“Good,” he says, shifting on his feet. “Can we talk for a second before I go?”
I ignore Helen as she looks at me, nod, and stand up, walking with him toward the exit.
“I missed you last night,” he says, ducking his head. “When are you going to fly home? I’ll book us our flights today.”
My eyes widen slightly as we step outside and stop and turn to face each other. “I’m not sure, depends what the doctor says, you know?”
“We need to have a talk, Jo,” he says, looking me in the eye. “I know things are different now, but I don’t want them to change between us.” He makes a sound of frustration and glances around. “I know this isn’t the time or place to talk, but I just need to know that you’re not going to shut me out.”
He turns and takes my hand in his, then leans down to kiss my forehead. A tender kiss full of promise. The thing is, I can’t give him what he’s asking for, and I need to explain that to him. I might have to shut him out. He’s right: we do need to talk and this isn’t the time. I want to be honest with him though. I’m not one to play games, and I’m not going to start now.
“Can we talk later? When I get back to the hotel maybe?”
He nods, relief flashing on his handsome face. “Yes, that sounds good. Have you eaten? I’ll get us something for lunch. And don’t lie to me, it doesn’t look like you got much sleep last night.”
I roll my eyes at him. “I slept enough.”
“According to who?” he asks, arching a brow. “If you’re not going to fuckin’ take care of yourself, I’m going to do it for you.”
“Is that right?” I ask, feeling amused. “Well, I’m not going to say no to some lunch, since I haven’t eaten since early yesterday.”
He scowls, but I know he hasn’t eaten either.
“You must be hungry too.”
“I’m fine,” he says, eyes softening. “Come to my room when you get back and food will be waiting for you. Just text me when you’re leaving the hospital.”
“Okay,” I say, smiling at him.
“Go back inside,” he tells me, nodding to the entrance. “I don’t want to leave until I know you’re in there.”
I try to hand him the car keys, but he shakes his head. “No, I’ll take a cab so you can drive back when you’re ready.”
I wrap my arms around him suddenly, burying my face into his T-shirt and closing my eyes. He returns the gesture, and for a moment I can pretend like it’s just me and him, with no other issues around us to deal with. I open my eyes and pull away, glancing up at him. He cups my face with his palm, then gives me a soft kiss, full of promises to come. I flash a small smile at him before walking back inside. As I approach her room, reality hits me again, and I picture how happy Elizabeth was being cuddled with Ranger. She’d been smiling.
Shit.
? ? ?
A few hours later, I find myself knocking on Ranger’s room door. He opens it quickly, freshly showered and changed into a black T-shirt and gray sweatpants that he definitely shouldn’t wear in public, because I can see the outline of his huge penis. In fact, it’s all I can see right now.
“I didn’t know what you felt like, so I kind of got a bit of everything,” he says, lifting the lid off the room-service trays. My tummy rumbles as I take in the burger and fries, chicken and rice, nachos and fruit platter.
“Which one do you want?” I ask him, eyeing the burger.
“Babe, take what you want. We can order more if need be,” he says, sitting down on the bed and watching me.
“You’re going to just sit there and watch me eat?” I ask, raising my brow. “Please tell me you already ate something and didn’t go hungry waiting for me.”
He simply shrugs, and his silence speaks wonders.
“Ranger, eat,” I command, then change my tone and add a “please.”
He smirks and picks up the nachos and starts eating, while I grab the burger I’ve been eyeing and take a huge bite of it. I sit down next to him, and the two of us eat in comfortable silence for a while.
“So should I call you Cam now?” is how I start the conversation, licking the ketchup off my fingers.
He looks at me, as if surprised by the question. “You can call me that if you like, but everyone I know pretty much calls me Ranger.”
“Your parents call you Ranger?” I ask, curious to find out more about him now that we have the time.
“My mom passed away,” he says, standing up and putting the empty plate on the tray and picking up the fruit. “And my dad left us when I was three. Kept in contact for a while, but we lost touch, and I have no idea where he is now. My family is the MC. Talon is my family. Shayla and the rest of them. And they all call me Ranger.”
“How did you get the name?” I ask him, wondering how MCs choose the road names of their members. “And who is Shayla?”
He chuckles before he replies. “When I started prospecting for the Wild Men, I was actually working as an assistant ranger. They found it amusing, and the name just stuck. I’ve been Ranger ever since.”
I can’t hold back the bubble of laughter that escapes me. “That’s actually a pretty cute story. I have to admit I wasn’t expecting that answer.”
“What did you think? That I killed a ranger or something?” he teases, making me laugh again.
“No, I didn’t think that at all,” I say, shrugging.
“And Shayla is Talon’s cousin,” he says. “Talon loves the shit out of her, and we get on really well. We’re family.”
“Sounds like you have quite the family,” she murmurs. I nod in agreement, then change the subject.
“Now about that conversation,” he says, lifting a strawberry and bringing it to my lips. I take a bite as he says, “I want you,” and almost choke on the piece in my mouth.
He grins, and pops the next strawberry into his own mouth, while I try to think of what to say next.
And come up with nothing.
EIGHTEEN
Ranger
“I WANT you too,” she says after she chews and swallows. But I feel a but coming on.
“But?” I prompt.
I’m not going to accept any buts.
I don’t like the serious look that takes over her beautiful face. “There’s something you need to know, Ranger, but it’s hard for me to explain because I don’t know if it’s my place to.”
I have no idea what she’s talking about right now. “Jo, you need to tell me what the fuck you’re talking about, because I’ve got nothing here.”
Did she not want to be with me anymore? Is she embarrassed or some shit? Maybe it’s because some of her family members are here now. Or maybe she wants to concentrate on making sure Elizabeth gets back on her feet before she jumps into something—which is a valid concern I guess, but I’m still not going to let her use it as an excuse. Whatever she wants to do, I can do it with her. I can help her.
Her phone starts to ring just as she opens her mouth, so she flashes me an apologetic look, then picks up.
“Hey,” she says into the line. “Yeah, he’s here with me.” She pauses, says okay, and then hangs up.
“She’s asking for you,” she says, reaching over and taking a slice of pineapple.