“She’s the last curtain on the left.” The nurse points.
I shove my hands into my pocket. What do you say to someone who damn near died in front of you in your family store? If she wanted to sue, the negligent party would be the child’s mother, and they hightailed it immediately after the incident. Therefore, there’s nothing to be nervous about. The lawyer speak works well in court, but not on my brain. I’m attracted to her, and I want to find a way to salvage the situation. I prefer facts and situations I can control. I’m going into this blind.
I clear my throat. “Romy?”
“Come on in, please.” Her voice is soft and edged with exhaustion.
I push the curtain aside, slip through the opening, and, closing the cotton material, seal us in together.
Sitting on the bed with the off-the-shoulder, black, cable knit sweater I hadn’t glimpsed under her coat, the woman is a damn snack. An edible confectionary I’d love to sample. I’ve always had a sweet tooth. The shallow cuts sporadically scattered over her dark brown skin make me frown. I run my thumb lightly over the Band-Aid covering her collarbone, and she gasps.
“Sorry.” I step back.
With her braids pulled into a high bun, her make-up-free face is highlighted. Those full lips are still just as pink and tempting. My fingers itch to caress her long neck.
“Thank you for coming here with me,” she says softly.
“It’s the least I can do when you were hurt in Nona’s store.”
“Right.” The warmth of her tone dips slightly. “I’m fine other than a mild concussion.”
Other than a small concussion. “You can’t be alone with that condition.”
She clears her throat. “I’m sure it’s not ideal. But it’s what I have to work with.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?” Her lips pull back to reveal straight white teeth. She’s a lioness ready to defend her position.
“I refuse to let you make foolish decisions about your health that could lead to further injury.”
“Let me?” she asks slowly.
“Someone needs to be rational.”
“You might get away with talking to other women like that, but I’m not the one to allow it.”
I ignore her offended tone. After years in court, I’ve heard far worse. I have skin so thick it would rival an elephant. “You can stay with me, or I can come to your place if it makes you feel more comfortable. At least for the next twenty-four hours.”
She crosses her arms beneath her breasts, putting the ample mounds on display. Staring at them won’t help me win my argument, so I focus on her face.
“I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for the majority of my twenty-nine years.”
Anger roars to the surface. “Do you know how serious a concussion can be?”
“I was here when the doctor came by earlier, so, yes.”
“Then you’re ignoring his advice.” Her flippant tone has me grinding my teeth. “It’s not a condition to treat so cavalierly.”
“Why do you even care?” She throws her hands up in the air, revealing a sliver of flesh. “You don’t know me. If you’re worried I’m going to try to file a claim, I won’t be. So, you can ditch the nice guy act.”
“That is not what this is about.” I step forward.
She shrinks back, and I’m painfully aware of how I must look standing over her. There are times my size is more of a hindrance than an advantage. I hold my hands up in mock surrender. “Caring what happens to you isn’t an act. I don’t waste my time pretending or doing things I don’t want to. A good friend of mine wiped out badly while we were skiing. It’s par for the course on the mountain, so we didn’t think much of it.” I pause. Her flaring nostrils belay her anger. I don’t have long before she cuts me off. How can a woman look so damn stunning when she’s this upset? “Turns out he had a severe concussion. By the time he started manifesting symptoms and we took him to the hospital, it was too late. He lapsed into a coma.”
“Oh my God.” Her eyes widen.
“It was a brief, eighteen hours of pure hell. Today he’s fine, but it could have just as quickly gone the other way. I won’t forget that. I could never let that happen to you. So, you can argue with me all you want. I’m not changing my mind. Not knowing what I do,” I perch on the bed, facing her, and slowly take her hands in mine, “I understand your hesitation. I don’t expect you to go into this blindly. We can even stay with my Nona if you prefer.”