I started to say it wasn’t necessary, but Dane cut me off.
“Yes. I’ll be checking on her, and making sure she follows your instructions, Doc.”
The teasing lilt in his voice did strange things to my already puzzled insides.
“Good.” The doctor stood, and started writing out my prescription. Rather than telling me what I had to take, and when, he told Dane, clearly under the impression that Dane was going to be taking care of me. Again.
“Call me if there are any problems.” The doctor smiled again, and exited the room, leaving me alone with Dane.
“You don’t have to take care of me,” I said, swinging my ankle around the bed. “I’m sure you’d rather be with your family over Thanksgiving.”
His beautiful grin faltered, and I realized that mentioning his family would make him think about Jewel too.
With that one poorly thought out comment I’d managed to acknowledge the big, ugly thing that would always be between me and a real relationship with Dane. We’d never really spoken about his sister, or my brother for that matter. It was just easier to keep things simple, but I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to do simple for much longer. Where would that leave me?
Dane distracted me from my wayward thoughts when he stepped forward, and moved between my legs. I looked up, and I had no doubt he saw the questions in my eyes.
“I think I’d rather play Doctor-Doctor with you.” He’d deflected my remark about his family, and I welcomed the change in subject.
A grin tugged at my lips. “I somehow think you’d look ridiculous in a nurse’s outfit, but I’d totally pay to see that.”
The half-smile I’d come to love appeared, and Dane leaned forward. His lips were millimeters away from mine, and I prepared myself for his kiss when the door opened.
“Oh, sorry.” A redhead nurse walked in, and Dane stepped back. “I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I have your moon boot.”
Heat crawled its way up my neck and into my cheeks. “Thank you.”
She went about slipping the boot on to my injured foot, and I looked up to find Dane watching me with a gleeful stare. He mouthed the word “later” and moved to help me from the hospital bed.
“Did Dr. Andrews explain your after-care?” The nurse asked, her eyes flitting between Dane and me. I couldn’t blame her. He was a fine package to look at, and even women in their nineties couldn’t resist a peek.
“He did,” I replied, clearing my throat.
“Great. Is there anything else I can help you with?” The nurse was lingering, and I couldn’t blame her for that either.
“No,” replied Dane. “I think we’re quite ready to leave.”
With a nod, the nurse left, and Dane took my hand as he led me out the door.
Dane’s phone rang, and I leaned against the wall while he answered. I was going to need his help if we were going to get out of the hospital in the next four hours.
“Chase?”
My brows shot up, and the surprise in Dane’s voice most likely matched my expression. Things had been tense the last time Chase and Dane were at the hospital
“Yeah, we are…Kennedy had an accident and I brought her in…Yeah she’s fine, she left her phone in her Jeep…That’s great news, man…Of course, I’ll bring her up now…”
Dane pocketed his phone, and turned his body towards mine.
“Grady’s awake. Chase said he woke up last night.”
After what had transpired in the last twelve or so hours, I hadn’t given much thought to Grady. I covered up my guilt with a wide, genuine smile, and if it weren’t for my foot I would have jumped up and down on my feet.
“Can we go see him?” I asked hopefully.
Dane did the strangest thing just then. He brushed my cheek with his knuckles. It was so gentle, but it caused something inside me to fracture, leaving me feeling a little more exposed and vulnerable to him. It terrified me.
“Of course,” he replied. “But wait here, and I’ll grab you a wheel chair. You must be tired.”
He turned, disappearing around a corner before I could say anything. But maybe that was a good thing because I was worried that the moment I opened my mouth, I wouldn’t be able to keep the truth from spilling out.
I just needed a few more days with him, I reasoned. As soon as Jade and Reid are back, I’ll tell him we need to end things.
Dane reappeared minutes later and helped me into the wheelchair before taking me to the floor where we’d find Grady’s room. The door was open, so Dane wheeled me in without preamble, and the moment I saw Grady sitting up in bed, I wanted to cry.
Dane stopped me next to the bed, and I could see Grady’s smile beneath the black and blue bruises marring his face. He had a neck brace on, and still had one leg, and one arm in casts.
“There’s my tootsie roll,” he said in a scratchy voice. That seemed to be tipping point because the dam broke, and the hot tears spilled over my eyelids.
“I’m so happy you’re okay,” I said softly. “I was worried I was never going to hear that voice again.”
Grady’s eyes glossed over. “It would take more than a fucker like Gavin Blake to keep my down, honey bee.”
I gasped, and I felt Dane’s body stiffen behind me.
“That’s who did this to you?”
“That’s what the police told me,” said Grady. “They have it all on camera, and will be using it if I decide to press charges.”
“If?”
“I honestly don’t want to talk about this right now, please. I just want to talk about random shit, like why you’re here, and why Dane is with you.” Grady lifted a brow at me, and I shifted on the spot. Did he have to say that while Dane was in the room?
Luckily, Dane decided to cut in. “I’m going to leave you two to catch up. I’m glad you’re okay, Grady.” I looked up at Dane at the same time he looked down at me. “Call me when you’re done, just don’t take too long. We need to get you home.”
I nodded, and turned my head back in Grady’s direction. He was staring at me.
“What?”
Both of Grady’s brows lifted and he gave me a look that said really?
“How long have you been sleeping with him?” Grady asked bluntly.
“W-what?” I sputtered. “I’m not - ”
“Baby girl, you can lie to anyone else except me. I know what those googly eyes mean. You have seen that sexy hunk of man meat naked, and judging by the color of your cheeks, it’s been several times.”
My mouth dropped open, and I tried to form some kind of rebuttal, but it wouldn’t come. Was it that obvious?
“I…uh…”
Grady chuckled, and then grabbed his ribs with a wince. “Why do you look so horrified? It’s not like I kicked your puppy.”
“How’d you know?” I asked. He was pretty damn observant for someone who’d just spent the last two days in a coma.
I thought we’d done a pretty good job of keeping it a secret, considering Jade had never picked up on anything. If she knew, then everyone else wasn’t far behind.
He shrugged. “I saw it coming before anyone else did, pun intended.” He winked. “It’s fate. Like Romeo and Juliet.”