Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Everything looks good, from his vitals to the supplies found around the room. Taking another long breath, I finally turn to stand at his bedside. Wrapping my fingers around the rail, I study his face and note the bruising, the slight swelling around one eye, and the scrape that’s been cleaned up near his temple.
The hurt feelings I still carry around like a badge of honor soften from the sight of him. It’s ridiculous that he can still evoke years-old emotions like they’re fresh from the morning. And unfortunately, he’s still just as handsome as he ever was. If not more so with the prevalent injuries. Figures. He really knows how to live up to his golden-boy, hometown-hero reputation. I’ve never understood how he’s managed to remain single when he’s the most eligible bachelor for two counties wide, if not more.
This injury will present an opportunity for all the single ladies to come to his aid. They’ll be carrying Get Well cards, food, and desperation while layering on the sympathy. I’m sure he’ll eat it right up. He won’t be alone for long with so many prospects wanting to take care of him. Sympathy will work wonders in his favor. I roll my eyes, somehow offended just thinking about them clamoring to get to him. Don’t be ridiculous.
I swallow hard as I lower my gaze over his torso for a reprieve from that gifted face of his that leaves me more conflicted than before. A battle wages between my head and heart where I store my grudges for safekeeping.
The hospital gown slips to the side, exposing his shoulder wrapped in white bandaging. I reach for the cotton gown to cover him, but it’s pinned by his bicep. I can’t tug it, so I decide to gently manipulate it free while trying not to wake him. I lean over to find the string and start to slide it up, pulling the fabric with it.
I successfully slide it over his shoulder only to be met with brown eyes and a smirk that belongs on a playboy more than a patient. Before I can snap my body back, he asks, “Am I interrupting?”
CHAPTER 3
AUTUMN
“Ack!” Jerking my hand back, I shove off the railing, tripping backward over the wheels of the IV stand but catch myself before I hit the wall. With my arms spread wide to keep my balance, I catch the breath that had been flailing out from my chest. “Brandon!” Annoyance takes hold of me as I right myself and adjust the stand back into place. “That could have been bad.”
“Could have?” he rasps, but then winces as he shifts on the elevated mattress.
I come to his side to adjust the bed. “You can’t save everyone. You need to be careful.” I’m not sure if I’m madder because he scared the life out of me or almost lost his. It feels about equal right now.
And what’s with the jump scares tonight? First with Stacy and now him . . . let’s hope the rest of the night goes smoother and my heart remains intact where it belongs.
He clears his throat. “Some habits die hard.” His tone is breathless, tapering off at the end as he opens his mouth to take in more air.
The cardiac monitor screeches for attention, so I say, “You’re off duty, Captain, so lie back and try to relax. Resting is best for recovery and your heart.”
“I’m not a captain. I’m only a lieutenant.”
“I took a wild guess.” With a shrug, I grin at him. “You were a captain the last time we really spoke.”
He grins as if the response couldn’t be held in. The right cheek rises, but the left stays like the effort to lift both at the same time has taken too much of a toll on him. “Of the football team.” He chuckles. “I didn’t know you knew.”
I want to fuss about his pillow, but I don’t, keeping my hands to myself this time. Laughing under my breath, I say, “Hard not to know when a billboard was erected in your honor on the outskirts of town. How big do you think your face was?”
“A good ten feet. Big.” He chuckles, but his gaze drops to his hands in front of him. Peeking up at me, he says, “It was embarrassingly large.”
“Nothing embarrassing about a large head.” Oh gracious. “That didn’t come out right.” I debate whether I should just walk out and come back later like this never happened or ride it out. “I meant a big head is natural.” Oh my God. I clamp my hand over my mouth as if it can somehow stop me from making a fool of myself . . . a bigger fool than I already am, that is. I turn away because there’s no time for this kind of nonsense. I back toward the door. “I need to check on the other patients,” I lie, wishing I could evaporate instead of my cheeks heating like they are currently doing.