Chapter 37
The antiseptic smell of the hospital followed Scott as he stepped inside the ER room where Tori lay propped up in the bed. He’d slipped through the ER doors and bluffed his way to her room by acting like he was supposed to be there.
“You’ve had a concussion,” the doctor was saying. He stopped, and they both looked toward him.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt,” Scott said. He got his first full look at Tori’s injuries, and anger outpaced the relief that she was not any worse than she was. But at least she was alive.
“I was finished,” the doctor said, turning his attention back to Tori. “But I hope you’ll reconsider and stay overnight for observation.”
She was slowly shaking her head, and Scott agreed. It’d be too easy for whoever ran Tori down to reach her in the hospital—look at how easily he’d gotten into her room. “I’m a trained EMT,” Scott said. “I’ll watch her and make sure she takes it easy.”
Tori’s lips pinched. “I don’t—”
“If you’re dead set on leaving, that’s an excellent idea,” the doctor said.
She looked as though she wanted to argue the point, then Tori’s shoulders slumped and she caught Scott’s eye. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It’ll be easier to keep you safe at Oak Grove.
” It wasn’t like the Tori he’d come to know to give in so easily.
Either this last incident had really scared her or she had a hidden agenda.
If it were the latter, he’d have to keep really close tabs on her.
Especially after he shared what Drew had told him.
And the hospital wasn’t the place to do that.
“Over-the-counter pain medication should suffice for your pain.” The doctor put his stethoscope in his coat pocket. “Use ice packs on your face for the next twenty-four hours, then you can alternate with heat.”
“How long before the swelling goes away?” Tori asked.
“At least a week,” Scott answered for the doctor and smiled at the “I didn’t ask you” look she shot him. “I’ve had experience.”
“He’s right . . . you already have a beaut of a shiner,” the doctor said.
The automatic blood pressure cuff inflated, and the doctor frowned as it registered her blood pressure. “It’s a little high, but that’s normal after what you’ve been through. That said, I’ll be back to check it one last time before you leave.”
“Drew is in the waiting room,” Scott said once they were alone.
“Good. Does it really look as bad as the doctor implied?”
“Pretty much,” he said. “You haven’t seen your face yet, but at least it’s only on one side.”
“Now you’re a comedian,” she said.
He swept his hand and followed through with a bow.
When he straightened up, she was laughing, and he joined in with her.
There hadn’t been many women in his life that he could joke around with without them thinking he was flirting.
And maybe he had been, but then their feelings had been hurt when they learned Scott was only interested in friendship.
At least romance was one thing he didn’t have to worry about with Tori. He was a recovering alcoholic, and she would never have a romantic interest in him. Scott hadn’t expected that to bother him, but it did.
Maybe it was better this way. It wasn’t that he hadn’t had girlfriends, but his relationships never ended well. A relationship took time, and for the past seven years his career had been his life—there hadn’t been time for anything else.
What if he had to give up the FBI? He had no idea what he would do. Not that he needed the money, but he liked having a purpose.
Scott could always volunteer at Walls of Jericho, Nick and Taylor’s camp for at-risk youth, but he wanted more structure than volunteering would afford. And it wasn’t the same as making a difference by fighting evil.
“Earth to Scott. Come in, please . . .”
He blinked. “Sorry.”
“Where were you?”
“Just thinking about my career.”
Concern laced her face. “How did your rehab go?”
“Like usual. I’m not making much progress.”
She studied him. “If the FBI doesn’t work out, you could always become a bodyguard.”
“Right.” He almost laughed. “You saw me at the lake. I’m sure the world would beat down the doors to hire someone who can’t hit a billboard from twenty feet.”
“You’ll get better.”
“I wish, but thank you for the encouragement.” Scott squeezed her free hand. “Can I take a closer look at the damage?”
Tori removed the ice pack, and he examined her face and winced.
“You’re not making me feel better,” she said.
He leaned over, breathing in her soft, clean fragrance, and with a light touch, he traced her swollen cheek. Her face was hot where the ice pack hadn’t touched it. “Does it hurt much?”
“Not like it did. When I hit the ground, it jarred my teeth.” She gave him a crooked smile. “I think the ice has numbed it now.”
Scott hadn’t met many women as gutsy as Tori. Her cheek had to be hurting, and she was passing it off. “The cuts aren’t deep. They’ll heal quicker than the swelling,” he said softly.
Their eyes connected, and his breath caught in his chest. His gaze traveled down to her lips. The air between them shifted, but that didn’t compare to the way his heart pounded. It was like someone pulled a switch.
A rap at the door had him jerking back as Erin entered the room.
She fisted her hands on her hips and stared at him. “How did you get back here when they wouldn’t let me when I first arrived?”