Cuff Me

“Hey.” Nate hugged me briefly and we stepped aside as Alex started being checked out.

I told a passing nurse to get a doctor down asap.

“What happened?” I turned to Nate. He combed through his hair and sighed.

“I don’t know yet. He was doing a checkup and next thing I know I’m getting a call.”

“Oh no. Someone wanted to hurt him.” My throat was getting so closed I thought I was going to cry. Nate gave me an odd look and rubbed my shoulder.

“We’re cops, Rose. Someone is always going to want to hurt us. For any reason. It just comes with the job.”

I nodded slowly as his words sunk in. I realized that feeling would come with being involved with them, too.

“We can uh, wait in the waiting room. Do you want some coffee? I can get you the good kind for the nurses,” I told Nate.

“Yeah, please.” He offered a small smile. He glanced back at Alex before he walked off with me. I knew he was worried about his friend. It was sweet, but it sucked that the situation was so bad.

What if it had been worse? Alex could have been gravely injured, or even shot. I didn’t see much, but it just looked like a busted nose and bruised cheek.

I told Nate to wait outside the lounge and I got him a fresh hot cup and cream. I nearly cringed when I saw him drink it black. We sat on the over-worn couches by the ER.

“How was your day before all this?” He slung his arm behind me casually.

I never got used to how hot he looked in uniform. And the way he leaned back and knocked his legs open like he wanted me to come kneel between them…how could my mind be in the gutter at a time like that?

“It was okay. Nothing too crazy. What about yours?” I turned to him. I inhaled deeply to disguise my breathing in his scent. So masculine and intoxicating.

“The same as always.”

I stared into his deep eyes for a moment. I turned and rested my head on his shoulders. It was so easy to be around him. Around all of them. Way too easy.

“Why don’t you guys tell me about the case? I can handle it.”

He sighed, and I felt him grin. It was weird, Nate not cracking a joke.

“I don’t know. We just agreed not to.” He tsked his jaw.

I groaned as I realized it.

“I get it. I admire you guys’ friendship. But when you decide to trust me, I can handle it.”

He kissed the crown of my head.

“We know.”

Chapter Twelve: Rose

Alex was cleared by the doctor and I was glad he didn’t have a concussion. When I saw him again, he didn’t look nearly as bad. Bruised cheek like I suspected, and a split eyelid on the left. He was up and walking around and I felt lucky. I hugged him tight like it was a lifeline.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” I muffled into his chest. He looked so dapper and smelled so good.

I loved how he dressed in his slacks and vest and dress shirt. I wondered how he used to look in his uniform, but he looked good that way too.

“I’m okay, Rose.” He smiled, a crooked one, but just as knee-weakening.

Nate got us in his cruiser and drove us to Alex’s place, since he had to go to work.

“I don’t mind staying to help you, I am a nurse after all,” I told Alex as we arrived. He lived near the city in a duplex.