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“She was here,” Colt said. “She had to go back to work, but she said she’d check on you later. You should really stay lying down.”
But he took her elbow to steady her as she ignored the suggestion and pushed off the exam table to get to her feet.
“Can’t,” she said. “Need to get home. Got work to do.”
“Uh-huh,” he said. “You’re going to be woozy for a while. You might ought to take the rest of the day off. If you don’t want to lie down, at least sit down. Let me get you some water.”
Her vision swam and her stomach went queasy. She had to get away from this man. She’d already embarrassed herself enough.
“No,” she insisted. “I want to go home. I’ve sworn off men.”
“Ha!” Colt said. “I didn’t realize we’d moved to the dating part of our relationship.”
“Sorry,” she said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to settle her stomach. “My brain isn’t forming the words I want to come out of my mouth.”
“I’m good at reading between the lines,” he said, taking her elbow again when she wobbled. “You must have seen me from afar and found me unbearably handsome. So you decided the fastest way to get into my arms was by giving yourself a concussion on my sidewalk. And now that you’ve been on my exam table you’ve decided you’ve bit off more than you can chew. I make you nervous. I guess Mac is right. We’re destined to be together. She’s a matchmaker you know.”
She groaned again. “So I’ve been told.” Her head was swimming with his nonsense. “O’Hara.” His name rang a distant bell. “Are you and Mac related?”
“Yeah,” Colt said. “Mac is my cousin Ryder’s daughter. So she’s my second cousin. Good kid.”
“I would have known you were related without the last name. I’ve heard two of the most ridiculous stories today I’ve heard in my lifetime. You could both give me a run for my money in the storytelling department.”
“Ahh, well,” he said. “That’s because the O’Haras come from a long line of seanchai.”
“Are you going to make me ask what that is? Because my head really hurts.”
“The seanchai are ancient Irish storytellers.”
“Figures,” she said. “I think you’re both full of blarney. It must be nice to have family close by.”
“It has its moments,” he said. “If you’re going to be stubborn at least let me give you a ride home. In fact, I insist on it. I can’t in good conscience leave you to your own devices. You might end up in the lake.”
“As an independent female, I’d normally decline that invitation,” she said. “But I’m willing to set the feminist movement back a few years and accept your hospitality.”
“Nothing wrong with having common sense, no matter who you are. And because you’ve already forfeited your feminist duties, I’ll just go ahead and insist you let me wheel you out in this wheelchair. My Bronco is parked right out back.”
He easily pushed her down into the wheelchair that was sitting outside the exam room. Sweat had started to bead at her brow from the exertion of walking across the room.
“I’m going to be really mad about this later,” she said. “I’m an independent woman. I’m starting a new adventure.”
“I’d call a concussion a new adventure,” Colt said, shaking his head. This was why he dated empty-headed ninnyheads, as Lucy had called them. Zoe Green had a head as hard as a rock. “What you need is ice and rest. Do you have anyone to help you out? Are you married?”
Chapter Four
Colt wasn’t sure why he’d asked her that question. Only that he found it important to get an answer. Not only an answer, but the answer he wanted to hear. He must be more tired than he thought.
She had backbone, he’d give her that. It had been sheer force of will that had allowed her to walk from one side of the room to the other.
“No,” she said. “I’m not married. Not anymore.”
“Ahh,” he said. Colt could infer that her new adventure and independence might have something to do with that. “Do you have any family or friends in the area? Someone who could check on you?”
“No, no one.” Her voice was monotone, without any emotion. “It’s just me and Chewy.”
“That’s no trouble,” he said, keeping his voice light and cheerful.
He’d always been dubbed the O’Hara who was never in a bad mood. It was his gift. Which he’d learned partnered well with his healing abilities. Because he always managed to deliver bad news to his patients with an encouraging word so they left hopeful for their future.
