Free Read Novels Online Home

Tell Me What You Feel by Susan Sheehey (1)

CHAPTER TWO

Skylar

 

Two Years Later

 

The surgeon squinted at Skylar Lucas from over the patient’s leg. The sterile room smelled of betadine and burning flesh, an interesting pairing with I'm So Sorry playing from the speaker in the corner, care of Imagine Dragons. Dr. Green’s playlist featured angry, edgy music. However, his concentrated look always put Skylar on alert.

An amputated toe came flying through the air at her face.

She caught it in her left hand, thankful for the glove, and tossed it in the specimen bag. “Would you like me to take this to lab?”

The surgeon scowled through his face shield. Clearly, he’d wanted a more dramatic reaction.

Jackass.

The other nurses had warned her of Dr. Green’s penchant for pranking the new hires with flying dismembered digits. Lucky for her, it was just a toe. The next surgery on the docket was for a whole leg.

The doctor cauterized the wound. “Let’s see how fast you are at catching tomorrow’s necrotizing fasciitis foot removal.”

Skylar refrained from flipping him the bird. “Yes, sir.”

Another nurse whispered in her ear as she busied herself gathering up surgical instruments. “Good girl. Don’t give him the reaction he wants. Pretty soon he’ll give up trying.”

She breathed a sigh of relief after the rest of the surgery progressed as planned. Without any further flying surprises, not even another scowl or glance from the physician.

As she finished dressing in the locker room, Skylar couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Her first week on the official job, finally out of school, and earning her way. As scary and daunting as it was thrilling.

The exhaustion in her body and brain from the eighteen hour shift only slightly dampened her excitement.

Her cellphone rang. Her oldest sister’s ringtone. “I’m still alive, Wren.,”

“Hallelujah, Sky. Did you contract Ebola yet?”

“No, but there was a man who came into surgery with honest-to-God fleas.” She sighed, and could picture her sister’s ink-black pixie-cut hair, despite her platinum-blonde natural color.

“Eww. Hey, listen,” her sister continued without a breath. “I know you’re a working woman now, all gung-ho with your new independence and pro-feminist attitudes…”

Skylar shook her head and smiled.

She never changes.

“But you are working in one of Dallas’ roughest neighborhoods, and the big bad city will eat up a naïve, innocent girl like you, and use your stethoscope for a toothpick.”

“Says the woman living on Chicago’s south side.” She threw her purse over her shoulder, clocked out and strolled through the hospital front doors, checking the entrance for any unsavory characters as she left, and waving to the security guard. The sky had started to darken, the brilliant streaks of color following the setting sun. Vicious heat still choked the air. Summertime in Texas. “How’s the tattoo shop?”

“It’s fine. And don’t change the subject. Met any hotties in scrubs yet?”

“Enough with the matchmaker stuff.”

All of my coworkers are women anyway. Aside from a jackass physician.

“Honey, I’m not trying to match you up with anyone. I’m trying to get you laid. The big O you’ve never had,” her sister said.

“Dammit, Wren. Stop throwing that in my face.”

“It’s not an insult, sweetie. Not everyone spends ninety hours a week at school and studying. But I also have a solution for that.”

Skylar narrowed her eyes as if her sister could see her from two thousand miles away. “For being a quasi-virgin?”

“No! For lack of a social life. I’ve called a friend and asked him to meet you. He’s going to show you around town a few nights over the next two weeks, help you acclimate to your surroundings. Safely, and in style. Like a bodyguard.”

If there was an emoji for rolling her eyes that she could send via voice, Skylar would have. She crossed the street to the employee parking lot, the darkening sky kicking up her nerves a little. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m an adult.”

“He’s not a babysitter. Haven’t you been listening to me?”

“What friend?”

“His name is Riggs. Met him during my apprenticeship down there. Super-nice guy. Easy on the eyes, too.”

Skylar wound her way through the few remaining trucks and SUVs, and spotted her car.

With a strange guy standing beside it.

Her lungs constricted. She fumbled on her phone for the air-horn app, something she’d downloaded to help repel any would-be attackers. Running back to the security guard was probably the best option, if she could get her feet to turn.

“What’s wrong?” Wren asked, the words muddled.

“There’s some guy by my car.” Her voice shook.

The man looked up and spotted her. Then grinned. Blond guy, with fitting jeans, buttoned-shirt with black vest, toothy smile, and piercing blue eyes.

Hot as hell.

That’s how they lure you in.

“Are you Skylar?” he asked, with a slight southern accent.

She gasped, and took a step back.

“That’s Riggs,” her sister barked through the phone’s speakers. “Don’t run off, I promise he won’t hurt you.”

“What the hell, Wren?” she barked back. “You scared the shit out of me.”

Riggs strolled over, his bright expression fading slowly. “I’m sorry. Damn, I didn’t plan that too well, did I?”

Wren mumbled more things into Skylar’s ear, but she didn’t hear them. She was focused on the toned, suave man walking toward her with a cowboy’s accent.

“Your sister asked me to meet you here. Told me what car you drove.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Probably a bad idea, too stalker-ish?”

“Uh, a bit… Wren, shut up for a second,” she spoke into her cell.

He held out his hand. “Garrison Riggs. Call me Riggs. Tell Wren I said hey, and I promise to take good care of you.”

“Damn right, he will,” Wren answered.

Skylar still held the device to her ear, but spoke to Stalker-hottie. “This really isn’t necessary, and I’m not interested. Sorry for your trouble. I’m fine.”

“Sky, don’t you dare,” her sister warned.

“No trouble,” Riggs replied, the corner of his mouth lifting higher, and revealing a tiny dimple in his cheek. “But since this is a rough neighborhood, I’m a little scared of my surroundings right now. I’d really like someone to show me to a nice restaurant, where I feel safe. Can you help me?”

Playful sarcasm worked on her. She couldn’t help a smirk from spreading because damn—the sucker was cute.

“Please, Sky?” Wren asked in her ear. “You have to live life, not be afraid of it. For me? Or at least for Phoebe?”

Skylar sighed, and chewed on the inside of her cheek. The horizon was definitely getting darker, and her tummy rumbled. “It’s not every day I get to be a knight in shining armor. I’ll follow you in my car. Tell me where we’re going.”

Search

Search

Friend:

Popular Free Online Books

Read books online free novels

Hot Authors

Sam Crescent, Zoe Chant, Flora Ferrari, Mia Madison, Alexa Riley, Lexy Timms, Claire Adams, Elizabeth Lennox, Leslie North, Sophie Stern, Amy Brent, Frankie Love, C.M. Steele, Bella Forrest, Jordan Silver, Jenika Snow, Dale Mayer, Madison Faye, Mia Ford, Kathi S. Barton, Michelle Love, Delilah Devlin, Sloane Meyers, Piper Davenport, Amelia Jade,

Random Novels

Cast Long Shadows (Ghosts of the Shadow Market Book 2) by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan

TRITON: A Navy SEAL Romance (Heroes Ever After Book 2) by Alana Albertson

Billionaire's Vacation: A Standalone Novel (An Alpha Billionaire Romance Love Story) (Billionaires - Book #13) by Claire Adams

Jagged Edge: Jason and Raine - M/M Gay romance by Jo Raven

Daniel's Choice: Brotherhood Protectors World by Pam Mantovani, Brotherhood Protectors World

Suddenly Engaged (A Lake Haven Novel Book 3) by Julia London

Irish War Cry (Order of the Black Swan D.I.T. Book 3) by Victoria Danann

A Scoundrel in the Making (The Marriage Maker Book 9) by Tarah Scott

Fearless (Broken Love Book 5) by B.B. Reid

Buried Truth by Jannine Gallant

Everless by Sara Holland

Code of Honor (HORNET series) by Burrows, Tonya

The Sheikh's Sextuplet Baby Surprise by Holly Rayner, Lara Hunter

Passion, Vows & Babies: Rainy Days (Kindle Worlds Novella) by C.M. Steele

The Plan (Luck of the Irish Book 1) by Tracy Lorraine

Blaze (Missoula Smokejumpers Book 5) by Piper Stone

The Life We Wanted by Kelsey Kingsley

Gorgeous: A Commander in Briefs Novel by Kristy Marie

Few Hearts Survive (A Pink Bean Series Novella) by Harper Bliss

Renaissance Rogue (Cursed Painting Book 3) by Cassidy Cayman