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“Ryker, I shouldn’t have accused you of anything. I’m sorry. I’m not sure if President O’Connor has mentioned it, but the CEO of the hospital is her husband and he’s traveling out of the country. He put me in charge until Logan Henderson arrives in a few days. I...I just don’t want anything going wrong on my watch,” I stated honestly.
“You should’ve told her. I’m sure she wouldn’t have wanted to add more stress onto you than you already have. When she mentioned having you come here to me, I was surprised. I honestly just think she was trying to make things easier on me, and not thinking of what it would do to you.”
“She has a lot more on her plate than I do. I have no right to complain,” I replied. “And as far as your wound, it looks like you are healing well. I’d like to see you in two more days.”
That cocky grin appeared on his face.Darn it.
“Can’t stand being away from me from for too long?” he joked.
There was no beating him at this. Smiling back at him I said, “Nope. Just can’t wait to get my hands on you again.” I grabbed the cuff of my rubber gloves and snapped it. “I will be taking your sutures out. Hopefully, it doesn’thurttoo much.”
“If I promise not to complain much, will you agree to have dinner with me?” he asked.
I choked in surprise. “Dinner?”
“Yes. It’s a meal that many people eat at the end of the day. And before you tell me that you have too much on your plate, I’m not suggesting you leave your responsibilities. I’m offering to bring dinner to you at the hospital. All you need to do is take a break and eat it with me. So, what do you think?” he asked.
He had no idea how badly I wanted to accept his offer. It wasn’t a date, but dinner with a gentleman wasn’t something I’d done much of lately. Since becoming the nurse-in-charge at the hospital, it had been my career that held my full attention.
And here you are, distracting me.
“I think you should concentrate on getting better and not worry about me,” I replied.
“Trust me, I can do both. How about I come by at five?” he suggested.
“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?” I asked. He shook his head. “Why?”
“Maybe I am just being nice. Or maybe it’s my way of saying thank you for giving me a ride back to the resort today. Unless you’ve changed your mind on that,” he said, raising a brow.
“No. I meant what I said. There is no way I would ever allow you to travel in Tabiq without an escort.”
He laughed. “Not that I’m a chauvinist, but isn’t it my job to protectyou?”
“You do not know the dangers that are here. Just ask your brother. I was on duty when TJ was brought in and pronounced dead.”
“TJ?” he asked.
Oh shit!It was evident Ryker had no idea what I was talking about. I could send him to ask Bennett about it, but what was the point, it would only delay the same information I could give him.
“TJ had been here in Tabiq for a few years. He’d been helping Bennett with security, and I’d even seen him driving President O’Connor around. I’d crossed paths with him on several occasions. Not much of a talker, but he was nice enough. I wasn’t sure what they were working on, but what I know is from when he was brought into the hospital, and I overheard Bennett telling Dr. O’Connor what happened.”
“And, what did happen,” he prodded.
“That he’d been in a vehicle and ran over an explosive device. He wasn’t alone. He was with Draven Blaze, who was also injured. Draven survived. TJ didn’t.”
Even more than a year later, I still couldn’t forget that horrible day. I’d taken care of people who had died before. It was a part of the job. Not everyone recovered. But TJ was different. It wasn’t a car accident. It was an intentional attack on another person. Someone had wanted them dead. That ripped my heart in two and reminded me that no matter how far Tabiq had come, evil still lurked.
He reached out and touched my hand. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I asked. “I hardly knew him.”
“Yet his passing affected you deeply,” he stated.
How could he tell? I’d never let anyone in like that. I was about to tell him he misread it, but his eyes were searching mine so closely, it was as though he was looking into my soul.
“Ryker, it’s not who that passed, but the situation around it. And now I can’t help but wonder what will happen next. If Reesa doesn’t win the election and the wrong person becomes president, then Tabiq is in serious trouble. What happened to TJ could happen to a lot more people. My country could be riddled with bloodshed and cruelty all over again.” I swallowed hard and then squeezed his hand. “I don’t know if you can do anything, but if you can help Reesa in any way, I’d be eternally grateful. All of Tabiq would be.”
Ryker smiled, and still holding my hand, he said, “I’ll settle for dinner with you.”
