Tap Out (Reaper's Den Book One) - Nikki Mays Page 0,16

be the same until his surgery.” They all just stare at me, not blinking. They’re like the damn Addams Family.

One of the twins steps forward and gives me a smile. It would look sweet if I wasn’t already familiar with how devious these girls are. Danny loves the three of them to death, but definitely didn’t sugarcoat any of their antics as he put it. “Can you do us a favor please?” Her voice is as sweet as candy. I can see Sage’s lips twitch, obviously thinking that I’m going to fall for the innocent act.

I give her a genuine smile. It’s amusing that she thinks that I’m not wise to her. “Sure honey, what can I help you with?” I’m going to hell, but I can’t help but answer in a syrupy voice.

She places her elbows on top of the counter with her hands together, almost as if she’s begging. Good grief she’s laying it on thick. I’d have to be an idiot not to see through this. “Can you please go and check in on our dad a lot? He’s not used to being without one of us and I don’t want him to get lonely.” She bats her enviously long eyelashes at me.

I put on a surprised look onto my face. “Oh sweetie don’t worry.” The look of victory that crosses her face makes this even better. “You don’t have to go home. You can stay with your dad all night. I’ll even call down and have them bring in a rollaway bed for you. I wouldn’t want you to have to worry about him all night. That type of stress isn’t good.” I smile brightly and pick up the phone. “Do you want me to make the call?” I look at her expectantly.

“Missy, I don’t think she’s falling for this babe.” Sage says with approval shining in her eyes.

The one who I now know is Missy rolls her eyes. “Fine.” She huffs and crosses her arms across her chest, looking very much so like her father. “Can you both stop being dumb and stubborn?” I choke on my own saliva but she just ignores me. “You both look miserable every time you’re in the same room. Can you both just talk it out and get back together? It’s annoying watching you two watch each other when you think that no one is watching.”

“Wha-what?” I stutter. “What are you talking about?” Damn, Danny always said that they’re direct, but this is just ridiculous. Who says something like this to someone that they barely know?

The other one who has to be Becca steps forward and mimics her sister’s pose. “Please,” her eye roll is full of teenage attitude, making me feel bad for Sage. No woman needs to deal with this many hormones. “You and Dad were so obvious. We were just waiting for you guys to come clean. And then.” She looks at me and purses her lips. “Well Dad’s an idiot, but he’s a good idiot. And he misses you.”

I give her a watery smile. “I know that he’s a good idiot.”

Paige lifts her hands. “Then what’s the problem?”

“He’s just not the idiot for me.” I say simply.

The girls go to say something when Sage, thankfully, interrupts them. “Girls,” her voice full of that mom tone that gives no room for argument. “Stacey needs to get back to work.” She gives them a look that I can’t decipher before looking back at me. “If you could just make sure that the moron is okay, we would appreciate it. He’s not exactly a good patient.”

snort. “No man ever is. But I’ll make sure that he isn’t in any pain and has everything that he needs.”

“Thanks.” Sage says with a kind smile. “Bye, see you.”

I smile back while pretending that I don’t hear Becca say that he needs me. “Bye.” I wave and watch them all get on the elevator. I let out a breath that I didn’t realize that I was holding when the doors close.

I sit back in my chair for a few moments just to gather my thoughts. Luckily, I only have three patients today and one of them will be out of here within a few days, which means that my caseload is pretty light. Well light, if you don’t consider how my heart and soul feel as if they’re being shredded every time that I walk into Danny’s room. But on the bright side, I can sit here for a few minutes and