Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

Mayson

I had no idea what Bennett wanted to discuss, but I had a date with Crystal, and I didn't want to keep her waiting. Since I was a few minutes early, I had no problem meeting him in his office.

The door was open, but I knocked on the door jam. "You wanted to talk to me?"

He nodded. "Shut the door and have a seat."

I wasn't a fan of his tone, but whatever the issue was, he wasn't happy. He had my attention, but not for long. Crystal and I had plans, and I wasn't about to stand her up. Especially after what we shared last night. I couldn't label it as sex. It was something more. I needed time to figure out what exactly it was.

"Does this have to do with national security?" I asked, trying to make it known that this better be as important as he was making it off to be.

"Not sure. Care to explain to me why Crystal asked Zoey to meet her for breakfast tomorrow?" Bennett asked.

That kind of struck me as odd too, but not enough to be overly concerned.

"Oh. Breakfast. Yeah. That could be a problem. People eating and talking," I said, not hiding my sarcasm.

"This is my wife we're talking about. I am very protective of people I don't know around here. Especially when we are in Tabiq," he said.

"That's a valid point. But for the record, I came to you first about Crystal. You said there didn't appear to be anything to worry about. If something has changed, then I think I have the right toknow, don't you think?"

"It's not one thing, it's a combination of things," he said.

"Fine. What are those things?" I asked.

"Have you noticed who she is choosing to be around? I mean, there is a resort full of people, and yet she hasn't socialized with one of them. Even at the wedding, she sat with President O'Connor."

"Yes. I know. I was busy at the time and from what Crystal said, they called her over. Would you rather she be rude and tell them no? And before you jump all over the fact that she got a private tour of the hospital, that was Finn who invited her. Trust me, there were other things we would rather be doing," I stated.

"It is my job to help keep people safe. That is what I'm doing," he replied.

"I had my concerns in the beginning too. But I've spent time with her, and she's not asking a lot of questions. Mostly just answering all of ours. And as far as who she had socialized with, it's by invitation. She never asked to join us."

Except for the jacuzzi tub, but that's none of your business.

Bennett didn't miss much, so odds were that he knew I had spent the night with Crystal. Glad he didn't comment on that, because there was a line I wasn't about to let him cross.

"That does ease my mind a little, but I'm going to keep a close eye on her."

"If you're that worried about her being around Zoey, then just tell Zoey you don't want her going," I said.

He huffed. "Coming from the bachelor. If you tell a woman what she can do, then she's not only going to do it anyway, but you'll also find yourself in the doghouse."

Doghouse? "That's not a term I'd heard before. Dogs don't live in houses."

"Not in Tabiq. But in the States, they do. And I don't know why we say in the doghouse like it's a bad thing because now that you mention it, there are many dogs who have it better than people. But it issupposed to mean you are not sleeping with your partner. Kicked out of the house."

Strange.

" Then what's your plan?" Because mine is to enjoy my night with Crystal.

" My plan is to trust my wife to let me know if there is anything that doesn't feel right about Crystal. I expect you to do the same," he stated.

I got up and said, "She's harmless." At least in any way that you're thinking. She might be very dangerous when it comes to me.

I'd never fallen for anyone. Not even close. But Crystal is the type of woman who could make a man forget what he used to want. Because wanting her becomes everything.

"I sure in hell hope you're right. But keep your eyes open. And I'm asking you this, because your brother is the Vice President, and your actions can affect him too. Just make sure the price of being with Crystal isn't too high," he warned.

I didn't want to let those last words stick with me, but how couldn't I? I knew what they meant. There were people who wouldn't shed a tear if Reesa or Orion weren't on the planet any longer. What better way to take someone out than to send a beautiful woman whom everyone welcomes and trusts.

With a nod, I left his office and headed to her room. My gut was in knots. What if Bennett was right and I was blinded by my attraction to her? Did I need to put the brakes on this? Maybe I should take a step back and stop thinking with my cock. That definitely was clouding my judgment.

Even before we slept together, I never would've believed she was some hired assassin or something like that. Bennett was way off. He must be. Even though I had doubts in the beginning, I was standing by my feelings now. Crystal was exactly who she said she was. A private nurse just trying to enjoy a vacation.

I knocked on the door and she opened it but was on her cell phone. She waved for me to enter and have a seat.

"Yes. I understand. I would suggest giving her the decaffeinated black tea with a freshly squeezed lemon and lots of honey. It usually helps with her cough. But make sure to put her oxygen back on as soon as possible. Call the doctor if her oxygen level falls below 90 again."

I couldn't hear who she was speaking to, but I assumed it was her replacement. She ended the call and came to sit beside me. I gave her a quick kiss, then said, "I can tell that the woman is more to you than just a patient."

"Three years caring for someone, you develop a bond. A trust. She relies on me for a lot of things, and she knows that I will do everything in my power to help her."

"She's lucky to have you," I said, reaching out and taking her hand in mine. "Sounds like you're so much more than a nurse. You're her friend."

"Not sure about that. In the three years that I have been caring for her, no friends have come. No one ever visits. It's sad. No one should be all alone at the end of their life."

"Maybe there's a reason that no one is around. Maybe she's not a very likable person." And deserves to die alone.

" Mayson, no one is perfect. We all make mistakes in our lives. We all have regrets. I have them. I'm sure you do as well. But at the end of the day, we need to focus on the good and not the bad. She is dying. I can't change that, and neither can the doctors. But she is holding on. I know there is something that she needs to do before she leaves the earth. I'm just not sure she will get it," she said, wiping a stray tear that rolled down her cheek.

"Baby, you said it yourself. You can't fix everything," I reminded her.

"But I must try. You don't know what she has been through. If you did, you might think differently. I know my heart breaks for her," she sniffed, still trying to fight back tears.

Damn it.

I should change the subject. This was not the night either of us had planned. But more than bowling and sharing a few laughs, I thought she needed me to listen.

"Do you want to tell me about her?" I asked.

I could see it in her eyes that she did, but instead, she shook her head. "I'm bound by confidentiality. She is my patient and what she tells me is considered private."

I smiled. "You are a beautiful soul. I don't know the woman, but she is extremely lucky to have you." Anyone would be.

"Thank you. I just try to do for others what I would want if it were me."

"That's a good way to go through life. I wish more people felt that way. Unfortunately, life has taught many of us to always have our guard up. That when life feels too good to be true, it's because it's not. And when you're happy, then someone is going to be jealous and set out to take it all away from you," I said.

"That sounds like a horrible way to go through life," she stated. "I wouldn't want to look for the bad in every person. It would put me in a very dark place. I'd much rather look for reasons to smile." She lifted her hand and touched my cheek. "Being with you makes me smile," she said.

That and so much more.

I leaned over and kissed her. "I feel the same way. Now, you have an important decision to make."

"What is that?" she asked.

"Do you still want to go out bowling, or do you want to stay in?"

"Hmm. I'm kind of feeling greedy at the moment. Is there a reason why I can't have both?"

I looked around her room and said, "I know we were distracted last night, but I don't recall seeing a bowling alley in here."

She laughed. "Nope. Your balls are the only ones in the room."

I loved her sense of humor.

"There are a lot of things I enjoy you doing to my balls, but bowling with them isn't one of them," I joked back.

"I see your point. Might not be much for you. So, I guess we can go out, and then after I finish kicking your butt at bowling, we can come back here, have dinner and maybe soak in the jacuzzi again?" she suggested.

Soak in the jacuzzi? That was her offer last night and it took us hours before we ever made it in there. Not complaining. There were many things I'd rather do with Crystal than soak in a tub.

"Sounds like you're very confident you're going to win. Would you like to put a little wager on it?" I asked.

"Hmm. How about if I win, I get a full body massage?"

I wouldn't mind losing, but I could give her that and still beat her. "I was thinking that if I won, you bring me breakfast in bed?"

"Breakfast in bed? I...I can't do that."

"Why?" I asked, knowing the answer.

"I've got plans in the morning. Zoey Stone and I are going out for breakfast," she said.

I was glad she didn't try hiding that from me since I already knew. "That sounds nice. How did that come about?"

"We talked briefly at the wedding yesterday and I asked if she wanted to have breakfast with me."

I could see why Bennett might think it was strange, but as I got to know Crystal more, it wasn't. She was a people person. People were drawn to her, and she enjoyed being around others. With having to be a sole caregiver, she probably was just trying to enjoy every second she could before she went back to the States.

Damn it. I want as much time with you before you leave too.

" I'm sure you will enjoy it. Now I have to think of something else as a prize if I win," I said.

She chuckled. "Don't worry about it."

"You don't want to compete?" I asked.

"Oh yes, I do. Just that you're not going to win," she smiled.

Baby, just spending the night with you is a win.

I got up and said, "Okay. Let's get going and see who comes back the victor."

Holding her head up high she said, "I already have that answer. And I can't wait for my massage."

Neither can I.