Owned (Office Intrigue Book 8) by Nicole Edwards (bill gates book recommendations txt) 📕

After that, everyone indulged in food and wine, maintaining a rather light conversation, but I figured that was due to the time. Because of my inability to sleep, I had been up for close to twenty-four hours, probably Zion, as well, and it was beginning to become apparent. More so for Braelyn, who began dragging toward the end of the meal, foregoing dessert even.

“Auberon, show Braelyn to my room and let Dr. Tate know she’s ready for him,” I instructed before turning toward Braelyn. “Once he tends to your feet, you should sleep for a while. No one will interrupt you in there.”

Her eyes searched my face, and I had to assume she got the answer she was looking for, because she nodded before standing.

When she paused, I had no idea what to expect, but the kiss she pressed lightly to my cheek, followed by a softly spoken “Thank you” was not on the list.

I nodded because I had no idea what she was thanking me for. I’d done nothing yet. Not to mention, I figured her gratitude would likely wane when we arrived on the island and she got a good look at what it was I did for a living. Many people claimed to understand the various human idiosyncrasies, but few actually did. And God knew I was pushing the boundaries.

Once Auberon led her from the room, I excused myself to my office, using the other door to enter so as not to disturb Braelyn as she got settled. I could hear her moving around for a few minutes, followed by Dr. Tate’s voice when he joined her. There was minimal conversation while he bandaged her up and then silence when he left her alone. I had to fight the urge to check on her, to see that Dr. Tate had treated her to my expectations.

I wasn’t quite sure what had me so enthralled with Braelyn Bishop, but I found that I was. More so than I’d been with any other person that I could recall. Stranger than that, I didn’t want to fight it, didn’t want to dissect what caused this spike in my adrenaline or the need to be near her. I was a man who generally had a single-minded focus, and I tended to keep it where it belonged: on making money.

Looked like Braelyn was going to tip the scales and throw off my balance in the coming days.

And now that I had a few minutes to myself, I wasn’t exactly sure how I felt about that.

*

RANSOM

When Jasper returned to the room after leaving for a short time, I could tell he thought I was asleep. Should’ve been, I guess, considering he’d given me a pain pill. Unfortunately, my body never had metabolized medicine well, so the only thing I could hope for was that it took the edge off.

Didn’t stop me from closing my eyes and wishing for pleasant dreams.

I probably could’ve kept up the ruse, fooling him for the remaining hours of the flight, except someone interrupted, delivering food in the space I’d been relegated to. After Jasper had adjusted my shoulder back into its socket—a procedure I never cared to endure again—and given me the pain meds, I’d forced myself up and visited the attached bathroom. After relieving myself, I’d returned, opting for the bed despite the discomfort endured when I collapsed into it.

I’d managed to deal with the aches and twinges, drifting in and out while the smell of food beckoned me. Thankfully, the painkiller soon dulled my desire to eat. A short time later, someone came, removing the dishes based on what I could hear. Not long after that, there was another rap on the door, Jasper’s feet moving across the carpeted floor. When he passed, I smelled the waft of his cologne, something intoxicating. A strange response considering I’d never been one to care for artificial enhancements.

Not that I was paying much attention to that. I was trying too damn hard to eavesdrop on the conversation taking place near the door. I could hear Talon and Jasper talking in soft tones, their words muffled enough I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.

I exhaled heavily before realizing it gave me away.

The conversation halted and I heard the soft swish of fabric as Jasper neared the bed.

“How’re you feeling?”

I didn’t bother opening my eyes, not wanting to catch another glimpse of the too-handsome-for-words doctor who’d somehow ended up in my orbit once again.

“Perfect.”

Of course, the small grunt that escaped when I shifted belied my response.

Oh, well.

I emitted another grunt—although this one was more of a growl—when Jasper’s fingers pried open my eyelids, one at a time as a pen light pierced my retinas.

I was tempted to swat him away, but I’d learned my lesson with that earlier. When I’d tried, the good doctor had proven he wasn’t nearly as submissive as I’d once believed him to be, easily holding me down so he could perform his torturous look into my eye sockets.

“I’m good,” I mumbled, turning my head to dislodge his hand.

The move made my head throb behind my right eye. At least it was now a dull pain, rather than the obliterating headache I’d had before the painkiller had kicked in.

“How’s my sister, Doc?”

Jasper’s voice sounded distant as he moved across the room. “Well. She’s resting right now. I doctored her feet—nothing serious,” he added quickly when I pierced him with a glare. “Her ten-mile trek in only socks caused some minor abrasions. The worst one’ll likely be healed in a day or two. Nothing to worry about, but I’ll keep an eye on her, too.”

I closed my eyes again. “How long until we land?”

“Not much longer.”

“Not much of an answer,” I countered.

Jasper sighed. “A few hours. You should sleep.”

“So should you.”

“I’ll nap when we get there,” he said easily. “I’ll have Cody keep an eye on you so I can.”

Why it bothered me that he mentioned