Page 317 of Under Her Skin

Then I laugh at myself for getting so far ahead in this thing he and I have barely started. I have no idea if we will even get so far as to make it to the altar, much less havekids.

I have no idea if he even wants kids for that matter, or if he does, how many he wants. I have no idea about a lot of things where that man isconcerned.

By the time they’re finished with their little jam session, I’m done with the decorations, and Colby turns his attention to what I’ve been doing. “Wow! A tree and Christmas decorations. Thanks, Nurse Richards.” He looks at Blaine and nudges him with his shoulder. “So when’s the bigday?”

Blaine looks at me with a smile, then winks. “I’m not sure yet. I have to make sure Nurse Richards really likes me before I go popping that question. If you knew how scared I was just to ask her to move in with me, you’dlaugh.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much if I was you. She glows when you’re around. Not so much when you’re not,” he tells Blaine, and I find myself blushingagain.

“Okay, boys. We have three more trees to get to. It seems there're trees for all today and we have to get to that business,” I say and go take Blaine’s hand, taking him away from what looks like his new bestbuddy.

“You glow, huh? I’ve noticed that. Only I thought you looked like that all the time,” Blaine whispers as we leave theroom.

“I didn’t realize I was doing that,” I say as we go back to the nurses’ station to pick up the things to bring some holiday spirit to another kid. “I’ll try tostop.”

“I don’t think you can, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep that perfect glow going on inside of you, Nurse Richards.” His arm runs around me as he takes the box with the small tree out of my hand and we head toward Terry’s room. “I wonder how much you’ll glow when you’re pregnant. I bet it will get evenbrighter.”

His thought has me wondering how we both thought about that nearly at the same time. I wonder if things really will get that far with us. I wonder if we will get married and have afamily.

I suppose stranger things havehappened.

Just before we get to Terry’s room, I hear a voice come from behind us. “What the hell is he doinghere?”

Looking over my shoulder, I recognize the voice and see Mr. Sanders standing in the hallway just outside his daughter’s door. “Do not engage him, Blaine.” I pull him along with me to get inside of Terry’sroom.

“I thought I told you to leave my daughter alone,Vanderbilt!”

Blaine stops, and I go into a panic as I hear Mr. Sanders’ footsteps quickly approaching. I have no clue as to what Blaine will do to theman.

Why does this man have to be such anasshole?

A ChristmasWish

BookFive

Chapter1

BLAINE

December15th:

Despite Delaney’s best effort to pull me into Terry’s room, Meagan’s father is in full-on asshole mode and grabs my shoulder before we get all the way inside of the room. “You need to leave!” he shouts atme.

Letting Delaney’s hand go, I turn back and look the man in the eyes. I see something in the light-blue recesses of his red-rimmed eyes.I see a man who isterrified.

Placing my hand on his shoulder, I say, “Look, Mr. Sanders, I know you’re afraid for your daughter. I know you’re looking like crazy for someone to take all your anger out on. I’m not the guy who’s going to take it, though. My advice is for you to go talk to that preacher who comes around here every day. He’s the best man to help you with what you’re feeling rightnow.”

“Get your hand off me,” he growls. So I move my hand as his face goes red with rage. “You don’t know a thing about me, you rich son of a bitch. Don’t act like you do. My world is being torn in two. I want you out of here. You came in here and have spoiled these children. I can see right through you. You have no soul, Mr.Vanderbilt.”

“That is enough!” Delaney hisses at the man as she grabs my hand. “I’ve had enough of you, Mr. Sanders!” She pulls me the rest of the way inside Terry’s room and closes the door in the angry man’s face. “He has gone too far withthis!”

I see Terry sitting up in his bed, looking worried. “What was that man’sproblem?”

It’s only been a few weeks since I’ve seen this kid and I find his dark hair, which had been thick and curly, is gone. The way it makes me feel is awful. Then I think about what my brother and sister told me, and I stop thinking about myself and think aboutTerry.

Who gives a shit how his hair loss is making me feel? It’s him I should be thinkingabout!

“That man is a very scared person right now with his daughter being so sick, that’s what’s wrong with him,” I say. “People’s grief and anxiety come out in different ways. He’s just going through some bad things right now, and I’m obviously the one he’s chosen to take it out on. It’s okay. Now, tell me how you’ve been doing. I see you’ve decided to get into that Vin Diesel look. You’re rockingit.”