LA: Loyalty Or Annilation

Chapter 17

Dr. Kenny Davidson's POV

Thirty minutes.

That's how long I have before the Montgomerys arrive for their appointment.

I've spent the last few weeks training several of the nurses on ultrasound procedures, including Kristal. She's picked it up quickly—which doesn't surprise me. Give that woman something new to learn and she absorbs information like she's preparing to teach the damn class herself.

But she won't be assisting me with this appointment.

Absolutely not.

I don't know the full story between her and the Montgomerys, and I haven't asked.

I know enough.

Mr. Montgomery is clearly connected to whatever ended Kristal's engagement. The way he looked at her during his wife's pregnancy diagnosis told me plenty.

I'm not putting Kristal through an unnecessary interaction simply because she happens to be available.

I'll ask Maya.

Hopefully she's free.

Because the alternative—

"Dr. Davidson?"

My eyes close.

Speak of the devil.

I turn.

Dana is standing approximately six inches closer than any normal conversation requires.

"Yes?"

"I heard you have an ultrasound at one."

"I do."

"I could assist."

Of course you could.

She's smiling.

I'm not.

"I'll let you know."

"I've been wanting more hands-on practice."

"I'm aware."

She steps closer.

"I learn really well one-on-one."

Jesus Christ.

"Dana."

"Hmm?"

"Personal space."

She blinks before backing up.

"Sorry."

"Mhm."

I turn away before my face gets me reported to Human Resources.

Dana has taken every available opportunity lately to be under me.

Literally.

I roll my eyes and scoff.

My attention shifts across the clinic.

And immediately finds Kristal.

Funny how that keeps happening.

She's standing beside an exam table with a baby boy in her arms while Marcus prepares three vaccinations.

The little guy can't be older than several months. Round cheeks. Tiny fists. Suspicious eyes already locked on Marcus like he knows that man is plotting against him.

Kristal bounces him gently.

"Hey, handsome."

The baby's attention shifts to her.

"There you go. Don't worry about Uncle Marcus over there."

Marcus looks offended.

"Uncle?"

"Would you prefer Evil Needle Man?"

"You're ruining my reputation."

"You'll survive."

The baby's parents laugh.

Marcus administers the first shot.

The baby's face wrinkles.

Kristal immediately distracts him with a ridiculous expression.

Second shot.

A whimper.

She rocks him.

Third.

There's a split second of silence.

Then—

"WAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Holy s**t.

That baby's scream could outshine the best opera singer alive.

Kristal doesn't flinch. She adjusts him against her chest, rubs his back and begins rocking him.

Then she sings.

"🎶 Twinkle, twinkle, little star... 🎵"

My attention locks on her.

I had no idea she could sing.

Her voice is soft but clear, carrying easily through the surrounding noise of phones, monitors and conversations. One by one, people nearby begin looking over.

The baby doesn't give a damn about his growing audience.

His screams become whimpers.

The whimpers become hiccups.

By the time Kristal finishes, his cheek is resting against her shoulder and his eyes have drifted closed.

For several seconds, I forget I'm supposed to be doing anything besides watching her.

Beautiful.

That's the only word I've got.

Not just her voice.

Her.

I already know she's funny, intelligent and damn good at her job. I've watched her argue passionately about pineapple on pizza, threaten farm animals over milkshakes and somehow remain compassionate after shifts that would make most people want to strangle humanity.

And now this.

This woman keeps surprising me.

I really need to make her mine.

Eventually.

I've been patient for three months, and I'm not changing that now. Every time Kristal lets me a little closer, it's because she decided to.

That's exactly how I want it.

Although I won't pretend I haven't imagined what it would be like when all that armor finally comes off.

All of it.

My mouth twitches.

All in due time.

A few people clap quietly.

Kristal looks up, realizes she has an audience and immediately appears horrified by the attention.

Cute.

Paging Dr. Davidson.

I glance toward the nurses' station.

Paging Dr. Davidson.

Right.

Work.

I start to turn—

Then I see them.

The Montgomerys.

They're standing near the corridor leading toward the exam rooms.

Mrs. Montgomery's pregnancy is visibly showing now.

Her husband isn't looking at me.

He's staring at Kristal.

And there's something about that stare that makes every suspicion I've had for the last three months click firmly into place.

My jaw tightens.

So.

I was right.

And I don't f*****g like it.

---

Shawn's POV

We're being led toward the exam rooms when I hear someone singing.

I stop.

Then I see her.

Kristal is holding a baby boy against her chest, gently rocking him while he settles in her arms.

Something inside me drops.

I never knew she could sing.

Five years together, and somehow I never knew.

But it's the baby in her arms that f***s me up.

For one dangerous second, my mind replaces him with another child.

Ours.

Kristal smiling down at a baby we'd made together while I stand beside her.

The family we once talked about having.

That's us.

Except it isn't.

It never will be.

Jade's hand slips out of mine.

That snaps me back faster than anything else could.

Shit.

I look toward her, but she's watching me now.

Not Kristal.

Me.

The song ends, and Kristal hands the sleeping baby back to his parents before turning away.

"Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery?"

I force my attention toward the nurse standing beside exam room two.

"This way, please."

I reach for Jade's hand.

She looks down at mine.

Then at me.

Fuck.

I know that look.

I take her hand anyway, and thankfully she lets me.

But whatever peace we managed to scrape together before leaving the house?

I may have just f****d with it without saying a single word.

---

Jade's POV

Unbelievable.

Not Kristal.

My husband.

Kristal hasn't done a damn thing except calm a screaming baby.

And yes, she can sing.

Beautifully.

There. I've acknowledged it.

Moving on.

The problem is Shawn.

I felt his hand go slack in mine.

I saw his face.

Worse, I saw exactly where his attention went when Kristal stood there holding that child.

After the conversation we just had at home, I don't need a translator.

He disappeared into his head.

And I have a pretty good f*****g guess what he found there.

I release his hand.

It takes him a moment to notice.

Naturally.

"Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery?"

Thank God.

"This way, please."

Shawn reaches for me again.

I stare at his hand before looking up at him.

His expression changes.

Good.

At least he's developed enough self-awareness to know when he's f****d up.

I take his hand.

Not because I'm suddenly over it.

Because we have an appointment, and I refuse to turn the hallway into a marital counseling session.

Hopefully we can get through the ultrasound without Shawn and Kristal making eye contact.

Because I'm pregnant, hormonal and trying very hard to become a more emotionally evolved person.

There are limits.

---

Kristal's POV

Well.

That was embarrassing.

The baby is asleep, which was the entire point.

Having half the clinic stop and listen to me was definitely not.

I hand him carefully back to his mother.

"He's all yours."

"Thank you so much."

"Of course."

She smiles down at him.

"You were amazing with him."

"He's the amazing one. Three shots and he's still willing to associate with medical professionals."

Marcus snorts.

"He screamed like somebody was removing his soul."

"Marcus!"

"What? He did."

The baby's father laughs.

I step away before Marcus gets both of us in trouble.

"Kristal!"

I turn.

He's grinning.

"That was super amazing."

"Thank you."

Paige appears beside him.

"Girl, you need to be onstage."

"Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Because I enjoy paying my rent consistently."

She laughs.

Then Maya slides beside me.

Quietly.

Too quietly.

I narrow my eyes.

"What?"

"If there is any indication of how good you were..."

Oh God.

"...the smoldering, lustful eyes of a certain Dr. Greek God should tell you."

My head snaps around.

And there he is.

Kenny.

Across the clinic.

Staring directly at me.

Oh.

That is not his normal look.

His dark eyes move over me with enough intensity to send heat rushing beneath my scrubs.

He looks like he wants to eat me.

My body responds before my common sense can file a complaint.

Heat pools low in my belly, and I squeeze my thighs together.

Jesus Christ.

I suck in a breath and turn away.

Patients.

Charts.

Professionalism.

Wonderful things.

Essential things.

Things that do not involve imagining what Dr. Kenny Davidson's mouth could do when he isn't discussing medicine.

"Shut up," I mutter.

Maya laughs.

"I didn't say anything."

"You don't have to."

"Where are you going?"

"To work."

"You're already at work."

"Then I'm going to work harder."

Her chuckle follows me.

Traitor.

I grab the nearest chart and force my attention onto it.

I don't look back at Kenny.

Absolutely not.

Because I've spent three months being grateful for his patience.

But if he keeps looking at me like that...

I might be the one who runs out of it first.