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)
Raine nodded. “I agree. It’s just a little more difficult to look at the scans of my leg and read the reports than I thought it would be. I can’t seem to distance myself very well.”
It was a huge admission for Raine and clearly made her feel more vulnerable than ever.
“That’s very normal,” Harlow said as gently as she could. “No one would want to have to make a decision like that. You’re going to feel a roller coaster of emotions. My advice is to take your time. Talk to Rush. According to Rainier, he’s the best ortho surgeon he’s ever seen.”
“I know he’s good at what he does. I’ll definitely talk to him, but it has to be when I’m ready,” Raine explained.
She looked a little desperate to change the subject, and as usual it was Stella who came to the rescue. “It’s Harlow’s turn to host girls’ night,” Stella informed everyone. “Just a few more days. I’m so looking forward to it. It’s been go, go, go at the resorts. We’re remodeling several cabins on Sunrise. I always work with Sam whenever possible, and I swear I’m getting old. My bones creak and my joints hurt when I stand up straight. I don’t know how he does it, but I wouldn’t miss him working for the world. He looks yummy.”
All the others groaned, including Raine. It was the first genuine smile Raine gave them. “Don’t start, Stella,” Harlow cautioned, pleased that Stella had gotten a smile out of Raine. “We might lock you in Raine’s bathroom.”
“I can’t help it if Sam is incredibly sexy,” Stella defended staunchly. “We may be an old married couple, but that doesn’t mean his hotness factor has gone down in the slightest. If anything, it’s improved. He’s just an amazing husband. I can’t help but lust after him.”
Zahra covered her ears. “I do not want to hear about your lust or Sam’s hotness factor. Seriously, Stella. Sam’s like a brother to us. No one wants to view their brother that way.”
Harlow found herself laughing, but mostly she was happy that Raine did as well. Stella just rolled her eyes at them, completely unfazed by their amusement, but then the smile faded from her face. She bit down on her lip and lifted her gaze to Stella.
She couldn’t have the women to her house, not with Wilder hiding out there. He’d been betrayed and set up to be murdered by someone in Blom’s organization, possibly even Blom himself.
“Is it possible you’ll be out of traction by the time we’re going to meet at Harlow’s house?” Vienna asked Raine.
“I doubt it. Rush is dropping by this afternoon to talk to me. That’s why I wanted the laptop. I really need to know what I’m talking about before I go into a heavy discussion with him.”
“Maybe we should try to have our girls’ night here, Raine,” Harlow suggested, feeling guilty that she was putting the burden of keeping Wilder secret on Raine. Clearly, Raine tired easily. “We wouldn’t stay long. I’d even ask Shabina to cook your favorite if you’re up to eating. We could just hang out with you and visit, and then head to the Grill or something. That way you’re included. It wouldn’t be the same without you.” That was absolutely true. Harlow couldn’t imagine girls’ night without Raine.
Raine looked around at her friends. “What do you think? Is that going to be boring for you? Just sitting here and talking?”
The women looked at one another and shook their heads. “We’d love that,” Stella said. “I hated the idea of you missing out.”
“I wish you could sneak Daisy in,” Raine said.
The women exchanged another look, this one a little more mischievous. “The big problem isn’t the nurses or doctors,” Zahra said. “We could get Daisy in, but you have guards, and they go through everything. If it were my hospital, I could figure it out, but Rainier has this place locked down tight. I am rather envious of his equipment.”
“I couldn’t believe Rush brought me here rather than the trauma unit,” Raine said.
“I think your protection was uppermost in his mind, that and surgery. Rush is familiar with everyone and everything in this place. He must have radioed ahead to set up for the operation as well as getting the antivenom for the snakebite,” Harlow said.
Rush was very much the same type of man as Rainier, although much more of a chameleon. He didn’t appear lethal. He looked like a very accomplished surgeon who carried the mantle of authority. It was easy to forget he had all the training and experience of the other men who had worked for Blom or were still working for him. But he also had that dangerous quality all the others held. And the decisive bossiness that set Harlow’s teeth on edge. Evidently, it did the same to Raine.