Page 28 of Motivating Mira
“I know you have some educated guesses.”
He made a noise indicating his discomfort at my directness. “Gun to my head?”
“Yes.”
“My best guesses are radiation-induced esophageal stricture or new tumor growth, but let’s wait and see what the tests show tomorrow.”
My hand found my mouth and I started to tremble. “And what is the treatment for radiation-induced esophageal stricture?”
“This is still speculation, Mira. Let’s just get all the information first.”
“Okay.”
“I promise I’ll call you as soon as Dr. Baird and I go over the results and have a more definitive answer for you.”
I was just thanking him and signing off when Wes walked through the doors.
He sidled up to me, his bag slung over his shoulder. With his free hand set on my lower back, we started walking, but his touch almost made me forget how.
“Now tell me what’s got you running through the hospital like it’s on fire.”
“The only fire I’m running from is my dumpster fire of a life.”
He frowned, looking concerned. It irritated me. I was so tired of getting that look from the people in my life who knew what was happening.
“Have you eaten?”
I moved ahead of him, getting in front of him and forcing him to stop dead in his tracks with both of my palms against his deliciously hard chest.
Ignore his chest, Mira.
I unglued my gaze and looked up from his pecs to his eyes. Focusing on my irritation rather than my carnal urges, I said, “Are you going to lecture me again, or buy two entrées under false pretenses, because I don’t think I’m in the mood.”
Raising his hand, the one that only seconds ago had left hot tingles on my lower back, he shook his head.
“I’ve had a day myself. My roommates are fighting again, which doesn’t really make the idea of going home very appealing. I booked a room for the night out of town, but I’m kinda hungry so I thought you might be interested in a drink, maybe a little dinner, before I leave, that’s all.”
Guilt washed over me. “Oh.” I looked down. “Shit. I’m kind of a nasty person, aren’t I?”
“I’m never friends with nasty people, so that can’t be true.” He winked at me when I looked back up at him, and I felt it in my chest as if it were directly linked to my heart.
“I’d love a drink.” Looking sheepish, I added. “And some food.”
He chuckled and pointed to the staff parking lot. “I’m over there.” His brows rose as if to ask if I wanted to go in his car with him.
The question gave me pause. I really should go back to Rawhide. I had classes in the morning and tomorrow could be a rough day depending on what the doctor told me. I needed some rest.
Yeah, this was a bad idea. I should just bow out. Besides, now that I was outside, I was feeling a little better. Uh huh, until I was alone again and it all came flooding back. And how much rest was I likely to get with the doctor’s words running through my head like a hamster on a wheel?
“I’ll follow you. Where to?”
“You tell me. I’m the new guy.”
“Well,” I hummed. “Where are you headed afterward? We could pick somewhere close to your hotel.”
His eyes found mine then and there was something in them that made my heart thump loudly in my ears.
“I actually booked a room at Rawhide.”
