Chapter 21
Beck
“Please tell me Sloane will be checking out of this hellhole in a few minutes so I can sweep her out of my life.”
My words were harsh, and said just as the doctor rounded the corner, likely on his way to see her, but I just didn’t give a shit. I needed her out of my hair and my life.
Once and for all.
The doctor appeared terrified. Maybe because my wolf was just below the surface, challenged once again as he’d been the day before. I hadn’t been able to control him then and I had my doubts I could rein him in any longer. All because of her.
My goddamn wolf had been the one to sense she’d been in peril.
He’d been the one insisting he breach the surface, at least enough to offer me his power.
He’d been the one to hold her like some big baby in his arms, keeping her from the rain, worried half sick about her injuries.
And he’d been the one to drive like some idiot bat out of hell at a hundred miles an hour heading for the hospital.
Almost getting into an accident not once but twice.
Yeah, the fucking traitor.
Now he wanted a piece of the doctor who’d insisted she stay the night.
Fucking asshole.
“Um, are we talking about Ms. Winters?”
“Of course we’re talking about Ms. Winters. When can she leave?”
A deep chuckle dragged my attention away from the doctor, where I was literally breathing down his neck. Cole stood with two cups in his hands, amused at hell at my performance.
With a deep exhale, my brawn managed to push the doctor against the wall. “Well?”
“After I have a talk with her and if she seems alright, I’ll put in the paperwork.” He sidestepped me even though I was glaring at him with my molars grinding.
“Make it pronto. I need her out of my life. Don’t make me come hunt you down. You won’t like it if I do.”
Great. Now I was threatening a doctor. Maybe I meant it. I even allowed a slight, very quiet growl, but the doctor acted as if I’d lunged at him with sharp, bloody canines by the terror crossing his face.
The doctor scampered away as if the building was on fire. In a way, it was. I could not deal with her right now. I rubbed my forehead, the deep ache in my loins driving me crazy.
“A little rough on him, weren’t cha?” Cole pushed off the wall, moving toward me. “I thought you were going to chomp his face off.”
“I hate hospitals!” I allowed my voice to boom.
“You hate everything and everyone right now. Here. Drink some coffee. Although I don’t know why I’m suggesting additional caffeine. You don’t need your wiring to be electrified.”
“Ha. Ha. What are you doing here? Don’t you have a playoff to win?”
His sigh brought a groan from both of us. “You too, huh? The curse of the Kendrick brothers.” I took the cup from his hand, ripping off the lid and taking a deep whiff. If only I had a shot of whiskey.
“It’s not a curse. Just a bad moment in time.”
I lifted my gaze over the cup. “I asked you a question. Why are you here?”
“Our mother sent us. Samantha all but demanded I bring coffee. I think the two of them were colluding on checking up on you.”
“I’m fine. Just fucking fine.”
“Ri-ight. And I have a few bridges to sell you. You were panicked when you called Pops.”
“I called our father?”
“Yep. I was there. You had to tell someone what was happening. Remember? Oh, wait. You were too worried about the woman. Your mate. Right?”
“Fuck this family.”
“This fucking family cares about you. You saved her life, man. That’s amazing.”
I shook my head, ensuring our conversation wasn’t being overheard. “Yeah, well, I had to shift into my wolf to do so.”
“How did you get the tree off her?”
“A partial shift.”
“Wow. I’ve never done that before,” Cole seemed impressed.
I was still uncertain about everything. Including why I’d literally almost panicked in trying to get to her. “I haven’t either.”
“You did what you had to do. Very cool.” He took a sip of coffee while I remained quiet. “Oh, let me guess. She witnessed the whole thing.”
“Apparently, she did. I denied it, but I know her. She’ll dig and dig and fucking dig and write an article about it. A scathing horrible article.”
He had his eyebrows furrowed, fighting laughter.
“What?” Now I was even snapping at my own brother. I was one big basket case.
“You saved her life, dude. I seriously doubt she’s going to go on national television and spout off that she witnessed a scary looking dude turning into some wolf creature to save her life.
She’s more likely to go on national television and tell the entire world the star of the Portland Hellions was a hero and saved her life. ”
“Not with the way we left things just before her accident.”
His eyes opened wide. “Wait a minute. Are you telling me you’re the reason she had the wreck in the first place?”
I fiddled with the cup. “Maybe.”
“Oh, my God. Then I take back the hero part. You are going to make it up to her. Right?”
“Now, why would I do that?”
“Because, dumbass, you’re crazy in love with her. Don’t kid yourself.”
His laugh at my expense pissed me off, but in truth, the bastard could tell when I was lying. Not that I was in love with her. Hell, no. But I did have a soft spot for her. “Not a chance.”
“How does that stupid expression go about protesting? Me thinks you are doing that.”
“And me thinks you need to shut the fuck up.”
“There’s the doctor,” Cole said, nodding over my shoulder. “You’re going to do right by her though. Right?”
“I’ll make sure she gets back to her hotel. That’s as far as I go.”
“Don’t worry,” he said, clapping my arm. “I’m working at the sawmill. Take your time.”
Before I could pop him, he backed away.
I snarled and even fisted my hand before heading toward the doctor. Who I was certain was ready to have a heart attack when he saw me coming.
“Mr. Kendrick. I’m already put in for an expedited release.
Should be about fifteen minutes. However, you’re going to need to bring her to my office in two days so I can check her out.
I’m a little worried about her spleen. Make sure someone stays with her at least for the next twenty-four hours.
” He skirted away, trying to rush down the corridor to get away from me.
“Why?”
“Because I’m the doctor. That’s why.”
Oh, now he was brave.
Damn it.
I took another swig of coffee, a bad taste already forming in my mouth. Babysitting was the last damn thing I needed to do.
Yet when I opened the door, my eyes falling on her, I felt the exact same as I had when I’d seen her in that mangled car.
So many emotions I could barely breathe.
Not only because she drove me crazy, furious to the point I wanted to drag her over my lap and spank her bottom until she cried.
But because I’d been terrified I’d lose her.
The beautiful pain in the ass reporter appeared so vulnerable, so frail in her ugly hospital gown that hid her beauty like she was wearing a potato sack.
She tipped her head, studying me for a few seconds before looking away.
This was going to grate my last nerve.
* * *
“What do you mean you gave my room away?”
Evidently, the feisty reporter wasn’t feeling that bad.
Her ballsy personality had returned. Now she was berating the girl who stood behind a tiny counter at a local B & B.
I noticed there was a suitcase with a laptop case leaning against the wall.
They’d packed up her things. Oh, this was going to start a fight.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Winters, but you only booked for one night. I tried to call you.”
“I booked for three nights and my phone just happens to be crushed under a tree limb!” Sloane blew hair from her face in her heightened exasperation. “I need a place to stay. Just rebook another room.”
The poor girl was already shrinking. Soon, she’d be half her size. Well, that was exactly the way the doctor had acted around me. I had to admit I was enjoying the hell out of myself. Something needed to entertain me at this point.
“I wish I could, but this is the height of tourist season,” the girl told her, which was true.
“You have a tourist season here? You are kidding me. Right?” Sloane was already laughing while the girl was looking to me to rescue her.
“No, ma’am.”
“What other hotels are in town? Surely there is something?” Like an asshole, I hadn’t thought to bring her any clothes. What she was wearing appeared as if she’d been wrestling with a bear.
No, just a wolf.
“I called around just in case since I didn’t know. Everything is booked. You might find something in Seattle, but I doubt it.”
Now the girl was begging me with her eyes to intervene. What did the girl expect? That I’d offer a room at my house?
Oh, hell. That’s exactly what she was thinking. Oh, fuck, no. I couldn’t live under the same roof as the woman who’d sold me out to the entire world. We’d kill each other.
What struck me even harder was that it was obvious Sloane wasn’t about to ask me for a favor. She knew the reality of the two of us. We were oil and water. Dry timber and gasoline.
Ice without a Zamboni machine.
Fuck me.
“You can stay with me until that damn doctor signs off on you leaving town.” I’d had feeling he was doing some witch’s bidding in requiring Sloane stay in town. However, I didn’t need to add murderer on my list of nefarious attributes at this point.
Sloane turned to face me, scrutinizing everything about me. Including what I was wearing. “I don’t want to be any trouble. You’ll likely think I poisoned your coffee.”
The girl was listening intently.
“As long as you don’t poison my whiskey then we’ll be alright.”
“God knows I wouldn’t want to do that. Then you’d be intolerable to deal with.” Sloane’s eyes were beaming from enjoying the hell out of herself.
At this rate, the girl could grab a bowl of popcorn.
Every act with the sexy reporter was nothing but a wrestling match. We glared at each other and to see the scratches on her face, the horrible gash on her leg reminded me just how close she’d come to dying. “Do you want to stay with me or not?”
“Will you be a good boy?”
“Oh, trust me. I’ll be very good.” My words were little more than a snark.