Free Wild Heart (Viper's Heart Duet Book 2) by Beth Ehemann Page A

care of Gam wasn’t hard, it was time consuming. And while Viper may not have been worried about his injury, I was—not that I would ever tell him that. He was convinced he’d be flying out again that night, but I wasn’t so sure. And if his injury turned out to be more than he thought it was, taking care of the kids, plus Gam, plus him would be really tough on me.
    “Now come on.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed the top of it. “Let’s get this over with so Gam can kick my ass sooner. I’m hoping there’ll be enough time after all the shit we need to do for a little quickie before I leave again.” He dragged his tongue slowly along his top lip as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down.
    “Ugh,” I groaned playfully as I pulled my hand from his. “Do you ever not think about your penis?”
    “Uh . . . no. He’s my buddy and it’s my job to take care of him. If he’s not happy, I’m not happy. ”
    “Okay, okay. I get it. Now get your happy penis out of the car and let’s go in before you’re late.”
    “He’s not happy right now. Actually,”—he paused and frowned, looking up in the air—“he’s a little stoned from all the meds. I think he might code out! Hurry! Give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation!”
    “I’m going to give him fist-to-mouth resuscitation if you don’t get out of this car right now.” I giggled as I got out of the car before he could say any more.
     
    Dr. Jennings was already sitting at a desk in the training room when we got there, looking at what I assumed were Viper’s X-rays on the computer screen.
    “Morning, Dr. J,” Viper exclaimed as we walked through the door.
    Dr. Jennings looked up and squinted at us before pulling his glasses down from his head. “Good morning, Mr. Finkle.” He stood and crossed the room, offering Viper his hand.
    Viper shook it and motioned toward me. “I think you’ve met Michelle before, right?”
    I felt my face flush as I gave Dr. Jennings a tight smile. The last time I stood in this office, I was still Mike’s wife, and now being there as Viper’s girlfriend made me feel a little awkward.
    “Yes, I have.” He smiled warmly and cupped my hand in both of his. “Nice to see you again, Michelle.” Dr. Jennings was a tall man with gray hair and years of wrinkles and laugh lines built into his face. His voice was low and comforting, his demeanor so gentle that he made my tension disappear instantly.
    “Good to see you, too, Dr. Jennings.”
    “So, what do you think, doc?” Viper asked as he leaned his crutches against the wall and took a few slow steps without them. “It doesn’t hurt too much and nothing is broken. So what . . . ice it today, maybe schedule some physical therapy for next week, and get on a plane tonight?”
    Dr. Jennings let out a low laugh. “I know you’re anxious, Viper, but I’d like to actually see your knee before I clear you, okay? Onto the table, please.”
    I sat down on a chair in the corner as Viper hopped up on the dark green leather-covered exam table. He shot me a quick wink before he lay down and lifted his legs up.
    Dr. Jennings carefully removed Viper’s leg brace and started examining his knee while rapid-firing question after question at him. He stepped down the side of Viper’s leg a little bit, blocking me from seeing—or hearing—much else. As they exam went on, I chewed on my fingernails as my foot tapped nervously against the metal legs of the chair.
    As quickly as we got there, we were right back out the door. Dr. Jennings wasted no time in sending Viper straight to the hospital for an MRI on his knee, just as we’d expected. Well, I’d expected.
    In the car on the way over, I could feel how tense Viper was. Gone was the playful good mood he’d carried into the rink.
    “Don’t worry too much, okay? Everything will be fine. Whatever happens, it’ll be fine.” I said, trying to peek at him and the road at the same time.
    His elbow rested on the window and his hand was