Chapter 12

While Jay was flirting - pretty successfully - with his new friend Kadie, his mother was waiting patiently outside for her cab, and by the time she was in the back of the vehicle Jay was wincing theatrically as Kadie - so gently he barely felt it - drew blood from him for tests.

“Don’t I even get a lollipop?” He asked with a pout as she declared herself finished, and she laughed, liking this handsome young man a lot already.

“Sorry. Nope.”

“Damn.” He flicked her a wicked smirk. “What about something else for me to suck on?”

For just a moment, Kadie’s mouth fell open. Damn, but he was forward. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing - her last boyfriend had been undemonstrative to the point she didn’t know if he even cared about her - but it was refreshing. And of course he was a patient, dammit, so out of bounds for her.

Jay misread her silence, raising a hand apologetically.

“Sorry, Kadie. I guess sometimes I just don’t think before I speak.”

“S’okay.” She assured him, smiling again. “I could say that I thought it would be more my job. Sucking, I mean. But you’re a patient, Jay, so……”

“Professional ethics?” He asked, then when she nodded he pretended to yell. “Doc? I wanna sign myself outta here!”

“You’re a nut.” Kadie laughed, gathering up her vampire kit, stilling as Jay laid a gentle hand on hers.

“Don’t run off. Please.”

She made the mistake of looking into his eyes, and her professional detachment wobbled, especially when she saw the edges of his eyes crinkle in a smile. Jay saw her interest and instinctively knew not to quit pushing.

“I won’t always be a patient, though, right?” He said with a smile.

“Guess not.” Kadie fought her impulse to turn her hand under his, to grip his fingers like she wanted to. Well, not completely accurate. She wanted to kiss him. Wanted to feel those fingers on her skin - and she wasn’t thinking of her hand - but right now it just couldn’t happen. “You could always give me a call, when you break outta here.”

“Give me your number.” He said instantly, and she smiled at his enthusiastic response, reaching for a pen.

Jay offered her the book he was reading and she scribbled her name and cell number onto the flyleaf. Taking the pen from her, Jay ripped off the bottom half of the page - Kadie wincing at the unthinking damage to the book - and he wrote his own name and number, offering her the paper with her pen.

“You know I’ll be calling as soon as I get outta here, right?” He grinned, and she giggled.

“I may even answer.” She teased. “Now I gotta go do some work.”

“A vampire’s work is never done, huh?” Jay smirked, catching her hand and pulling her toward him, but Kadie’s initial concern that he’d try to kiss her wasn’t quite accurate, as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the smooth skin. A chivalrous move that was almost more destructive than anything else would have been right now.

“I’ll bite you later.” She promised as she drew away, and Jay watched happily as she carefully folded his number into her pocket before leaving the room.

Sighing contentedly, he laid his head back on the pillow, closing his eyes to enjoy visions of the young nurse. Visions of her clad in far less than the uniform he’d just seen.


Billie’s ride to Wachovia was straightforward, but she found more difficulty when she got inside the building, wandering lost until she was stopped by a member of staff.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but this is a practice day.” The guy explained. “No spectators allowed.”

“I’m not……” She sighed. Why did she have the feeling this could take a while? “I’m not here to watch. I’m looking for……Coach? Is it Munsey?”

“Coach is here, ma’am, but he’s busy. Is he expecting you?”

“Uh, no. I’m Billie Kelsall. Jay’s mother?”

The guy gave her a sceptical look, and Billie cursed the genes that had kept her looking younger than her years, seeing the guy’s disbelief that she could be Jay’s mother. She couldn’t think what to do, then remembered Jay’s snipe about Nick recognising her. What the hell - it was worth a shot.

“Okay. Is Nick….” She dredged her memory for the surname. “Nick Fabian around? Could you find him for me?”

With a weary sigh the staffer nodded. He could see this woman wasn’t for going anywhere, so maybe Nick could get rid of her.

“Wait here, please, ma’am.” He said, pointing to a bench against the wall. “I’ll see if he’s available.”

Billie perched obediently on the bench to wait, and it was only a few minutes before she heard the slightly familiar voice of the physiotherapist.

“Billie?” He walked swiftly toward her, clear worry on his face. “Is everything okay?”

“What?” She realised he must think Jay’s condition had deteriorated, and she raised a reassuring hand. “Sorry! Everything’s fine with Jay, Nick. He told me to come here, to get his apartment keys? Said they should still be in his locker.”

“Oh!” Nick nodded. “All his stuff’s still there. Does he need something?”

“Not exactly. I do. I didn’t book anywhere to stay, and he said since his place is empty……” She laughed. “I think he just wants me to clean up for him.”

Nick shut off the immediate image that flashed into his head, of Billie in a French maid’s outfit of short black dress and white frilly apron. Or perhaps just the apron and a pair of killer heels. Forcing it away, he offered a hand to pull her to her feet.

“Come on. I’ll introduce you to Coach, then we can grab Jay’s keys for you.”

She followed him along the hallways to the field, a little uncomfortable as he kept hold of her hand the whole way, but he dropped his grip just before they reached the field, instead laying his palm on her back. Her lower back. A fraction off her ass.

“Coach?” Nick said loudly as they approached, and a dark-haired guy turned around, his apparent youth surprising Billie.

“Yeah, Nick?” Munsey frowned in surprise at the brunette with Fabian. Whoever she was, it certainly wasn’t Fabian’s wife.

“Hey, Coach, I’d like you to meet Billie. Billie Kelsall.” Nick saw the confusion on Munsey’s face and he explained. “Jay’s mom?”

“Jay’s mom?” Munsey looked her over quickly. Damn, but she didn’t look old enough. Strange, too, because in a way he’d assumed Jay’s mother would have the same blue eyes. Must be from his father. His musings had left him silent for a moment, and he shook it off, offering a hand. “Sorry. I was miles away. Bret Munsey. Nice to meet you…..Mrs Kelsall.”

There was a question in the name, and Billie shook her head as she shook his hand.

“It’s Miss. But Billie’s fine, Bret.”

Nick wondered whether he should explain to her that ‘everybody’ called Coach, well, Coach, but his boss just nodded and grinned at the brunette.

“So how is he?”

“He’s good, thanks. He actually sent me here to get his apartment keys, since I’ve nowhere to stay tonight.”

“Sure. I’ll get someone to open his locker for you.”

Munsey became aware of the low murmur of voices from the field, and when he looked across he saw his players huddled together, obviously discussing the newcomer. He sighed. Typical players - show them a pretty face and concentration was out the window. But was he any better? Either way, he lifted a hand, waving them over. When they were crowded in front of him, he gestured to Billie.

“Boys - this is Billie. Jay’s mom.”

Billie was starting to get pissed at all the stunned looks. For God’s sake - it wasn’t like she looked like a teenager! Before she could get too mad, though, one of the players stepped forward to offer his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs…..”

“It’s Billie.” She interrupted firmly. “Billie’s just fine.”

“Okay. Billie.” The guy’s face brightened in a happy grin. “I’m Mike. Mike Brown.”

“Jay’s mentioned you.” Billie smiled, and he looked pleased.

“All the good stuff I hope.” He joked as he let go of her hand.

The rest of the players introduced themselves - some with handshakes, some just saying hi. It was the tall quarterback, Tony, who surprised her, as he folded his arms around her in a hug, whispering in her ear so she reached up to pat his back as he said he knew how Jay must be feeling, as he’d taken a tackle like that years before. The hug was interrupted by Coach’s voice.

“C’mon guys. Let’s get back to work.” He snapped, downtime over, and the players immediately got back into work-mode, heading out onto the field as Coach turned to Billie. “Nick can get you Jay’s keys, Billie. Nice to meet you. Tell the kid we’re all asking after him, ‘kay?”

“I will, Bret. And thank you.”

Knowing it was ‘safe’, since all the players were on the field, Nick led Billie down a tunnel and into the locker room, a clearly male preserve. There was the unmistakable smell of sweat - male sweat - underlaid by the smell of cleaning fluid and cologne. Not exactly an unpleasant mix, but certainly one which was unique to locker rooms.

Nick led her over to the bank of lockers, stopping at the one which bore Jay’s name, then he pulled open the door - none of the lockers had padlocks attached - and looked inside. The keys hung on a hook just inside, and as he reached for them, pushing the door wider, he heard a tiny whimper from Billie. Turning around, he saw tears trickling down her face, and he laid his hands on her shoulders.

“What’s wrong?” He asked gently, and she shook her head, trying to fight it back.

“Nothing. I just……” She pointed into the locker, where Jay had stuck a photo of her and him together on horseback. “I just realised how close I came to losing him. He’s all I have.”

Pulling her close, Nick hugged her comfortingly. Comforting wasn’t what he had in mind for this lady, but it was always a good way in, pretending to care, when all he really cared about was getting between her legs. Billie leaned into him, her arms around his waist as she took the reassuring comfort he was offering, reading no more into the gesture, and not seeing the satisfied smirk on Nick’s face.

After a few minutes, she drew away, wiping a palm over her face to dry the tears.

“Thank you.” She whispered, and Nick just nodded.

“My pleasure.” He paused just long enough. “Really.”

Without saying any more, he turned to get the keys from the locker and closed the door, offering the keys to Billie.

“C’mon.” He suggested. “I’ll make sure Coach doesn’t need me, then I can give you a ride to Jay’s place.”