Mustang Daddy - A Single Daddy, Small Town Second Chance Romance Page 4

  “Yep. Go spoil my girl.” He sets off at a jog. Jax has been there for Rae and me since the minute I brought her home from the hospital. He tolerated Sam, but Rae – she has him wrapped around her little finger, just like the rest of us. Sometimes I think it’s because they’re on the same intellectual level, but she adores her Uncle Jax. He’s been a good friend of mine since we were in diapers, and when I moved back to town, we picked up where we left off as if no time had passed at all. He didn’t give me crap – he knew I needed a real friend, and he stepped up without asking anything in return.

  I try in vain to concentrate on the task at hand, but the events of last night keep playing over and over in my mind. I can just imagine the gossips - circling like a plague of locusts. There isn’t a soul in this town that hasn’t heard the story of me and Annabeth Clark. It’s like folklore. Even when Samantha lived here, she would complain that people would talk about my “epic” love and how she broke my heart beyond repair. I can understand why it got under her skin. I don’t think anyone would be okay hearing something like that. For a short time, people forgot – they looked at me and saw a champion. The biggest success story to come out of Kingsbury Falls.

  In recent years, I stopped caring what anyone thought of me. I don’t need to prove myself, and I don’t have to answer to anyone for my actions – except Rae. She is the single greatest thing I have ever done. When she looks at me, she sees a hero – I’m her whole world, and she’s mine. I’m not going to let Annabeth ruin that for me. This is my town now, and if she wants to be a part of it, then she better stay the hell out of my way. If Samantha taught me one thing, it’s not to think with my dick. My body might be traitorous at the sight of Annabeth’s long dark hair and sumptuous lips, but my mind knows better.

  Chapter Four

  ANNABETH

  It’s been three weeks since I saw Maddox. I’ve been lying low in my house when I’m not at the office. All I can say is, thank God the Hale family have healthy genes. Every patient I’ve had so far has told me how to do my job. “Doc Barnes didn’t do that,” “Doc Barnes always said…” blah, blah, blah. I love Doc Barnes as much as the next person, but I really don’t appreciate everyone second-guessing me like I’m in fourth grade. I went to one of the most prestigious medical schools in the country, graduated top 5% in my class – I think I can handle an acute case of the sniffles without having to call in reinforcements!

  It’s a tough adjustment going from days in a busy hospital, performing back to back surgeries, to knowing every single patient who comes through my door by name. The few kids who are new additions since I last lived here, are the offspring of people I knew in high school. It’s a strange dynamic, treating familiar faces, but the reduction in pace is a welcome change. I was eating, sleeping, and breathing surgery. I had no time to relax, or even enjoy the spoils of my endeavors. Sure, I had a great apartment in an amazing city, but most of the time I never even made it home to my own bed. Grabbing a few hours here and there in an on-call room is no way to live.

  I became so immersed in that world, I never really noticed that it was the only thing I had in my life – until I lost it. I could have started my own medical practice anywhere, but I knew somewhere deep down, that I had to come back to Kingsbury Falls – if only for a short time. I lost myself here fourteen years ago when I left without telling anyone but my parents. A part of me stayed here, and I’m hoping that it’s not too late for me to find it again.

  I know everyone thinks I’m heartless, especially Maddox, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Seeing him in the bar that night was almost as hard as leaving him all those years ago. I thought I remembered everything about him, but standing in front of him, I realized that my memories were a grainy black and white compared to the glorious technicolor of him in the flesh. Even his vitriol was a welcome interaction after all these years. Indifference would have been harder to stomach. I hate that I hurt him so badly, but the fact that he is affected by me, means that there’s hope for a friendship at some point down the line – I hope.

  I’m tempted to troll the internet for information; to find out what happened to him. He seemed so surprised that I didn’t know he had quit the circuit, but if I want to build his trust, I need to earn it. Reading articles online isn’t the way to go. As desperate as I am to know every little detail of the past five years of his life, the last fourteen years of his life – I force myself to close my laptop.

  The office is busy with patients today, both appointments and walk-ins. At this rate, I’m going to need another doctor. I don’t know how this town managed with just Doc Barnes to treat every little bump and scrape. I haven’t stopped all day, and just when I think I’m going to get five minutes of quiet, Jax comes bursting into my exam room, shouting my name, panic in his voice. “A.B., help!”

  The receptionist comes running in behind him. “I’m so sorry, Dr. Clark. I told him he can’t just barge in here, but he wouldn’t listen.”

  He has a little girl in his arms. “It’s okay, sweet pea. This nice lady is going to make it all better.” I had no idea he had a daughter.

  “No! It hurts. I not want her to touch it. Pwease.” She burrows her head against his chest, clutching her arm.

  “She’ll make it better, Rae. I’m going to hold you the whole time; I’m not going anywhere – I promise.”

  I usher him over to the exam table, giving him a moment to position himself and her, so that I can see what I’m dealing with. As soon as I take a step toward her, she flinches, causing herself more pain. Without looking, I suspect she may have broken her arm. “Hi. I’m Dr. Clark. What’s your name, sweetie?”

  “Sally Rae.” Her broken sobs make it difficult to hear what she’s saying. “Daddy calls me his Rae of sunshine.”

  “He does? I can see why. I bet you have a really pretty smile. I’ve known your daddy since I was about your age.”

  She looks up at Jax, still unsure of me. “Really?”

  “Yep. She knows your granddaddy, and Pops, too.” He wipes her tears, worry etched on his brow.

  I take the opportunity to move a little closer. “Can I see where it hurts, Rae? I’ll be gentle.” She gingerly moves her little hand, her arm already badly bruised.

  “What happened, Jax?”

  “We were riding up at the ranch – like we always do. But when we were walking Nelly back into the stables, Rae tripped on a rock… I couldn’t catch her in time. The minute she hit the ground she started screaming and holding her arm.”

  “We’ll need an x-ray to confirm, but I suspect it’s fractured.”

  “What’s a x-ay? I not want it.” She curls back against Jax, crying her little heart out. I hate seeing kids hurting.

  “Rae – I’m going to ask my nurse to come and give you a nice drink. It tastes like candy, and it will make your arm hurt a little less. Can you drink it for me? Then, I’m going to take a picture of your arm. It will show me how to make you all better.”

  “I want Daddy. I’m scared.”

  “Daddy can sit right next to you the whole time. There’s nothing to be scared of – isn’t that right, Daddy?”

  “Daddy, Daddy… I want Daddy, Uncle Jax!”

  “Uncle Jax? I thought she was your…”

  The nurse comes in with medicine for Rae, diverting me just long enough for Jax to refocus all of his attention on the little girl crying in his lap, the one who isn’t his daughter. Uncle?

  “Momma never mentioned that Jules had a baby. I had no idea you were an Uncle!”

  Rae visibly calms as the medicine takes effect. “Is Daddy coming?” Her voice is angelic as she drifts into a dreamlike state.

  “He’s on his way, darlin’. You just rest. I got you.”

  My nurse has the portable x-ray machine ready and I instruct Jax how to position Rae so that I can get an accurate picture of what I’m dealing with. “Okay, you need to go and stand outside while I do this.”

  “Fuck, no! I’m staying right here.”


  “I’m not asking, I’m telling you. Unless you want your nuts fried, get out.”

  “It’s my fault she’s in here. I’m not leaving. I don’t care if my entire body becomes radioactive.”

  I hear a commotion in the hallway. My receptionist yelling, “You can’t go in there! Wait!”

  The door slams open, jolting Rae from her medically induced doze. “Daddy, Daddy. It hurts. Kiss it better.”

  “What the fuck happened to my baby girl?”

  Jax is up and out of the chair in a flash. “I’m so sorry. She tripped and… I couldn’t catch her in time. I’m so fucking sorry.”

  “Get out of my way, Jax.”

  I stand, dumbstruck. This is her daddy? He’s her father?

  “Daddy’s here, . You’re going to be okay. I’m here now.” He crouches beside her small frame, stroking an errant curl from her face. “You’re the bravest girl I know. Coming here with Uncle Jax – and lying so still for the doctor to take a picture.”

  He turns to me, anger and worry marring his perfect features. “What’s wrong with her? Is she okay?”

  “Maddox…” I can’t breathe. My fingers are beginning to tingle, a numbing sensation spreading throughout my limbs. He has a daughter… he has a child… we were going to have a family together. I never thought that he would…

  I run to the trashcan in the corner of the room, the contents of my stomach vacating my body uncontrollably. My head begins to spin and my muscles contract, over and over again, forcing me to wretch until I’m dry heaving. My ears are ringing and Jax’s voice speaks softly at my side. “You okay, A.B.? Do you want me to get the nurse?”

  I hear the door open as Maddox bellows down the hall. “Somebody call Dr. Barnes. I need someone who knows what the hell they’re doing to treat Rae.”

  I grab a paper towel and wipe my face. “I’m fine. I’ve performed open-heart surgery. I think I can manage a cast for an arm fracture.”

  “Doesn’t look that way. This is my daughter we’re talking about. I need the best for her, and you’re clearly not it.” The vitriol in his eyes obliterates me, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let him see any further weakness.

  “Step out of the room, please. This isn’t helping Rae. She needs to stay calm and still so I can take the x-ray and set her arm if I need to.”

  “I’m not leaving her with you.”

  “I am the doctor in this town, whether you like it or not. Are you really going to prolong her pain just to prove how much you hate me?” He’s speechless, and I jump on the opportunity to usher him out of the room.

  “Jax, take him to the waiting room. I’ll call you in when I’m done. Let me do my job.”

  “You sure you’re up to it?”

  “Yes. Just some bad sushi at lunch. I got this. Go.”

  I mentally shake off the effects of Maddox Hale – Rae deserves my undivided attention. I pull my chair up beside her, taking her hand in mine. Explaining what I’m going to do, she smiles up at me with unwavering trust in her eyes. I don’t look back as Jax tries to convince Maddox to wait outside, but there is a physical relief when I feel them leave, the door closing gently behind them.

  “Okay, Rae. I’m going to cover you with this special blanket so we can get a pretty picture of just this arm. I’m going to put the camera in position and stand in the corner over there for just a few seconds. Do you think you can lie still for me?”

  “You won’t leave me in the dark, will you?” The tremor in her voice breaks my heart.

  “Of course not. I’m going to be right here, talking to you the entire time.” Something in her eyes is mesmerizing – a flashback to my younger self – staring into the same eyes… his eyes. “So, Rae, what is your favorite color?”

  “Brown.”

  “Brown? I’ve never heard that before. Why brown?”

  “Because my horsey is brown. She’s called Brownie – Daddy let me name her.”

  “Wow. Your daddy must love you lots to let you name a horsey.”

  “Yes – Daddy says I am his one two love and a pwincess.” Her voice is cuter than a basket of bunnies in a room full of puppies.

  “All done. I’m going to have to put something called a cast on your arm. You can pick what color you want if you’d like?”

  “Brown!”

  “Mmmm… I don’t think I have brown. Why don’t I bring Daddy and Uncle Jax back in to sit with you while I go and see what colors I have for you to choose from?”

  “Okay.” I flick the light switch and help her sit up without hurting her arm too much. “Docor?”

  “You can call me, A.B. That’s what my friends call me.”

  “I like you, Docor A.B. You have pretty hairs.”

  Her sweet little personality is magnetic. I can see why Jax is so taken with her. “You have pretty hair, too. I’m going to go get your daddy for you.” I take a moment to study her face. There is so much of Maddox in her, with a noticeable mingling of DNA – a resemblance to her mother I assume.

  I step outside of the room, taking a moment to breathe. The stark reality that Maddox has a daughter, and a life without me, crushes my chest – a physical constriction on my lungs. I never expected him to wait for me, or that he wouldn’t move on with his life, but knowing it and seeing it manifested in a living, breathing, perfect little person – is hitting me harder than I ever could have imagined.

  The waiting room is overflowing as usual, but the second I set foot in there, I can feel him. They are on me in seconds. “Is she okay? What’s wrong? Is it broken?”

  “She’s waiting for you both. She did great. There is a hairline fracture of the radius. I’m going to put her in a cast. She’ll need to keep it on for around six weeks, but I’ll need to see her back in a week for a second x-ray. Kids are different from adults – they grow so quickly that we need to make sure that there is no bone movement early on in the healing process.”

  “Six weeks. Fuck. You sure she’s going to be okay?”

  I reach out my hand to reassure him, a reflex from being drilled on how to break bad news, and comfort families in medical school. “She’s going to be just fine.” He flinches at my touch. An innocent brush of his arm – an unwelcome discomfort. “You can go in and wait with her. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Jax’s knowing eyes burn into my back as I scurry down the hallway into a supply closet. I just need a few moments to gather my thoughts. Rae deserves a doctor who is focused on giving her the best care possible; not dissecting every word, glance, and touch of her father. Her father… that one word makes me dry heave one last time before I pull myself together and grab what I need.

  Inhaling a deep breath, I enter the exam room – suddenly claustrophobic. Jax and Maddox make for an imposing presence in any room, but I do my best to focus solely on Rae. She seems in better spirits now that her daddy has her cradled in his lap; Jax pulling funny faces to make her smile. “Okay, little lady. I have pink, red, green, blue, or yellow. What would you like?”

  “Yellow – because I’m a Rae of sunshiny-shine, right Daddy?”

  “You sure are, sweet pea. Good choice.”

  Once I have everything in place, I have Maddox position and support her arm so that I can apply the cast. I daren’t sneak so much as a glance in his direction. He’s so close, I can feel the heat radiating from him in waves. My fingertips accidently brush his hand as I wrap Rae’s little arm – it’s like a defibrillator to the heart. I try to ignore it, but the sound of his breath catching the moment we touch, sends me into a tailspin. Our eyes meet; an involuntary reaction to the intense shudder coursing through my body. I’d forgotten just how dazzling his eyes are – like they were cut from emerald – flawless.

  “You about done?” Jax interjects.

  I quickly finish up, and put some distance between Maddox and me. “All done. You were such a brave girl, Rae. Thank you for being such a great patient. I’m going to give… Daddy… some medicine to keep the pain away, and you come back and s
ee me in a week, okay?”

  “Yes, Docor A.B.” I watch as she rubs her eyes – the same emerald green as her father’s. She’s fighting not to give in to the drowsiness of the meds, and the exhaustion that comes with such a painful injury.

  “Thanks, Dr. Clark.” Maddox’s tone is cold as he pulls his little girl close to his chest, and stands to leave.

  “Jax, you can get whatever meds she needs, right? I’m going to get her home to bed.”

  “Sure. I’ll drop them by in a little while.”

  Maddox doesn’t even look at me as he gestures to Jax to open the door. He strides past him, kissing his daughter gently on her forehead. “Come on, Sunshine. Time to get you home.”

  “Can I sleep in your big bed, Daddy?”

  “Sure thing. I ain’t letting you out of my sight.”

  I slump into my chair as he disappears through the heavy wooden doors. I feel sick to my stomach at how much Maddox hates me. It’s evident in every word he says, or doesn’t say.

  “You gonna write that script for me, or sit there like a lovesick puppy?” There’s an edge to Jax’s voice.

  “Sorry… yes. Make sure she takes this at regular intervals to ensure it doesn’t get too painful.”

  He looks me up and down, his expression softening ever so slightly. “You feeling okay? I know that couldn’t have been easy.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me he has a kid?”

  “I figured you already knew. It’s not exactly a town secret, A.B. I’m happy you’re back, but… Maddox is family to me.”

  “Enough said. I don’t want to put you in the middle. I thought maybe he and I could be friends, but I see now, that I was kidding myself.”

  “It took him years to get over you leaving, but he had to move on - you made that choice for him the day you left.”

  I hand him the script. “I know.”

  With a tight, reticent smile, he heads toward the door. “I hope the food poisoning passes soon. Thanks for your help today. Rae means the world to me.”

  “Anytime. Make sure you set up an appointment for her before you leave.”