Page 53 of Lay Down the Law

“I’m fine.”

“You’re shaking—”

“Forget it.”

The wail of a siren in the distance broke the tension that had risen between them. The sound sent a flutter of relief through Nick. He told himself it was because he wanted her to get checked out as soon as possible. But he knew part of the reason he didn’t want to be alone with her was because he didn’t want her to prod the wound that had just been reopened.

Knowing he couldn’t avoid the inevitable, clamping his jaws to keep his expression neutral, he slowly turned to her. His knees went weak at the sight of her tears. They shook him to his foundation, sent the last of his resistance out the window. With an oath, he crossed the distance between them. He didn’t remember reaching for her. He didn’t remember enveloping her in his arms. All he knew was that the feel of her against him was so right it brought tears to his own eyes, and made him want to protect her from the world, even if she didn’t want it that way.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, pressing his face against her hair and breathing in her scent. “You’re safe. You’re with me. Everything’s going to be fine.”

“What about you?”

“I’m fine.” He swallowed, fighting for control, hating it that the accident had scraped him raw and left him bleeding.

“You don’t look fine to me.”

“One catastrophe at a time, McNeal, all right?” Pulling back slightly, he looked into her eyes, trying not to tumble into their green depths. “You weren’t crying or anything after you left my place, were you?”

“Nick, this wasn’t your fault,” she said firmly.

He wasn’t sure he believed her, but he let it slide. He didn’t want to take on any guilt. He had enough emotions to deal with just knowing how differently things could have turned out. “What happened?” he asked after a moment.

Her eyes were luminous and incredibly large in the pale frame of her face. When she opened her mouth to speak, her lips trembled. “I think it was a professional hit.”

* * *

Nick paced the emergency room hall, high-grade anxiety pumping through him with each beat of his heart.

I think it was a professional hit.

Erin’s words rang like a death knell in his ears. He wished he was surprised, but he wasn’t. Not after the incident at the school. A hundred unanswered questions tumbled through his mind. Simultaneously, the need to protect her rose inside him in a violent tide that threatened his viselike grip on control.

Who wanted Erin McNeal dead?

“Chief Ryan?”

Nick spun at the on-call doctor’s voice. “How is she?”

The doctor came through the double doors of the emergency room and stopped next to Nick. “She’s very lucky. A few bruises and cuts. CAT scan looks good. X rays are normal. We’re waiting for blood tests, but I think she’s good to go home. You can talk to her now.”

A spiral of relief tunneled through him. “Thanks, Doc.”

Turning, Nick shoved through the emergency room doors. He scanned the room, his gaze drawn to the woman lying on the gurney in the corner. Something warm loosened in his chest when her gaze met his. Then her mouth curved in a tentative smile, and despite his worry and the questions buzzing around inside his head, he couldn’t keep from smiling back.

Never taking his gaze from hers, he approached the gurney. “Has anyone ever called you a trouble magnet, McNeal?”

Her smile widened to a grin. “What do you think?”

“If I wasn’t so glad you’re all right, I’d probably chew you out just for the hell of it.”

“You actually smiled a little when you saw me. I think that’s a good sign.” Surprising him, she raised her hand and pressed it to his cheek. “I didn’t realize you worried so much.”

Nick winced at the contact, knowing she was referring to his emotional reaction back at the accident scene, but he didn’t step back. Every pleasure center in his body focused on that small, warm contact.

“You have a really nice smile, Chief. You should try it more often.”

Low-level shock rippled through him, mingling with the pleasure of her touch, and went straight to a place he knew better than to acknowledge now. Only then did he notice her slightly dilated pupils and realized the doctor had probably given her something for pain. Just what he needed: a sexy, vulnerable deputy he was attracted to beyond reason in need of protection. Terrific. “You’re high as a kite,” he grumbled.