“I know, Emma … But I can’t just leave her like that. Helpless and injured.” She tries for a smile, but I just stare at her impassively.

“Is that the issue?” Jake’s voice breaks in, he’s at the door with his cell in his hand, as though he’s just used it. Walking back in at the opportune time.

“She has no one else.” Sophie answers him, glancing at me warily. I experience a pang of guilt but push it down. She has no clue how complicated my relationship with my mother is. I watch as Jake frowns, his eyes losing focus for a second as he thinks something through. Even standing like that, the heat of attraction surges through me still and I push it away.

“If I arrange for someone to care for her, until she’s well, Sophie. Will you come with us? … Today?” he’s in negotiation mode. Mr. Business. and watching him lifts my heart. I knew from the second he met Sophie that he had taken an instant like to her, I knew he would help her. Jake is that kind of person.

“Maybe,” she says quietly, mulling it over in her mind.

“If I can go see her and tell her myself,” she adds softly. My heart lifts, hopeful and satisfied that he just gave me an answer to this problem. The sooner I detach this girl from this situation the better. I could kiss him right now; he is just beyond amazing sometimes.

“It’s a deal then, Sophs.” He beams at her, dazzling and charming.

“I’ll call an agency this morning and hire a live-in nurse until she’s fully recovered … On me.” He flits to me as though asking for my permission, but I just shrug, a smile creeping over my face. At this moment, I could not love him any more, he is just everything to me.

***

a dozen times if I’m sure about

mother is everything you could want in

early age; my fire and rage uncontrollable. It saved me from advances so many times. Men pushing the line into perversion, but I fought back, said no, and erupted. I have been hit so many times, but for each strike, I would lash back. It was never worth their

bite of anger. My mother always knows how to break you down and make you

head and turn on my heel indicating they should both follow. Jake doesn’t however, he stands his ground, regards me

air on; the one which means he isn’t going to take no for an answer. I’m too late, his long strides have him past the curtain and around her bed as I enter the room. My mother has the good grace to at least sit up and fix her

wouldn’t?

jeans and a leather jacket, trademark tight T-shirt and his shades nestled in that spiked hair. Definitely not a doctor, although he looks like he would make a really gorgeous one. He’s appraising her face, his eyes moving to her broken arm, the bruised swollen chaos. I slide up beside him glaring coldly, but he only raises an eyebrow at me, and I know what he’s thinking. He knows this was no accident, he knows I’ve been keeping this from him and somewhere in that quick brain, he’s wondering if Ray is involved. I can bet he’s already figured it is Ray who did this. I crumble

and childish. I force down

to step back and shove his hands in his pockets. His eyes resting on

free again and waves awkwardly at her. “I’m Jake Carrero … Emma’s …umm Boss.” His eyebrows twitch as though he feels stupid introducing himself that way. My

about my car accident,”

he’s not a fucking

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