Page 4 of One Pucking Heart

The two women at his side lean forward, and the three of them circle their arms around one another in an embrace. The sight warms my heart as it’s clear these people love one another very much.

“We should tell the rest of the team,” Dr. Hoomeister says. “They’ll be worried. These guys are a family.”

I look at Beckett, and he lifts his gaze to mine. “Yeah, tell them the good news, Doc.” He gives me permission to share his medical information, as if he knew I was just about to ask.

“Will do. We’ll process your discharge paperwork so you can get out of here. The nurse will go over the at-home instructions, which consist of rest and ice. Do not move your injured knee. I’ll be placing an overnight order for a new brace.” I eye the atrocity they have strapped to his leg at the moment. “It will be custom fit to your leg. We’ll be in touch.” With that, we exit the room.

In the waiting room, I repeat the information I gave Beckett to the rest of the team and am met with celebration. The men seem equally excited for Dr. Hoomeister’s retirement as they are for Beckett’s recovery. I admit I haven’t been that impressed with the elderly doctor, but I figured I was just being cynical, as I often am.

After answering the team’s questions, I plan to meet Dr. Hoomeister in his office tomorrow morning for the final, last-minute instructions and record transfers.

A ding on my phone catches my attention, and I tell Dr. Hoomeister to go on without me. With a nod, he steps into the elevator. The doors close, and I move to the far end of the waiting room to check my messages. My daughter, Ariana, has left me a text message.

She’s attending the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, and the lights in her apartment just shut off.

Crap.

Taking a seat in a corner chair, I pull up my emails, and sure enough, I find a shut-off notice from the electric company in my inbox for nonpayment. I quickly sign on to the banking app on my phone to discover my account has a negative balance. Exiting, I sign into my credit card app, knowing what I’ll find—it’s maxed out. I don’t have a cent of available credit.

My emergency credit card is hidden in my wallet, behind my license. I keep it concealed, convincing myself that it’s not there so I’ll have it if there’s an emergency. No electricity qualifies as an emergency.

My hands shake as I sign into the electric account and input the new credit card numbers. In addition to the balance, there’s a hefty fee to turn back on the electricity. Gotta love how companies kick you when you’re down. I pull in deep breaths, willing the tears to stay at bay. I’m so fucking sick of dealing with this type of stuff. A person can scrape by for only so long before they lose their mind.

“Doctor? Excuse me, Doctor?”

It takes me a second to realize the woman is addressing me. I look up from my phone. “Yes?”

“Hi. Sorry to bother you, but Mr. Feldmore has a question for you. He asked me to find you.”

I blow out a breath. “Okay, I’ll be right there.”

She leaves, and I make sure Ari’s electric will be turned on before I exit the app and shoot my daughter a text.

Should be coming back on. Let me know if it’s not back on within the hour. Love you.

Thanks, Mom! Love you, too.

Waiting a few minutes, I allow my heartbeat to go back to normal before I return to Beckett’s room.

The same people are inside, with the addition of another guy. Based on my research, I recognize him as Cade Richards, Beckett’s best friend and the other starting forward on the team.

“Did you need something, Mr. Feldmore?”

“Yeah, Doc.” His full lips break into a smile, and the stress and uncertainty present when I first saw him is gone. He runs his hand through his disheveled sandy-brown hair. “You’ll be checking on me tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

His big blue eyes hold my stare. “You will personally be checking in on me?” he asks, his voice all husky and gravelly.

“Yes, I will personally be stopping by to check on you.”

He bites his bottom lip with a nod. His mouth forms into a smirk, those sky-blue eyes still focused on me. “Good. That’s all I needed to know.”

I’m fully aware that he thinks he’s sexy, but he’ll find out soon enough that if he plans on using any of his “Feltmore” tactics on me, he’ll be sorely disappointed. I don’t find anything about men like Beckett Feldmore attractive. He’s just another playboy in a world where their charms have no control over me.

I leave the room and retreat from the hospital grounds at record speed, not wanting to risk being summoned again.

My paycheck can’t come soon enough.

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