Now that they’d done their best to save Angela, she needed to tend to him.
She gently laid her arm on his shoulder. “You’re hurt, Jack. You’re in shock.”
He winced and looked dazed. “Huh?”
“I said you’re hurt. You’re limping and your left shoulder is drooping. Let me look,” she demanded, pulling back the collar of his shirt. His left clavicle was an angry black and blue and grossly swollen. She wrapped her arm around him. “Come on. I’m taking you to the ER.”
“I can’t, have to look for the injured.”
“That’s my job. The hospital has every available staff person out searching and the emergency squads are here now.” She pointed to the slew of fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances. “It’s a miracle, but so far there are only minor injuries. Angela was the worst I’ve seen. And you’re next on the list. If you argue, I’m just going to have to get a med team from the hospital to come and cart you in, too.”
“But—”
“No buts.” Nan led him into the hospital. He didn’t put up too much of a fight. She suspected it was because he was a little disoriented. She hated that she had to leave him in the ER, but she had her job to do.
Hours later, the search for injured ended and she came back to the ER to track Jackson down. He’d been admitted to the hospital with a broken clavicle and a fractured tibia. She found him strung up like a mummy and sound asleep. She called his family to let them know where he was then sat with him, and listened to the news. They were reporting today as a miracle. The tornado had caused extensive damage, but no lives were lost. Thank, God. When her eyes drooped, she decided to go home and take a shower, telling the nursing staff to call her when Jackson woke.
She hurried through her shower, grabbed a quick drive-through sandwich, and then made one stop before heading back to the hospital. Her worries that he’d be all alone and in pain were misplaced. She heard the laughter of men’s voices all the way down the hall and saw the flustered face of a pretty young nurse as she escaped Jackson’s room.
She knew why the minute she quietly ducked in the open door. Not only were the Weldon brothers in Jackson’s room, but the whole construction crew had parked their hard bodies everywhere. Jackson lay strung up with orthopedic pulleys and ropes supporting the casts on his leg and arm.
In the middle of the room, a sandy haired giant stood telling a story. His weathered hands and crinkled green eyes were as big as Texas as he embellished his words with movement. “I swear to you. I’ve never seen the like in all my life. Everybody who had any sense was dropping into a ditch, but not Wild Jack. Man, he decides to pussyfoot it to the hospital.”
“I wasn’t pussyfooting. Somebody had to warn them about the damn tornado.”
“Looked like pussyfooting to me. Anyways, one minute he was on the ground and the next he was in the air riding that damn tornado like old Pecos Bill. Only instead of a horse, he had this damn piece of plywood in his hands, and he was windsurfing upside down. Looked like a clip from a James Bond flick. I thought he was a goner for sure. I came looking for him at the ER so I could pay my last respects.”
“Thanks for the sentiment,” Jackson muttered.
Nan gasped and thought she was going to faint. How close had she come to permanently losing him?
“Nan, is that you?”
The men in the room parted, leaving her a direct path to him. She didn’t hesitate to go to his side.
"The man's personal TLC technician has arrived, boys," James said. The men laughed and Nan blushed.
Jared shook his head. "Some men have all the luck. He gets to ride a tornado and then he gets to kiss the prettiest girl east of Kansas. All of us want to know how he managed this little miracle. So tell us, Nan, what was it about my sorry looking brother that captured you?"
All the men watched her as if she had the answer to Jeopardy's final question and their futures rested on being right.
"Smooth," she said, and they all frowned. All except Jesse. Jesse laughed.
"So he's a smooth talker." Jesse said.
"Ah," James said. "That kind of smooth."
"He's a Weldon that means he's smooth in be--" Jared's last word ended in a whoosh of air as Jesse poked him hard, and Jackson tossed a pillow in his face.
"Ignore him guys. He jumped into the gene pool when the lifeguard wasn't looking." James punched his twin brother on the shoulder. "I was supposed to be the only one born."
The men laughed. Nan's cheeks heated, but she had to laugh, too.
Alexi walked in, carrying a wrapped up bundle and Jesse leaped to his feet to help her. Nan caught her breath, a tiny corner of her heart unsure how Jackson would react.
"Time's up fellows. I've got somebody I want to see, my Godson."
If a face could launch a thousand ships then the look Jackson centered on the bundle Jesse handed him could oust a thousand men. Nan wasn’t exactly sure how, but in seconds the room cleared, except for family.
Baby Jake in the crook of Jackson's good arm had his rapt attention and vice-versa. "Hey, little fellow. Sorry it's taken me so long to see you. I'll make up for it. Just as soon as you're ready, we'll skim rocks across the creek and I'll teach you how to ride. There's nothing like a ride on a good motorcy--"
"Ahem, bicycle," Alexi interjected.
"Bicycle then." Jackson rolled his eyes then winked at Alexi. "Dirt bike maybe?"
"We'll see. In about thirty years."
Baby Jake let loose a wail as if that verdict displeased him. "He's a Weldon all right," Jackson said. "You did a good job, Alexi."
"Amen to that," James said. "Uh, bro. I hate to barge in but I'm waiting to hold my little nephew."
"Me, too," Jared added.
"Me first," Jesse said, reaching over and lifting Jake away from Jackson. "There's a football in the gift shop I want him to see." Jesse stood and carried Jake to the door. "You boys coming to see him kick? Alexi says he's a star player."
James and Jared jumped up and headed out the door. Alexi laughed. "I'd better keep an eye on that crew. That boy is going to be spoiled so bad that--"
"Don’t worry. He'll soon have to have a cousin to absorb some of that attention." Nan rubbed her stomach.
Alexi's eyes boggled. "You mean…that--"
"We're pregnant," Jackson said. "But don't tell anybody until we can make it official."
"Oh, oh, oh," Alexi said. "This is great. I love you both." She hugged Nan, laughing. Hugged Jackson and dashed out the door.
"Our secret is out," Nan said. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all." Jackson patted the bed. "Come here, sugar."
“I brought you something,” she said handing him a box.
He smiled, reaching for her with his good arm. “All I want is you.”
Her heart fluttered as she put the huge box in his lap. “Then open the box.” She kissed him and stepped back.
He opened it slowly, taking out her little black book. "Is this what I think it is?”
“Yeah, figured you'd need something to read while you're out of commission."
He groaned. "I'm strung up like a turkey and you give me your fantasies to read? Hell, sugar, are you trying to kill me?"
“Only with pleasure. Now finish opening your present.”
He pulled out the house plans next. She’d taken a minute to label the rooms, for the baby, for them, and filled in the names of different plants she wanted to have in her garden. Tears filled his eyes, then he sat up, shocked. “You’re giving Shakespeare a bedroom? Nan honey, uh, I don’t think that—”
She laughed. “That’s just until we fill it with someone else. Like a brother or sister for this little one.” She patted her stomach. “Now finish your present.”
"I don't think I can take anymore present." He reached for her instead and pulled her half into his bed for a blistering kiss.
“Let’s figure out how we’re going to conceive junior’s sibling,” he mumbled against her mouth, reaching for the buttons to he
r shirt. Jackson might be one handed, but he was very adept anyway.
“You already know how,” she said swatting at his hand.
“There are so many delicious ways to get there that it’s going to take years to decide.” She groaned and he managed to undo her top two buttons.
She tried to scoot back off the bed. “If you aren’t careful, I’m going to tie you up with your support ropes.”
“Promise?” he asked with an interested gleam in his eyes, leaving no doubt what he wanted her to do after she tied him up.”
“Ahem. I hate to interrupt, but I’ve only have a minute.”
Surprised to see Brad at the door, Nan jumped up. The top of her shirt flopped open and she snatched it closed.
Brad raised his brows about ten notches. “I see you’re in good hands, Weldon.”
“The best,” Jackson said and Nan swatted his good arm.
“Uh, Brad, uh, did you need to see me about something?” Nan asked. Red-hot embarrassment burned through her.
Brad shook his head. “I came to see Weldon. I received a woman into the OR earlier, by the name of Angela Simmons. I think this belongs to you.” Brad held up Jackson’s belt then laid it in a chair by the door. “I had to go in and repair her femoral artery. The vascular surgeon was held up by the tornado and she couldn't wait. I took care of her artery problem then the orthopedic surgeon fixed her femur. Maybe the rumors in Chicago about your skills weren’t too far off the mark.”
“I didn’t do anything more than what another trained professional would have done.”
“Maybe. But then, maybe someone else wouldn’t have been as quick to diagnose the problem and she didn’t have much time, especially in the middle of having a baby. I think your decision to walk away from medicine was a bad one.”
“Maybe it was,” Jackson said.
Brad turned to go, then stuck his head back in. “Made her your world, huh?”
“You got it,” Jackson replied. Brad left and Jackson shook his head. “Maybe there is hope for him yet.”
Nan narrowed her eyes. “What’s this about world?”
Jackson latched his good arm around her bottom and kneaded her closer. “Nothing. Now where were we before he interrupted?”
“You were opening my present, which you had better finish or else.”
“I think I like the sound of your “or else,” he said, but reached into the box and pulled out a black velvet box.
“What’s this?” He opened it revealing the simple gold bands she'd bought. It was a set of wedding rings.
She took his hand and leaned down to look into his stunned blue eyes. “Jack, will you marry me, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?”
She heard his answer loud and clear in the kiss he leveled on her. The tornado had nothing on him.
Epilogue
Jackson laid his stethoscope against his patient's back and listened to her lungs. Then he straightened with a smile. "Well, Mrs. Cooper, I pronounce you well. You sound as clear as a bell."
"Humph. Don't feel that spry. These seventy year old bones are protesting every move I make."
"You taking that calcium I prescribed?"
"Every day, as regular as the sun rises."
"Have you been down to the new senior's center yet?"
"What do I want to fool around with those folks for? Probably don't do much else but gossip and complain about their aches. I've got enough of my own thank you very much."
"I hear they've opened up their heated pool. It has a special section set up for water aerobics. I'll bet you lunch that if you took a twenty-minute class twice a week, within a month your bones would ache less. Bones need to move some not to hurt and sitting at home alone doesn't help them. Did I tell you that they've a gourmet cook in on Wednesdays that teaches you how to prepare simple, tasty meals?"
Mrs. Cooper narrowed her weathered eyes. "What's his name?"
"Hers," Jackson said, grinning. "It's Weldon. Nan Weldon. She's my wife and the best cook around, excepting for my Dad's BBQ and my Mom's biscuits."
"Your wife? I might have a few minutes to wander over that way."
"She'd like to meet you. I'll have the nurse set your next appointment up three months from now, but if you get to feeling under the weather, you get in here to see me. You almost waited too late with that cold. Pneumonia isn't fun."
"I hear ya."
"Good." Jackson helped Mrs. Cooper off the examining table and walked with her out to the reception desk.
"Mrs. Cooper was your last patient today, Dr. Weldon," said the new receptionist they'd recently hired for the Midtown Clinic. She was organized and cheerful, a good plus for the office.
"How are Dr. Sanchez and Dr. Thornton holding out?"
"They're all caught up."
"Any walk-ins?"
"No, sir."
"Then I'll head home. Dr. Sanchez is on call this evening. Did you fax the new schedule to the answering service?"
"Already done. And I've put the charts for tomorrow's patients on your desk."
"Great. I'll see you in the morning," Jackson said and went to ditch his stethoscope and collect his briefcase. He left the clinic with an eager sense of anticipation heating his blood. He had a surprise for Nan. He’d picked the package up at the Travel Agency during his lunch break and couldn’t wait to deliver it. He'd get home, take a shower and then figure out just how he would clue her into the fantasy he had planned.
* * *
“Nan! We've rats in our new house. I can’t believe it!” Jackson came into the room holding three shredded rolls of toilet paper in his hands. He'd just showered and had Nan's surprise in his back pocket, but rats took precedent.
“Shh.” Nan pressed her finger to her lips then pointed at little Jason Weldon curled up asleep in his crib.
“He’s already asleep?” Jackson whispered disappointed.
“For an hour or two. You’re going to be busy anyway.”
“Yeah, like finding an exterminator to get rid of the rats.”
“We don’t have rats. The cabinet door must have been left open.”
“And?
“Shakespeare. He loves to sharpen his claws that way.”
“That cat,” Jackson muttered turning around.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to the pet store to buy some mice. It’s about time somebody taught Shakespeare how to be a real man-cat.”
Nan had pictures of Jackson on all fours trying to teach Shakespeare how to chase a mouse. “I have a better idea. Come look.” Jackson had been gone all day and she couldn't wait to get her hands on him. She led him to the room she’d picked for her office. “Sit here,” she ordered, pointing to an office chair.
He sat, puzzlement furrowing his brow. “What is it?”
“Shut your eyes and relax a minute while I get things ready to show you.”
“What?”
“Trust me. Just do it and don’t move.”
Jackson shut his eyes. Anticipation spiking her excitement, Nan took out a silk tie. She tied on wrist then pulled his arm behind him and tied his other wrist, effectively handcuffing him. "Nan?"
"Don't peek."
His eyes popped open. “Nan? What are you up to?”
“This.” She clicked the CD player on. The slow sensual music she’d chosen filled the room. She dropped the terry cloth robe, revealing the silk teddy she’d bought.
"Uh, sugar, before we get into this there's something in my pocket you need to see."
Nan smiled. "I bet there is." She shimmied her breasts, his gaze lowered and his eyes gleamed.
Then he shook his head. "Really. It's in my back pocket. Can you get it out? I'm sort of tied up at the moment."
"Back pocket?" She moved closer to him, straddled his long legs and reached around him, making sure her breasts rubbed his chest. She pulled out the packet. "What's this?"
Her heart sped up a beat at the surprise. Out of all the things on
her personal list of fun things to do, travel was the only one she hadn't made happen yet. She'd never been anywhere but South Georgia.
"A trip," he said grinning.
She jiggled up and down, kissing the packet of papers. "Really? Where to?" She opened the brochure.
"Maui, sugar."
"Hawaii! Oh, Jack!" She thumbed through the papers, more than thrilled. Then she noticed something wrong. "There's only one plane ticket."
"That's right, sugar."
"But…I can't…I couldn't go without you." Tears sprang to her eyes and she closed the brochure. "I'll wait until we can both go."
"No, sugar. You need to go. You have to go. The beach is perfect. Hot. Very Hot. And deserted. It's a private residence and beach."
Nan shook her head, swallowing the lump of disappointment in her throat. "It sounds perfect, but it won't be any fun without you."
"You won't need me, sugar. Rumor has it that there's this ultra sexy guy who lives in the beach house next store."
"Jack, this isn't funny. Now stop kidding around." Nan tossed the brochure on her desk and glared at him. She was fast losing her mood to get her hands on him in any sexual way.
"No really. This guy, he likes watching women sunbathe in the nude, uh, a particular woman that is. He likes to see the sun glistening off her oiled body. In fact, I'm pretty sure he sits there and fantasizes about tasting the woman. She'd smell a little like coconuts. Her flesh would be hot from the sun, hot and moist. He'd sit there, watching her, until he couldn't stand it for another minute. Then he'd walk down to the beach. She'd look up at him and say--"
"You want me, baby, don't you?" Nan said, understanding dawning. Her fantasy. He’d set up her fantasy and she had no doubt he’d be the man next door watching her naked on the beach.
Jackson lifted a brow. "Depends on what you're offering, sugar?" He ran his gaze over her, examining the teddy she wore with interest.
She began to move her body in gentle erotic ways, giving him a little hint of what she had to offer. Moving over to him, she slid her breasts against his arm, kissed his ear with her tongue, and ran her finger over the emerging bulge in his pants.
“I think you like this.”
Smooth Irish (Book 2 of the Weldon Series) Page 23
