The Heart - Kate Stewart Page 0,48

morning, I woke up well rested and saw a new text from Jack.

Jack: Good morning, beautiful.

Rose: Morning, handsome. Rap & R&B 101 Biggie, Hypnotize.

Jack: See you later?

Rose: If you’re lucky.

Jack: Cocky this morning, are we?

Rose: I slept well.

Jack: Better dreams?

I paused before replying, deciding to go with honesty.

Rose: I had a good date last night.

Jack: Lucky bastard.

Rose: Go build something.

Jack: Go save a life.

I threw off my covers, scrolled through my music on my cell phone, and cranked the volume up. Biggie’s deep voice filled my bathroom as I moved my hips and scrubbed myself down with a ridiculously expensive body wash I’d bought on my shopping spree. I shaved my legs twice, with a what if mentality behind my grooming. I knew Jack wanted to take things slow, but if our last few private moments together were any indication, we would be doing some exploring soon enough. I looked at my naked body in the mirror and made a decision.

I pulled the silk panty set I’d purchased a week ago out of the tissue paper and slid it on. When and if Jack made a move, I’d be ready. I took the golf cart to the entrance, slightly deflated Jack’s bike wasn’t in sight. I’d hoped to just have a glimpse of him to start my day off right. Still, I made my way to work with a renewed sense of purpose. For the first time since Grant died, I was excited about the life I was living.

By the time I was done with rounds and prepping for surgery, I was fit to be tied as I waited for any word from Jack. Though I’d played coy, I wanted to push repeat on the night before and checked my phone in vain twice before I scrubbed in.

Once out of surgery, I rushed back to my locker and smiled when I saw the picture Jack had sent of Annabelle in a patch of bluebonnets on my land. I guessed he was keeping himself busy with the center and entertaining my family. A pang of jealousy struck me, but in a good way.

Rose: She’s so beautiful.

Jack: She is. I have a little crush on her. So can I see you tonight?

Rose: Sure. I’ll be earlier.

Jack: It’s a date, ladies choice.

Rose: ☺

I did a little dance where I stood and felt the thud of Jules going down on her ass behind me. I turned to see her on the floor with a shit-eating grin on her face. She’d been spying on my text exchange.

“You’re seeing him!”

“I’m...” I said, pulling her tiny ass off of the floor. “Shut up!”

“Rose, I won’t push, but can I just say—”

“Nope.”

“I hope he’s hung like a horse!” Two of the hospital staff, whom I didn’t know and suddenly never wanted to, burst out laughing as they left us to our conversation.

“Discretion, Jules, Jesus,” I said, pushing her to sit on the cheap plastic bench in the middle of the locker room.

“Tell me something, anything,” she said, exasperated, as I changed socks and tied my shoes.

“He seems to be a really good guy,” I said, knowing the shit I was about be given for being so vague.

“That is not what I want to hear,” she said, standing to pace in front of me.

“We haven’t even made it past first base, okay?”

Jules narrowed her eyes. “Is that why you’re wearing sexy underwear?”

“What?”

She pulled at the strap on my hip and let it snap back. I jumped in surprise as I pulled my pants up further to cover it.

“I have nothing to tell,” I said defensively. “We have surgery in twenty minutes. Stop bullshitting,” I snapped.

“Fine, jeez,” she said, pulling on a fresh set of scrubs over her ample ass. “See if I give you another play by play.”

“I never ask for them. You overshare, and anyways, we’re too old to have nothing to talk about except men.”

Jamie came in just as I was ridding myself of Jules’ inquisition and her eyes widened perceptively.

“Nothing happened,” I said as Jamie held up her hands in defense and looked over at Jules, who gave her a solid nod.

“But it’s going to?” Jules nodded and motioned over to me. “Silk panties and matching bra.”

“That’s it, I’m leaving. I’ll see you in surgery.” It wasn’t like me to clam up when they’d been so open. I’d decided, like everything else, including my pain, to keep my new relationship to myself for the moment. I was all too aware of just how easily things could