Page 27 of Mask and the Magnolia
Dr. Lowe is pleasant and open, he’s relatively relaxed considering the company he keeps, and he’s pretty fucking fearless if you ask me. All of that is reflected in our interactions with him, and when our sweet little Maggie is along for the ride, the way they both light up is something to behold.
And it makes it real goddamn hard to keep my mouth shut about everything.
I do, though.
I keep my mouth shut, and I don’t let anyone know how acutely perceptive I am because if they had a clue about how in sync I’ve become with a few of the regulars up here, I’m sure I’d end up in a situation like the ones I’ve experienced before.
But Isaak is tense, he’s worried and annoyed, and whether in tune or not, he’s not doing a very good job of hiding his emotions right now.
“She already throw in the towel?” My fingers curl against my thighs as I fight the urge to start itching a layer of skin off every exposed inch of my body. “Too much for her, maybe?”
“No,” he grunts before he sighs. “Ms. Reynolds had another engagement this morning, that’s all.”
I watch as the doc takes a deep breath, tilting his head back for a moment as he parks his hands on his hips. He closes his eyes then lets out a frustrated huff before shoving his fingers through his light brown hair a few times, and my god, I never thought my omega would be so beautiful.
Hell, I never thought I’dhavean omega let alone two. Both of whom are gorgeous in vastly different ways.
Staring at him in the soft light of his office, watching Isaak move around his side of the desk while he tries to settle in, it only enhances that beauty, and I can’t help but smile a little.
“Nice to know we haven’t scared her off.Yet.”
Isaak looks up at me over his glasses before he goes back to arranging his desk as he mumbles, “She has nothing to fear when she’s here, it’s when she leaves that…”
He clears his throat and tries to cut himself off but it’s just the two of us in here and I heard every single word he said. And the ones he didn’t.
Magnoliaissafe here.
Amongst nothing but alphas and murderers, she’s safe because whether anyone else knows it, there are people on this floor who will kill for her.
Honestly, even if she didn’t, I don’t think she’d have anything to worry about. Usbad guyshave been part of the system so long that we’re conditioned to move through our days as uneventfully as possible. Especially here. There are too many distractions and curiosities for me to really put any effort into a killing spree or trying to escape.
For now, anyway.
So, yes, Ms. Reynolds is safe here.
I’d sure as fuck love to know why she’s not anywhere else.
“Are you feeling okay, Mr. Hawthorne?”
My eyes refocus on Isaak’s face, the slight furrow of his brow and tilt of his head indicating his concern over the way he can feel how off I am right now.
No, your head nurse is trying to slowly euthanize me.“Fine, doc.”
His frown grows as he abandons his paper and pen for his stethoscope and white coat.
I watch him pull it on as he rounds the desk, coming for me with determination in his steps and despite feeling like I’m seconds from tossing my cookies, I can’t help the little thrill of excitement that races through me when he nearly closes the gap between us.
“Your color is off.” Isaak pulls a pen light from his pocket and checks my pupils. “No change.”
“I’m fine,” I barely whisper as I inhale his scent, discretely breathing the sugary floral fragrance deep into my lungs. “Extra tired.”
“Mhm.”
“Promise. I’ve always had a hard time sleeping somewhere new. Takes a while for me to adjust to… things…”
Isaak presses the stethoscope to my chest, ignoring my words in favor of listening to the way my heart is practically racing. Not just because whatever Nurse Hubbard gave me has that happening in waves, either.
“If I take off your muzzle, do you promise to behave?”
