Free McKenzie, Cooper - His Beck and Call Girl [Club Esoteria 6] (Siren Publishing Allure) by Cooper McKenzie Page B

growled.
    “Huh?” Jackson asked as he stripped off his turnouts and stowed them.
    “You know, a plexidectomy, where they put a piece of Plexiglass in your belly so you can see where you’re going. I have a message from that woman,” Andy said, pointing to where the ambulance had been. “She said, and I quote, ‘Tell Jackson that I love him and I understand why he can’t love me back and that it’s okay.’ What the fuck did you do to her?”
    Jackson stood in shock for a minute. “She said that?”
    “Yes. Now I don’t know what you plan to do about it, but I’m going to be calling her as soon as we get off shift and asking her out…”
    Jackson stared hard at the man he considered one of his best friends. “I wouldn’t advise it, pal. By the time you get off shift she’s going to be engaged, and I don’t share. Call headquarters and tell them I need a replacement for the rest of the shift,” Jackson said as he opened the door and climbed into the driver’s seat.
    Andy didn’t respond until they were halfway to the station. “Does this mean you do feel something for her?”
    Instead of answering, Jackson just smiled and drove a little faster.

    * * * *

    By the time the nurse wheeled Sinclair toward her room, she had no idea how much time had passed since the accident. She had wanted to go home to mourn the loss of her car and Jackson’s absence in her life, but the doctor refused to release her when she admitted there was no one there to take care of her.
    Thankfully, when she called Megan, her friend promised to take care of Max until she returned home.
    “Okay, Miss Malone, here’s your room,” the nurse said, turning into one of the dozens of doorways that lined the long, narrow hallway.
    “Oh, my God.”
    Sinclair froze at the deep masculine voice and lifted her head to find Jackson sitting in the recliner across the room. He wore his uniform, and as usual, her body stirred, despite the strong pain medications that were coursing through her system.
    “What are you doing here?” she demanded after swallowing the lump that seemed to be permanently lodged in her throat. “Why aren’t you at work?”
    Jackson didn’t answer. Instead he stood and came around the bed.
    The nurse pushed the wheelchair next to the bed and parked it. Before she could help Sinclair out of the chair and into bed, Jackson was there. He slid his arms around her and easily lifted her from the chair. The nurse pulled back the covers and he laid her gently in the bed. He then stepped out of the way as the nurse took her vital signs and settled her into the room.
    Sinclair didn’t trust herself to speak until the nurse left the room and closed the door behind her.
    Exhausted and fuzzy from the medications, Sinclair just looked at the man who held her heart that he didn’t want. “Why are you here, Jackson?”
    Jackson stood and approached the bed. “I’m here because the woman I love is here. Where else would I be?”
    “You don’t love me. I’m just your beck and call girl, a willing body who jumps whenever you have time for me.” Sinclair closed her eyes and looked away, waiting to hear him walk out of the room.
    She started when something went click and the bed shifted. Turning her head, she opened her eyes to find the side gate of the bed was down and he now sat next to her.
    Looking into his deep blue eyes, she felt her heart clench at the love she read there. Could he be telling the truth? Or was this just a ploy to keep her dangling a little longer?
    “I know I haven’t treated you as I should have. I’ve treated you badly, and for that I will forever be sorry. But I love you, and if you give me a chance I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
    Sinclair felt her heart stop and then start again. “Really?”
    Jackson smiled at her and combed his fingers through her hair to brush it away from her face. “Yes, baby, really. Now why don’t you