Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Ramsay was silent as he guided my wheelchair out of the hospital entrance toward the visitors’ parking lot. Then he grumbled, “He has a thing for you.”
“Who?” I scowled, confused and annoyed by the subject when we had many more important things to discuss.
“Your bloody surgeon.”
“No, he doesn’t.” I shook my head. “You’re just annoyed because he called you out for lying about being my husband.”
“He fancied you. He kept touching you unnecessarily.”
I shook my head. “Really? This is what we’re going to talk about?”
“Nope.” His lips smacked together over the word harshly and he didn’t speak again until we reached an unfamiliar vehicle. “I rented a car that’s easier for you to get into.”
My eyes burned at his consideration. Goodness, the attack had triggered my emotions like nobody’s business. I blinked back tears and murmured, “Thank you.”
When Ramsay wrapped his strong hands around my biceps to help me stand, I looked into his face. His beard needed a trim, and he had dark circles under his eyes. But he wouldn’t meet my gaze. It was like he was right there in front of me … but he wasn’t at the same time.
My belly fluttered with nervous butterflies as he helped me ease into the passenger seat of the car. I was never more grateful that he hadn’t brought his Defender because trying to get up into it would have been a nightmare. Even trying to get into my little Suzuki was going to be a hassle for a few days. Not that I would be driving anywhere for a while yet.
I waited as Ramsay returned the wheelchair to the hospital.
I couldn’t work out if he was being distant because he knew the inevitable slew of questions that were about to be fired his way … or if he was being distant for a much more worrying reason.
Ramsay got into the driver’s side, and I realized he’d had to push the seat way back to accommodate his long legs. He held out a plastic bag to me. “They forgot to give you your belongings. Since the bastard took your bag, it’s only your phone in there.”
“Oh.” I took it and pulled out my cell phone. Disappointment flooded me. “The battery is dead.”
“The car will charge it.” He lifted a cover on the armrest to reveal a rubber pad for wireless charging.
“Great, thanks.” I set the phone on it. I was sure London and Perri had tried to call me and was eager to switch my phone back on.
Ramsay didn’t speak as we drove out of Inverness. He didn’t even look at me. I knew he felt me staring, but he kept his focus on the road ahead.
I studied him. The way his big hands moved elegantly across the wheel as he turned the car. His rugged handsomeness. The weariness beneath his eyes. I wanted to reach over and caress his cheek. Inhale his masculine sandalwood scent that made me think of wicked nights in his bed.
Longing.
That’s what I felt. I stared at him with longing because as much as I didn’t want to think it was true, I already knew what was coming.
Hurt and anger caused me to turn from him to watch the world pass by out my window.
I wanted answers. However, I needed some time because once I had my answers … I guess that would be it between us.
After about an hour of tense, awful silence, I reached over to switch on my phone. I had several missed calls from Perri, texts from Taran, Aodhan, Quinn, and a few other villagers wishing me well. Quinn also kept me up to date on the B and B.
There was nothing from London.
Not a thing.
It didn’t make sense.
Had Nick told her?
I called her, but it went to voicemail. “Hey, Spoon, it’s me. Did Nick give you Cammie’s message? I’ve just gotten out of the hospital. I’m okay. Okay? Call me. I love you.”
Worried now for London because it was not even in the realm of imaginable that my best friend wouldn’t call me upon hearing I’d been attacked, I pondered if maybe she’d done something impulsive like jump on a plane to see me. Maybe her flight had been delayed and she was in the middle of travel hell?
“No answer, then,” Ramsay said his first words.
“No.”
“That isn’t like her?”
Feeling petulant about him asking me a question when he hadn’t offered up anything to me in the past few hours, I ignored him and called Perri.
“Remember it’s early there.”
Oh shit. Of course. I wasn’t thinking. I hung up quickly.
But a few seconds later, Perri called me back.
“Tierney?” Her voice was high pitched with anxiety.
“It’s me. I’m okay.”
“Oh my God. Thank fuck. Halston’s arrest is all over the news. We hit publish on our article at midnight because we were afraid someone from the police would leak the info before we could.”