8. May

8

MAY

“This isn't necessary,” I tell Aiden for the hundredth time. He got up early this morning and fixed us breakfast and then followed me to the hospital in Jasper.

We're walking inside the hospital, hand in hand. “Where's the administration office?”

I try to change the subject. “I hate that you have a black eye and you were hurt, but I have to be honest with you. It’s kind of sexy. You’re putting off all kinds of sexy, dangerous vibes.”

He kisses my forehead. “Nice try. Where is it?”

I want to argue with him and put a stop to this, but I know he's right. I know that this needs to happen. I point down the hallway that we're walking on. “Last door on the right.”

He just gives me a nod and walks to the end of the hallway, and when we get to the door, he knocks on it. Mr. Johnson, the hospital administrator, waves us in.

“Hey, May, it's good to see you. What can I do for you today?” he asks me as he tentatively looks at Aiden. I'm sure he's wondering what he’s doing here with me, and Aiden definitely looks intimidating.

“I was hoping that I could talk to you about Dr. Lassiter.”

Dr. Johnson shakes his head. “We've already talked about this, and I told you that there wasn't enough information—”

Aiden's voice booms in the room. “Dr. Johnson, my name is Aiden. I work for Walker and Hunter Nash, do you know them?”

Dr. Johnson nods his head as his eyes get wide. Of course he knows who Hunter and Walker are. Everyone in Whiskey Run and Jasper knows who they are. Not everybody knows what they do, but everyone knows that you don't mess with them.

When Dr. Johnson nods, Aiden continues. “While I was hoping that we would be able to sit down and talk about this, I believe that there's some information that you are not aware of, and I would like for May to be able to fill you in.”

Dr. Johnson gestures to the two seats, and we both sit down as he goes back to his desk. Aiden looks at me and nods, encouraging me to tell the story.

I lean forward, and Aiden grabs my hand again to hold it, giving me the courage that I need. “I know that we've spoken about this, Dr. Johnson, but I don't think that I was able to tell you everything that happened, and I think it's important that I do. Dr. Lassiter has asked me out a few times, and every time I tell him no, I make sure that I never encourage him. I tried to make sure that we're never alone together. However, he has gone out of his way to make sure that we are alone together. One time he even cornered me in the supplies closet.”

Aiden’s hand tightens on mine, and I don't have to look at him to know that he's pissed right now, but now that I’ve started, I’m going to get it all out. “Dr. Lassiter has touched me on my rear. His hand has brushed across my breast, and he’s kissed my neck before. I’ve confronted him about it every time, and he's always tried to blow it off like it was some kind of accident or something. He shows up at different places that I go if I’m in a store or a boutique, even the pet store. Anywhere I go, it's obvious that he's following me. When I told him repeatedly that I'm not interested, he gets mad and tells me that there's going to come a time where I'm not going to have a choice. That it's going to be him or no one.” I suck in a deep breath. I’ve tried to be strong, but it feels so damn good to get it all out. “So now I'm to the point where I fear for my life, Dr. Johnson, and I know that this is not a good environment for me to work in.”

I can tell that I've stunned Dr. Johnson, and he is completely surprised by this. He sits back in his chair. “I had no idea that you were going through all of this, May.”

Aiden interrupts him. “So I’m sure now we are at the point where you’re going to do something about this, right, Mr. Johnson? Because I would hate to have to take this higher, but I will because there's nothing that I'm going to let happen to May.”

Dr. Johnson nods his head. “Of course. I'm going to take care of this. Dr. Lassiter actually had a death in his family and called in to say that he was going to be in Florida for the next few days. As soon as he gets back, I'm going to make sure that I bring him in and address this before the board. I promise you that you will not be working the same shifts with him until we are able to work this out and everything is investigated.”

I nod because I know that I can't ask for more than that. They probably won’t take my word over his, but I'm hoping that other nurses will step forward also. I stand up and shake Mr. Johnson's hand. “I appreciate it.”

Aiden follows behind me and turns to Dr. Johnson. “I'm trusting that while she's here at the hospital, she is going to be protected.”

Dr. Johnson agrees, and we walk out of the room. Just talking about it, I feel like there's been a great weight lifted off my shoulders.

I point to the elevator. “I work on the third floor.”

He punches the button on the elevator and puts his arm around my shoulder. “I know which floor you work on.”

I expect him to go once I get on the elevator, but he follows behind me. We ride up, hand in hand. “I'm not going to let anything happen to you, May.”

I nod because I know that what he's saying is true. That's just who he is. When the doors open, I get out, and he walks with me down to the nurse’s station. Once we get there, it seems all the other nurses stop suddenly and are all staring at him, and I sort of can't blame them. Aiden is definitely something to look at, but he has only eyes for me. It's like he doesn't even see anybody else around us. “So I'll be back when your shift is over.”

I shake my head. “My car is here. I can drive myself home, you don't have to come back.”

He leans down and whispers softly so that no one else can hear, “I wanted you to drive today so you would have your car in case you needed to leave in the middle of your shift or something. I didn't want you to be here stranded. But I'm going to be here bringing you to work and taking you home to my house—our house—every day. At least until all of this is settled.”

I put my hand on his chest. “And what's going to have to happen after it’s settled?”

He twirls a piece of my hair on his finger and then puts his hand on the side of my neck. “Well after this is settled, you'll still be driving to our house because I'm not going to be apart from you, not even for one night, May. I meant everything I said last night. I don't want to leave you right now and you start second guessing how I feel. I love you.”

He knows me. He knows me probably better than anybody because once he walks away, I probably would have started to question everything that happened last night. “I love you, too, Aiden.”

He kisses me right there in front of everybody. “I'll be back,” he says, and I watch him as he walks back down the hallway and gets onto the elevator. Another nurse walks up to me, fanning her face. “Who was that?”

I can't stop the smile from forming. “That's my boyfriend.”

“Wow. Does he have a brother?”

I laugh at Nurse Stevens. She’s known as a hard-ass around here, but obviously Aiden can even charm the hardest of hearts. “No, he’s one of a kind.”

She pats me on the back. “He sure is, honey. He sure is.”

She walks down the hallway and is fanning herself the whole way. I completely understand why.