Bad Karma (14 page)

He frowned, drawing his brows close together. “Your roommate?”

“
My roommate is going through a hard time right now. I don’t want to leave her alone.”

He heaved a sigh and grinned. “At least your roommate is a girl. I was afraid it was going to be a guy.”

“
Not a guy,” she said softly.

“
Good.” The look he gave her could best be described as scorching.

~*~

The Nursing Home wing was like a planet unto itself.

Sixteen residents lived there year-round. They suffered from a variety of ailments that led them to be debilitated in some way, but, for the most part, their needs were being well met by the staff.

Sky learned their names as she made rounds, administering medications and doing routine charting.

A gentleman named Mallory, who had lived in the condos, suffered a stroke on the golf course. He had gotten emergency treatment at the hospital and then been rushed to the larger medical facility in Harlingen. But Mister Mallory had wanted to return to Port Isabel for his rehabilitation. He had a slight weakness on his left side and his speech was somewhat slurred, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from flirting with the lovely new RN.

After making several med passes and trips up and down the long corridors, Sky was feeling the strain. Her leg hurt and she was tired. She worked at the nurse’s station to finish her charting and by the time her shift ended, she had recovered her energy.

Wondering how Cassie had fared on her delivery rounds, she crossed the parking lot to climb into the Audi. “Been waiting long?”

Cassie folded a map of the Port Isabel/South Padre Island area. “A few minutes. No probs, Sis. I don’t mind waiting. I won’t ever leave you standing out here waiting for me.”

“
Don’t worry about it,” Sky said. “If you’re late, I’ll wait inside and watch for you.”

Cassie put the car into gear. “How was your day?”

Sky leaned back against the headrest, letting her neck relax. “It was fine. I met all the old people in the nursing home wing. How did your deliveries go? Are you getting to know your way around?”

Cassie shot her a grin. “I’m sure getting to know my way to the Fire Station .”

Sky lifted her head and gave her a questioning gaze. “That’s handy, I guess. What’s going on at the Fire Station?”

Cassie gave her a one-sided grin. “There’s this guy...”

“
Oh, Lord!”

“
No, he’s really gorgeous. I’ve been tormenting him the past couple of days. That’s all.”

“
That’s all?”

Her little sister let out a breath that could only be described as a sigh. “He’s the single most spectacular specimen I’ve ever encountered.”

Sky took another look at Cassie’s face. There was definitely something different about her. She couldn’t recall Cassie ever making reference to any male in particular. “Tell me about him. Where did you meet?”

“
On the beach when I was jogging yesterday morning. He was fishing.”

“
And what does a fisherman have to do with the Fire Station?”

“
He’s a firefighter. I told him I was working deliveries at The Net, so he’s ordered something both days.”

Sky chuckled. “Sounds serious.”

“
He’s just beautiful all over.”

“
All over?”

“
Well, everything I’ve seen. He was just wearing swim trunks the first time I saw him. He’s tall, over six feet and he has big, dark brown eyes and short cropped dark hair. He has high cheekbones and a great smile. Dimples. Did I mention that he has dimples?”

“
He sounds very attractive.”

“
And he’s built like a Mac truck. I nearly stumbled in the sand when I was staring at his wide shoulders and cute butt.”

“
Cassie! I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about a boy this way.”

Cassie gave an indelicate guffaw. “Trust me, this is no boy. He’s a full grown man.”

Sky giggled.

“
Don’t laugh. I think even you would give Javi a second glance.”

“
Javi?”

“
Javier Rios. That’s his name.”

Sky sobered. “I wonder if he’s related to Selena Rios, the other RN.”

“
Maybe. Do you want me to ask him?”

Sky shook her head. “Just forget it. Not important.”

Cassie propelled the vehicle slowly in the direction of their house. “It’s Saturday night and you don’t have to go to work again until Wednesday. What do you want to do?”

“
We’re having Sunday dinner with Zach’s family.”

“
That should be fun.”

“
How about this Javier? Do you want to go out with him?”

“
He asked me, but I told him I wasn’t dating right now.”

“
Why would you tell him that?’

“
I didn’t want to leave you alone at the house when we don’t know if the stalker is waiting for an opportunity to get you by yourself.” She had pulled up to the front of their house and sat with the motor idling.

Sky turned in her seat to face her sister. “Cassie, I don’t want you to stop living because of me. If you’re worried about me, I’m sure Zach would keep me company while you’re out.”

Cassie nodded. “It’s just that...”

“
The next time you’re asked to do something you want to do, promise me you’ll say yes.”

Cassie shrugged and turned off the ignition. “Okay. He’ll probably never ask me again, but if he does, I may say yes.” She got out and shut the door before Sky could respond.

Cassie was unlocking the front door and Sky had just reached the top of the stairs when Zach drove up with his brothers, Warren and Woodrow, in his car. The twins leaped out and rushed up the stairs, with a grinning Zach bringing up the rear.

Zach bowed from the waist. “My brothers and I would like to share the company of you fine ladies this evening. If you would be willing to have dinner with us, we promise to be on our collective best behavior and not embarrass you in public.”

Cassie grinned at her.

Zach leaned close, his deep voice resonating against her ear. “It’s just dinner.”

Sky fought down the fear roiling up from her gut. “Sure. Let me change out of these scrubs.”

They all trooped inside and Cassie followed her into her room. “Are you cool with this? Because, we don’t have to go.”

Sky took a deep breath to clear away the butterflies. “I’m cool with it. I have to start going out sometime. This is a pretty safe venue. I don’t think Zach would let anything happen to me.”

She found a pair of jeans and pulled a tee over her head. Fluffing her hair, she swiped on lip gloss and gave herself a spritz of fragrance, then aimed the spray at Cassie. Cassie did a pirouette in the fine mist, causing Sky to laugh.

“
Let’s go,” Cassie said. “We have, not two men waiting on us, but three.”

Dinner took place at a restaurant called The Crab House. The menu consisted of fresh seafood and the specialty of the house was the “boilin’ pot”. The Bailey brothers insisted they order the special and a large bowl of steaming seafood was dumped onto the white paper spread over the table. Everyone ate crab and shrimp boiled with corn on the cob and tiny new potatoes.

Sky caught Zach’s eye. He was gazing at her with an expression that clutched at her heart. She flashed him a smile
. Careful, Sky. This big guy could own your heart.

After dinner, Warren asked Cassie if she knew how to play pool.

She shook her head. He then asked if she thought she could hold a pool cue.

She chortled, her usual self-confidence coming forward. “I’m sure I could do that.”

“
Great, he said. “Because I’m going to teach you how to shoot a mean game of pool.”

“
No,” Woodrow insisted. “We’re going to teach you.”

Cassie laughed and turned her attention to Sky.

Sky, for her part, looked at Zach.

“
If you want to, we can go to the game room and shoot some pool. Or I can drop them, and take you home.”

Sky laughed. “Are you going to teach me how to hold a pool cue?”

“
If you want.” He shrugged. “It looks like we’re headed for the game room.” He drove them down the strip to a brightly lit place with a crowded parking lot. Inside, the lights were dim and quite a few people were playing pool or sitting at tables, talking and listening to music. The postage-stamp sized dance floor was empty.

A claustrophobic fluttering sensation in her chest brought Sky’s feet to an abrupt halt.

She felt Zach, standing close behind her, holding her hand, not pushing her. She felt his hand on her shoulder and relaxed, giving him a reassuring smile.

“
Let’s get something to drink,” he suggested.

Sky felt her throat close up as Zach led her to the bar.

“
What would you like?” He stood looking down at her as though she was a normal woman capable of rational thought. “I’m having a soda because I’m the driver, but you can have anything you want. You’ll always be safe with me.”

Sky felt her lip tremble as she tried to smile.

Zach leaned close and whispered so that only she could hear. “When I make love to you, I want you to know it.”

A feeling of warmth suffused her as she met his green-eyed gaze. “I haven’t had a drink since the night of the accident,” she whispered.

“
I’m in control tonight and you can have anything you like. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“
I’ll just have a soda, Zach, but thanks for making this easier for me.”

He pressed a kiss against her temple.

The twins commandeered a pool table and were competing with each other to show off for Cassie. Sky laughed to see her so happy.

Sky and Zach took on the other three. The twins coached Cassie and Zach acted as Sky’s pool guru, his hands casually touching her, urging her into the correct pose to achieve a shot. He rested his hand at her waist while Cassie took her turn.

This felt easy. Life had been so hard lately and now everything had settled into a seemingly comfortable routine. She had a man who knew her shameful secrets and didn’t despise her for them.

She felt lighter inside than she had in months.

~*~

Javier couldn’t believe his eyes. After refusing to go out with him, Cassie, wearing shorts and a halter top, turned up at the game room with two of the Baileys. And they were killing themselves to amuse her.

He watched her bend over the pool table, her perfect little ass on display for the entire room. He stared at her thighs, smooth as alabaster.