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“What is going on in here?” The nurse from earlier entered the room. “One of the patients said they heard yelling.”
“They must have been mistaken,” Reuben said with a small smile. “I think Gwen was having a nightmare, though. I’m Reuben Jones, her emergency contact. I’m going to need to talk to the doctor in charge of her care.”
“It’s Xavier. He had an emergency, he’ll be back soon,” Dominic explained.
“All right. At least he’s a semi-decent doctor.”
Wow. Some high praise.
“Everything is fine here,” Dominic told the clearly nervous nurse.
“I don’t know. I think you should both leave. I can call security.”
They both stiffened.
No fucking way.
“I’m not leaving,” Reuben said darkly. “Call whoever the fuck you want.”
“She’s just doing her job and she’s trying to protect Gwen,” Dominic told him. “You’d want her to do that under any other circumstances.”
Poor woman was shaking in her shoes too.
“You’re right.” Reuben grimaced. Or was he attempting a smile? Hard to tell. “Get the hospital administrator down here. Please. I’m prepared to make a generous donation to the hospital for the exemplary care my best friend is receiving.”
She shot them both a suspicious look, but nodded and left the room to go call someone.
No doubt she wanted to wash her hands of the two of them.
A whimper from Gwen drew both of their attention. “Dom? Dominic?”
Dominic moved over to her side, remaining on alert in case Reuben decided to go for him again. But the other man was too busy staring down at Gwen with such anguish on his face that it hurt Dominic to look at him.
“I’m here, darling girl. You’re safe.”
“Where am I? Why can’t I open my eyes? What’s going on?”
“Shh. It’s fine. I’m going to hold your hand now.” He slid his hand around hers. “Your left eye is swollen but you should be able to open the other one. It might hurt because you have a concussion, but the room is pretty dark.”
She managed to crack her right eye open, letting out a small cry.
“Don’t do it if it hurts, Andy,” Reuben commanded, coming over to her other side.
Andy?
“Reuben?” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“The hospital called me. I’m your emergency contact, remember?”
“That’s where I am? The hospital? I hate the hospital. Why is everything blurry?” There was such confusion and pain in her voice that he felt ill.
“It’s okay, darling girl. You’re safe. You’re in the hospital. You have a bad concussion and some bruising around your stomach, ribs, and on your legs and arms.”
“I was . . . car accident?”
“You don’t remember what happened?” Reuben asked sharply.
Dominic sent him a look. “She needs calm right now.”
Reuben glared at him, but to his surprise he nodded. Then he wrapped his hand around Gwen’s free one.
Did he love her?
Was this more than friendship?
Don’t be a dick. A woman can be just friends with a man.
“She’s my best friend,” Reuben told him, almost as though he could read his mind. “Don’t make it into anything else.”
“What? What’s wrong?” Gwen turned her head to look up at him.
“Nothing, baby. I promise. You just lie there and don’t stress.”
“I’m . . . I’m so sorry.” A sob broke from her mouth.
“Hey, why are you sorry?” Dominic cupped the side of her face with his hand. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”
“R-Reuben.”
“I’m here, Andy. I’m right here. Don’t you worry, I’m going to find whoever the fuck dared to touch you and I’m going to kill them. I’m going to get you the best care available. And then, when you’re feeling better, you’ll come back with me. I’ll set you up with a nurse at my place.”
“Like fuck you will,” Dominic snapped. “You are taking her nowhere. Gwen is mine. And she stays with me.”
Reuben just smiled. “Not. Fucking. Happening.”
“What is going on in here?”
They both glanced over as Xavier walked in, frowning. Behind him stood Ed.
The sheriff winced as he saw Reuben standing there. “Great. Just my luck you’re her best friend.”
“Sheriff. Xavier. Good. I want an update on her health and the investigation into who did this. Right now.”
Ed sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “Why? Why me?”
“No,” Xavier said.
“No?” Reuben said smoothly.
“What you need is to calm the fuck down. Both of you. The last thing Gwen needs is to be fought over like she’s a bone. She is meant to be relaxing. She needs sleep. Do you think this is what she needs?”
Guilt flooded Dominic. “I’m sorry. You’re right. We need to do what’s right for Gwen.” He eyed Reuben. “But I am not the enemy. I want to look after her.”
“Like you did while she was here.”
“Reuben . . . don’t be angry,” she whispered. “Dom takes good care of me. I don’t . . . I don’t know what happened, but I don’t think he was here.”
