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She heard her mom saying something, but Major whisked her through the doors and into the neat, clean clinic. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders for balance as he moved swiftly from the lobby to a corridor. “What are you doing here?”
“Someone dialed 911 and Armie overheard our dispatcher taking the call.”
“My sister called. Harry thought it would be easier to come into town than to wait for an ambulance. It’s not serious.”
“Lila can make that decision.” He didn’t look down at her, merely kept walking. “Why are you wet? Did someone push you into the pool?”
His jaw was so tight, each word grinding out of his mouth like he could barely speak.
She reached up and cupped his cheek. “I’m fine. No one tried to hurt me. It was all an accident. I told you. I tripped and went into the pool, and then when I got out Duke tripped me up again and I hit my head on the guard rail. I did not lose consciousness. The only reason I stayed down so long was the sky was pretty.”
He stopped, staring down at her, and then a smile crossed his face. “The sky was pretty?”
She nodded. “Puffy white clouds and a perfect blue, with gold shining through. I wanted to take a couple of pictures because I can’t draw those colors. But no one would let me.”
“Because you might have a concussion.” That smile on his face nearly melted her, and then it faded. “I heard someone from the B and B was hurt, and I guess I panicked.”
Because he was used to losing people he cared about. Because he’d lost his mom, and now his dad was dying.
“It’s okay, and so am I,” she reassured him. “I twisted my ankle. It’s not a big deal.”
“Is that my patient?” A woman in a white coat stood in the doorway. She was lovely, with dark hair and eyes that sparkled with amusement as she looked them over.
“Lila, this is Brynn Pearson.” Major moved into the exam room when Lila allowed him by. He settled her on the table.
“Yes, I recognize her, though I know her by another name.” Lila LaVigne pulled a stethoscope out of her jacket. “You know, normally we would use a wheelchair to bring you in. The handsome young man carrying you in is an upcharge.”
She already liked the nurse practitioner. She appreciated a dry sense of humor. “I’m sure my insurance will love that.”
“I was faster than Mabel.” Major had the faintest blush to his cheeks.
Lila chuckled as she placed the stethoscope in her ears. “I bet you were. All right, then. Go to the waiting room. It’s too tight in here for all of us, and from what my husband has told me, if I let you back here, the mom is going to want to come, too.”
“Please, no.” She didn’t want her mom questioning everything the woman did. Her mother would be insufferable.
“I’ll go and wait in the lobby.” He gave her a half smile. “I’m glad you’re okay. Seem to be okay.” He frowned again and turned Lila’s way. “She needs a CT scan, and you should call your brother. He needs to clear her before you let her leave. She hit her head.”
Lila was already placing the chest piece against Brynn’s heart. “Thanks for the mansplain, Deputy. I think I have it from here.”
Major huffed. “I wasn’t . . . I’ll be outside.”
Major hustled out the door.
“I don’t think he was trying to be rude.” Brynn watched the door close and wondered what it all meant. He’d come running at the thought of her being hurt. He hadn’t let anyone touch her.
“No, he was being a bossy cop. Believe me, I know how to handle that specific type of man. They can be incredibly overprotective about women they care about. Sometimes it’s nice. Sometimes it’s a bit suffocating. Take a deep breath for me.”
He’d come running when he’d thought she was in danger. That had to mean he’d been thinking about her as much as she’d been thinking of him. It had to.
“And another,” Lila said.
Brynn did as asked and wondered if maybe the day wasn’t going better than she’d imagined.
chapter ten
Major stepped out into the lobby and was immediately accosted by Diane Pearson.
“Where is my daughter? What did you do with her?” Diane was a tall woman, but even in heels he still had a couple of inches on her. She got into his space, and he had to take a step back.
“She’s in the exam room with the nurse,” he replied. “She’s being taken care of, and Lila asked us all to wait out here.”
“Well, I don’t have to do that. She’s my daughter.” Diane stepped around him.
“She’s your adult daughter who will be mortified if you walk in there like she’s three,” a familiar voice said.
