Chapter 2
1507 Words
I’m jumpy my whole shift. My coworkers probably think it’s because I’m no longer used to working in a hospital setting, but they’d be wrong. I have to face Fisher after this and explain why I didn’t hunt him down to tell him he was going to be a father.
Then again, if he’d answered his phone or returned my call four months ago, he’d already know. I knew when I was leaving that night that he felt awkward. The s*x had been off the charts, but I felt him pull away afterward, I just wasn’t sure why. But I wasn’t surprised when he didn’t call after saying he would.
Either he can have nothing to do with my pregnancy or be a real father, but I’m done living in limbo.
By the time my shift finishes, I want to beg to stay longer just to avoid this conversation with Fisher. If only my feet weren’t killing me and the hospital wasn’t almost completely void of patients—somewhat unheard of in the ER when there’s a full moon. I put on my coat and my purse crossways over my body, gearing up all my mental strength to walk out of here while at the same time hoping that Fisher fell asleep at home and forgot to come.
I greet the nurses coming on shift, happy to be among familiar faces, and scan my ID so the doors open to the waiting area. Fisher sits in a chair directly in front of the doors. His long legs are stretched out in front of him, ankles and arms crossed, eyes locked on mine.
“What? Did you set an alarm?” I slide through the doors before they shut.
He stands and runs his hand through his hair. “Let’s go.”
The man infuriates me with the way he’s always so bossy. He still looks like a snack though. It’s hard not to notice the fit body, the tattoos peeking out onto his hands and neck, and his beard that has a touch of gray here and there, though there’s no gray to be found in his longish hair.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“See you two later,” Georgia says with an upbeat tone from her seat at the nurses’ station. She’s acting as though we’re going on our first date instead of hashing out the details of our accidental pregnancy.
No, I didn’t tell anyone that Fisher is the father, but anyone who works here knows the two of us had a budding friendship and spent time together.
“Bye, Georgia.” I muster up a smile and wave.
Fisher grumbles a goodbye, and we head out of the hospital. The night air calms my tired body. After being in the hospital for twelve hours straight, I breathe the cool air in deeply.
“Want to hit the diner in Greywall?” I ask. We’ve gone on occasion since it’s the only place around that’s open twenty-four hours.
“We’re going to my place.”
I stop walking and he continues to his truck, not realizing I’m no longer next to him.
“I’m not going to your house.” That’s the scene of the crime.
He sighs and circles to face me, then puts his hands on his hips as though I’m exhausting. “Why? It’s quiet and we can talk without people overhearing us.”
I roll my eyes. “First of all, who in Greywall would care about our lives? Plus, I don’t know anyone there, do you?”
He points at the badge on the left side of his shirt.
Okay, so he has a point.
The fact that he’s still in his uniform signals that he must have waited here the entire duration of my shift. Did he think I was going to abandon work halfway through just to avoid him?
“Fine, but I’m only staying for an hour.” I’m not yet used to being back to shift work and I need my sleep.
His lips tip up in a smile, but it’s not there long enough for me to fully appreciate it. It never is.
“I’ll drive you there and back.” He opens his passenger door.
I look at his big truck that makes my SUV look like a Tonka toy. “Did you hunt down my car to park beside me?”
“Easier to make sure you got to your car safely.”
“You mean easier for you to swindle me into riding with you.” I toss my bag in the back seat of my SUV and shut the door. “What’s your game plan here, Fisher?”
“Game plan?” His poker face is in place as he stands outside the open passenger door. “I’m simply offering you a ride so you don’t have to drive through the woods late at night.”
Again, he has a point. His house is more remote than my apartment in Lake Starlight.
I blow out a breath. “I’m only riding with you so I can get home sooner and get to sleep.” I use the handlebar to climb up into his truck, plopping down on the seat.
It’s ridiculous that we’re even meeting up at this hour, but we used to do it all the time after my shift at the hospital. I was always a bit wired and even if I went home, I couldn’t sleep.
Fisher rounds the front of the truck and situates himself in the driver’s seat. I forgot what a presence he has. Just watching his strong hand put the key in the ignition, turn down the radio, and pull the shifter down to reverse has me remembering the magic those long fingers are capable of.
I shake it off, ignoring the scent of his soap that lingers in the fibers of the fabric. I cannot allow myself to still be attracted to him after what he did to me.
Remember, Allie, he’s no prince. He’s the villain in your story.
He tossed my belief in true love into a meat grinder.
Thankfully, he doesn’t say anything on the way to his house, so I use the time to mentally prepare my answers for all the questions he’s sure to ask.
The house is dark, the driveway free of any cars or trucks. For the first time ever in his presence, I have an inkling of fear that maybe he doesn’t want this baby, and I stupidly agreed to go back to his empty house in the middle of the night. He’s the sheriff; surely he knows powerful people who can help him get away with murder.
“On second thought, maybe…”
“Get out of the car, Allie.”
I pull out my phone. “Just so you know, I’m messaging Stella Bailey right now.” I lean forward and squint at the house numbers hammered to the railing of his balcony. “I’m giving her the address. If you’re planning anything crazy, she’ll know.”
He takes the key out of the ignition and stares at me. “What exactly do you think I’m gonna do?”
“Well, this is all a surprise to you. Maybe you want to kill me to get out of this situation.”
“What?”
Yeah, his scrunched-up expression says I’m being all kinds of crazy. But you can never be too sure.
“It’s happened before. Maybe you want us out of the way.”
He mumbles something I can’t make out and gets out of the truck, walking over to my side. The door opens and he’s standing there with his hand out like a gentleman. A fake ass gentleman, because a gentleman would return a goddamn phone call.
“I’m not going to murder anyone.” He reaches closer for me to accept his hand.
“Sheriffs aren’t above the law.” I slide my hand into his and step down from the truck to the driveway.
“Stop watching so many crime shows.”
“I have people who would miss me.”
That’s semi true. Eventually my parents would figure it out when their weekly Sunday call went unanswered. Stella’s perfect family keeps her busy, so it might take a few days for her to figure it out.
“The hospital!” I blurt out. They would notice when I didn’t show up for my shift.
“Stop with this s**t. I thought women just watched those Hallmark movies, but you seem to be obsessed with murder mysteries.”
Investigation Discovery channel is my favorite, but I keep that to myself.
“I’m just putting it out there,” I say, walking into his house first.
“I’ll make us some tea,” he says and goes into the kitchen.
“I never pegged you for a tea guy.” I slide a chair out from the kitchen table and sit down so my back is facing the wall.
“I’m really not. Molly left some behind after they moved out.”
“So you live here alone now?” I look around the place that doesn’t appear to have been redecorated since he was a kid.
“Yeah.” He glances over his shoulder. “It’s just you and me here.” He releases an evil laugh and I roll my eyes.
“You’d think with you being sheriff, you’d appreciate my abundance of caution.”
He brings two cups over to the table and sets them down before folding himself into the chair across from me. “You got in the truck and you’re here now.” He raises his eyebrows.
Ugh, he’s so damn annoying.
“Now, tell me why I’m just finding out you’re carrying my baby?” He eyes my stomach, and all the joking gets pushed aside.
Time to face reality.
- Writer
