miseries of life on the road.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
He gave her lopsided grin. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Read my face and ask the right question?”
She shrugged. “Lucky guess?”
He pulled his pants up. Zoey’s skirt had fallen into place the moment he’d lowered her legs. Apart from her panties still lying on the floor, they were both completely dressed. Amazing considering the orgasm he’d just wrung out of her.
“How about a shower?” he suggested, grasping her hand and tugging her toward the stairs.
“Is this an evasion technique?”
He shook his head. “Nope. This is exhaustion, pure and simple. You wore me out, babe. I want to stand under the hot water with your naked body next to mine and then I want to crawl into bed and hold you all night. I don’t deserve you either, Zoey, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to keep you with me for as long as I can.”
He released her hand when they entered the bathroom, bending over to turn on the shower. Zoey watched as he disrobed and stepped beneath the stream of water.
She wanted to tell him he was wrong. It was she who didn’t deserve him. Unfortunately all she could think about was his last declaration. He’d keep her with him as long as he could.
How long did he think that would be?
And was forever a possibility?
Chapter Four
Zoey sat in the recliner, her white-knuckled grip on the leather arms tightening as the nurse inserted the IV into the port. She tried to breathe, but her chest was tight.
Robbie sat next to her, his gaze never wavering from the IV solution. It was poison, pure and simple. The oncologist referred to it as medicine, a drug, but she knew its true name and purpose. It might be killing cancer cells, but that wasn’t all it would take with it.
The nurse fiddled with the IV, then looked at her. “Okay. You’re all set. Are you comfortable?”
Zoey nodded, while inside her head she was screaming, Get it out! Let me leave! I don’t want this!
The nurse, Jenna, patted her hand in a gesture meant to be comforting. It didn’t work. Zoey was numb. She blinked rapidly, wishing she were anywhere but here.
Jenna smiled at Robbie. “I’ll be around later to check on you two, but if you need anything before then, press the buzzer and I’ll come right back. You’re going to be here at least four hours. We’re having soup and sandwiches brought in for lunch. Let me know if you want to place an order.”
“Thanks.” Robbie had set up his laptop on a small table in the corner and he shifted uncomfortably on the chair. Zoey felt guilty for lying on her big leather recliner while he was stuck on that hard, plastic thing for the next few hours.
The nurse left to check on other patients. Zoey had passed several rooms as they’d entered, the glimpses she’d caught of the people inside pressing in on her until she felt she would collapse under the crushing weight. Most of the patients were bald and pale with sunken cheeks and dark circles under their eyes. Some were alone in their rooms, while others had a family member or friend with them. Zoey looked out of place with her full head of hair and pink cheeks. How long would it take until she resembled the rest of them? A month from now? A week? Tomorrow? She closed her eyes against the images, but they wouldn’t leave her.
She’d endured her parents’ visit, assuring them she’d call weekly to let them know what was going on. Her mother had made her promise to call if she needed anything and if so they’d head back to Zoey on the next flight.
She’d exhausted the past few weeks listening to the doctors as they explained everything to her. She’d spent hours with the wine girls as they told her story after story of women they knew who’d overcome cancer to lead fuller, richer lives. She’d sat beside Robbie as he researched on the Internet, reading every positive thing he could find in regards to her cancer, while breezing over the bad stuff
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
He gave her lopsided grin. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Read my face and ask the right question?”
She shrugged. “Lucky guess?”
He pulled his pants up. Zoey’s skirt had fallen into place the moment he’d lowered her legs. Apart from her panties still lying on the floor, they were both completely dressed. Amazing considering the orgasm he’d just wrung out of her.
“How about a shower?” he suggested, grasping her hand and tugging her toward the stairs.
“Is this an evasion technique?”
He shook his head. “Nope. This is exhaustion, pure and simple. You wore me out, babe. I want to stand under the hot water with your naked body next to mine and then I want to crawl into bed and hold you all night. I don’t deserve you either, Zoey, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to keep you with me for as long as I can.”
He released her hand when they entered the bathroom, bending over to turn on the shower. Zoey watched as he disrobed and stepped beneath the stream of water.
She wanted to tell him he was wrong. It was she who didn’t deserve him. Unfortunately all she could think about was his last declaration. He’d keep her with him as long as he could.
How long did he think that would be?
And was forever a possibility?
Chapter Four
Zoey sat in the recliner, her white-knuckled grip on the leather arms tightening as the nurse inserted the IV into the port. She tried to breathe, but her chest was tight.
Robbie sat next to her, his gaze never wavering from the IV solution. It was poison, pure and simple. The oncologist referred to it as medicine, a drug, but she knew its true name and purpose. It might be killing cancer cells, but that wasn’t all it would take with it.
The nurse fiddled with the IV, then looked at her. “Okay. You’re all set. Are you comfortable?”
Zoey nodded, while inside her head she was screaming, Get it out! Let me leave! I don’t want this!
The nurse, Jenna, patted her hand in a gesture meant to be comforting. It didn’t work. Zoey was numb. She blinked rapidly, wishing she were anywhere but here.
Jenna smiled at Robbie. “I’ll be around later to check on you two, but if you need anything before then, press the buzzer and I’ll come right back. You’re going to be here at least four hours. We’re having soup and sandwiches brought in for lunch. Let me know if you want to place an order.”
“Thanks.” Robbie had set up his laptop on a small table in the corner and he shifted uncomfortably on the chair. Zoey felt guilty for lying on her big leather recliner while he was stuck on that hard, plastic thing for the next few hours.
The nurse left to check on other patients. Zoey had passed several rooms as they’d entered, the glimpses she’d caught of the people inside pressing in on her until she felt she would collapse under the crushing weight. Most of the patients were bald and pale with sunken cheeks and dark circles under their eyes. Some were alone in their rooms, while others had a family member or friend with them. Zoey looked out of place with her full head of hair and pink cheeks. How long would it take until she resembled the rest of them? A month from now? A week? Tomorrow? She closed her eyes against the images, but they wouldn’t leave her.
She’d endured her parents’ visit, assuring them she’d call weekly to let them know what was going on. Her mother had made her promise to call if she needed anything and if so they’d head back to Zoey on the next flight.
She’d exhausted the past few weeks listening to the doctors as they explained everything to her. She’d spent hours with the wine girls as they told her story after story of women they knew who’d overcome cancer to lead fuller, richer lives. She’d sat beside Robbie as he researched on the Internet, reading every positive thing he could find in regards to her cancer, while breezing over the bad stuff
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