"Lover At Last" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ward, J.R.)

Fine with him.

He was so juiced and pissed off, he could use the hand-to-hand.





NINETEEN


Sitting on the examination table, with a frail paper gown covering her, and her bare feet hanging off the padded lip, Layla felt as though she were surrounded by instruments of torture. And she supposed she was. All manner of stainless-steel implements were laid out upon the countertop by the sink, their clear plastic wrappings indicating they were sterile and prepared for use.

She had been at HaversтАЩs clinic for an absolute eternity. Or at least, it seemed that way.

In contrast to the rushing ride across the river, when the butler had driven like he knew time was of all essence, ever since she had arrived herein there had been delay after delay. From the paperwork, to the waiting for a room, to the waiting for the nurse, to the waiting for Havers to present the blood test results to her.

It was enough to make one mad in the head.

Across from where she sat, a print framed in glass hung upon the wall, and she had long memorized the imageтАЩs brushstrokes and colors, the bouquet of flowers depicted in vibrant blues and yellow. The name underneath it read: van Gogh.

At this point, she never wanted to see irises again.

Shifting her weight about, she grimaced. The nurse had given her a proper pad for her bleeding, and she was horrified to realize that she was going to need another soonтАФ

The door opened on a knock, and her first instinct was to runтАФwhich was ridiculous. This was where she needed to be.

Except it was merely the nurse who had settled her here, taken that blood sample and her vitals, and made notations on a computer. тАЬIтАЩm so sorryтАФthereтАЩs been another emergency. I just want to reassure you that you are next in line.тАЭ

тАЬThank you,тАЭ Layla heard herself say.

The female came over and put a hand on LaylaтАЩs shoulder. тАЬHow are you doing?тАЭ

The kindness made her blink quickly. тАЬI fear I shall need anotherтАжтАЭ She pointed down at her hips.

The nurse nodded and squeezed gently before going over to the cupboards and extracting a peach-wrapped square. тАЬIтАЩve got more here. Would you like me to take you back down to the bathroom?тАЭ

тАЬYes, pleaseтАФтАЭ

тАЬWait, donтАЩt get on your feet yet. Let me get you a better cover.тАЭ

Layla looked down at her hands, her tangled, knotted hands that could not be still. тАЬThank you.тАЭ

тАЬHere you go.тАЭ Something soft was draped around her. тАЬOkay, letтАЩs get you standing.тАЭ

Sliding off the table, she wobbled a little, and the nurse was right there, taking hold of her elbow, steadying her.

тАЬWeтАЩre going to go slowly.тАЭ

And they did. Out in the hall, there were nurses rushing from room to room, and people coming and going for appointments, and other staff going at a dead runтАжand Layla couldnтАЩt believe she had ever been as fast as them. To keep out of the crush, she and her kindly escort stayed close to the wall to avoid getting mowed over, but the others were really quite nice. As if all knew that she suffered in some grave manner.