Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
“I work for him,” Raine countered.
“He wants in your little sexy panties.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, you think everyone wants in my panties.”
Rush frowned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “They do. What about that asshole Luciano Vitale, a known mafia enforcer, who has no business going anywhere near you? You think he isn’t trying to get into your panties? You shouldn’t even be on his radar. I blame Sam’s father for that. He should order that bastard to stay the hell away from you.”
“That would be nice,” Raine said. “I don’t like the man, and he isn’t trying to get close to me to get in my panties. I can assure you of that.”
“What does he want?”
She shrugged. “Probably my silence. He wants to know what I know and if I’m going to make trouble for him.”
The women exchanged worried looks. Rush froze. There was silence while the tension in the room escalated.
“What trouble can you make for him?” There was an edge to Rush’s voice that, for the first time, reminded Harlow of Rainier and Wilder.
Raine shrugged. “I don’t know. He isn’t a priority at the moment.”
“Let me make this perfectly clear, taku taonga, he is never going to be a priority. He doesn’t come near you.”
“I’m good with him not coming near me, Rush. Don’t go all He-Man on me, not over him.”
Rush immediately shrugged. “Are we going to talk about that so-called doctor who thinks he’s going to get into your panties with his fake Irish charm?”
“Briac Brannan’s family is from Ireland,” Raine interrupted Rush’s commentary.
“Maybe so, but he isn’t. Born and bred right here in the United States of America. He’s a naval doctor.”
“You are such a snob. He’s an officer, a gentleman and a perfectly good doctor.”
“If you have a cold, he might be able to diagnose it for you,” Rush said, “but I wouldn’t count on it.”
“You two are hilarious,” Stella said. “You should take your comedy act on the road.”
Daisy, Raine’s little Jack Russell, raced across the room and launched herself at Raine, leaping onto her chest, attempting to give her a million kisses. Raine wrapped her arms around the dog, laughing and turning her face away.
“Calm down, you little troublemaker,” she said, her laughter getting louder. “I’m going to be home now. I missed you. I really did.”
“You can see she missed you,” Zahra said. “I took her running three times a day, but she always has energy. Will you need me to continue exercising her?”
Before Raine could answer, Rush did. “I’ll be staying with Raine for a few weeks to make certain her leg heals properly. I’ll take her running with me. Running’s part of my regular routine.”
“She doesn’t like everyone, particularly men,” Raine said ominously, glaring at Rush.
Harlow couldn’t help but laugh. Obviously, Raine wasn’t entirely on board with having her doctor move in with her.
“Your dog is very discerning,” Rush said. “I agree with her that those men should be kept away from you. At least she knows to run them off.”
“She won’t like you either.”
“She’s always liked me,” Rush denied.
“Try petting her right now. And watch your fingers—she’s liable to bite them off.”
It was a very distinct challenge, and Harlow held her breath. Daisy was very devoted to Raine, and they’d been separated for a few weeks. She might very well protest Rush getting close, even if she liked him.
Rush raised an eyebrow and moved to stand beside the sofa, towering over Raine’s diminutive figure. Daisy was a very protective dog, especially when it came to Raine. She whirled around to face Rush. He didn’t extend his hand, but he spoke in a low, mesmerizing tone, almost singsong, speaking softly to her in Maori.
Almost instantly, Daisy’s demeanor completely changed. She wagged her tail and looked up at Rush with a happy, eager expression. He scratched the top of her head and down her spine.
Raine rolled her eyes. “Treacherous animal. Traitor. I was counting on you.”
Rush burst out laughing. “Be good, little troublemaker. If you need me for any reason, you know the signal.”
Raine’s expression went back to the one Harlow barely recognized. Raine had always been extremely confident in herself. She was the one who backpacked alone in the wilderness for weeks at a time, but she suddenly appeared vulnerable, even fragile.
“You’re leaving?”
Was there a tremor in her voice? Her hand had burrowed under the blanket, and Harlow could see she was rubbing her thigh.
Rush leaned close to her, looking more lover than doctor in that moment. “I’ll be in the security room, watching and listening. If you need anything at all, you give me the signal and I’ll come running. You have my word, Raine.”
She nodded uncertainly. “Okay.”
She didn’t sound okay to Harlow or to any of the others. Rush reached under the blanket and came out with her hand. “You don’t have to do this, Raine. If it’s too soon, we can get you home and try again in a few days. No one will be upset with you. Your friends will understand.”