Read 3013: FATED for Free Online

reading material tonight, and tomorrow, I’ll come by and bring you another lunch of real food.”
    He waggled a finger at her. “But only if you promise to get some rest and take it easy.”
    It had been a long time since anyone had taken care of her like this. Usually, she was the one looking after other people. It was a little strange, but pleasant. She held up her hand, little finger outstretched. “I pinky swear I will stay in this bed and not push myself, so long as you pinky swear to bring more food tomorrow. And pie. There needs to be pie for this deal to happen.”
    Vance laughed as he crossed the distance between them to link his finger with hers.
    “I solemnly swear to bring pie as part of tomorrow’s lunch,” he vowed. He tightened his finger around hers for a quick second, then withdrew his hand.
    “Then you have a deal, Doc.”
    By this time Dane was slumped in his chair, laughing so hard he woke Annie from her nap.
    “Why you laugh, Daddies?” she asked as she sat up and looked at her fathers.
    “Because Ciara said something funny, sweet pea.” Dane rose and lifted the sleepy little girl into his arms. “C’mon, it’s time I got you home for a proper nap. Say bye-bye to Ciara.”
    “Bye.” Annie waved her chubby hand, and Ciara felt her heart melt a little around the edges.
    “Bye, Annie. Sleep well. Bye Dane, thank you for lunch.”
    “It was nice meeting you, Ciara. If you like, I’d be happy to drop by now and then to keep you company. Until then, better do what your doctor says. Otherwise, he gets grumpy.”
    “I do not get grumpy, thank you very much,” Vance grumbled.
    Dane grinned and winked at her. “See what I mean?”
    Vance rolled his eyes. “You’re the one who is an absolutely bast—bear in the morning before you have your first coffee.”
    Ciara snickered. “A bast-bear? Is that like a shi-star?”
    Both men looked sheepish. “The whole ‘don’t curse around Annie’ thing is a work in progress,” Vance said.
    “I think it’s sweet you’re making an effort. And please, Dane, I’d welcome a visit any time.” Ciara’s last words were distorted by yet another yawn.
    “We’ll go and let you sleep. I’ve got rounds coming up.” Vance gave her a smile and a wave, and a few seconds later, she was alone in her room.
    With a contented sigh, Ciara placed her nearly empty tray of food aside and slid under the blanket to sleep. While she didn’t like the way the med-bed displayed her every function to anyone who walked in, the damned thing was certainly more comfortable than her cot had ever been. When she rebuilt her life, she was definitely going to find a way to own a decent bed for once. How she’d pay for it was a problem for another day. For now, she would rest and be grateful she was better fed and more comfortable than she’d been in a good long while. She’d also be grateful for her visitors. It would be nice to see them all again tomorrow.
     

***
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    They walked out of the med-center in silence. Once they were outside and out of potential earshot of anyone else, Dane turned back toward Vance and spoke.
    “I like her,” Dane declared.
    “I guessed as much when you told me you’d offered to bring her lunch. You don’t even bring me lunch, and we’ve been friends for years.”
    Dane shrugged. “Can you blame me? She’s better looking than you’ll ever be, and that was before I saw her cleaned up.”
    Vance considered his words carefully before speaking. He didn’t want to give Dane false hope, and he still wasn’t sure how he felt about Ciara. “I think she likes you, too.”
    Dane was smirking as he shook his head in dismay. “Vance, my friend, what am I going to do with you? Smart enough to pass medical school early and yet you are still so very slow sometimes.”
    “What?”
    “She didn’t clean up and change solely for my benefit. I think she did it for both of us. At least I’m ninety-five percent sure it was for us. You