Page 18 of Winter's Surprise
He kissed her head, and she heard the tremble of his exhale. The moment was sweet and oddly reminded her of a cheesy TV movie. What wasn’t cheesy was the feeling that overcame her with that kiss. He’d kissed her in a variety of ways now, but thatkiss.
That one chaste kiss knocked her on her ass.
She was thankful she could burrow her face into his side and just be. No forced words or promises. Two people taking whatever comfort or affection the other could give. Living in the moment. Simple and yet anything but.
Michelle couldn’t help examining the tornado of feelings flowing through her. Her logical brain wanted to put her in her place back on earth. Her heart overruled her need for self-preservation. This feeling was what she dreamed of. For many years, she couldn’t understand why she didn’t have what her friends had.
Before she could continue considering those things, she looked around. At some point in her heavy thoughts they’d exited the elevator, and Jake was now chatting with a nurse behind the desk.
“Chelle?”
Michelle turned and her brows drew together. “Eric?” The heavy fog around her mind disappeared as she scanned her surroundings.
“Thank God! I was starting to worry you hadn’t gotten our messages,” Eric said.
“Messages?” Michelle asked and fumbled for her phone. Missed calls, voicemails, and at least twenty text messages.
“Oh, hey, Jake!” Eric said looking to her side. “You got Scott’s messa—”
Michelle felt Jake step closer before he came into her peripheral vision.
“Yeah, I got it just a little bit ago and came as soon as I could,” Jake told Eric.
Her cheeks flushed, and it became uncomfortably warm in her coat. Michelle opened her texts and read the messages as they became more agitated and serious. Her head popped up, and she finally focused on her surroundings.
“Did you two come here together?” Eric asked, surprise clearly written all over his face.
Jake and Michelle looked at each other. In one look, all her nerves faded. “Yes,” they said together.
“Well, shit…” another voice said.
Michelle turned toward the newcomer and felt Jake’s arm snake around her waist, pulling her into him. The man stared between them, noting their intimate position. Her eyes moved to Eric and watched him smile and put his hands in his pockets.
Eric chuckled. “Scott, it seems Jake here has been keeping secrets.”
“Apparently,” Scott said. “Where did you find this—”
Eric slapped him upside the head and Jake tensed next to her.
“Ouch!” Scott cried and rubbed his head.
“Scott, this is Chelle,” Eric told him and shook his head.
“You’reChel—"
Before her nickname could come out of Jake’s mouth, they heard a woman cry out in pain from the room the two men had exited. Eric turned on his heels without a word and jogged away with Scott on his trail.
Pushing aside all this new information, Michelle hurried after them with Jake right behind her. Inside the room, she found Janey strapped to a variety of wires.
“Oh my God, are you and Bobby okay?” Michelle asked at the sight before her.
“Chelle? It took you—” Janey stopped and gasped for air.
“Breathe, sweetheart!” Eric cooed from her side.
Michelle watched the evilest stare directed at Eric. She couldn’t help smiling and heard Jake’s own amused chuckle from behind her. When a nurse walked in to check on Janey, Jake pulled Michelle out of the way and planted her in front of him. Her back was pressed against his front, and his hands held her hips as he brought her against him. The position was relaxing in a very stressful situation.
She took another quick glimpse at her texts and realized that at some point she’d forgotten to take her phone off do not disturb. Michelle had missed messages from both Eric and Janey letting her know that Janey’s water had broken and they were headed to the hospital.
