Chapter 10 #2
“Didn’t say that,” she replied, pasting an innocent expression on her face.
“Ow!”
We both looked over as the kid from last night hobbled over to a chair, supported by Seek’s sister.
“Pretty sure he broke his ankle,” Seek said.
“Sounds like he deserves it.”
Her brows rose and her smile spread over her face again. “Because you never fight?” The sarcasm was heavy, since it was clear to her I’d just come from a fight.
“Too old to be fightin’ over women.” That was a bold faced lie, since Riptide and I had gotten into it over Daphne, and in a way, Seek.
“Hmmm,” she hummed, the answer neutral.
We watched as Brad whined and moaned from across the room. “You can go help them if they need it.”
“Nah, they made me drive across town to pick them up. He wanted to try to wait it out overnight to see if it stopped hurting. News flash, it didn’t. Joanna can take care of her own man.” She gave me a toothy grin.
I chuckled and shook my head. “You’re a petty woman.”
“Don’t you forget it.”
We trailed off into silence. I was searching for something to say—after all I’d bolted on her after that kiss last night—when the nurse called my name.
I stood, eager to get away from her. She was causing all my blood to flow to a part of my body that didn’t need to be alert right now. As soon as I was out of my chair the world did a quick pitch and I stumbled.
Hands slid around my waist, helping to steady me. The scent of strawberries invaded my senses as Seek’s body brushed against mine.
“Careful,” she said, her voice low and husky.
I looked over at her and had to fight back the urge to tug her more fully into my arms. That was a terrible idea for multiple reasons, not the least of which was that we’d probably tumble to the ground, so I kept my hands to myself.
There were still two of her, so it wasn’t like I knew which to grab anyway.
“Thanks,” I muttered, embarrassment making the back of my neck hot. I hated feeling weak and I’d just looked like a fucking pansy ass in front of a gorgeous woman. It made my already sour mood darker.
“Want some help-”
“No,” I snapped. The hurt in her eyes made me feel like a piece of dog shit.
It wasn’t her fault I’d gotten into a fight with one of my best friends.
It also wasn’t her doing that I’d been dragged to the ER when I didn’t want to be here.
She was innocent in all of this. Well, except for the fact that she was invading my mind every second of every day.
“I got it, thanks,” I said, gentling my tone.
She nodded and stepped back and again I had to fight the desire to pull her back into my arms. I made my way over to the nurse.
* * *
“You have a concussion, so you’re going to need to take it easy for a few days,” the nurse told me an hour later as she led me back out to the waiting room. “If you feel…” Her voice faded out as I saw Seek waiting there in one of the chairs, fiddling with her phone.
Her dark hair was partially covering her face and my hand twitched involuntarily, wanting to brush it aside so I could see those gorgeous eyes. I got my wish. It was as though she felt my stare and looked up. Our eyes met and a smile formed on her face.
“Are you listening to me?”
I glanced over at the old battle ax who’d been listing off symptoms to watch for and nodded. I’d had concussions before. I knew what to do and not to do.
The nurse rolled her eyes and smacked my discharge paperwork into my hand. She strode away from me and I couldn’t help the smile that crept over my face when I watched her leave, exasperation emanating from every pore of her being.
“You should do that more often.”
My head turned, making things tilt dangerously, but my vision settled once Seek was the focus. She was standing in front of me. God, she was so beautiful. Her skin was smooth and soft, her eyes large and all encompassing.
“Do what?” I asked when she began to fidget nervously while waiting for my response.
“Smile more. It makes you look really handsome.” Her eyes widened, like she hadn’t meant to admit that out loud.
I chuckled and brought my hand up, cupping her neck and running my thumb over her jaw. “You think I’m handsome?” I shouldn’t be flirting with her, but she was so damn hard to resist.
Her cheeks pinkened and she shrugged. “Do you need a ride home?” she asked, changing the subject.
“What about your sister?” I let her off the hook and didn’t demand that she answer my question. The way she’d kissed me last night told me she wasn’t a virgin, but her mannerisms suggested she didn’t have a lot of experience with men. She certainly didn’t know how staggeringly beautiful she was.
A movement caught my eye and I watched as a man came into the ER, paused as he was walking past, and let his eyes rove hungrily over her. Then he met my gaze and flinched as he saw the death that awaited him if he even thought about coming near her.
“She texted me. Brad’s ankle is definitely broken. My mom is going to come pick them up once they’re done setting and casting it. I’m free to go.”
I looked back at her once the man veered a hard left and went into the bathroom to get away from my hostility.
I wasn’t sure what it was about Seek that brought out the protective instinct in me, but the feeling was riding me hard right now.
“That’d be great, thanks,” I said, taking her up on her offer.
It was more to get her out of here and away from the guy in the bathroom than a need for a ride, or so I told myself.