The room was small but private, Jessie Kay sleeping in the chair by the window. The blinds were open, allowing her to see outside. Bradford pears, oaks and wildflowers surrounded a busy parking lot.
Memories flooded Brook Lynn. She’d been inside Rhinestone Cowgirl. Brad had just accepted her invitation, and as they’d made plans their hands had brushed together—masculine contact she hadn’t experienced in a very long time. But there had been nothing. No spark. No shiver of pleasure or internal tingle. Not like the mere thought of Jase often caused. Brad had leaned toward her and, afraid he was going to try to kiss her, she’d jerked away. She’d stumbled. When she hit the floor, one of her implants had ripped free.
The pain—oh, the pain. Every sound, from the whistle of wind against the shop windows to the patter of footsteps outside, had agonized her. Then Jase had arrived and...she couldn’t remember anything after that.
Fingertips brushed over her wrist. Gasping, she faced the culprit. Jessie Kay had woken up and now stood at her bedside. Her lips were moving.
“You’ll have to start over,” Brook Lynn said, speaking over her sister. “I’m on silent, and I’m not ready to change that. I have to read your lips.”
Jessie Kay nodded and, with tears welling in her eyes, said, “I’m so sorry this happened. Sorry I wasn’t there to help you.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know, but...” Features tight with tension, Jessie Kay latched on to her hand and squeezed. “I was with Sunny. She’d just gotten a huge check for the oil leases on her land, and she staked me a few hundred bucks. We went to the casino in the city to try and win more.”
Just like Uncle Kurt. Trying to hide her dismay, Brook Lynn said, “And while you were there, you threw a penny in a wishing well and asked that one of my implants fall out?”
“Never! Dude. You know I hate wishing wells.”
True story. Jessie Kay feared the Pet Sematary effect. “Then I still don’t see how this is your fault.”
“It just is. For once in your life, don’t argue with me.”
“Fine. You’re to blame. You suck.”
A relieved nod. “Much better.”
Brook Lynn squeezed her sister’s hand in return. “How long have I been here?”
“Two days. You’ve actually woken up and talked to me a few times before, but the doc told me the drugs might screw with your memory.”
Brook Lynn clenched her eyes shut and dragged in a breath. She’d missed two days of work? After she’d told Edna she would be more reliable. After only two days on the job with Jase. I’m the worst employee ever. Both of her bosses had to be tee-icked.
“By the way, Jase is in the waiting room. He hasn’t left, not one time,” Jessie Kay said, her eyes going wide with awe. But the awe was soon replaced by dismay. “He yelled at me. Told me I was nothing but a drain on you, and I needed to step up and do my part.”
Two reactions bubbled up at once...warm flutters dancing in her stomach, anger burning through her veins. Jase had stayed? Had worried about her? He cared about her that much? But he’d yelled at her sister, insulted her, when he’d had no right to do so. He didn’t know the fires and trials that had molded Jessie Kay into the woman she was. He hadn’t been there every time she’d tossed and turned with nightmares, crying out for their parents. He hadn’t been there when she’d scrimped and saved to buy their uncle a birthday present—only to find out he’d hocked it the next day.
“I love you,” Brook Lynn said. “You know that, right?”
Jessie Kay gave a reluctant incline of her head, wiped away the tears that had sprung up and quickly moved on. “Kenna is here, too. Brad was, but he had to go to work. I’m supposed to call him with a progress report and...” Her gaze shifted. “Hey! No one invited you in here, death-peddler.”
A shadow fell over Brook Lynn just before Dr. Murphy claimed her attention.