Her who? If he said he had a wife shed have to kill him.
My mother. She didnt want me. I probably never told you that.
Nicole sighed and put her hand on his chest. Her own ached like hell. No.
Im a bad seed. Probably should have warned you before now, but I didnt want to scare you off. The truth is, you name it, and I did it. Stole clothes, stole food- Am I upsetting you? he asked, opening his eyes to see hers welling up.
Ty. Rest, she begged, wanting to wrap herself around him.
Cant. Theres someone jackhammering in my head. I didnt even know I had a sister.
I know, she said in response to his baffled voice, stroking him with her hands, trying to quiet him because she didnt want to hear this, didnt want to know about him because, damn it, how was she supposed to keep her distance if she knew about him? Please, Ty, I want you to-
I dont want to like her. After that statement, he was quiet for so long she thought hed fallen asleep, and she just sat there, soaking him up. Shed imagined hed had a rough childhood, but she hadnt imagined it as bad as it must have been. Because she couldnt help herself, she touched him, ran a hand over his arm, his jaw, wishing she could take his pain as her own.
You feeling sorry for me, doc? Cuz if you are, Im going to tackle you down right here, right now, and kiss us both stupid.
Youre in no position for tackling, much less kissing.
Try me, he warned, and reached for her, missing by a mile. Damn.
Ty. She touched his pale, pale face. Lie still.
Yeah. Sweat broke out on his forehead. Lying still now.
Good, because youve got to save your energy for healing. You need to-
Nicole? Darlin? He closed his eyes tight. Id love to hear the lecture, really. But if you dont mind, Im going to puke now.
THE NEXT TIME Ty opened his eyes, he was still in a damn hospital bed. Still in a far-too-small hospital gown with no back. Still feeling green and shaky and in too much damn pain to believe that the shot some mean nurse had given him a short time ago had worked.
He hated hospitals with an unreasonable vengeance, and had ever since hed been twelve and was beaten within an inch of life. His own fault. Hed broken into a restaurant, only to get caught by the owner as hed been stuffing his face with food from the fridge. Didnt matter that hed been starving, or was a skinny little runt, the guy had gone berserk. The beating had landed Ty in the emergency room, where hed been treated like little more than the wild animal he was. Once there, hed barely outwitted the juvenile authorities. All he remembered, when he let himself think about it, was a vicious, snarling, vivid, Techni-color pain and the bitter stench of his own fear.
Now, being in another hospital brought it all back, quite unpleasantly.
Nicoles face floated into view above his own: her wide, expressive gray eyes, the short-cropped hair that so suited her arresting face, and the silver hoops up one ear. Then there was that mouth, with the full lips he so enjoyed nibbling on.
Another hallucination? Hed had some doozies since hed been here, all of them involving her tiger-striped bra and purple panties.
Hey, she said, sounding very doctor-like. She wore a white coat and had a stethoscope looped around her neck. How official. How are you feeling? she asked. Still nauseous?
In all the other hallucinations, she hadnt talked, shed just smiled all sultry-like and had bent over his body, giving him pleasure such as hed never known. I like the other outfit better, he said, closing his eyes.
What? She put her hand on his forehead.
She thought he was still out of it. Never mind. Lets blow this Popsicle stand.
No can do.
He stopped in the act of tossing his blankets aside. Doc?
She clutched a clipboard to her chest, looking very in control in her own environment. Bully for her, but he wanted control in his own environment, thank you very much, and lying flat on his back in a scanty gown wasnt doing it for him.
You need to stay overnight for observation, Ty.
I dont think so. He sent her a tight smile. Hand me my clothes.
I mean it.
So do I. Hand me my clothes or get an eyeful, and believe me, the gown hides nothing. Carefully, trying not to let out the pathetic moan he wanted to, he got himself in a sitting position. His ribs were on fire, so was his ankle, and his headwell, the pain in his head didnt bear thinking about because if he did, he was going to toss his cookies again. Since the good doctor, sexy as hell in all her disapproval, was glaring at him instead of handing him his things, he put his feet to the floor.
Ty, dont be stupid.
More stupid than falling through your ceiling, you mean?
Youre still drugged. You cant get yourself dressed much less get yourself home.
I dont feel drugged.
Really? How many fingers am I holding up?
He squinted at her hand. She had no fingers. And now that he took a good look, her head was separated from her body. A shame, really, because it was such a beautiful head. Bossy and stubborn, but beautiful.
Ty? How many?
Im not sure. But I can tell you youre wearing a tiger-striped bra and purple silky panties.
She didnt look amused.
Ty returned to his efforts of getting up. He looked at his ankle. Just touching it to the floor hurt enough that he had to suck in a breath. Sure this thing isnt broken?
Just badly bruised.
Okay, then. Moving on. Next move-getting up right. With that feat in mind, he leaned his weight forward.
Dr. Sexy crossed her arms and frowned.
With a grunt of effort, he went for it, and surged to his feet. Or foot, as he held his screaming ankle off the ground. Ribs burning, head feeling like it had blown right off, he thrust out his arms for balance. The back of his gown flapped cool air on his bare ass.
As he waved wildly, Nicole tossed down her clipboard and leapt toward him. Damn it. She shoved her shoulder beneath his arm, taking his weight, which, given how little she was, had to be considerable. What the hell is wrong with you, you stubborn-
Shh. He wrapped his arm around her, gasping for breath as everything in his vision faded to a spotted gray. For a cold, clammy, sweaty moment he thought he was going to pass out, but the litany coming from the woman supporting him kept him conscious.
Of all the idiotic, moronic
The ringing in his ears drowned out the rest of her monologue as she sat him back down, but he got the gist. He also got the pain. Holy shit, he hadnt imagined he could feel anything so much, but every muscle in his body had started a mutiny. Unable to hold back a low groan, he rolled to his side and panted for air.
Im going to call the nurse and get you another painkiller.
Dont. Shes mean.
Baby.
He laughed, then nearly cried at the fire in his ribs.
I wouldnt laugh, she advised, but there was something in her voice now, something He managed to crane his neck and peer over his shoulder. Yep, that was his ass hanging right out for the world to see. He closed his eyes. You getting a good view?
She tossed his blanket over him. Im a doctor. Ive seen it all.
Yeah, well, this isnt quite how I imagined you seeing me. Nicole, Im not staying here overnight.
But-
Im not, he said, and looked up at her. Icant.
Why not?
I hate hospitals.
Everyone says that.
But I mean it.
She stared at him for a long moment, then sighed and sat next to him. Okay, so you have a hospital phobia-
Im not staying.
You cant go home alone, youll need someone to watch over you, help you.
Much as that went against the grain, he had to agree with her, if only for the simple fact that he couldnt even see straight. For how long?
At least tonight and all day tomorrow. Maybe even a second night. After your hard head improves, then you can hobble around on your own if youre careful.
Fine.
Whos going to help you?
Ill figure it out.
She crossed her arms. I know you dont have any family youll call.
That cleared some of the haze from his vision. Really? How do you know that?
Youtold me.
Given the look of compassion in her gaze, hed told her plenty. Terrific. You listened to the ramblings of a drugged man?
You were happy enough to let your mouth run.
What had he said? Did I mention anything about your interesting lingerie fetish? Because I have to tell you, Nicole, I find it fascinating that youre so tough and impenetrable on the outside, and so A smile curved his lips. So incredibly soft on the inside.
Youre changing the subject.
Im trying.
She blew out a breath. You didnt say anything embarrassing, if thats what youre worried about. You just saidyou had a sister you didnt know about and that she was e-mailing you.
And?
Just thatyour mother didnt want you.
Hell. Hed spilled his guts all over her. Her voice had softened, and that was definitely pity on her face. He didnt want her pity, he didnt want anyones pity. He wanted out of this bed and he wanted that now. Well. This has been fun.
She held him down with a hand to his shoulder. Im sorry, Ty.
She held him down with a hand to his shoulder. Im sorry, Ty.
For what? he wondered. Falling through her ceiling or for being so pathetic as to have his own mother cast him aside? This isnt your problem.
She nodded, agreeing, and turned away. Made it to the door, which she studied for a long minute, as if fascinated by the wood. Then she turned around. I know youre alone. That youre too proud to ask any friends for help. As a doctor, I cant release you knowing that.
Im leaving, Nicole, come hell or high water.
I know. She closed her eyes. Opened them again and leveled them right on him. Which is why youre coming home with me.
SHE WAS CRAZY. Or so Nicole told herself the entire drive home with Ty dozing next to her. She let Suzanne and Taylor fuss over getting him up the stairs. She gave him another pain pill, which he bitched about like a two-year-old but finally took when she threatened to pull out a needle instead.
Then she settled him in her bed and stepped back, wondering why just his pale face made her want to fuss. Shed never fussed a day in her life.
Ty looked around at the no-frills bedroom with the bare walls, at the bed with its navy-blue comforter and two pillows, and not a thing out of place except on the chair in the corner, which held some clothes and a perilous stack of medical journals. Not even a romance novel to read?