MacKenzie Fire(26)

“What was that?” Ian asks in a hushed tone.

“That’s my friend needing me.” My pulse is going nuts. I can’t stand still any longer. “I’m going in there.” My hand slides down to the handle.

Ian grabs my arm. “Better not.”

Jerking my arm away, I face him again. “What is your problem, Ian? I need to be with her!”

“No, actually, you should probably stay out here.”

For once he actually looks serious. It kind of deflates my emotional bubble a little. “Give me one good reason why.”

“Because. Childbirth is a special moment between husband and wife. Having a whole crowd of family in there might not be what they want, and you should do what they want, not what you want.”

My heart hurts at his words. I cross my arms over my chest without conscious thought. “I’m not a crowd. I’m just me. One person. And I know Andie would want me in there.”

He laughs. “You are not just one person, Candice. You’re a whole tornado of a person. And if Andie wants you, I’m sure they’ll come get you. Maybe sometimes she just wants Mack and no one else, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It doesn’t mean she loves you any less.”

I narrow my eyes at him, suppressing the spark of happiness that comes when he actually speaks my name. I hate to admit it, but he might have a point. I’ve never been married, but if I ever am, I want it to be like he describes. But instead of telling him that, I focus on the most interesting part of his little lecture. The part where he describes me as a tornado.

“I can’t tell if you’re complimenting me or criticizing me when you call me a force of nature.”

Before he can respond, the door opens behind me and someone bumps into my back.

“Hey!” I exclaim, turning around so I can see my abuser. “Watch it.”

“I told you to go wait in the waiting room,” says the mean nurse. “You’re in the way here.”

I open my mouth to let her have it, but my voice is cut off when Ian wraps his arm around my waist, pulls me to his side, and plants his lips on my cheek, letting out a loud smooching sound.

I cringe away from him, not because I don’t like it but because it’s so unexpected. Who is this person and why does he look so happy?

“I’ll get rid of her for ya,” he says, when he finally stops.

“Good. We’ll come get you when she’s ready. It could be hours, though, so don’t expect anything soon.”

I’m standing there like an observer, watching a television show or something. Words have failed me. I’m a tornado being kissed by a person with dual personalities.

“Come on, darlin’, let’s go read some magazines.” Ian is guiding me down the hallway.

“But I don’t want to read any magazines.”

“Okay, then you can watch me read magazines.”

“I don’t want to watch you read magazines. And I don’t want you to kiss me anymore, either.”

“Could-a fooled me.” He’s smiling, obviously very proud of himself.

I shove him in the ribs with my elbow, detaching him from my waist. “You’re such a jerk.” It’s like he knows he sends my heart racing with every touch, with every stupid joke. I hate that he has me in such a mess. This was supposed to be a fun fling at first, and then it was supposed to be nothing at all. I don’t kiss hunters. So why do his lips keep pressing against me? And why haven’t I slapped him for it yet?

“Here.” Ian grabs a book off the table as we walk into the waiting room. “Some light reading for ya.”

I look down at the heavy volume in my hand. “The King James Bible. Oh goody.” Looking around the room, I realize it’s too quiet. All the chairs are empty and the television in the corner is off. “Where are your parents?”

“Who knows? Maybe getting coffee or something.”

Sitting down in a not-very-comfortable plastic chair, I crack the well-worn book open to a random page. Might as well brush up on my psalms or whatever.

“You should read it,” he says. “You could learn a lot from it.” He leans back in a chair a couple down from mine, picking up a tattered magazine and resting it on his leg.

“Oh yeah?” I read out loud from the page in front of me. “No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord.” I look over at Ian. “Awww, no eunuchs allowed in Heaven. Bummer.” Dropping my gaze to his crotch, I add, “Maybe you should start wearing a cup, just in case.”

He puts his hand over his jewels and turns his legs away from me, his expression going worried. “Just in case, what?”

I shrug. “Just in case you get your testicles kicked by a crazy bull or whatever. Wouldn’t want you to miss out on Heaven just because you have crushed nuts.”

He leans over and snatches the book out of my hands. “That’s enough Bible reading for you, lady.” He tosses it down on the table out of my reach.

I laugh. “Hey! I was enjoying that. I was just about to learn the rules about bastards.”

“Bastards?” He frowns, looking over at the book.

He probably thinks I’m making this up, but I’m not. It was right there in black and white. “Yeah, and ten generations after the bastard too. They can’t get into Heaven either, apparently. Bummer for them.”