Priceless

by Linda Kage

  I glanced at him, my gaze imploring. “Even Brandt?”

  He sighed, and his muscles tensed. But then he nodded. “Even Brandt.”

  “You’re still mad at him, aren’t you?”

  Jaw tense, he shook his head and studied his hands before diplomatically answering, “I’m not happy with him, but...I know what he means to you, and I know he’d never purposely hurt you, so...I’m dealing with it.”

  “I don’t think he’s ever going to touch me again,” I admitted glumly.

  Mason, however, smiled. “Good.”

  I frowned at him, about to tell him, no...not good, but the door opened and Dr. O’Hearn entered the room....followed by the nurse, plus a complete stranger.

  “Miss Arnosta,” he greeted, holding out his hand to shake with me before turning to Mason to greet him. “Mr. Lowe.” Then he motioned to the others. “This is my consultant, Dr. Theler, and of course you know Sheila.”

  My gaze darted between the three before I turned my confused gaze to Mason. He looked just as stumped as I felt.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  While Sheila and Dr. Theler stayed back by the door, Dr. O’Hearn sighed and clasped his clipboard to his waist as he hiked himself up to sit partially on the counter so he could face us.

  “Guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” he started and then winced. “But...”

  My stomach dropped to my knees.

  Bad news? How could there be more bad news? Hadn’t I already been through enough?

  “There’s been a mistake in the recent antispasmodic medication you were prescribed,” he finished.

  I released a breath, thinking that wasn’t as bad as I’d originally feared.

  But Mason reached out and gripped my hand as he asked, “What kind of mistake?”

  Dr. O’Hearn glanced at the other doctor before he turned his gaze to my brother. He held up the bottle I’d brought in that was half full. “I don’t know if the prescription was written wrong or the pharmacist misread it, but this dosage...it’s over six times the amount you should really be taking.”

  The air zapped from my lungs. “What?”

  “Wha-what does that mean?” Mason wondered, confused.

  “You’ve been put at great risk by taking this much medicine, Sarah.”

  “What kind of risk?” Mason demanded, nearly squeezing off my arm now.

  “She’s in danger of heart attack, stroke, jaundice—”

  “Stroke?” Mason yelled. “You mean, like the stroke she just had?”

  The doctor sighed and glanced shamefully down at his clipboard.

  Dr. Theler stepped forward. “Yes, I...we believe that’s what caused her stroke. And I’m sorry to have to tell you this—”

  “Sorry?” Surging to his feet, Mason roared. “You almost killed my sister, but you’re sorry?”

  As my brother raged on, I stared in a daze at the bottle in Dr. O’Hearn’s hand. The bottle that had caused my stroke.

  I knew I should be mad and screaming alongside Mason from the injustice of it all. My own healthcare providers had put my life at risk, but the only thing I could do as I covered my mouth with my hand was smile against my palm in outright relief.

  ~*~

  That evening, I was in my room after supper, studying for the last finals I’d ever take when there was a tap on my door.

  I called for my guest to enter, expecting either Mason or Reese to once again talk about how they were going to find me a new doctor, sue the entire hospital, and take care of this entire mess. But I was surprised when Brandt stepped inside instead.

  Surprised and a little depressed. He hadn’t come to my window once since my stroke. The infuriating man was determined to play by the rules: no sex, no sneaking in. Hell, he wouldn’t even let our kisses linger too long or get even mildly interesting and out of control. I knew I should’ve been happy he still kissed me at all. But the man had given me a taste of what it could be like to have everything...so now I wanted everything.

  And as I looked him over, I was determined to get it.

  Tonight.

  “Hey.” Closing my textbook, I smiled, trying not to look too eager or calculating.

  “Hey,” he answered. “Mason didn’t even glare at me when I came in tonight.” Grinning, he strolled to me and bent down to press his lips gently against mine. But when I pressed back, he pulled away and smoothed his hand over my hair before sitting next to me. “Maybe someday he’ll stop hating me so much, you think?”

  “Or maybe he’ll apologize for hating you at all,” I countered, starting to smile maybe a bit too much, and totally giving myself away.

  Brandt’s brow crinkled. “Huh?”

  I took his hand and squeezed his fingers. “We learned quite an enlightening fact at the doctor’s office today.”

  “Wait.” He straightened in alarm. “You had a doctor’s appointment? Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve gone with you.”

  I shook my head, letting him know he needn’t have worried. “Mason went with me. I was fine.”

  His face paled as if he feared I was going to tell him I was dying. “So what did you learn?”

  I smiled, hoping to reassure him. “The real reason why I had my stroke.”

  “You...” He shook his head and blinked. “Wait, what?”

  I nodded. “Someone got my prescription wrong. They’d been overdosing me for weeks.”

  His mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”

  Eager to inform him he hadn’t been the cause, I laughed. “I’ve been taking over six times the dosage. And that’s why I had my stroke.”

  Instead of sharing my joy, he surged to his feet, his hands fisting at his sides and his eyes flaring with rage. “Those fucking bastards! They misdosed you?”

  My smile slipped. “I thought you’d be happier.”

  “Happy?” He gripped his head and paced my room. “Are you crazy? They almost killed you. We need to sue their fucking asses.”

  Grinning, I waved an unconcerned hand. “Don’t worry. Mason and Reese are already on top of all that.”

  Turning to me slowly, he stared, his mouth gaping with shock. “You could’ve died. Why the hell are you so chipper?”

  “Because...” I lifted my eyebrows and sent him a meaningful glance. “This means nothing you and I did in this bed caused my stroke.”

  Frowning, he opened his mouth to argue. But a second later, he blinked and pressed his lips together. Then he breathed, “Holy shit.” Hope filled his eyes as he flashed his gaze to me. “You’re right.”

  I laughed and clasped my hands together. “Does this mean you’ll have sex with me again?”

  He hesitated, his smile freezing. “I don’t...I don’t know. Jesus, Sarah, you’re still recovering. This can’t... Are you sure you’re—”

  “I am absolutely one hundred percent positive nothing we did triggered my stroke.”

  Indecision—but mostly temptation—clouded his face. He returned to me, sitting next to me on the bed. “But aren’t you still at risk? How long is this overdose going to put you in danger?”

  I grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled him close. “It’s been fifteen days since you were last inside me. I’m not waiting any longer.” I leaned in until my breath washed across his lips. “Now kiss me.”

  His gaze heated as he scanned my face. Then he licked his lips as he focused on my mouth. “Damn, that was hot.”

  “Then kiss me already.” When I tried to tug him forward more, however, he resisted. Our faces were only inches apart as he cupped my cheeks.

  “Sarah, I refuse to do anything to hurt you.”

  “Cock deprivation—especially deprivation from your cock—is a very serious offense. That could hurt me.”

  He laughed, only to follow it with a groan as he pressed his forehead to mine. “Baby, I want you so bad I ache, but—”

  “No buts. I’m fine. I can feel what’s going on inside me better than anyone else, and I...have...recovered. N
ow let me prove it to you.”

  I fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, needing it open so I could touch his chest. But he caught my fingers. “No. Sarah...no!”

  He surged off the bed, lifting his hands as he backed away from me.

  “Brandt,” I growled, gritting my teeth. “You have never once in your life let my cerebral palsy come between us. Don’t let it now.”

  “That’s not what I’m doing.” Hugging himself, he shook his head and backed a few more feet away from me. “I’m scared,” he whispered, his face going red. “I’m so fucking scared. You didn’t see what it did to you. You had no idea what I went through, helplessly watching you seize up and have a fucking stroke. I can’t...I just can’t risk that again.”

  “Baby.” I held my hand out toward him. “It’ll be okay. I’m right here with you. We’ll do this together, slow and easy the first time. You’ll see. It’ll be fine.”

  “Don’t fucking push me, Sarah. I said no.”

  “God...dammit,” I muttered, balling my good hand into a fist. “You are so fucking stubborn. I wish I had a pair of sharp, pointy tongs to chuck right at your head.”

  He blinked and crinkled his brow. “Tongs?”

  “I don’t know!” I railed, losing my temper. “Just...it’s the first thing that came to my mind. Now get out. Get out of my fucking room. If you’re too much of a pussy who can’t even try to have the most amazing relationship you know we could have, then get the fuck out, and don’t ever come back.”

  “Whoa.” He lifted his hands, and his eyebrows spiked up under his hairline. “Okay, you’re being totally irrational right now. I’ll be back when you calm down.”

  “I said don’t come back!” I yelled at his back as he turned toward the door and fled the room. “Dammit.”

  As soon as I was alone, tears immediately filled my eyes and dripped down my cheeks. My chest heaved as I tried to wipe them away. But they were coming so fast I couldn’t see anything but blurry spots of light and dark.

  I wanted to call after him, make him come back so I could apologize. I think my temper had died the moment the door had latched closed behind him. And now...now I just felt stupid and alone. And miserable.

  God, why did I always try to push sex on him? Admittedly, this time hadn’t been about sex as much as it’d been about him taking a chance on us, trusting me, and sticking around no matter what.

  Except he hadn’t stuck around, he hadn’t taken a chance, and he hadn’t trusted me.

  Unable to stop shaking, I hugged myself and wept harder. I was so busy heaving out a sob that I barely heard the tap to my window.

  Pausing, I lifted my head and strained my ears. The tap came again.

  With a gasp, I crawled that way and peered out to see Brandt standing with his head bowed and hands in his pockets.

  It took me longer to open my window than usual because my left arm was pretty much useless, but I swear, sheer determination got the job done.

  “Let me guess,” I said, sniffing up the last of my drying tears. “You knew I was in here crying, so you had to come back.”

  He lifted his face. “You know me; can’t let you cry alone.”

  Lips tightening from the grin I was fighting, I sat back as he crawled inside. “So?”

  Sighing, he closed the window and turned to me, his blue eyes swirling with the same unreadable gaze he’d had the night he’d come here after learning about my first date. Then he shook his head and his shoulders fell. “I don’t know if I’m just a selfish bastard because I want you so much or an idiot for believing you when you say you’ll be okay, but...fuck it. I can’t live the rest of my life without ever having you again. I’m sorry. I—”

  I cut him off by kissing him. Hard.

  He groaned and kissed me back, pressing into me eagerly, his tongue thrusting and hands cupping my face.

  “God, one kiss,” he broke away from me to gasp. Pressing his forehead to mine, he trailed a finger down my cheek. “One kiss and I’m already throbbing to get inside you.”

  “Then get naked,” I demanded, my body tingling for him to be on top of me.

  With a grin, he shook his head. Then pulled his face back. “I will. But not tonight.”

  “What? No! I—” I gripped his face in my hands, desperate not to lose him again.

  But he only shook his head and grasped my wrists. “Shh. No, I’m not turning you down. Not ever again, I swear. I’m just asking for a raincheck. It’s only been a few weeks, and I’m still spooked as hell. Let’s give it a little more time, okay? And then...”

  “Then you’ll try?” I asked, holding my breath.

  After a noisy swallow, he nodded. “Yeah. Then we’ll try it.”

  I blew out a breath, relieved he wasn’t saying no, but still a little scared because he was still holding back. “So...what now?”

  His chuckle was full of hot sensuality. “How about making out until we fall asleep wrapped in each other’s arms?”

  Oh, God. That sounded just as good as sex. It’d been forever since I’d gotten to cuddle and sleep with him

  And more kissing? Yeah, I could handle that.

  “Sold,” I whispered, grabbing his shirt so he’d follow me toward the pillows so we could lie down and get more comfortable.

  His eyes heated as he followed me. “I’ve missed this too.”

  SARAH

  “Oh my God! Quinn’s taking off his shirt!”

  At Caroline’s excited prattle, I looked up from the supply list I was studying at the picnic table in Noel and Aspen’s backyard to find the guys on the lawn were starting a game of touch football, and they were dividing the teams shirts against skins.

  Quinn had just gotten chosen to the skins’ side, where he was being forced to remove his T-shirt.

  Next to me, Reese lifted her face only to spike her eyebrows high. “Oh,” she said, adding in a little hum of interest.

  When Aspen twisted on the bench where she was sitting to check out the guys as well, Zoey made an exasperated sound in her throat. “Why is everyone staring at my husband?”

  “Because Dr. Modest never removes clothing,” Reese murmured, going as far as to shade her eyes against the sunlight to get a better view. “It’s about time we got a peek. Damn! Mason was chosen for the shirts team.” She dropped her hand, pouting.

  “Well, Ten was chosen to play with the shirtless side,” Zoey argued. “Why can’t you all look at him?”

  “Meh. Seen it.” Reese returned her attention to the list we’d been compiling, only to steal the pen and paper from me and add caterer to the bottom.

  She totally missed the way Caroline scowled at her. “And my man has an awesome chest, thank you very much.”

  Reese merely waved out a hand without bothering to look up. “But he strips all the time. It’s no longer new and fascinating to see him half naked.”

  “Uh...yes, it is.” Caroline started to argue, only to blow out a relieved breath. “Oh, thank God, Noel and Colton ended up with shirts.”

  “Hey!” Aspen whirled back, clearly offended on her husband’s behalf. But she must’ve realized she was talking to the man’s sister because her shoulders slumped. “Well, I guess you have to say that.”

  Caroline’s third brother didn’t get chosen for the shirt side, though. As Brandt joined Quinn and Ten’s team, he shed his shirt and tucked it into his back pocket so most of it hung out down the rear of his jeans.

  It made a mouthwateringly fetching sight, if I did say so myself, especially with the sunlight gleaming off his toned chest and his dark hair a little messy from removing his shirt.

  “I think someone’s happy one of your brothers was chosen for the skin side,” Zoey murmured to Caroline.

  Realizing all the ladies had turned their attention to me, I flushed hard. “What?” I hadn’t seen Brandt naked in weeks. It was killing me.

  Reese smirked and bumped her shoulder into mine. “You got a little drool,” she said. “Right there.”

  “
Shit.” I immediately wiped the back of my hand over my mouth, but it was dry.

  “Oh my God!” my sister-in-law gasped, her face turning beet red with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean...literally. I’m sorry. You were just... From the way you were staring at him...”

  Realizing she’d been trying to tease me, not point out actual drool, I relaxed. “Oh.”

  She smacked her hand against her face. “I’m an idiot.”

  The horror on her face made me laugh. She knew how self-conscious I was about the drooling aspect of my life, so I knew she’d never make fun of me on purpose, which was why I found her faux pas so hilarious.

  Around me, Caroline and Aspen, then Zoey joined in, all of them giggling.

  Finally, Reese blew out a breath and laughed too. We got to laughing so hard, the guys paused in preparation of their first play to glance our way.

  “What’s so funny?” Noel called.

  We women answered, “Nothing,” in unison, which set off a whole new round of laughter.

  The guys finally gave up and shook their heads before returning to their game, while all the kiddos continued to play unawares in the small wading pool by the ramp to the back door.

  “Now, where were we?” Reese asked, once we’d settled down enough to concentrate on the task at hand, to plan a graduation party for me, Brandt, and even Colton, since he’d be finishing high school a week after Brandt and I ended our term.

  “I think we’re set,” Aspen murmured, reading over the list. “This looks good. It’s going to be the perfect party for you and the boys.”

  “Great!” Caroline slapped her hands onto the tabletop and stood. “Now let’s get some food ready. I’m starving.”

  As we migrated toward the house, I cast another glance toward the playing men. Brandt had just made a run with the ball only to get tagged by Noel. He was panting as he followed the others back to a new line of scrimmage for another play when he must’ve felt my stare. Glancing over, he grinned and lifted his hand to wave.