Free A Gambling Heart: A BWWM Billionaire Romance by Tiana Cole, BWWM United Page A

retrieved his test results. I was glad they all came back negative. The CAT scan showed no bone injuries and his lungs and chest were clear as well. He showed no signs of injury to his spinal cord as reflected in the MRI. I felt glad about that, although an anxious thought sprouted in my brain. He could be discharged anytime. It was a depressing thought.
    “Did he bite your head off?” someone asked me from the back of the station. It was Mel.
    I couldn’t tell them he was meek as a lamb. They would wonder why. So I replied casually, “Yup, he was being difficult at first but I managed to talk some sense into him. He is asleep now.”
    Mel was skeptical. “How did you manage that? He was like a mad dog.”
    “I said that if he didn’t behave himself, I…we would be forced to use restraints on him.”
    “Yeah, serves him right.” Mel was still smarting from the incident.
    “Don’t think too much about it,” I consoled her. “Besides, his tests came back all negative. He might be discharged any time soon. You don’t have to see him again.”
    I left the floor and made my way to Nurse Silva’s office to hand in my report. She was still busy working at her desk.
    “How did everything go? I heard what happened to the other two nurses. Did he make trouble for you as well?”
    “No. I think he just wanted to be alone for a bit. Have some privacy. Probably didn’t like the idea of someone giving him a bath. I found him in the sh-shower.” The memory made me stutter. I avoided my superior’s gaze.
    “Uh-huh. Anything else?”
    “Nothing. That’s it.” My response came out too quickly.
    Nurse Silva cocked her head. I couldn’t lie to those probing eyes.
    “He came out dripping wet with just a towel around his waist.”
    “And…”
    “So…I got him a robe so he could at least be decent…in front of me.”
    She just looked at me, eyebrows raised to the roof.
    “Oh Jesus…okay! So he chucked the robe for a pair of pajamas and I saw him butt naked. There.”
    “And that had no effect on you whatsoever because you are a nurse, right?”
    “Yes.” Uncertain. Hesitant. Lame.
    “Bullshit, Sienna. I have seen him too, you know. My ovaries are shriveled and dried up, but even he has an effect on me.”
    If I could blush, I would have. I shrugged my shoulder and added, “He held my hand as he went to sleep.”
    “Oh Lord!”
    I was to blame for that one. I could have pulled away but didn’t.
    “Look, Sienna. I knew it. When he asked about you that first night he was admitted, I knew he was interested in you. He couldn’t fool me.
    I saw the look in his eyes when I told him you weren’t coming back the next day because it was your day off. He was disappointed. I thought assigning him other nurses would make him forget all about you. Goodness, there are enough pheromones inside that room attracting the nurses like flies to honey.”
    Graphic. And she hit the nail right in the head. I was one of those flies. But Nurse Silva wasn’t finished yet.
    “I know you have a good head on your shoulder. I can’t tell you what to do. But I can warn you though. Guys like Gareth Westbrook? They are dangerous… just like the lifestyle he lives. Taking too many chances and gambling with his existence.
    He can do a lot of damage to your heart. You can play along if you want to. I wouldn’t blame you because you are an attractive woman, not a robot without a sex drive. But after he is discharged, make sure he doesn’t take your heart with him. That’s all I’m going to say about that.”
    “Yes, Nurse Silva,” I answered meekly.
    I knew she meant well. I wanted to refute that there was really nothing to worry about. But I couldn’t convince myself that were true. If Gareth wanted more than just hold my hand, I didn’t think I would resist him…could resist him.
    Right now, I was jumping the gun. All we did was hold hands. It was probably nothing. He needed comfort. I was there to give it. Guys like Gareth