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He knows I keep my personal and professional life separate–not that I have a personal life. I haven’t been with a woman in a long damn time, not since my relationship with Janice ended abruptly. Maybe that’s why I’m reacting so viscerally to Amalie, although something tells me it goes way deeper than that.
“Not sure,” I reply, deciding to be honest. “There’s something about her. I can't leave her to fend for herself.”
Jace nods knowingly. “Go take care of your girl. I’ll take care of the car. Text me what you know, and I’ll see what I can find out.”
Go take care of your girl.
Jace's words reverberate in my head. Why does that sound so fucking right?
“Thanks, buddy. Just drop the key with Mel at reception.” I hand him Amalie’s car key. “I owe you.”
Jace laughs. “Pretty sure we stopped counting when it comes to mutual favors.”
“Fine. Beers are on me next time we go to Joe’s Place,” I reply, referring to the local bar.
Lifting a hand in farewell, I head back to the cruiser, where Amalie is waiting in the back seat behind the prisoner partition. She looks… wrong seated there, like a beautiful bird captured in a cage.
I slide into the driver's seat and start the engine. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I catch Amalie’s eye. She looks like she’s on the verge of collapse.
“You doing okay back there?” I ask, trying to sound gentle.
Amalie nods weakly, her gaze meeting mine. “Thank you for helping me.”
“Just doing my job,” I reply, even though my gut tells me it’s more than that.
As we drive toward the clinic, the silence in the car is heavy. Amalie is lost in her thoughts, probably replaying whatever nightmare brought her here. I’m left with my thoughts, wondering why this woman has stirred something in me that I thought was long dead.
The clinic comes into view, and I pull into the parking lot. I open the door for Amalie, helping her out of the car. She winces with the movement, cradling her wrist with her right hand. My jaw clenches. Whoever did this to her is going to regret it.
Walking toward the medical clinic, I notice how out of place she looks in this small town. Her designer clothes stick out like a sore thumb among the simple attire of the locals. But the pain in her eyes is universal. She's suffering. Doesn't matter to me where she came from, she's in my town now, and I aim to take care of her.
The nurse, Martha, greets us as we enter the clinic. She's a kind woman in her fifties who's known me since I was a kid. Martha takes one look at Amalie and ushers her toward an examination room.
I watch them disappear down the hall before turning toward the waiting room.
“Hey,” Amalie’s voice stops me in my tracks.
I turn back to see her standing there, looking fragile and lost.
“Yeah?” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Can you… can you come with me?” Her voice is barely above a whisper.
Jesus, this woman is slaying me. Every cell in my body demands I wrap her in my arms and never let go.
I hesitate for a moment before nodding. “Sure.”
Amalie gives me a grateful smile as I follow her and Martha into the treatment room.
"I'll let the doctor know you're here," Martha says before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
While we wait for the doctor, Amalie's eyes dart around the room, never settling on anything for more than a second. She's nervous, scared even. I want to reassure her, tell her she's safe here, but I know words won't be enough. She needs to see it, feel it.
The doctor, a middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor, enters the room. He introduces himself as Dr. Bennett and begins to examine Amalie's wrist. His brow furrows as he feels the swelling. "I think it's a bad sprain, Miss Vasti, but I'd like to get an X-ray to be sure."
Amalie nods quietly, her eyes flickering with relief and apprehension. She trusts this doctor, I can tell. And right now, that's all that matters.
Dr. Bennett leaves the room to arrange the X-ray, leaving Amalie and me alone again. The silence settles heavily between us, broken only by the distant hum of medical equipment. Spotting a spare pillow on the countertop, I grab it and slide it beneath her head.
