Chapter 2

[Excited my ass! I'm pissed that you walked out on me back then and angry that you turned yourself into this mess! Go ahead, say one more flirty thing to me, I dare you. Maybe I should kiss you to shut you up,] Jayce taunted me in my head.

I clammed up instantly.

Not because I was scared he'd actually kiss me, but because the anesthesiologist had already jabbed the needle in.

Right before everything went fuzzy, the last thing I heard was, [Sleep tight, you little punk. When you wake up, we'll settle our scores one by one.]

When I woke up, the hospital room was silent.

The afternoon sunlight spilled across the foot of the bed through the blinds, and dust motes floated lazily in the air.

I wiggled my fingers and felt like someone had slapped a massive patch over my stomach, pulling it tight and taut.

"You're awake?" A calm, detached voice came from beside me.

I turned my head and saw Jayce sitting in a chair, a medical journal in his hand. His legs were crossed, and a gold-rimmed pair of glasses balanced on his nose. He looked every bit the perfect blend of gentleman and rogue.

[She's finally awake! She was out cold for six hours. Is she a pig? Did the anesthesiologist overdose her? I swear, I'm gonna file a complaint about that guy later.] Jayce's thoughts rang loudly in my head.

My lips twitched.

With all that monologue running in his head, it's a pity that Jayce became a doctor instead of a scriptwriter.

"Dr. Wilson, have you really been sitting here for me?" My voice was a bit raspy, with a pouty undertone.

Jayce flipped a page in his magazine, not even looking up. "Get over yourself. I'm just waiting for the next report and making sure you haven't croaked."

[I was here for five and a half hours! My legs are totally numb! I even pissed off the hospital director just to ditch that matchmaking thing for you!] Jayce's thoughts sounded.

[Reyna, you heartless brat, come on, shower me with compliments! Admit you're so moved you could cry!] Jayce begged in my head.

I was cracking up inside, but on the outside, I put on my most pitiful face.

"Oh, so it was just a coincidence, huh? Well, Dr. Wilson, you go do your important stuff. I'm just a nobody, unloved and unwanted. I guess I'll just rot away here alone," I muttered.

I pretended to roll over, but the pain made me wince hard.

Jayce practically shot out of his chair, moving so fast it was like he was turbo-charged.

"Don't move! What if your wound splits open?" He pressed down on my shoulder, his brows furrowed hard.

[Damn, that hurts! Reyna, are you nuts? Why are you even trying to roll over? Are you trying to show off your skinny waist or something?] Jayce scolded me in my head.

[If you bust your stitches, I'll have to sew you up myself again. Do you even know how much it hurt me to stitch you up earlier?] Jayce's voice continued.

He was so close I could smell the subtle cedar on him, mixed with a bit of disinfectant. It was intoxicating.

"Dr. Wilson, why are you so nervous?" I reached out and tugged at the corner of his white coat, scratching it like a kitten. "Do you still like me?"

Jayce froze. He looked down at me, his eyes cold as ice, not a hint of warmth.

"Reyna, narcissism's a real illness. Maybe you should go see a shrink," Jayce said coldly.

[Like you? I'm losing my mind over you! All I see is you every night that I close my eyes. You little temptress, would you quit giving me that look?] His thoughts said instead, [I'm about to pin you down right here and kiss you until you can't breathe! Keep it together, Jayce. You're a doctor, she's your patient. You can't go wild!]

I looked at that straight face of his, then compared it to all those crazy thoughts he's got running wild in his head, and I nearly cracked up trying to hold it in.

Seven years apart, and this guy's hidden wild side has leveled up exponentially.

"If you don't like me, then Dr. Wilson, can you help me out?" I blinked up at him, wide-eyed and innocent.

"Say it," Jayce replied.

"I'm thirsty, I want some water," I stated.

Jayce walked over to pour me a glass of water, his posture as tall and steady as a pine.

[Water, water, that's all you ever ask for. If you hadn't just had surgery, I wouldn't be waiting on you like this. Now I have to make sure the temperature is just right. Reyna, I must have owed you in our past life.] Jayce's thoughts rang out again in my head.

He came back with the glass, carefully checked the temperature, then gently lifted the back of my head and brought the glass to my lips.

I took a sip, deliberately letting the water slip, so it dripped down my lips and slid right onto my neck.

"Oops, looks like I made a mess," I teased, my voice all sweet and flirty.

Jayce's gaze grew darker, and he swallowed hard.

[Damn, that water's sliding right down her neck. Seriously, what the hell am I staring at? Jayce, you pervert! She's your patient! She's your ex! She's the heartless woman who dumped you!] Jayce's thoughts sounded.

He grabbed a tissue and clumsily wiped at my neck, his movements stiff and awkward.

"Wipe it yourself," he muttered, shoving the tissue into my hand before practically bolting from the room.

Watching his slightly messy retreat, I leaned back on my pillow, grinning like a fox with a secret.

Jayce had brought it upon himself. Since the heavens granted me this ability, Jayce had best believe that I would be messing with him every chance I get during this hospital stay.

Early the next morning, Jayce showed up with a bunch of interns for rounds.

He was rocking a crisp white coat, patient charts in hand, giving off that untouchable aura that practically warned everyone to stay back.

The interns were all nervous as hell, like mice spotting a cat.

"Bed three, Reyna Jules, first day post-op," Jayce said, standing at the foot of my bed, his voice deadpan like he was reciting instructions.

[Damn, this shirt looks great today, huh? She just checked me out for three seconds. Did I impress her? I've got to play it cool. She can't know I spent two hours last night picking out this shirt,] Jayce's voice sounded in my head.