“I have a feeling you don’t mean that, but I’ll let it slide this time.” Spade glances at the clock on the wall. “It’s getting late, so you better get yourself a ride before you get too tired.”
My stomach drops. “You want me to go?”
“Not really.”
“Then I won’t.”
“But why would you stay?”
“Other than you asking me to stay?” He nods, so I continue. “You protected me, so now you’re stuck with me.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad,” he drawls.
Our private moment ends as the nurse walks in and asks Spade to move from the gurney to the hospital bed. I walk over to the chair Dr. Rhodes pointed out earlier and keep my eyes on Spade.
I can see the damage after the gauze is removed and his cuts are cleaned. He’ll need many stitches, most of them where his hair grows. The nurse carefully trims the area, and I watch as strands of Spade’s stunning copper-red hair drop on the floor. That’s a crime on its own if you ask me.
Even in this fluorescent hospital light, I can’t stop admiring Spade’s broad shoulders, tattooed arms, thick thighs, and large hands. It doesn’t help that he’s a good guy, and I find it super easy to talk with him. And the way he held me while we were at Monroe Dupree’s gig…I won’t forget that any time soon.
Stopping my chaotic train of thought before it goes too fast and misses the next station, I realize Sally was right when she told me I needed some action between the sheets.
And not to forget, I still feel awful that Spade’s here because he defendedme. I can’t feel sorry for him and then the next minute think how I would love nothing more than wrap myself around his solid, bigger body.
Or can I?
5
SPADE
I’m moved to a private room for the night after the CT scan. When the hospital staff heard what I did, they started treating me like royalty. I don’t get it, everyone should do what I did, but you don’t hear me complaining about better treatment. Thanks to painkillers, my headache is also gone, so everything looks a bit better already.
We also spent an hour with two police officers, giving them our statement. They informed us they had arrested the guy and based on what we and other eyewitnesses shared, he’ll at least be charged with assault.
Another bright spot about this entire ordeal is her.Tanya. Because, of course, the woman I helped escape Creepy McCreeperson is the one that got my attention in the shuttle line earlier. The sound of her laughter is one of my new favorite things. And let’s not forget the smile that warms me deep inside. She’s also funny to be around, even if our current situation is less than ideal.
My phone vibrates on the side table. I reach for it from my semi-sitting position, seeing Nora’s name on the screen. “My sister wants to know who is with me at the hospital.”
“When did you have time to text her?”
“Just before the police interview when you were talking on the phone with Sally.”
“Ah yes, that tracks. So, you have other siblings than your sister?”
“I actually have four sisters,” I admit, waiting for her reaction.
Her eyes bug out. “Four?!”
If I had a penny for every time someone reacted like she just did, I would be a millionaire. “Yeah, I have two older and two younger sisters. I’m the middle child out of five and the only boy.”
“Oh wow. I can’t even imagine that! And here I thought that having one brother was enough.”
I chuckle, thinking her words over. “It might seem like a lot for someone who didn’t grow up with many siblings, but to me, it was normal. I love having all my sisters and couldn’t imagine my life without them.”
“I love that for you,” she whispers and looks at me, awe in her eyes. “So, what are your sisters’ names, and what do they do for a living?”
“Are you sure you want to know?”
She rolls her eyes exaggeratedly. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t, so yes, I want to know.”
