“Please,” Jewel whimpered, fighting back the panic. Her wolf side had now awakened and was urging her to flee.
Something in her expression must have decided him. “Sorry, doc.” Colton took her arm. “She’s going with me. I’ll bring her back if she needs any other medical care.”
“There’s paperwork,” the nurse warned, brandishing a clipboard like a weapon. “She can’t leave without signing the release forms.”
“I’m not signing them,” the doctor warned.
“If he’s not, then I’m not.” With that, Jewel walked away, shaking her leg to iron out the kinks. She knew her limp was already less noticeable and that they’d wonder, but she didn’t care.
Colton hurried after her, catching her arm once they’d reached the parking lot. “Wait.”
“I’m not going back in there,” she warned. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“I’m a reporter, remember? I got called to the accident scene. When I saw the wreck and realized it was you, I came out here to make sure you were all right.” He searched her face. “They said you were badly injured.”
“They were wrong. I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem to be all that hurt,” he agreed. “Though I don’t see how that’s possible, considering the shape of your car.”
Her car. Jewel’s spirits sank. Now she was without transportation. Buying another vehicle would use up a lot of her precious stash of money. “I’m going home,” she said, moving forward.
Again, he kept pace with her. “I don’t blame you. But your place is a five-mile walk or more and you’re in a hospital gown. Would you like a ride?”
She hesitated, eyeing him sideways. His relaxed expression gave away nothing. “I would,” she said finally, pulling away. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
He pointed to his pickup, punching the key fob to unlock the doors. “Hop in and we’ll go.”
Once she’d buckled herself in, he started the engine and they pulled out of the hospital parking lot. He was surprised no one had followed them. But then, he’d never seen anyone refuse treatment before.
“Are you all right?” Colton asked, keeping his tone nonconfrontational.
“Yes.” She leaned back in the seat while he drove.
To his shock, he realized she was shivering. “Are you cold?”
“No. When I had the accident, I was on my way home from the grocery store with a trunk load of groceries. Now, I realize my foray for food was all for nothing. I need to eat.”
He nodded. “I’ll run through the drive-through at Burger Barn. Tell me what happened?”
“My brakes failed.” Her flat voice told him she thought it was something more. “I pushed the brake pedal and it went all the way to the floor.” She took a deep breath and met his gaze squarely. “I think they were tampered with.”
Because of who she was, he realized he had to take her seriously. But first, should he let her know her secret was out?
If he’d recognized her, so would others.
The Burger Barn was up ahead, on the right.
“Tampered with?” Stalling for time, he scratched his chin, a nervous habit he’d never been able to shake. “Why would someone do that?”
Staring out the window, she didn’t answer.
He signaled a right turn and pulled into the drive-through. “What do you want?”
“Three hamburgers, cooked medium rare. Diet Coke.”
“The mini-burgers?”
“No, the doubles.”
