by Scarlet Rose
She laughed slightly and shook her head. "I can't John, I'm sorry. My duties are here." She rushed to his bed and leaned down to place a soft kiss on his cheek. From behind her she heard Julia say "Sadie, go with him. Ive got things covered here with the 3 other nurses. Get him settled and no one will be the wiser." Julia had a dreamy look on her face.
After a moments hesitation, "If your sure...I'll come right back I swear!" She said with a thank you laced in her tone.
As the orderlies shook their head in laughter, all four of them loaded into the elevator.
True to her word, she got John settled. He didn't last long before he was asleep again, the trip somehow wore him out. She quickly conferred with the girls at the nurses station. Some of them already her friends. Word had spread like wildfire about the connection Sadie and John had. All of them being hopeless romantics all gave her sweet and promised to kep her updated. Blushing, Sadie returned to the ICU unit.
Dr Medford had made his rounds and was waiting on her at the nurses station wanting a word with her.
Keeping his voice low, he said "You are aware that your situation is not wise. If this gets to HR it could be a very bad thing."
A little embarrassed she replied "There is no situation Ben. He has attached himself to me, I happened to be the first person he saw when he woke. That and the rumor mill has really strung things out of proportions. No worries." She felt bad about the lie but she also knew he was completely right.
"Well that is a relief. So, would you be up for coffee after your shift?" He inquired.
She really didn't want to but figured this would be a good way to assure him there was nothing going on. "That sounds great Ben, I'd be happy to meet you." Seeing him smile, she returned the smile and got on with her duties.
Chapter 4
Feeling exhausted she met Ben for coffee and they had a relatively good time. She tried to keep the conversation on neutral topics. She just wasn't attracted to Ben, although she couldn't figure out why. He was handsome, rich and a great doctor. As they collected their coats to leave he dropped the bombshell.
"So, Sadie. As you know the hospital is putting on the Goblin Gala and I was wondering if you would be my date?" Ben nervously asked her.
"Oh, I'd forgotten about that actually." She said, the annual Halloween function was generally a good time and she hadn't a date lined up. "Yes, I'll go with you."
"Great, I'll text you later about details and such." Ben leaned in to place a kiss on her lips. Nothing. No spark. No zing. Nada. She made her self kiss him back but ended it quickly. He didnt seem to notice the lack of pizazz as he grinned at her and escorted her outside.
The next two days flew by. Sadie spent her lunch with John and stayed a couple hours after each shift. They talked about everything and nothing. Everything on her part and nothing on his since he couldn't really remember anything. She was getting nervous because John was well enough to be discharged in the next day or so and no where to go.
Two hours into her shift on the third day she received a call from the ward where John was located.
"Sadie, if you can, you might get down here! The cops are here to talk to John! They know who he is and are about to go into his room!" Shelby, one of the nurses said in a rush.
Sadie didn't even reply she hung up and cleared it with the other nurses to leave for a minute. Rushing to the elevator so many emotions were coursing through her. Happiness, panic, hopefulness and certainly dread. Today would determine if she was a fool or not. She was half way in love with someone she didn't even know.
Getting off the elevator she forced herself to exit calmly, taking in a deep breath.
Shelby motioned her over and point to the room, as if Sadie didn't already know where to go. Knocking lightly she popped her head around the door. John looked relieved to see her and asked her to come in. She moved to his side and sat down, taking his hand in hers she gave him a reassuring squeeze.
"Officer Pearce, if you please, start over so Sadie can hear" John instructed.
"Sure. We were telling him that we responded to a burglary in progress last night and after we caught the perps we found a wallet and two cellphones on him. The wallet and one of the cellphones appear to belong to you, Jacob Kilgore. The officer that worked your case was with us and recognized you in the drivers license photo." The officer handed over the wallet and phone.
"Jake, I go by Jake. I dont know how I know that but..." John-now-Jake said. He opened the wallet and examined the contents. No cash but there was a black American Express, several other plastic cards and his drivers license. He pulled it out and stared at the picture of himself staring back.
"Well, I now know 4 things about myself: my name, my address, I must be well off with a black AmEx and apparently I am an organ donor" He said with a small laugh looking up at Sadie.
"We ran your name through the system for reported missing persons but we didnt find a match." Officer Pearson said.
"OK, so no one is missing me. Thank you for all you have done." Jake held out his hand to shake the officers.
The officers left Sadie and Jake alone with each other.
"This is great, John-er-Jake. No wonder you felt comfortable with John! Not too far off, huh." Sadie watched as Jake went through the wallet again and when he didn't find anything new he attempted to power on the cellphone but the battery was completely drained.
"I would offer to lend you my charger but I only have the previous iphone and your has a different charger. I could swing by the Apple store and pick up a new one after work?" She offered with a smile. She brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes and asked "So, how do you feel? I know you don't know much more but this is a great start!"
"I’m glad to know my name but now am even more curious to know the rest. I would be very thankful if you could get me the charger but I have an even bigger request I’m hoping you wont find too daunting." He asked looking into her eyes.
"Sure, Jake. Just ask." Sadie watched as he handed her his drivers license.
"This address...could you...would you...go by and see..." He trailed off nervously.
"Drive by and see if there are kids playing on a swing set in the front yard with a sad looking mommy who misses their daddy?" She said half-jokingly. Taking the drivers license she looked at the address. "Wow Jake. Even if your not married or entangled, this address...its in a super nice neighborhood! I'm not sure they will even let me in! Yes, I will go by there. Even though you probably will wake up tomorrow remembering everything and realize your way too good for me." She said dryly. She tried to stand up but Jake grabbed her arm and forced her back down.
"Look at me Sadie." He commanded. "That will never happen, I know in my heart I'm not attached to anyone. No, I don't know what I do or who I am but I do know that I strongly care about you and would never push you to the side thinking you aren't good enough for me. Hell, if anything you are too good for me!" He said passionately. He pulled her to him and his lips crashed into hers. The sparks were back in full force. The kiss started angry and melted into need and want and full of emotion. Deep intense, and mind blowing. His tongue touched her bottom lip, requesting entrance. She opened her mouth to receive him fully and he groaned at the sweetness of her kiss. All too quickly she pulled back, her fingers coming up to touch her mouth she said "I’ve got to get back. I will see you in the morning." With that she rushed out.
For the remainder of her shift she couldnt stop thinking about that kiss. WOW...What a day!
Chapter 5
Sadie finished her shift, purchased the charger for Jake's phone and headed to his neighborhood. She had memorized his address and although she found it relatively easy, the house was set so far back she couldn't see anything. All was dark with the exception of the landscaping lights. Sure enough, it was a a huge lot beautifully manicured. Deciding she would be brave, Sadie braced her self, pulled up the gate and hit the buzzer...Nothing, no response...just eerie silence.
"Well, there goes that." She mutte
red to herself surprised at her relief that a woman didnt answer! Maybe Jake was right about his gut feeling that he wasn't involved or married. When she arrived home she made herself a salad for dinner and attempted to watch some TV but she found herself very restless. Pulling out her laptop she entered the name "Jacob Kilgore" into the search engine and her heart dropped when she skimmed the various articles. There were plenty of pictures of him with numerous model looking women, never the same one.
"Billionaire Tycoon Jake Kilgore seen at the lavish home of Mr. & Mrs. Hughes for the annual children's auction with the up and coming actress Belinda Little" one read.
One article went into detail about the company Jake owned and their numerous ventures and apparently outstanding success it was. Another article called him an "almost-recluse" which they went on to say (obviously written by a smitten woman) was so unfair to the female population who would give their eye teeth to catch a glance at him. There was a brief mention of the feud between himself and his also wealthy father but didn't go into detail. Heart sinking she powered off her Mac Book and sat in the dark thinking. He was so out of her league! She was an idiot to fall for a man she knew nothing about and here she thought him being married would be worse! She had absolutely no doubt he would remember and shove her to the side for his more glamorous options and whose to say he didn't have a girlfriend that would outshine her in every way?
Sadie had worked extremely hard putting herself through nursing school and usually proud to tell people who asked what she did for a living. Now she felt like a pauper, not good enough to shine Jake's shoes. He never acted vain like she would expect from a prominent wealthy man. Giving up, she headed to bed even though sleep evaded her for a long time.
The next day.
Feeling more than a little morose, she headed in an hour early despite feeling also exhausted. Entering the floor that housed the "billionaire tycoon Jake" she was greeted by the other nurses although she couldn't muster up much more than a simple "Good Morning" and a small smile.
Jake was sitting up in bed holding his phone. He was waiting for her. That did make her smile slightly. Immediately he started launching questions at her.
"Did you get the charger? Did you go by the address shown on the driver license? Was anyone there? Who was there? What did you find out?"
"Whoa, slow down buster. Good morning to you too. Why yes, I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking." She teased him.
"Sorry, Good morning Sadie. Im glad your doing well. I missed you and am anxious to figure myself out. Thank you for putting up with me." He said, taking the charger that she had unwrapped and handed to him.
"Well, I did go by the address. If it is indeed your house, all was dark and I attempted to use the box in front of the gate but there was no answer." She hesitated to tell him the rest but knew she would have to. She had to start now to put some distance between them so perhaps it wouldn't hurt so bad when he told her to hit the road. Jeez! Her coworkers were going to have a field day with this! She was so embarrassed at her own stupidity.
"So, no sobbing wife desperate to find me and bring me home to the kids. Thats a relief, I suppose." Jake said jokingly. He was in the best mood he had been in the entire time she had known him.
Sadie sat down in the chair furthest from his bed which got her a confused look from Jake.
"Sadie? Whats wrong? What are you not telling me? Come here!"
"I...I looked you up Jake. I don't usually do that, really I don't but after seeing your home and your obvious wealth I thought maybe I could learn more about you."
"And what did you find, babe?" he asked softly.
"Well according to the numerous articles, your a very successful and wealthy man" She omitted the part about all the women she had seen. "You own a technology company that installs communication towers all over the world and numerous other ventures. There was also an article about a falling out you had with your father and that you hadn't spoken for about 3 years."
It all slammed back into him. All of it.
"2346..." He said randomly.
"What?" She asked perplexed.
"That's the entry number to open the gates to my home. I’m originally from Houston but moved to Seattle after the fight...the fight with my father. I remember Sadie. Wow, all it took was a few pieces of the puzzle to bring it all back." He had withdrawn from her into his thoughts. "I cant tell you how grateful I am for all your help Sadie." He said looking out the window. The room seemed colder than normal all of a sudden.
Great, just great. Now she gets gratitude? What did she expect?
"I’m sure you have alot to think about. Do you still want me to come by on my lunch?" Sadie asked lacking her normal confidence that she would be welcome by his side.
"Of course. I'm sorry babe. Please know this doesn't change things between us. I just have some memories to sort. I can’t wait to see you later. Come here." He beckoned.
She slowly came closer and sure enough he pulled her down to his mouth. He thoroughly explored her mouth until she made herself wrench away.
"I will see you later." She could feel the tears welling in her eyes so she rushed from the room. Sadie ducked into the nearest bathroom and lost it. Sitting in the end stall she let the flood of emotions run its course. What would she do now? Surely he would move on without her. Determined to take it a day at a time she cleaned herself up and left the bathroom. One of the nurses flagged her down and informed her that Jake would be discharged in the morning and the Dr would be around later to discuss it with Jake.
She felt him slip even further away and swore she felt a tiny piece of her heart break...
Chapter 6
Sadie fought to keep her mind off of Jake for the first half of her shift but she couldn't help but be anxious over seeing him on her lunch. Would he had made up his mind to send her away? She then realized that she had been so focused on her schooling and then her career she had never stopped to think about the future. Did she want a man, a marriage and possibly children? She thought so. She could imagine little black haired children running around and it took her breath away. This had all happened so fast! Finally, the time had come to meet Jake.
She stopped at the nurses station and found out that everything had been set up to discharge Jake the next morning. A nursing schedule had been put into place until Jake was able to take care of himself. She wasn't sure how he would feel about that but oh well.
She entered his room and was surprised to see him in a wheelchair looking out the window. He had just returned from a short session of physical therapy.
"Hi." She said tentatively, resolved to feel him out on his mood before saying anything else.
He turned his head towards her and upon seeing it was her, he spun the chair around and beckoned her over.
"Hi, gorgeous," He said with a sexy smile. "Did you hear the news?"
"I did. Heard you were breaking out. Your probably glad to be leaving this place huh." She said jokingly.
"I will miss seeing you so much but yeah I will be happy to go home. I phoned the house and talked to my housekeeper. She was so relieved to hear from me. She had all but given up but kept coming everyday hoping I would turn up. Will you be here tomorrow when I get released?" He said in a rush.
"Well, I start my days off tomorrow..." She said, not wanting to invite herself.
"That's great. You can be my support, if you don't mind? I need you Sadie." He said, all of a sudden serious.
"OK, I will be here in the morning and then follow the van to your house. Did your housekeeper mentioned if anyone else had looked for you? Anyone we need to contact and let know that your alive?" She hedged.
"No, but I do truly remember and there is no one now that would be missing me." He said solemnly.
"Oh,ok. " she said, confused but not brave enough to ask what the 'no one now' part meant.
They spent the rest of her lunch talking and eating. Sadie was amazed by how much stronger he appear from the first time she laid eye
s on him. It made her happy. She learned that he was even allowed to walk around per the tharapist. His ribs were on the mend and not giving him too much trouble now.
The rest of the day seemed to drag by and she couldnt wait til the end of her shift to see if he still wanted her there in the morning. When she arrived to the floor he was on, she was told that he had someone in his room, "A woman" the nurse whispered and he had given specific instructions to not allow anyone to enter.
What was going on? If it were the housekeeper surely he wouldn't have given those instructions right? A million different scenarios ran through her mind and none of them pleasant.
"Do you want me to tell him you were here?" the nurse asked, pity in her eyes.
"No, don't tell him anything. He knows my hours and knows I always come at this time." She said, feeling bitterness build up in her throat. On her way home she kept thinking about what could have happened.
Is this passive-aggressive way of getting rid of her? Arranging to have a woman with him at the same time he was expecting her? Was this his way of telling her to bug off? She'd never been good at the games that sometimes went with dating, if that's what you could even call what they had. If she had been smart she would have ran the other way a couple of days ago..... She didn’t ask for this!
Disgusted with herself, she went home, turned her cellphone off and went to bed without dinner. She wanted nothing but blissful sleep where hopefully she didn't dream of a gorgeous man with dimples and a killer smile.
Chapter 7
The next morning, she turned on her phone and was disappointed to see there were no missed calls. She made the decision then and there that she would not make more a fool of herself and show up at the hospital for Jake.
"Let's his woman take care of him." She thought. She decided to get dressed and go for some retail therapy at the local mall. She was hoping a few new pair of shoes would cheer her up...
