Solana stretched as she slipped her feet into her flats. The pull-out cot in her Abuela's hospital suite was more comfortable than the lumpy twin bed in the room she'd rented in Vegas. Still, she didn't get much sleep. Too much rolling around in her brain.

Abuela, medication, Jack Blackhorne, money, Luc, work, Bram.

Bram volunteered to take Luc for the night, and Solana was grateful. She didn't want the boy hanging around the hospital overhearing the essential conversations that needed to be had. Her abuela had been awake when Dr. Collins brought them to the room, but the colour had not returned to her cheeks. Paired with the heavy white gauze bandage on her temple, Solana's stomach lurched every time she glanced at her normally spry grandmother sleeping in her hospital bed.

"Awake my Heart and Sol?" Ximena's voice was soft but strong. Better than yesterday.

"Yes, Abuela. How do you feel?"

"Like I hit my head and woke up in a dream." Her hand swept around the spacious hospital room, awash in muted grey tones, pale pink flowers in a tall vase on a bureau matching the water-coloured paintings hung on the wall. "Were they out of beds in the maternity ward?" The last time she'd had to stay in the hospital, the place was so overcrowded the only bed they could find was in with all the expectant or new mothers. Her grandmother had secretly loved being surrounded by the promise of new life.

Solana perched on the edge of the generous hospital bed and picked at the tassels on the cashmere blanket covering her abuela. "No. You can thank Jack for this."

"Ah, your friend from Vegas?"

"Not my friend." Ximena's eyebrow arched and Solana fisted her fingers. "It's not like that Abuela. Mr. Blackhorne probably thinks we're his good deed for the month. A charity case." If Jack was capable of good deeds. Solana admonished herself. The man had saved the day yesterday, thinking clearly while she'd blacked out in panic at the sight of the woman who was grandmother, mother and confidante all rolled into one, on the floor. He'd called the ambulance, arranged for the best of care and this room. Paid for everything. They were still paying off the credit card debt from the last ambulance ride.

"I think Jack—" her grandmother emphasized his first name "—might have a little crush on my granddaughter." Solana's skin heated at the memory of being crushed against Jack, lips locked on his as he held her securely during the plane's turbulence. The touch of her Abuela's fingers brought her back to the ground. "And who can blame him? You light up any room."

"Set the place on fire, you mean." Solana straightened the blanket and stood. Her grandmother was attempting to distract her with compliments. It was a trick she'd used every time Solana asked when her mother was coming home as a child. With no answer, her abuela resorted to compliments to divert the conversation. "We need to talk."

Ximena closed her eyelids. "Can it wait? I'm tired."

"You haven't been taking your pills." Solana crossed her arms as her abuela cracked open an eyelid. "Did you forget?"

The other woman huffed, injured by the comment. "I'm not senile yet."

"Then..." She let the word hang in the air.

"I ran out."

"But I sent you the cash for this month's pills."

"The toilet overflowed. Came home one night and there was water everywhere. Abraham wasn't around and I had to call an emergency plumber." Ximena folded her hands in her lap. "I had to make a choice."

Solana came back to the bed. "Why didn't you tell me? I could've found more."

"My Heart and Sol, you have enough on your plate. I appreciate you think you were forced to come back to LA." Her grandmother held up her hands. "I don't need to know why. But you weren't happy in that sinful city. I could hear it in your voice."

"Not much of a story. I'd paid off the creditors Lincoln saddled me with, so there was no reason to stay. Besides, I missed your tamales."

This brought a small smile to her abuela's face. "I'm glad you're here." She took Solana's hand in hers. "I love having my family around me. Luc missed you, too."

Solana squeezed the delicate fingers in hers. "And I love being around my family. Want you to stick around for a long time. So you have to promise you won't put off buying your medication anymore."

"Tell the bathroom not to flood or get Luc to stop growing out of all his clothes."

She kissed her abuela's weathered hand. "I'm home now. We'll find the money."

"Could you find me one of those fancy coffees we had last night?" Ximena smacked her lips. "I'm parched."

"Sure. Don't skip town while I'm gone." Solana made her way down the corridor to the lounge she'd discovered on this floor. The place was twice the size of the one in the emergency room and better stocked. While the machine performed its magic on the first cup of coffee, Solana perused the basket of fancy granola bars. Apricot and coconut sounded like it might pass as today's vitamin C intake.

"How's your grandmother feeling this morning?"

Solana spun around to find Dr. Collins, dressed today in grey slacks and a button down white shirt. "She has more colour in her cheeks, thanks. Whatever you're doing is working faster than the last time she was in here."

"Glad to hear it. She is in remarkable health despite the diabetes."

"She likes to keep active." Pushing a vacuum around an office space and cleaning windows has a tendency to keep one fit, even in their sixty's.

A three note jingle rang from the chrome machine before her, indicating the coffee was ready. Solana swapped the full ceramic mug for an empty one and stabbed at the appropriate buttons.

"Have you tried the caramel latte?" Dr. Collins pointed to the machine. "It's my favourite. And they have a sugar free version you'd swear was anything but."

"Thanks. But we prefer our coffee authentic. No need for fancy syrups or foamy milks. There's nothing like a good cup of coffee."

Dr. Collins nodded. "Simple is best sometimes." He peered down the hall. "Have you heard from Jack this morning?"

The question took Solana aback. Then she realized Dr. Collin's probably thought her and Jack were... well, she didn't know what to assume Dr. Collin's was speculating about her and Jack. Friends was what she could hope for. "Ah no. You?"

"Called me three times yesterday for an update on your grandmother. That man sure is persistent."

Goosebumps developed on her arms. Jack chose to check up on her abeula."Why didn't he just visit Ximena? This is his wing or whatever, isn't it?"

"Our mutual friend is a conundrum." Dr. Collins shook his head. "What do you think of Jack's handy work? He personally decorated this place."

"Sorry?" Jack decorating? If that was the case, she would have expected posters of half naked women, strobe lights and a martini bar instead of a coffee station.

"It's true. Not many people know it. That kind of thing would hurt his reputation as the tough as nails CEO who drives a hard bargain and rules with an iron fist. But he wished the people who come in here to have the best they could in what was probably a worst situation." Dr. Collins pointed to the two coffees in her hand. "His foundation pays for all the perks, the coffee, the food. He hand selected the décor, right down to the softest blankets I've ever felt. I hate to admit it, but a few have made their way home with me. He even has fresh flowers brought in every day for the patients."

Solana never would have guessed this side of Jack. She considered the room with a new perspective. The tidy, yet comfy chairs, the curtains on the windows, the china mug in her hand. It all had a modern living room feel rather than a hospital lounge atmosphere. "He has good taste."

"That he does." Dr. Collins pointed to the hallway. "Let me walk you back to your grandmother's room. I was on my way to check up on her."

Piping hot lattes in hand, she and the doctor made the brief trip down the hall. As they approached her room, they could hear a deep male voice speaking.

"Well, I never..." Dr. Collins paused and scratched his chin.

"Something wrong?"

His gaze fell on Solana. "Just Jack surprising me. As usual."

Jack? He was here? The warmth of the coffees trickled up her arms and neck to her cheeks. She caught a glimpse of herself in the shiny metal of the hospital room door and grimaced. Her hair sat smushed on one side from where she'd been sleeping and the once crisp white shirt she still had on from yesterday looked more rumbled than a discarded piece of paper in a trash can. She was a hot mess.

Beside her grandmother's bed, Jack Blackhorne's tall frame stood, tall and handsome as hell in a crisp navy suit, starched white shirt and a straight glacier-blue tie the colour of his eyes. Picture perfect, like he'd walked off the set of a photo shoot. "You gave me quite the scare."

"Family trait. We like to entertain our guests with dinner and a show." Her abuela was sitting straighter in her bed. "Ah, here's my Heart and Sol now."

Jack's gaze fell on her, and Solana's neck prickled with heat again. His intense stare almost caused her to trip and spill the hot coffee. He held up his hands as if in surrender. "I didn't do anything." His gaze dropped to the cups of hot liquid she held. "Don't release the bombs."

For a moment, she thought he was serious; he was so stoic. Then his lip twitched. Jackass. She considered making a snarky remark about not wasting excellent coffee by throwing it at him, but the presence of her abuela stopped her. Before focusing on placing the cups on the safety of the table beside her grandmother, she stuck her tongue out at Jack. "Morning to you, too."

"The nurse should have got those for you." Jack's officious tone caused Solana's skin to bristle.

"I'm perfectly capable of getting them myself." She ripped open the granola bar wrapper and handed it over to Ximena. "I don't need your help."

Solana glared at Jack, bracing for the snobby comeback. Instead, his icy stare bore into her, causing a shiver to run down her spine. Was he trying to intimidate her? Keep trying buddy. It took a lot more than a stoney stare to force her to back down.

"Jack?" Dr. Collins grasped the other man's hand. "Surprised to see you here."

"Why? We have our monthly board meeting today. Figured I'd pop in and see how Mrs. Monero was doing."

"Checking up on me?" Dr. Collins winked at Jack.

"Never." There was something in Jack's expression, a sadness maybe, and the look made Solana want to hold the hand that dropped to his side. "I know she's in the most capable hands with you."

This was not the arrogant man from the club, the overconfident guy from the plane, or even the helpful person in her abuela's kitchen. Jack stood muted, stiff, like he was ready to run at the slightest noise.

Dr. Collins clapped Jack on the back. "Well, Mrs. Monero, here is a pleasure to take care of. She'll be back at home in no time."

"I'm ready to go now." Ximena moved to get out of bed.

"No." Both Solana and Jack shouted at the same time.

Ximena's gaze bobbed between the two. "If the doc says I can go."

"Not quite yet, Mrs. Monero." Dr. Collins put his hands in his pockets. "I want to monitor your levels a little longer. Maybe you could stay with us for one more day?"

"No." Solana blurted as Jack said. "Yes."

Solana wanted to thank Jack for all he'd done, yet didn't want to owe him more than she had to. Another night in this place would be expensive. How was she going to pay back what she already owed?

"Does anyone care what I think?" Her abuela crossed her arms, looking like a petulant child.

"I think we all care, Mrs. Monero." Dr. Collins stepped forward. "We only want what's best for you."

A ding broke the silence. Jack patted his jacket and pulled out his cell phone. His eyebrows pulled together as he looked at the screen. "Excuse me. I have to take this." Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into the hall.

Dr. Collins studied the silent screen behind Ximena. "Everything as expected. Any dizziness? Pain?"

"No." Only she could see through her grandmother's poker face. The tight lines around her mouth gave away the lie.

"I think we should order up some pain killers just in case." Maybe the doctor had a bullshit detector as well. "Let's take a look at your head, shall we?"

Solana backed away. "I'll just wait outside."

Hi all. D. L. Croisette here. 

Look at that. Jack made it into the hospital. Where you surprised he showed up in Ximena's room?

What do we think of Dr. Collins? He is unique in Jack's world. Can you tell?

A little thank you for reading this story. As you know it's out of my comfort zone. I usually write kind, nice men and Jack is not quite in that category. Next up Jack gets back to being Jack.