Chapter 3
Liam waited for the otologist to read the test results of his hearing test after receiving his cochlear implant.
“Everything appears great, Liam. I can’t be happier with the results,” the surgeon said. “You’re cleared to work. Keep in mind to notify us immediately if you have any signs of infection, any weakness in your ear, dizziness, or if you have a change in taste.”
“Will do. Thanks,” Liam said, limping from the recent car accident.
“Good luck. We’ll see you in three months,” Dr. Eberstein said before walking out of the exam office.
Liam walked toward the elevator and caught it as the door started to close.
“Liam,” Addyson murmured, surprised.
He grinned. “Hey, Addy, the mud chaser, are you ready for another shortcut down the mountain?” he teased.
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as her hand went to her head.
“Addy? What’s wrong?” he said, rushing to her side.
“I have a migraine. It started last night,” she said, swaying.
“I’m taking you to the ER,” he said, leaning over and hitting the hospital’s main floor button.
“I only need to lie down for a bit,” she whispered as if talking bothered her.
“We’ll let Doc and Kassie decide what you need,” he said as he waited for the doors to open.
She took two steps and went limp against him.
Liam picked her up and raced to the ER. “I need help over here,” he called.
Two nurses directed him to an empty bed while one paged Dr. Winters.
“Can you tell us what happened?” the ER doc rushed inside the cubicle.
“We were involved in a car accident yesterday, and I saw her in the elevator. She mentioned she suffered from a migraine, and then she grew weaker.”
“We’ll order an MRI,” the doctor said. “Do you know if they examined her yesterday?”
“They brought us in, but I didn’t see her after we arrived,” he admitted.
“We’ll check her chart,” he assured Liam before turning to the nurses. “Get her down to radiology.”
Liam paced back and forth until he saw Dr. Winters enter the ER.
“Do you have any update on Addyson?” he asked.
“I heard you found her in the elevator,” Doc said as he checked the reports on a computer. “They’re bringing her back now. I can’t discuss her condition with you. Thank you for bringing her to the ER.”
“No problem. Do you mind if I stick around?” Liam asked.
“I can have the nurses come get you once they get her settled. She’ll be our guest tonight,” Doc informed him.
“I’d appreciate it,” he said, taking a seat in the waiting room.
Twenty minutes later, he saw them roll her in one of the rooms.
“Hey, Liam,” Leo greeted him. “I heard you were waiting here. Do you feel all right after your joy ride yesterday?”
“I’m fine. Addyson suffered a migraine, and they ran a test. I’m waiting to go back and see her,” he explained.
“Doc says you’ll be sprung from the hospital any day.
We have bunks at the facility. They usually graduate you to a cabin after you finish, and we give you time to find a house.
Right now, there’s nothing available in Serenity.
We’ll be spinning up for a mission soon, and I wanted you settled somewhere. ”
“I got cleared by the ENT today. Doc needs to sign off. Do you happen to know where I can get a car? I have a motorcycle stashed at my parents’, but I prefer a car in the colder months,” he said as he anxiously waited for the nurses to leave Addyson’s room.
“We have company undercover vehicles. You can borrow one until you find what you want,” Leo offered. “If Doc releases you, text me, and we’ll get you assigned to a bunk and start orientation. Cole’s waiting to work with you and Apollo.”
“Yes, we’ve met a few times. Apollo’s great. Cole texted me about taking him on a practice mission, and he helped you take down the bad guys,” Liam said, already proud of his future partner.
“Yes. You don’t know how badly I wanted Cole to issue the attack command. Some of those bastards deserved a bite in the balls,” Leo said gravely. “I’ll have Saint bring a car over and drop the keys in your room. Did you complete the paperwork?”
“Yes, I gave it to Whiskey last week,” he informed him.
Leo pinched his nose. “I’ll ask Whiskey what he did with it. I’m hoping we’ll see you in the next couple of days.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to joining the team,” Liam said, truly meaning it. He didn’t think he’d have a second chance to do something he loved again. The team members visited him, played cards, and answered all his questions. He genuinely liked them, and they seemed close.
“I’ll see you then. I’m on my way to see my wife,” Leo said, picking up the flowers and a bag of soup and walking to the end of the corridor.
“Hi, Liam. Addyson says you can come in now,” the nurse greeted him.
“Thanks,” he said, rising and following the nurse. She pointed to her room, and he knocked before entering.
“Hey, Addy,” he whispered. “How’s the headache?”
“I’m feeling better. Thank you for catching me earlier,” she said softly and let out a short giggle. “I think we switched places.”
“Didn’t Doc check you out yesterday?” he asked, concerned.
“I saw the ER doc, and he stitched me up. He wanted to run a CT scan, but I didn’t feel any pain and refused,” she explained.
Liam made a face and gazed at her. “Excuse me? Aren’t you Addyson Parker, professional nurse extraordinaire? What if a patient experienced what you went through yesterday?”
“I know. We already ran late, and I needed to get home to Zeus,” she said, playing with the blanket’s edge.
“Who’s Zeus?” he asked.
“He’s my dog and baby. I usually go home and take him for walks on my lunch breaks, and we spend the evening together on my back porch while I crochet.”
“Who will watch him while you’re in here?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I can ask one of the Security Serenity team members to stop by to feed him and let him out,” she said, reaching for her phone.
“You don’t need to ask them. I’m teaming up with one of the K-9’s and I’m good with dogs,” he informed her. “You know they do background checks. He’ll be safe with me,” he assured her.
Addyson sucked on her bottom lip before picking up her purse and handing him her house key. “He gets a scoop of food in the morning and one at night. We go for a walk around lunch or dinner, depending on my shift. Then, before you leave, give him a little treat,” she instructed.
“Shall I tuck him in and read him a book at bedtime?” he teased.
“We haven’t spent a night apart,” she confessed. “I don’t know how he’ll do all alone. He usually sleeps in the bed with me.”
“Does he have a crate? Dogs love them for safety and security purposes,” he explained as he placed her purse on the tray. “How did you get your bag?”
“I asked one of the nurses to get it for me. I don’t use a crate because I adopted him from a shelter where someone kept him crated all the time.
The poor baby shook every time I took him for a walk.
He’s come such a long way,” she boasted proudly.
“Don’t let his bark scare you. As soon as you tell him dinner, he’ll become your best friend. ”
“I’m sure we’ll get along,” he said, placing the key in his pocket. “Saint’s bringing me a car to use. How did you get to work this morning?” he asked.
“I walked to Whiskey’s house, and he drove me,” she told him. “I contacted the insurance and sent in the pictures. They’re sending an adjuster this week.”
“Don’t let them low-ball you. Have you checked to see what your car’s worth or how much it’ll cost to replace it?”
“No. The headache started, and I didn’t want to stare at a computer screen,” she said, pulling the blanket over her.
Liam didn’t like the thought of Addy walking alone in the pre-dawn hours to meet Whiskey. Did his new teammate know how she got to his house?
“Why did they ask you to stay the night?” he asked.
“Because I didn’t have anyone to stay with me. It’s one of the things I love about this place. Everyone watches out for one another,” she admitted.
Then why did she have to walk to get a ride?
Something didn’t add up. From what he saw of the men on the team, they seemed very protective of the women and children, regardless of which family they belonged to.
They watched out for one another. Liam struggled with believing Whiskey refused to pick her up.
“You’ve earned a day off. Why don’t you take it easy and rest? Since I’m headed to your home, do you need anything else?” he asked.
“Do you mind bringing back my computer? I might car shop while I’m sitting idly in this bed.”
“I’ll be sure to grab it,” he assured her as he rose.
“Thanks again,” she said before closing her eyes.
Liam slipped out of her room and headed toward his own. On his way back, he planned to ask Whiskey about Addy getting a ride from him. With the unpredictable weather and nearly collapsing in the elevator, he didn’t like her being alone. What if she fell ill on the way to Whiskey’s?
Addyson presented a conundrum for him. During his hospital stay, Liam saw her daily.
He felt the attraction ripple through him every time they saw each other, but she ran like a frightened rabbit.
He contrived his request to ride down the mountain with her after weeks of getting her to speak with him.
He wanted to get her alone and talk with her, away from her professional setting.
Thankfully, he rode with her yesterday as he thought of what might have happened if she only braked as the tree crashed down on her car.
The chaotic mountain ride didn’t seem much better, but it saved their lives.
Now that he had found a foothold in Addy’s heart, he didn’t plan on letting the opportunity slip away.
* * *
Leo knocked on Kit Kat’s office door and heard her tiredly call, “Come in.”
He entered and stopped as he saw the dark circles under her eyes. “Kit Kat, you look terrible,” he exclaimed as he rushed behind the desk.
“Gee, thanks, Leo,” she murmured sarcastically.
He laid the flowers on her desk and set the Ty’s bag beside it. “When’s the last time you’ve slept more than six hours?”
“Ha,” she huffed. “Since the first time you got me pregnant.”