“It’s not related. The sex was before this,” Grant argued. Why was he arguing this? Why couldn’t she see that this was a great option? He had plenty of money. And he had an intense desire to be sure she didn’t have an internal organ that was about to explode.
“But there will be more sex after!” Then she narrowed her eyes. “Won’t there? I realize this isn’t very sexy. And if I do have to have my appendix out…” She paled slightly and took a shaky breath. “That’s going to put a damper on things.”
He stepped closer to her. “There will be more sex.” That was maybe the only thing he knew for certain at this moment. “But the two things aren’t related. I’m paying for peace of mind here.” He decided to use a new tactic. “We are friends. I care about this. Let me help make sure things are all right. Or if they’re not, let me help make them right.” Because they weren’t all right. Something was going on with her and he needed it fixed. It was a strange drive, but the idea that Jocelyn was sick and in pain was making him nuts.
Jocelyn stood, blinking up at him, studying his face.
He saw when another stab of pain hit. She winced and held her breath for a second.
That was enough. He bent, scooped her into his arms, and started for the door.
“Grant—”
“We’re going to the doctor. We’ll figure the rest out later,” he said.
“But I—”
“Jocelyn,” he said firmly. “You’re going to have to learn that I don’t really like to be argued with when I’m right about something. And I’m almost always right.”
“But—”
“Jocelyn, enough.”
She stopped arguing then.
But only because she threw up on him.
9
Well, she might have ruined Grant wanting to take care of her no matter what.
In the process she’d probably taken care of him wanting to stick around Appleby indefinitely as well.
She’d definitely taken care of the ever-getting-naked-together again.
But honestly, at the moment, she couldn’t care.
She felt horrible. She was huddled against the door of Grant’s car trying with everything in her to not throw up again. She’d heard him talking brusquely to someone, asking them to meet him in Bridley, the town eight miles away that had the closest urgent care clinic. She assumed it was one of the guys and they were bringing him a change of clothes. She also assumed that whichever guy it was, soon Jane and Zoe would know about what was going on.
This could not be her appendix. She could not have her appendix out. Besides, not being able to take time off from work for that and not being able to afford it was terrifying. Taking internal organs out of her body? Yikes. Yeah, she knew that millions of people walked around without that particular organ. It was pretty routine surgery. The appendix was, arguably, not all that useful. Still, the whole thing made her feel even queasier than she already was.
They pulled up in front of the clinic minutes later, and when she reached for the door handle she got a firm, “Stop.”
Grant got out, rounded the car, and again scooped her up into his arms. Even after she’d thrown up on him. That was pretty nice.
She actually thought she could walk at this point. She was still not feeling good, but she didn’t feel like she couldn’t walk. Then again, if Grant wanted to snuggle her against his hard, warm chest, who was she to argue. After the puke-down-his left-arm-and-shoe thing, this might be the last time she got to be this close to his chest. So she rested her head on it and closed her eyes.
She heard him talking to whomever he needed to tell what was going on.
She thought she heard the term girlfriend, but she couldn’t be sure. She was sure she heard cash. She really should argue with him about paying for this. But she didn’t have the energy. Not because she wasn’t feeling well but because, dammit, Grant was bossy and stubborn and always thought he was right. He’d said so.
She’d deal with how to pay him back later. And no, it wouldn’t be in sexual favors. That was tempting, for sure. But also gross. Kind of. Somehow. Immoral anyway. Kind of.
Yeah, she’d think about all of that later.
Grant settled into a chair in the waiting room, with her on his lap.
Reluctantly, Josie lifted her head and started to get up to get into a chair