Free The Rented Bride (Highland Billionaires Book 1) by KyAnn Waters, Tarah Scott Page B

reached for the doorknob.
    Celina grasped his arm. “He’s okay, but he had a little episode.”
    “Episode?”
    “Annie is with him,” Celina said. “She called Dr. Miller.”
    “Rebecca?” he blurted. Fear slammed into him. How bad was it that his private nurse had to call in a specialist?
    “Annie wants us to wait out here,” Celina said.
    Like hell he’d wait in the hallway while his grandfather—Trent shoved the door open, then stopped cold at sight of his grandfather in bed, his tie off, shirt open, and Annie listening to his heart with a stethoscope.
    She looked sharply in his direction. “You never were very good at taking orders, Trent.”
    “You’ve been here long enough to know that. What happened?”
    “What’s happened is that you did no’ keep your promise,” his grandfather cut in. “Was that woman your fiancé? Where is she?”
    Annie removed the stethoscope from her neck, set it on the nightstand and glared at James. “We talked about this,” she scolded.
    “I’m too old for mothering. Ye treat me like a lad in britches. I won’t have it.”
    Annie stood. “Stay calm, or I’ll give you something to calm you.”
    “You’re bluffing.”
    “You know I don’t bluff,” she replied evenly.
    He narrowed his gaze. “Do not talk to me, Nurse Ratchet. I can fire you.”
    “Just like you do every other day. Your grandson pays my salary and if you won’t behave, I’ll demand a raise. Now, I’m going to give you something to take the edge off.”
    He grumbled. “Forget the sedative.” He folded his arms over his chest. “I don’t want to be knocked out like some big ape.”
    “You are a big baby is what you are,” Annie said as she located a syringe among her supplies.
    “I am warning ye,” he said.
    Trent stepped closer. “Granddad, I’m asking you to take it.”
    He looked from Trent to Annie. “Half dose.”
    “James—”
    “I am familiar with the drug. I don’t want to sleep. I think you put me out so you can take a break.” He smiled. “I know you are worried about lowering my blood pressure. Half dose will do.” They stared at one another for several seconds and he added. “It’s the best offer you will get all night.”
    “Lucky me,” she said in a dry tone, and nodded toward his sleeve.
    “How about we get you out of the shirt.” Celina brushed past Trent to the bed. She gently lifted his grandfather’s back and slipped the shirt from his shoulders, then his arms. Shirt in hand, she stepped away and Annie administered half the syringe.
    Annie patted his hand. “Now, I want to talk to Trent. Be good and relax.”
    “I want to talk to Trent, as well,” he said. She lifted a brow, and he added, “Aye, I will be a good lad. But don’t think that sedative will stop me from getting out of this bed if he makes me wait too long.”
    “I’ll remember that.” She rose, approached Trent, and placed a hand on his arm. “Will you step outside with me?”
    He hesitated.
    “Celina will watch after him while we talk.”
    Trent nodded and stepped from the room. She pulled the door closed, then faced him.
    “What happened?” he blurted. It was his fault for leaving his grandfather for so long.
    “It’s hard to say without tests. But it’s obvious he got overexcited. And from what Celina tells me, he was drinking.”
    “Damnit. I should have been there.”
    Annie shook her head. “If he wanted a drink, he was going to have one. Though why he would be so stupid is beyond me. Maybe it’s just age. Maybe we’re all like that.”
    Trent released a breath. “What do we do?” he asked.
    “He needs peace and quiet. No stress, no drama. He said you were getting married. Is that true? I know how much he’s wanted to see you married.”
    “It was supposed to be a surprise,” Trent said. “I want to get back to him.”
    “Whatever you’re going to do, keep it simple.”
    “What do you mean?” he asked.
    “All things good will do him good. Anything