chin. His eyes were directed out the window, the sky pale blue because it was so early in the morning. His thick hair wasn’t as dark as his daughter’s, having a bit of gray in it, but it was clear it’d been the same dark color as Derek’s at one point in time. His facial hair was dark like her locks, though. He wore the same angry expression that she had—all in the eyes.

  I set my bag on the cou
nter, and he didn’t stir. “Everything alright, Dr. Hamilton?”

  His eyes didn’t move away from the window. “I told you to call me Deacon.”

  So that was a big fat no.

  I took a seat across from him and waited for him to speak.

  He stared out the window for a while longer before he dropped his hand from his chin. “Mrs. Ventrose passed away this morning.”

  I’d told her that my parents died in the subway—and she’d held my hand. She was literally on her deathbed, and instead of being bitter, she was compassionate. It was always hard to lose a patient, but it was especially hard when you were trying so hard to save their life. If we’d gotten approval for the trials just a little sooner, it could have made a difference. Or maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference at all.

  “The hospital paged me. Got there before it happened.” He finally shifted his gaze to me.

  Her husband wouldn’t have been able to make it there with the kids in time. In that moment, Dr. Hamilton was all she had. “I wish they’d called me instead.”

  “No, you don’t.” He looked away again. “Trust me on that.”

  When I looked him over, I realized he was in his blue scrubs.

  That meant he didn’t go home afterward. He’d been sitting here, watching the sun rise. “This doesn’t get easier, does it?”

  He released a deep breath before he looked at me once more, his gaze so much like Daisy’s, having that same intelligence, that same fire. “No. And even if we save lives in this trial, it doesn’t make up for what we’ve lost.”

  I sat with him and looked out the window too.

  We didn’t speak another word to each other.

  Just sat there.

  I flipped through the chart at the bedside, looking at the lab work that had just come in.

  Nothing promising.

  I lifted my stethoscope from around my neck and put the earpieces in my ears before I listened to Mr. Franken’s heart and then his lungs.

  I stilled. “A couple more deep breaths.”

  He inhaled deeply again then let out a long exhale.

  The crackle was noticeable, but not nearly as much as it used to be.

  I stilled as I continued to listen. “Alright. Thank you, Mr. Franken.” I stepped away from the bed and headed to the door.

  “Dr. Beaumont, did you notice anything?”

  I turned back to him, not wanting to get his hopes up, but too excited not to share. “I think I did. We’ll get a biopsy and a scan so we can get a better look.” I moved down the hallway to the nurses station where our computers were. Dr. Hamilton was there, talking to his wife, who’d brought him lunch.

  I moved to the edge of his desk and interrupted their conversation because I was too enthusiastic to be polite. “Dr. Hamilton, I think it’s working.”

  Dr. Hamilton had just opened the container to his lunch, but he immediately dropped the lid back to the surface.

  Mrs. Hamilton shifted her gaze back and forth between her husband and me then silently excused herself.

  Dr. Hamilton rose to his feet and looked me in the eye with the same intensity he’d shown when he knocked out Mason, like he might punch me so hard that my nose would break in several places.

  “I listened to Mr. Franken’s lungs. I can tell.”

  Dr. Hamilton got his stethoscope ready. “Let’s go.”

  On Saturday morning, I drove through the open gate and approached the cabin by the lake. A couple cars were already there. I parked and grabbed my bag from the trunk before I knocked on the door.

  There was no answer, so I let myself inside.

  It was quiet, no voices present. I left my bag in the entryway then peered out through the glass doors.

  Dr. Hamilton sat at the table with his laptop in front of him.

  I stepped outside. “So much for taking a day off.”

  His eyes lifted to mine, and there was a hint of affection there. “Anxious for the results. I ordered them stat, so…could get them back any minute.”

  “You look like you’re the patient waiting on the news.”

  “That’s how it feels—every single time.” He closed his laptop and got to his feet before he embraced me with a handshake. “You want a beer?”

  “It’s ten thirty.”

  He gave a shrug and grabbed one for me from the ice chest.

  I grinned as I twisted off the cap. “Where is everyone?”

  “They went on a hike,” he said. “Lizzie was hoping to see a bear.”

  “Sorry…who’s Lizzie?”

  “Derek’s daughter.” He walked over to one of the lounge chairs in the shade and took a seat.

  I joined him. “I thought he just had the two boys.”

  “She’s his stepdaughter, biologically. She came down from her program at Harvard for the weekend.”

  Derek had a stepdaughter who was at least eighteen years old? That meant they were less than two decades apart.

  “I’m trying to enjoy the weekend, but I can’t focus.” He looked out over the lake, his beer in hand. “You can always be replaced at work, but never at home. But whenever I’m waiting on results, I just…my mind isn’t here.”

  “I understand. I’m anxious too.”

  He was in shorts and a t-shirt, his toned legs sculpted like he ran every morning and lifted weights in the afternoon. His skin was a bit tanned, like sitting on the deck for a couple hours gave him some color. His black wedding ring was on his left hand like it always was, even when he was at the hospital. “I’m glad you decided to join us.”

  “It’s nice to get out of the city.”

  “Not a fan of Manhattan?”

  I shrugged. “I prefer the layout of London because it’s just a little more spaced out with historic architecture, but Manhattan is my home now. I guess I better start to like it.”

  He grinned. “I actually hate Manhattan.”

  “You do?” I asked in surprise. “Doesn’t seem like it.”

  “I’d live here with my wife if I could. But I’m not willing to commute that far to work every day, and all my kids live in the city, so I wouldn’t see them as often if we were out here full time.”

  “You’re a wilderness man.”

  “No,” he said with a scoff. “Just not a people person.”

  “That’s ironic because you seem to care about people a lot.”

  He shrugged before he took a drink. “When I say I’m not a people person, it’s not that people are the problem… I’m the problem.”

  “I disagree with that.” He showed me more kindness than anyone else I’d ever met.

  He looked at me for a while before he turned away. “Because you remind me of myself.”

  “Grandpa!” A little boy’s voice came from behind us.

  His serious mood evaporated when the smile came through. He got to his feet and turned around, seeing his grandson walking up to him with his hands clasped tightly together. Dr. Hamilton kneeled so they were at eye level. “Whatcha got there?”

  “I caught a frog!” He opened his hands slightly to reveal its eyes, and a ribbit emerged. He quickly closed his hands again.

  “Wow,” Dr. Hamilton said. “But I’m pretty sure he’s a toad.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.” He grabbed his grandson’s wrist and lifted it slightly. “You see those short legs? Frogs have longer legs to hop around, but toads have short little legs and prefer to crawl. So, this little guy is a toad.”

  “Wow. Then I caught a toad. I’m going to put him in a cage and keep him forever.”

  His black lab ran over, tongue hanging out, and pawed at Dr. Hamilton.

  Without taking his eyes off his grandson, he rubbed his dog on the back of the neck. “Are you sure you want to do that?”

  Little Deacon watched his grandfather, turning timid. “What…what do you mean?”

  “Living in a cage forever…that doesn’t sound fun. When you’re grounded, you have to stay in your room, and no one likes that.
It’s like a cage, right?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Then you shouldn’t do that to this guy. You should let him go.”

  Little Deacon looked through the cracks of his fingers and stared at his toad.

  “He’s probably got a wife and kids and grandkids somewhere.”

  “Yeah…probably.”

  “Come on, let’s go let him go.” Dr. Hamilton rose to his feet and placed his hand on his grandson’s shoulders as he guided him away.

  Derek walked over and gave me a clap on the shoulder. “My dad always takes the good teaching moments, so I’m stuck with the shitty ones.” He greeted me with a handshake. “Glad you came up.”

  “Thanks. You’ve got a cute kid.”

  “I do, don’t I?” He smiled then walked off.

  Mrs. Hamilton joined her husband with Little Deacon, bending down to release the toad on the grass.

  Daisy appeared a moment later, with the young woman I assumed to be Lizzie. Daisy was in cotton shorts and sneakers, wearing a racerback top with her hair in a ponytail through the back of a ball cap. She didn’t notice me right away, but when she did, her reaction couldn’t be contained. She didn’t play it cool.

  She smiled brighter than I’d ever seen her.

  She looked so fucking cute in her workout gear. Her ass looked like a fucking peach. If only I could squeeze it then give it a smack.

  She moved into me, her arms circling my neck, and she kissed me in front of her family. She kissed me like it was just the two of us.

  My arms hooked around her waist and I squeezed her against me, and like always, I forgot about everything else when we were together.

  When she ended the kiss, she looked at me. “You want to grab my ass, don’t you?”

  I grinned. “Baby, you have no idea…”

  The day was spent on the deck, eating burgers from the grill, playing board games, having beers and margaritas, and watching the kids play at the edge of the dock. Dr. Hamilton took his grandkids out for a short boat ride around the lake.

  It was so easy to integrate with the Hamilton family. It was like I was one of them, when I hadn’t done anything to earn that acceptance.