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“That your pretty lady’s name? She ain’t from around here, right? So, she goes home, problem solved.”
Dog’s gut lurched at Cutter’s comment. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of Charley going home, at least not yet. “With what’s happened, I don’t know if she’ll be able to go home. At least not right away. Plus, she’s got a spare on her car she can’t drive to Charlotte on. Need to get her car out of the Round parking lot. You leaving any time soon? I can call a prospect if I need to, but since you’re here, I could bring her keys by Jessie’s room and you could have one move it.”
“On it. Jessie’s room is 302. Text me when you’re on your way.”
“Thanks, brother. Appreciate it.”
“You know me. I’m a peach.”
Dog laughed. “Fucking rotten one.”
“Hey, I’m only rotten on one side. The rest of me is pure sweetness.”
A lot of men had been on the other side of Cutter’ssweetness. As the club torturer, Cutter was notorious in certain circles, in high demand for his services. He didn’t just use blades, though that’s how he got his road name. He had a variety of implements at his disposal and made the club plenty of money.
“Later, sweetness,” Dog said and disconnected the call. His fingers were hovering over the text keyboard when Charley’s door opened.
“You can come in now,” the doctor said.
Dog slipped his phone into his cut and followed the man into Charley’s room. When she came into view, he didn’t like her expression at all. She looked shell-shocked and had a death grip on a pile of papers.
“Ms. Abbott needs a ride home from the hospital,” the doctor said. “And she’ll need someone to stay close for the next forty-eight hours. She tells me she has a cottage in Edwards where you live. Could you make sure she gets there and takes it easy?”
Charley didn’t say anything. Dog took a seat on the chair next to the bed and leaned toward her. “That what you want? I don’t mind at all. Be my pleasure to see this through.”
She nodded, but uncertainty tainted her beautiful face.
“All I got right now is my bike,” Dog said to the doctor. “She okay on that or do I need a cage?”
The doctor frowned. “I assume by cage you mean car. She has recovered sufficiently for a motorcycle, though why she’d want to ride a death trap is beyond me. The brain belongs in a cranium, not on the pavement. I recommend a car, not just now but all the time. It’s up to the patient to decide. Ms. Abbott, I’ll start your discharge paperwork.”
The doctor left, his opinion obvious in the stomp of his expensive wingtips. Prick.
When the door closed again, Dog’s attention returned to Charley, but she didn’t meet his gaze. Her phone vibrated. She left it on her lap.
“You okay with ridin’ my bike?”
She nodded but kept her head down.
“You wanna talk about it?”
She lifted her vacant gaze to his and shook her head. “Not right now. I want to get a shower before I dress. I’m not thrilled to put my suit back on, but at least I can be clean when I do. But would you mind looking away? I don’t want to flash you in my backless hospital gown.”
Dog nodded and walked to the window that overlooked downtown Asheville. He wouldn’t mind being flashed by her, but it was not the time to give her that information. The shadows cast by the buildings showed the sun was going down. The bathroom door clicked shut and the shower turned on before he returned to his seat.
Chapter Nine
Dog released a quiet sigh of relief when Charley exited the bathroom looking better. Her suit was a little wrinkled, but she still looked amazing. Her hair was damp, and curls were forming around her face. She crossed to the bed where her bag and phone were. She glanced at the phone’s screen, touched it twice. Already back at work. The woman didn’t know how to relax.
She paced the room. “No word from the doctor?”
Dog shook his head. “Nope. All quiet.”
She sighed. “I really want out of here. Ineedto get out of here.”
“I bet.”
“No, really. I’m not just being impatient. I’ve got a client threatening to fire me if I don’t get back to Charlotte.”
