Chapter 14

Kennedy

I giveDr. Harlow a smile before taking a seat.

"You wanted to see me?" I question, and she grins wide, shuffling her papers.

"I did," she replies. "How was your shift this morning?"

I clear my throat and pat my cheeks, feeling them heat up, making her laugh, but I shake my head, "It's not funny. I did not expect to be ejaculated on."

Dr. Harlow laughs louder, and I chuckle, because I have to admit, it was kind of funny. I was walking through the ER to begin my shift with the tiny humans, when someone screamed in the doorway for help. I didn't notice her lack of clothes, my main focus was on what she was pointing at. I ran out to the car in the emergency bay. When I opened the back door, I was honestly shocked. A guy was lying on his back, his legs spread wide with a metal candle stick stuck in his rectum, blood coating his legs as he screamed in horror, or was it pain? I don't know, but as soon as he saw me, his extremely hard member ejaculated all over me, causing him to shout louder, his muscles most likely squeezing the candle holder, cutting him more.

I have to admit, this is a story for Lola and Sniper.

"I must admit, I didn't believe it at first." She shakes her head, and I chuckle again. Thankfully, the guy is going to be okay, but he will have a stoma bag for a little while.

She shakes her head, again. "Anyway, the reason I wanted to see you. Your program is ending in a few months, and the board has been in contact with Huntersville Hospital throughout your experience here and…. Not only do they want you as their full-time NICU nurse and are willing to give you accommodation, but we also want to keep you." My eyes widen in shock. She grins. "You are amazing, Kennedy Gray. How you care not only for the patients but also the parents. Your level of kindness and strength is hard to come by. I know it's a lot to take in, so you have roughly a month to decide whether you want to stay here or return to your hometown. Either way, well done, sweetheart."

I let out a watery laugh, shocked, before I stand and hug her, thanking her.

I leave her office with a pounding heart. I honestly thought that with my problems after I had my daughter, no one would want me. I admitted to Dr. Harlow what I tried to do, and instead of putting me on probation or, heck, even kicking me out of the program, she hugged me tightly, and told me I had a friend with her. And now….

Wow.

Grinning, I grab my coat and leave the hospital, but my excitement soon fades when Doc comes to mind. If I take the job, then I could give Austen the time he deserves, especially after I had to cancel our weekend plans, as work needed me.

But then it would also mean I'm completely done with the man who owns my heart.

I swallow hard, my good mood completely gone.

If I return home, he'd still be with her, but Alex, Quinn, and Noah are all there, plus Aunt Shelly. But so are my parents, who will expect me to pay for them again.

God, what do I do?

I walk to my car, rubbing my chest, my mind scrambling, before my phone rings. I check it, my heart hoping it"s Doc, which should say a lot. I know it can't be him because I haven't called him in two months, and his calls to me stopped last week. I smile when I see it"s Quinn and answer it.

"Hey, Quinny."

She lets out a sob and I halt my movement as she rasps, "Noah had an accident. He fell off the jungle gym. Shelly said there was a lot of blood."

Oh God no, please no….

I run the rest of the way to my car and climb in, stating, "Okay, I'm on my way."

"Ken," she starts, but I cut her off.

"No, I'm on my way. Just keep me updated, and I'll see you in a few hours. I'm catching the next flight back."

She lets out a relieved breath before I hang up and quickly email Dr. Harlow, explaining the situation and that I need to use my allotted paid time off, before I head home to pack a bag.

An hour later, I'm sitting at JFK, waiting for the next flight out, when I suddenly gasp. "Crap, Austen."

I squeeze my eyes shut. If I haven't even thought to let him know…that tells me exactly what I need to know. We're still casual, but we were supposed to meet up tonight.

Dammit.

Shaking my head, I grab my phone and quickly find his name, ignoring the picture I have as my screen saver.

I don't know why I did it, but I went to a professional, who managed to use the picture of Doc and superimpose it over a picture of with our daughter in my arms. It looks realistic.

Every day, I wish the picture were true, but it's not. Doc belongs to Prue, and Layla is gone.

"Hey gorgeous," Austen says as he answers the phone, and I wince. He's such a nice guy.

Why can't I fall for him?

"Hey," I whisper. "Breaker's son Noah had an accident. I've got to head back to Texas for a few days."

"Shit, is he alright?" he asks as a girl in the background whispers, "Baby, is everything okay?" I wince again.

Crap, I interrupted him. I wait for the jealousy, the hurt, and thepain…but nothing. Yet the thought of Prue touching Doc sends a sharp pain through me every time.

Crap.

I clear my throat. "I'm not sure. Quinn called, sobbing. She said there was a lot of blood. I thought I'd let you know because we were supposed to meet tonight."

He curses. "It's fine, Ken. Do you want me to take you to the airport or even come with you for support?"

I wince again as the woman in the background whines that they've only had sex once and he promised her shower sex. I can't really blame her; shower sex is great, though I've only had it once and can only base my experience on that, but it was good. If I close my eyes, I can picture myself back there.

Lucas's hands slide to my ass as he lifts me, the water raining over us from the shower head, his lips molding with mine as his tongue pushes into my mouth, my back pressed against the cold wall.

I moan, tangling my tongue with his as the tip of his member finds my entrance, and he pushes in with one thrust, hitting deep, causing me to break the kiss and throw my head back. His lips go to my neck as his hips thrust in and out of me quickly.

Damn. Why did we wait so long to do this?

I clear my throat, hearing Austen telling the girl to be quiet as the woman at the gate calls out my boarding number. I say, "I'm already at the airport, and they're calling my seat. Thank you, though. I'll contact you when I get back."

He sighs. "Alright, Ken. Let me know when you land, yeah?"

I agree before hanging up, letting him return to his guest.

It's bad that I didn't get jealous, isn't it?

Damn.

The next morning, after one bumpy plane ride and a hard night"s sleep in a motel near the airport, I finally arrive at the hospital. Quinn kept me updated, so I didn't come in last night after landing. She told me to rest while he's sedated. Noah is doing good, thankfully.

I stand near the entrance, look at the white building, and swallow hard. So many memories here. Honestly, I didn't think I'd return, even though I was offered a full-time job.

I wonder if Doc is working.

Crap…I didn't think about that. I've got to see him and her together, which means I'm going to either A: fall apart, or B: scratch the bitch's eyes out.

Huh, plan B sounds pretty good.

Shaking my head at my silly thoughts, I head inside. I notice Becky instantly, her eyes coming my way, widening in shock, but I ignore her and head to the elevator, taking it to the third floor.

When I find Noah's room, Quinn's eyes brighten as she cuddles up on Alex's lap, making me smile before she says, "Hey, Ken," causing Alex to look my way. I grin at his shocked look, then gaze at my little peanut.

He looks so small in the bed, his little head bandaged up and a cannula in his little hand.

I sigh. "Well, Noah definitely likes to scare people, huh?"

I walk over to the bed as Quinn giggles. Running my fingers through the gorgeous little boy's hair, I smirk when Alex murmurs, "You"re really here?"

I shrug as some of my hair falls out of the clip I have it in.

I reply, "Your girl called me yesterday and kept me up to date. Of course, I"m here, Alex. He may be my second cousin, but I"m still his auntie."

They both grin wide at me before they tense up, and I don't have to turn to see who it is. My body is still in tune with his. Slowly I look toward the door and make eye contact with him before looking back at Noah, my heart thumping at his intensity. Clearing my throat, I ask, "So, exactly how did he fall?" I want to believe I won't fall apart seeing him again after so long.

Alex answers, "Lola decided she wanted to apologize."

I look at him in shock. "Apologize for what?"

Quinn grunts as I feel Doc's body come closer, stopping near the foot of the bed.

The man I love rasps, "She started a riot among the parents at the school Quinn worked at, accusing her of using a child to get a patched brother, and how she"s been sleeping with their partners."

That little….

Doc continues, "She then threatened the school. She told Ms. Holden that if she didn"t fire Quinn, then she"d pull the sponsorship funds. Lola's also part of the reason Noah is here, as she was trying to block Breaker's view of him when he was playing."

Anger rushes through me. I knew she wanted my cousin, and I told her several times no.

How dare she….

Growling, I pull out my phone and bring Lola's name up, pressing CALL. It rings a few times before she answers and says, "Hey Ken?—"

I cut her off and snap, "Lola Marie Carter. In an hour, I want your ass down in the reception area of the hospital. You and I need to talk." She squeals in excitement, but my anger grows. I growl, "You can stop celebrating. How dare you ruin Quinn"s career over a man who never wanted you!"

I hang up before she can say anything else. I look at the happy couple and say, "I"ll sort it out."

Quinn smiles as Doc clears his throat, "Ken, can we…."

No, nope, not happening, I already want to jump into his arms when I have no right.

"I"m here for Noah, not you, Doc." I can feel the tension, but I continue, "I"m only here for a few days, then I need to get back to my life and a guy I"m seeing." Okay, I didn't need to add that bit, but come on, I need to dig the knife in somehow. "I don"t need any drama, so it"s best you stay clear." I hope he'll leave but also hope he'll fight for me.

Now, how messed up is that?

It's quiet for a moment before he speaks again. "I"ll be back in half an hour to check his wound. Hopefully, he'll be awake by then."

I hold my breath, wondering what he'll do, whether he'll turn and leave like I expect or…. I hear the scuffing of his shoes on the floor as he walks toward me, and my heart pounds. He gets up close behind me, causing my breathing to pick up. I feel his heat, a heat I have missed so much.

My whole body lights up as he presses his lips against my neck. Sparks shoot through me like the traitorous bitch my body is, and he whispers, "You"re mine, Pixie. You know it, and I know it. This man, he doesn"t stand a fucking chance, because I own that heart like you own mine."

He kisses my neck again, his lips lingering as he inhales, and then leaves. I have to take several deep breaths before I point at the two laughing hyenas and say, "Hush, you two."

They are both pro-Doc, which makes me wonder exactly what they know that I don't.

A little hand grips mine, making me look at the bed. I grin wide as Noah says, "Auntie Ken," making all my problems disappear.

An hour later, after promising Noah that I'd come straight back, I head to the reception area. Lola grins wide, seeing me, but I scowl at her, making her smile disappear. I point at her.

"Please tell me, after I told you Alex was off limits all those years ago, you did not try and pursue him for your own selfish reasons." She swallows hard. "Please tell me you did not make Shelly's life hell. Please tell me, Lola Marie, that you did not ruin an innocent woman's career over a man you knew never wanted you!"

She steps back, her eyes hardening, and she snaps, "It's not like you started seeing him, Kennedy. You have no right to claim off limits when you never did anything."

I stalk up to her and get in her face, making her eyes widen as I sneer, "I didn't tell you he was off limits because I wanted him, Lola. I told you he was off limits because he's my cousin." Her mouth drops open, her green eyes that are so much like her brothers nearly popping out. "I told you he was off limits because I knew, deep in my heart, you two would not be compatible. He treated you like a sister, not a lover. We both know you only want a brother because you want that security, and we both know you love getting your own way, and would do anything to get what you want. Now I'm telling you, back the fuck off!"

"Holy…you just swore." That is all she says, and I narrow my eyes at her.

"I love you, Lola, I do; you're my best friend, but right now, I am so disappointed in you. Because of you, a little boy is currently laying in a hospital bed. You know how much Alex needs to have eyes on Noah when he's on that jungle gym, after I nearly cracked my head open when we were kids."

Guilt shines in her eyes as she rasps, "I'm sorry."

I shake my head at her, my body starting to tingle, so I know he is near again, but I ignore it and snap, "Sorry, isn't good enough. For years I've had to keep my identity a secret because my mother is a bitch, the same mother who has no idea I'm back in town and now, I'm having to out myself to you because you couldn't take the hint. Alex is not a way to an easy life. I swear to God, if you don't sort this mess with Quinn out, not only will I disown you—" she sucks in a breath. I lean forward. "—I'll also tell the club about the time you decided to not only put several bottles of hand soap in the pool, but also take half of their bikes for joyrides while they slept. Then I'll also let Crow and Aunt Shelly know about the abortion you had after you screwed the married reverend."

Her mouth drops open, her hand going to her chest as she gasps, "You wouldn't."

I raise a brow at her and say, " Try me."

She knows I mean every word.

She pulls me into her arms, making me giggle.

"I've missed you," I mumble, and she squeezes me to her and whispers, "I've missed you, too. And I promise I'll make things right."

I nod before pulling back and asking, "Lunch?"

She grins, looping her arms with mine, guiding me to the cafeteria. Nurses and doctors pull me in for hugs as I pass them, telling me how missed I am. I ignore Doc who's standing near the nurse's desk with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes fully on me, even though my body is calling me to run to him.

As we head to the cafeteria, Lola tells me everything I've missed, including Tats' old lady, Violet, spray painting his bike pink with unicorns, and throwing pink dust bombs on him. This makes me laugh.

As I chat with Lola, I promise myself to keep my distance from Doc while I'm in town.

As much as I want to speak to him, I know I can't, and the idea of taking the job in New York seems better and better, even if it means I miss out on time with my best friend.

Shame I didn't count on how hard Doc refuses to let me go….