Page 23 of Royal Desire

She waves off her grandson just as new voices announce themselves from the front door. “Winslet Fire and EMT. Deacon, are you here?”

“In the bathroom,” I call and dig in my bag. “We’re going to need the stretcher.”

Blake disappears down the hall as his grandmother continues to complain. “Ruby, make him get this thing off me.”

Ruby gives Alice’s hand a squeeze, and it’s not lost on me that this is the closest I’ve been to her. Closer than when we were going at it across the counter at the diner. “Don’t argue, Grandma. They’re taking you in to make sure you’re okay.”

I rip open a glucose gel. “You’re grumpy enough that you’ve officially passed the coherent test to take oral glucose. I’ve got dessert for you. Open up. This will make you feel better.”

With her complexion still ashen, Alice glares up at me and looks like she’s working hard to expend so much anger. “I wouldn’t trust you if you were the last human on earth and I were on my death bed. You’re not even a real fireman.”

“Grandma, stop it and do what he says,” Ruby pleads.

“You slay me, Ms. Sinclair. Most people around here call me a hero. It’s this or an IV. You choose. I’m just putting it out there that the IV is for the weak who can’t manage to choke down the sugar gel. What’s it going to be?”

Alice frowns. “I’m not a weakling. I get my steps in every single day.”

“Grandma, take the gel,” Ruby insists.

Alice can barely move where she’s wedged with the brace on her neck, but she has no problem rolling her eyes. “Fine.”

I squeeze the packet of gel onto her tongue. “That’ll make you feel better until the doctors can figure out what’s going on.”

Alice swallows and announces the obvious. “You have no idea what’s wrong with me. You’re no doctor.”

I sit back on my heels. “Ma’am, my job is to keep you alive until you get to the hospital, not cure you. They’ll figure out why your blood sugar was so low.”

The other two volunteers make it down the narrow hall with the stretcher as the guy in the front announces. “Your magic carpet ride awaits, Ms. Sinclair.”

Alice finally gives in as I clean the gash on the side of her head and tape a piece of gauze over it. It had mostly stopped bleeding before I got here. Ruby brushes the hair from Alice’s face. “Please, cooperate. Blake and I will follow you to the hospital.”

“It’s a waste of time,” Alice insists. “I’m fine now. Gimme an aspirin, and I’ll go to bed.”

Ruby looks from me to the other medics. “Ignore her. Take her to the hospital.”

“Ruby Mae, I’m going to have it out with you later for this.”

After more complaining and arguing, she’s strapped to the stretcher and out the door. Right before I climb up into the back of the ambulance with the old woman who seems to hate me as much as her granddaughter, Blake grabs my forearm. “Thanks, Payne. Ruby and I will be right behind you.”

I lift my chin. “I’ll see you there.”

I duck to climb into the back of the rig. Right before I slam the door behind me, Alice yells, “Payne Deacon, you’re on my shit list!”

Fucking great.

CHAPTER EIGHT

NOT MY PAYNE

Ruby

“Iam not diabetic! That’s for old people. Or sick people. That’s not me, dammit.”

“Grandma, watch your mouth,” I hiss.

Blake turns a deep shade of red and turns to the doctor. “I’m sorry. She doesn’t think before she speaks.”

Grandma snaps at Blake, which isn’t like her at all. “Quit apologizing for me. I mean exactly what I say.”