Rhys waited until Joleen was inside before he did or said a thing. Pushing off from his SUV, he took a few steps in Sky’s direction. She remained frozen, not afraid but curious about what Rhys had to say to her. She hadn’t even thought of him since that last time he came into the saloon, and today, she’d been consumed by thoughts of Brock, then of Iolana’s condition.
Now, having Rhys so close did something to her. She was attracted to him. There was no use denying it. Her heart beat faster and her skin grew warmer with each inch he gained.
He stopped a few feet away. “I can’t get you off my mind.”
Sky smiled, but hadn’t thought of him at all. The two tips he’d left her still sat in her car’s glove compartment. She wondered if the circumstances had been different, if Brock wasn’t in her life… would she have spent any time thinking about Rhys? She had no answer to that question.
“I’m taking you out tonight, and I won’t take no for an answer,” he announced.
“I don’t know...”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know you well enough.”
“That’s the whole idea, gorgeous. One evening with me and you’ll know I’m not just another guy who shows up at your place of work to hit on you.”
Sky laughed. She already knew he was different.
Rhys grinned slightly, showing off those straight, white teeth and that magnetizing smile. “It’s dinner…”
“A really late dinner.”
“Yes. After that it’s up to you. We can take it anywhere you want to.”
Sky shifted her weight. What would Brock think if he knew she was standing there considering going on a date with another man?
He doesn’t have time to think about you.
He doesn’t even want you around for emotional support while his mom might be fighting for her life.
Time to get over Brock.
Sky pursed her lips. It hurt like hell to say something so awful, but she was sure it wasn’t far from the truth. Brock was not ready for a serious relationship, and even if his mom hadn’t become ill today, he’d still be the same closed off Brock, unwilling to share or open up or give Sky a real chance. He would always be coming and going, flitting in and out of Sky’s life, and leaving her behind in the dust, dejected and single and alone.
She was sick and tired of that. Maybe Rhys was an answer. For now, anyway.
“All right,” she answered. “Dinner.”
Rhys’ face lit up. “Wonderful.”
“I need to take my friend home to give her a hand with something, and then I’ll go home and change. So…say nine-thirty?”
“Perfect. Give me your address. I’ll have my driver pick you up.”
“Sure.” Sky felt for the pen she kept tucked behind her ear while at work. It wasn’t there anymore.
“Just tell me the address. I have a good memory…especially where you’re concerned.”
Was he laying it on thick or was this guy always like this? Sky smirked at the thought and told him the address.
“So, see you in about an hour?” she asked, stepping back.
“I look forward to it.”
A shiver went down Sky’s back. She turned and hurried to her car. She was doing the right thing. She was doing what she wanted to do. Only a fool would wait around for a man who wasn’t ever going to let her in.
Maybe Rhys would be different.
Maybe Brock was someone she needed to hurry up and forget.
13
Brock had visited the waiting room at Medical Center on many occasions as a firefighter, but tonight, it was one of the most awful places he had ever been. There wasn’t anything wrong with the actual surroundings. The chairs were comfortable enough. The plants were well taken care of. The room and hallways were clean. That wasn’t it. It was the dismal sense hanging in the air that made it unbearable.
He got to his feet again, pacing the length of the room, passing friends and coworkers and his sister, who sat with Lily and Abby on each side. They had been there all the evening, and still there was no real word. Yes, his mother woke up and the doctors were promptly running tests, but since then four hours had passed. Brock was about ready to shove his fist through a wall in frustration.
“It will be fine,” Jax said beside him a moment later.
Brock turned to look at his friend. He didn’t know what to say, so he kept his mouth shut. Over Jax’s shoulder, half of the guests from the barbecue sat waiting for word. They’d all come to the hospital, save for Joleen and Sky, and they’d been slowly leaving throughout the night. Those who had gone home had only been torn away because of practical matters such as putting kids to bed or going to work. Brock was touched that so many people were there for his mother, and for him and Brianna, but having so many people around took away his ability to let his guard down. He had to be strong for them, for Brianna. He couldn’t reveal his sheer terror of not knowing. It clawed at Brock, threatening to rip him apart from the inside out.
“Abby went to ask around,” Jax said. “She knows a few nurses here. She thought maybe she could try to get more details.”
Brock nodded, unable to say much the way his tongue felt thick and heavy. As if on cue, Abby returned to the waiting room, heading for Brock.
“Her doctor is on his way,” she announced.