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Gene narrowed his eyes. “You’d rather go home with a stranger than going to a hospital?”
“Are you worried about me or yourself?” she asked. “If you’re uncomfortable with that idea, then just let the officers drive me home. If you’re really concerned about my head, then I give you permission to observe me overnight. Both of our names will be all over the police and EMT reports, so I’m not too worried about you trying anything funny with me.”
His eyebrows rose at her remark, but then a slow smile emerged as he tilted his head, studying the odd woman.
“Gee, thanks. I’m glad to know you’re not afraid of me because there are enough witnesses, not because of my character.”
“I hope you haven’t changed much, but I remember you were decent in high school,” Amanda said.
His smile vanished as Gene watched her walk back to the EMTs. Was he supposed to know her?
“Dr. Rowland said I can sign something to refuse transport to the ER?” Amanda asked the EMTs.
“Are you sure you want to do that, Amanda?” Amy asked.
“Yes.” Amanda smiled. “Dr. Rowland will observe me himself tonight.”
The two EMTs turned to Gene in unison, their gazes said ‘are you out of your mind?’
“We went to high school together,” Amanda supplied. “We go way back. Besides, his mother is one of my best customers.”
“Are you taking over her treatment, Dr. Rowland?” John, the other EMT, asked Gene carefully. What John was probably really saying was, ‘what could go wrong with that?'
Lots of things could go wrong. She could claim harassment or malpractice or worse. This was one of the reasons he had to have malpractice insurance. Not that he’d had any misconduct or any other complaints from a patient, but there was always that possibility hovering over a medical professional. Unfortunately, it was the world they lived in. It was why he’d taken a sabbatical from the hospital. Too much bullshit, not enough doctoring.
“Doc?” John asked again.
Gene studied Amanda, considering his options. If he said no and made her go, he would feel like an asshole for putting her into financial strain. If he said yes and went home with her, well… there were a lot of scenarios that might result from that. It would be a positive if she turned out not to have a concussion, but he could also think of numerous negative possibilities. The worst one might land him in jail.
All logic told him to say no.
“Yes,” Gene answered.
Amanda beamed at him, looking grateful.
I hope I don’t live to regret this.
three
Gene turned into the driveway of a duplex Amanda had directed him to. After another half-hour of signing forms, answering redundant questions from the police, and waiting for the traffic to clear up, they’d escaped. Amanda, despite her bravado, was fading with each minute. Even if she didn’t have a concussion, which was still an if, she still needed to lie down and rest her head.
“Which unit is yours?” Gene asked.
“The one on the left.” Amanda said.
“Wait till I come around,” he instructed.
“I can walk.”
“Wait!”
He used his firm voice and stepped out of the car.
This woman was driving him nuts. Her complexion had blanched during the drive—a sign that the adrenaline had worn off—but still managed to argue. He was becoming more inclined to say she couldn’t have a concussion seeing how hard her head was.
Before he came around, he grabbed his duffel bag from the trunk. When he rounded to the passenger side, she already opened her door and was pulling herself out of the seat. He dashed to her side.
“Why can’t you wait for ten seconds?” Gene grumbled. “Do you want to fall and hit your head again?”
