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“Ha,” the order said. “The best you’ll get is to order from our local pizza restaurant. They deliver here.”
“Good to know.” Rachel grinned and cocked an eyebrow toward Griff.
“On it.” Griff pulled his cell phone out of his pocket as he followed Rachel down the hallway and into the elevator.
By the time they reached her room, Griff had ordered pizza. “Sorry,” he said. “They don’t deliver beer.”
A nurse entered the room smiling. “I can’t get you a beer, but we have sodas and an ice machine. The doctor doesn’t have you on any dietary restrictions. All you have to do is name your poison and share a slice of your pizza.” She winked.
Rachel laughed and winced. “Hold the jokes until the pain meds kick in.”
“Gotcha. I’m Angela. I’ll be your nurse through the night. I’ll be checking on you regularly to make certain you don’t have any issues with the concussion.”
“Translated to mean you’ll be waking me every fifteen minutes to make sure I’m still alive?” Rachel sighed.
“Maybe not every fifteen minutes.” Angela smiled. “But you get the idea.”
“I’ll be here as well,” Griff said.
“We don’t usually allow visitors past nine o’clock,” Angela said.
“I’m not a visitor,” Griff said. “I’m her... fiancé.” He met Rachel’s gaze and gave an almost imperceptible wink.
Rachel nodded. “That’s right. He’s my fiancé.”
“In that case,” the nurse said, “he’s family. You’re allowed one family member to stay the night with you.” She nodded toward the chair beside the bed. “That chair lies almost flat. I’ll bring an extra pillow and blanket.”
“Thank you,” Griff said.
As the nurse left the room, she almost ran into the two men standing outside the door. “Oh,” she exclaimed. “Here to see Ms. West?”
The taller man with black hair and brown eyes said, “We are.”
The nurse held the door for them. “Visiting hours end at nine o’clock.”
The slightly shorter man smiled. “Thank you, ma’am.”
The two men entered the room and let the door swing shut.
Griff crossed the room and held out his hand. “Cog, good to see you.”
“Same.” The taller man grabbed his hand and pulled him into a hug. When he stepped back, his brow dipped. “Sorry to hear about the team.”
Griff’s mouth tightened into a thin line. “Yeah. Me, too.”
“But we’re glad you decided to join us.” Cog turned to the man beside him. “You remember Hank Patterson?”
Griff’s lips curled upward on the corners. “I remember you as ‘Montana.’” He held out his hand.
Hank took it and grinned. “I go by Hank these days. Since I live in Montana, it makes more sense. Less confusing.” He gave Griff a hearty handshake and turned toward Rachel. “Who’s your friend?”
Griff left the two men to stand beside Rachel’s hospital bed. “This is Rachel West. Rachel, meet Jake Cogburn and Hank Patterson. Both men are Navy SEALs, now leading the efforts of the Brotherhood Protectors.”
Jake tipped his head toward Hank. “Hank’s the founder of the group. Like he said, he lives in Montana where he started the Brotherhood.”
Hank nodded. “And Jake runs the Colorado division. Griff tells us you were run off the road on your way out to the ranch.”
Rachel’s lips twisted. “That’s right. Thus, the night I get to spend here.”
