Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 156(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
I wasn’t happy with his reply, but I knew he was right. “I suppose.“
“Are you ever gonna forgive him for standing you up?”
The topic of our conversation was Elias Prescott III, known as Ash to most people—the road name he’d been given by his motorcycle club. Although we didn’t know each other well, the first time he called me, I was one of the few he’d given permission to call him Eli instead. But only after he’d apologized for asking me out while I was at work. It’d been effective, too, helping to sway me into believing he was sincere when he apologized because I knew it was a big deal in his world. I had no clue how he got my number. He just said he had his ways.
Shrugging, I murmured, “I don’t know. It’s not easy when I already had to forgive him for being a butthead when we met.”
Mark chuckled. “You gotta give him a little credit for that one. He’d just been shot, and he apologized for asking you out at an inappropriate time.”
“I know, which was why I took your advice and forgave him for that.” I cast an accusing glance at him. “And look where that got me.”
“It’s not as though the guy didn’t call you to let you know he wasn’t gonna make your date,” Mark pointed out.
We had already discussed this yesterday, but I hadn’t been willing to listen to reason because the hurt had been too fresh. Now, I didn’t have much choice since I would see Eli soon. “Not until thirty minutes before, though. As far as I’m concerned, it was the same thing as standing me up and doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in his ability to commit to a relationship.”
Mark quirked a brow. “If you’re already thinking in terms of a serious relationship, then you and I both know that you’re going to need to find a way to get past this and put the guy out of his misery.”
I jutted my chin out. “Doesn’t mean I can’t give him heck so he learns not to take me for granted.”
“I’m not gonna argue with you on that.” He shook his head with a chuckle. “Susan did the same thing with me when we were first dating, and it’s something we’ve taught the girls, too.”
“Start how you plan to go on.” His daughters weren’t the only ones he’d given this advice to. I flashed him a quick grin as I made the turn onto the road where the Hounds of Hellfire compound was located.
“That’s right, but I don’t think you need to be worried about Ash not being willing to put in the work to build something with you. Look how much effort he’s put in over the past two weeks.”
“Fine,” I huffed, thinking about all of the texts Eli had sent since he bailed on our date. “If he’s there and wants to talk, I guess I can give him the chance to at least apologize in person. Again.”
Mark beamed an approving smile at me. “Atta girl.”
I’d been incredibly lucky when our ambulance company paired me with Mark. He’d been my mentor during my hands-on training and volunteered to be my partner when I’d been hired after passing the national certification exam. I couldn’t have asked to be paired with a better paramedic. Something I reminded myself of when I pulled through the gates and parked the ambulance in front of the clubhouse. Eli might have all his Hounds of Hellfire members to support him when we went in there, but at least I had Mark.
Knowing I was reluctant to speak with Eli, my partner headed straight for the guys after we made it inside. He asked them what was going on while I headed straight for the woman on a barstool with a big guy hovering over her. With the details the dispatcher had given us, it was safe to assume she was our patient. “You don’t look so good. Is there any medical history I need to know about or pre-existing conditions?”
“Nope, I’ve always been as healthy as a horse.”
“That’s good to hear.” Hoping to ease the concern that was clear in her eyes, I flashed her a quick smile before pulling a blood pressure cuff out of my trauma bag. “I’m Nora. What’s your name?”
“Thea.”
“Enough chitchat,” the big guy barked. “What’s wrong with my woman?
“Careful.”
If the warning had come from anyone other than Eli, I would’ve at least flashed them an appreciative smile, but I refused to let him distract me from my job. So I focused on taking Thea’s vitals. “Is there any chance you’re pregnant?”
“A whole lot of them,” she confirmed. “But only over the past two weeks, so isn’t it too soon for me to be having symptoms like this?”
“Nope.” My lips curved as I repacked my equipment into my bag, happy that the most likely outcome was something wonderful. “Your blood pressure is normal. Same with your temperature and pulse ox.”