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Josie spent the morning filling out forms and being shown where everything was kept and then she was given a guided tour of the center. Before she knew it her shift was over and she was walking out into the car park ready to drive home, except she couldn’t. She soon discovered that she had a flat.
Damn.
Pulling out her cell, she dialed Max. The wretched thing chirruped then died. She was out of battery!Fuckety fuck! Max was a stickler about charging phones, her ass was toast! Nothing for it, she had to walk back. With a sigh of exasperation she set off up the hill heading toward Corbin’s Bend. She had just walked around a turn in the road when a car hurtled toward her on the wrong side. She honestly thought it would change direction at the last moment, but when she realized that wasn’t the case, she leapt onto the grassy verge. Rolling down a steep slope she came to a jarring halt against a boulder. She lay still, gasping with shock. Her previously sprained ankle screamed with agony from further abuse.What the fuck just happened?She played back the episode in her mind, seeing the car clearly in replay. A black SUV with dark stained windows with number plate for Denver, which was all she could recall.
After a while she scrambled shakily to her feet. Stumbling with her painful ankle she managed to climb back up to the highway. There was nothing for it but to hobble onward. After an excruciating ten minutes of limping along, a car tooted her and pulled up alongside her. A black SUV.Could this day get any more perfect?It was Doctor Doom.
“Want a ride?” he called.
She nodded and staggered over to the passenger side. Climbing in she felt grateful, despite her dislike of the man.
“Where to?” he asked in a neutral tone.
“My grandparents’ house, please,” she replied in a small polite voice, grateful he didn’t pry.
Doctor Devon said nothing at all until he pulled up outside the O’Donnells’ house. “Stay put. I’ll get the door.” He came around to her side and helped her out. With an arm supporting her, he aided her up the path to the house.
“I’ll be fine now, thank you. Bye, Doc.” She gave him a smile to soften the dismissal. He merely smiled back at her and stayed put. The door swung open and her heart sank at the sight of Max standing there. No hope of ignoring what had happened now.
“Hey, Marcus, what’s up?” Max asked, with his gaze riveted on Josie.
“May I come in for a moment?” Marcus Devon asked.
“Sure.” Max stepped back but when he saw that she was limping, he cursed softly then swept her up and carried her inside, setting her down on the couch.
“I saw Josie’s car parked in the car park at the Medical Center with a flat. Driving home I came across her hobbling along the highway, obviously in some pain. You might want to take a look at that ankle of hers, Max.”
“What happened, Josie, why didn’t you call me?” Max asked, dropping to his haunches beside her. Josie swallowed but the lump in her throat wouldn’t shift and she felt her eyes fill with tears. Next thing she was sobbing incoherently. Max gathered her into his comforting embrace.
“Whatever’s the matter?” Nicky cried, rushing into the room. Liam followed close on her heels.
“Angel?” Liam sounded concerned.
“I had a flat then this c-car t-tried t-to r-run me over and I-I fell and h-hurt my b-bad ankle!” she wailed, burying her face in Max’s shoulder.
“You mean it was deliberate? Oh, surely not,” Nicky protested.
“We need to examine that ankle. Nicky, I am sure we could all use a cup of coffee or tea, especially, Josie, hmm?” Marcus said in a voice of calm reason.
Nicky nodded and went to put the kettle on. Max disentangled Josie and felt along the bones of her leg and ankle, apologizing when she yelped.
“Nothing broken but another hell of a sprain,” he spoke to Marcus, who nodded and bent to retrieve a small ophthalmoscope from his bag. “I am going to shine this into your eyes, Josie, try not to blink.” He flicked the light from eye to eye then set the instrument aside and felt her head and neck. “No sign of a head injury, thankfully, but no work for you for a while, young lady, you must stay off that foot,” he informed her.
“What? No, I only started work today!”
“Have no fear, Josie, your job is safe,” Marcus reassured her.
She flushed. He was being so nice. “Thank you for helping me, I really appreciate it,” she told him sincerely. He smiled in response. With her angst against him gone, she could finally appreciate what a handsome man the doctor actually was.
“If there is anything I can do, just ask. Max, a quick word?” He inclined his head toward the hallway.
Josie strained to hear what was being said between them but her grandmother returned and placed a mug of tea beside her. Nicky began questioning her about the type of car that had sped off and left her in the ditch. Josie began to shake, her teeth chattering.
“Marcus, Max!” Nicky cried worriedly. She chafed Josie’s hands between her own to warm them. Josie sighed as she felt herself gathered up by Max and snuggled in, feeling safe.
“I think shock is setting in. I think it would be best to give her a sedative, it will help her to rest,” Marcus spoke over her head to Max.
“What of the risks of sedation if she does have a concussion?” Max asked sounding worried.
