“Sorry to call so early, but I need your help. You know your doctor friend who dug the bullet out of me?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I need him again. As early as possible. And we’ll need antibiotics.”
“Johnny, were you shot again? If you were, that’s too many times.”
“No, this one is different. You’re on speakerphone, Thomas. Meet Jenny Ryan, the Marine who saved my life last night in Santa Monica.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Hello, she said.”
“Hello, Marine,” Barker said. “And thank you. I’ll probably wait until 7:30 or 8:00 to call the doc, but there will be no problem getting a look see and a prescription for antibiotics.”
“What will we owe for that?” Jenny said.
Rand put his hand on her cheek and moved her to look him in the eyes. “Jenny, I’m telling you, you really have to stop worrying about money. “And I mean, forever. I told you that I’m rich, and that I’m going to give you a chunk of it for what you did for me. And meanwhile, Thomas here is Richie Rich Seriously Rich. All of which means don’t worry about the doctor bill.”
“I’m not used to thinking that way,” Jenny said. “I saved some money when I was in the service but most of that money was gone pretty quickly when I got out. And bartending with tips doesn’t pay all that well. I always worry about money.”
“Well stop it,” Rand said. “If you’re willing to go to the bank today, maybe both mine and yours if we have to, I’m going to move… five million dollars into your account.”
Jenny stared at him.
“You can’t be serious,” she said. “Five MILLION dollars??”
Barker chuckled over the phone. “He’s serious, Dear. And well able to. I’m sure there’s a story behind all of this, which I will need to hear soon, but meanwhile, believe me: Johnny Rand is one of the most trustworthy people I’ve ever known.”
“I cannot believe it.”
“Believe it,” Rand and Barker said at the same time.
Jenny looked at Rand’s naked body, then at her own.
“What will I have to do for it?” she asked quietly.
Rand stood up and reached for Jenny’s hand and brought her up into a hug.
“Absolutely nothing,” he said. “You’ve already done it. Although I would like to take you to lunch and tell you about my company. And see whether you might be interested.”
Barker chuckled over the phone. “Rand the recruiter. Hey, how about you and your girls bring Jenny over tonight for a fest?”
Rand looked at Jenny. “If she’s up to it. She does have a knife wound.”
Silence. Then Barker said, “Fuck it. I’ll call the doc right now.” And hung up.
They sat in silence for a while. Dawn came out onto the patio, gloriously nude as usual, and sat down next to them.
“You don’t have to give me any money,” Jenny said. “I waded into the fight of my own free will, and you’ve already paid for my medical bills.”
Dawn took Jenny’s hand. “From what Johnny told me, you probably saved his life. I don’t know how much he said he wanted to give you, but please know that whatever it is his life is worth more than that to me. To all of us.”
“Five million dollars,” Jenny said.
“Drop in the bucket,” Dawn said. She looked at Rand. “It should be more.”
“Okay, Sweets. I just pulled that figure out of my butt. 10 million.”
“Do I have any say in all of this?” Jenny said. “What if I don’t agree, and don’t tell you my bank account numbers?”
Rand smiled at her. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll get them. I’m a trained detective.”
——
The doctor arrived around 6:30 AM, examined Jenny’s wound, and wrote a prescription for antibiotics.
“It could be a bit infected, or it could just be the skin reacting to the injury and stitching. But I can’t believe those idiots at the hospital didn’t give you a prescription right away. That’s just the way it’s done in a case like this. They did a fine job with the stiches, though.”
“I got a plastic surgeon,” Johnny said. “I may have interfered with their normal protocol.
Johnny and Jenny both thanked the doctor and apologized for getting him up and out so early.
“Pish tosh,” the doc said as he gathered up his stuff. “As usual, Barker is paying me handsomely for my time and services, as Morrison does, and as I suspect you would, Rand, if they let you.” He handed Johnny a business card. “Here’s my number so you can call me direct next time if you want to let them off the hook.”
“Thanks,” Johnny said.
“Oh, and don’t forget to have the prescription filled this morning, young lady, and don’t forget to take the entire bottle per instructions.” And he was off.
“And thank YOU, Johnny,” Jenny said. “I seem to be saying that a lot these past couple of days.”
“You can thank me by resting up. Here. Where we can all care for you. Oh, and if you’re up to it, we’ll need to go get your car at some point.” He paused. “You want to go rest by the pool?”
“Sure!”
They shucked the clothes they had put on for the doctor and went back outside and laid down on the lounges. The sun was coming up and it was starting to get warmer. Johnny taped over her wound to keep it from the sun, as the doctor had suggested.
Jenny sighed and wriggled a little.
“I’ve never done this before,” she said. “Been naked outside. And with a man I just met, too.”
“If you’re uncomfortable with this or with me, we can go back inside.”
“Oh no, that’s not what I meant. Like I said, I trust you. And I’m enjoying this! It’s like… freedom!”
“That’s how I’ve always felt about it,” Johnny said.
She looked over at him. He was on his back, and she couldn’t help but…
“Do you mind if I say something quite forward?” she said.
“Go right ahead.”
“You’ve told me that I’m ‘gorgeous,’ she said.
“You are. You’re beautiful.”
She blushed, partly at the compliment, and partly at what she was about to say.
“You’re pretty gorgeous yourself, Johnny. And you have… a beautiful cock.”
It was Johnny’s turn to blush. “Thank you,” he said.