Broken Love (Broken #4)(49)

With a nervous chuckle, I said. “No. I mean, I’ve been working up there but my fiancé lives in Montana. So, I guess you could say a little work and a little play.”

Ugh. Why did I say that?”

“It’s always good to play every now and then.”

Oh God. He’s flirting. What part of fiancé did you not hear?

“Yep. Keeps life exciting.”

He seemed to zero in on my lips before he seemed to snap out of it.

“Well, let’s get this cast off you.”

By the time the good doctor got the cast off, I was ready to run out of the office.

Glancing down at my leg, I gasped. “Gross! That looks like … like … I don’t even know what that looks like.”

Dr. Russell laughed as did the nurse. “You’re probably going to want to see about physical therapy at least for your ankle. You’re moving around pretty good on it.”

Excitement coursed through my body. Finally, I got that heavy bitch off! I was so happy I wanted to scream. “I am! Just in time for some salsa dancing at Volstead’s tonight.”

The nurse chuckled. “Well, don’t get too crazy.”

Not using my brains, I blurted out, “Oh I never get crazy, unless I’m dancing with a hot guy.”

Dr. Russell stared at me and I swore his eyes darkened. “It was great meeting you, Ava. Please feel free to come back anytime.”

Staring at him with a confused expression, I tried to figure out if he was really flirting or maybe it was just my imagination. After all, I was upset with Ryder and maybe I was reading into it. At any rate, I needed to get out of this office and quickly. “Well, if you’ll pardon me being blunt, you’re nice and all doc, but I pray I never have to come back and see you or any other doctor for a broken bone again.”

“Touché. Let me walk you out, okay.”

“Sure. Thank you so much again for working me in like this.”

“Not a problem, Ava.”

Jay lifted her eyebrow when she saw me walking out with Doctor Hotty Pants. Standing, she let her eyes roam freely over him. “Well, I see you’ve been in good hands.”

Dr. Russell laughed as he placed his hand on my lower back.

Holy shit balls. We have physical contact! That is not good!

“Well, you ladies enjoy yourself tonight.”

With a polite nod, I grinned and said, “We will. Thanks again.”

My leg and ankle were for sure sore and I was limping for fear of putting too much weight on it. We hadn’t even made it to the elevator when Jay busted out laughing.

“You dirty slut!”

My eyes widen. “What the hell?”

“You were flirting with him … admit it! I could see it all over his face. He probably had to go back to his office and jack off.”

“Oh my gosh … your mouth is filthy.”

Stepping into the elevator, I pulled out my phone.

Nothing from Ryder.

My heart ached as I pushed the phone back into my purse.

“So, was that your way of paying back the fiancé for ignoring you?”

“Remind me why I tell you anything. And I was not flirting. I may have said something innocently that he took as flirting.”

Jay busted out laughing again as we headed to her car. “You still in the mood to shake your ass?”

A feeling of dread washed over me. Was I really going to walk away from something as amazing as Ryder? No, of course I wouldn’t. This whole silent treatment thing from him wasn’t something he would do either.

With a frustrated sigh, I shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t really move around on my ankle. Maybe I should pass.”

“Pass? Why can’t you sit your ass at the bar while I get my salsa on then? Why must we both be punished because you feel guilty for flirting with the hot doctor?”

“I don’t feel guilty, because I was not flirting with him.”

Jay shook her head. “Fine. Then I see no problems with going out tonight.”

Dropping my head back, I moaned. “Fine. Just drop me off at home so I can stare at my stuff and wonder if I’m moving to Montana or not.”

Jay dropped me off and called out, “I’ll pick you up at eight!”

Once I got back into my apartment, I dug in my bag and pulled out Kate’s journal. I sat on the sofa and quickly got lost in the pages of a young girl lost and confused.





“YOU STILL HAVEN’T called her?” Nate asked.

“No. I want to surprise her.”

“And you don’t think by her calling you and it going to voice mail that she might think you’re pissed at her?”

I stopped walking and stared at my brother. “Shit. I hadn’t thought about that.”

“She called last night.”

“What?”

Nate smiled an evil smile. “She called my cell phone and asked if you were okay. I told her you were sitting right next to me.”

Anger raced through my veins. “And you didn’t think to let me talk to her?”

“Hey, it’s not my fault you threw your phone and smashed it into a million pieces or the fact that you didn’t want to call Layton or Reed and ask them for her number for fear Reed would think y’all were fighting and use that against you. You could have called Walker.”