Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 47381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
“Jolie? Jolie, are you all right?”
“What’s going on?” Derek asked, reaching for his phone.
Brand shook his head, stepping back. He wasn’t giving up access to his girl.
“Jolie? Baby, are you all right?”
“Just a bit… bit sick. Shoot, I just coughed all over Erika’s phone.”
“It’s fine,” a woman said in the background. “But we need to get you to the infirmary, Jolie.”
“I’ll be all right.”
“You do not sound all right,” he said fiercely. “You need to see a doctor. Right. Now. I’ll come in and get you. Fly one in. Whatever you need.”
“We have access to medical professionals,” Derek said calmly. “We’ll see that she gets taken care of.”
Brand nodded. Fuck. He still wanted to insist that he be the one looking after. But his fucking feelings didn’t come into this. What was important was taking care of Jolie.
“Baby, I’m going to let you go see the doctor. I’ll try to call you later.”
“My phone isn’t charged.”
“Please get someone to do that for you. Okay? I need to know you’re all right.”
It was this stabbing pain in his gut, demanding that he ensure she was all right. That he take care of her. But he had to do what was right for her.
Fuck. Was this what it felt like to put someone else first?
It was a strange feeling. He felt good and crappy all at the same time.
“I… okay.”
“Be good, baby. I’ll talk to you soon.”
It almost killed him to end the call. Then he handed the phone back to Derek. There was an odd look on the other man’s face.
“You never answered my question.”
“Huh?” Brand was too focused on Jolie and her welfare to fully understand what the other man was saying.
“If you’re a Dominant.”
Brand glared at him. Again, personal question. And that wasn’t exactly something he just announced to people. The Press would love to get their hands on that tidbit. That’s why he only went to the one club where the owner was an old friend who would never betray him. And who made every member sign an NDA.
“I’m not asking because I want that information to sell to the tabloids. It’s just… you did the right thing, putting her needs first.”
“I don’t need to be a Dom to do that.”
“No. Just a man who cares about a woman. She’ll be well looked after. I’ll see to it myself.”
Brand scowled. “She’s mine. Got it?”
To his shock, Derek grinned. “It’s all right. I have one of my own.”
Good. Although he didn’t think that anyone could be as beautiful, talented, or sweet as Jolie.
But perhaps he was biased.
He thought about that.
Nah.
“If you could keep me updated, I’d owe you,” Brand told him. “I have money and connections; I can get you whatever you want.”
“I have everything I want right here.”
Great. How did he find the one guy who couldn’t be bribed?
“But I’ll check with Jolie and if it’s all right with her, I will let you know. Put your number in my phone.”
Brand quickly added his number to the other man’s phone, then handed it back.
“Thanks.”
Derek nodded before getting in his truck and leaving. The gates closed. With Brand on the wrong side.
Fuck.
He fucking hated it. For years, he’d had everything he wanted handed to him. And now that something important had come along… someone he hadn’t even realized was going to mean so much to him… and he couldn’t even get near her. Couldn’t take care of her.
If this was karma’s way of getting back at him…
Then fuck karma.
But just please let his girl be all right.
CHAPTER 5
Jolie was so miserable.
Everyone was being so nice to her, but she felt awful. Like a burden. And she was worried people were going to catch her cold.
She’d sneezed all over Erika’s phone. And then Derek Hawkins, the freaking owner of Rawhide Ranch, had come to her room, picked her up and carried her to the infirmary.
Seriously. The man was built. And kind. With a definite Dominant streak. She didn’t ever want to get into trouble with him.
And yet… she felt quite safe around him.
It was so bizarre.
She blamed it on this freaking cold.
Master Derek had deposited her in the infirmary with the admonishment to rest and listen to the nurse. Then he’d disappeared.
After assessing her, the nurse had called Doctor Nelson, who was currently scolding her about not telling someone earlier that she wasn’t feeling well.
“I’m sorry,” she said when he paused. “I just… didn’t want to be a bother. And I didn’t think there would be a hotel doctor.”
“Rawhide Ranch is different from a hotel. We take good care of our guests. If you’re not feeling well, you tell someone. So we can help you.”
She sniffled. Shoot. What was wrong with her? Was she about to cry?
“Sorry. I’m just… I’m—”
“Overwhelmed and ill. You said you started vomiting when you first got here.”