White Wedding for a Southern Belle

“We are aware of who Marko is. He isn’t someone to mess with. Ma’am, you need to be careful.”

“I will be.”

“If there’s any further trouble, call right away. We’ll be making a thorough investigation of the incident.”

“I wish you would keep this quiet.”

“Ma’am, a shooting is serious business. You were lucky. You could have been killed.”

Ashley settled back in the bed. “I know,” she said quietly.

* * *

The sun was shining when Ashley’s voice woke Kiefer. “What’re you doing here?”

Sometime during the night they had moved her from the ER to a room on the sixth floor. “Sleeping,” Kiefer grumbled.

“You look awful,” she mumbled, as she started working her way into a sitting position.

Kiefer jumped up.

She gave him a quizzical look. “My arm hurts.”

“Here, let me help you.” He raised the bed and moved the pillows around behind her.

“Thanks. Have you been here all night?”

“Yes.” He stood looking at her.

“Why?”

“You didn’t need to be alone and you wouldn’t let me call your parents.”

They were interrupted by a doctor entering. She checked Ashley out and said that she could go home but that she couldn’t drive for a week. Her stitches would need to stay in for ten days.

An hour later Kiefer picked her up at the discharge exit of the hospital. He’d been driving fifteen minutes through traffic when Ashley asked, “Where’re we going? This isn’t the way to my house.”

“To my place.”

Ashley squirmed in her seat. “I need to go home.”

“No, you don’t. Someone was waiting on you. You’re not going back there until I know it’s safe.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.”

Kiefer glanced at her. “I can tell you. What I can’t do is make you do it. But if you give me a hard time I’ll let your parents know what happened. It’s time you trusted me.”

“That’s blackmail.”

He shrugged. “If that’s what it takes to get you to take care of yourself, so be it.”

* * *

Ashley couldn’t believe she’d been shot. Who would shoot her? Worse, she had to stay at Kiefer’s house. Her emotions were swinging one way and then another. She didn’t know him well enough to be his houseguest.

She glanced at him as he drove. He looked almost worse than she felt. There was some blood on his slacks. He wore a green scrub top. “What happened to your shirt?”

“It had your blood all over it, so I borrowed something to wear.”

Ashley was wearing scrubs as well. She wished she had her own clothes. Leaning her head against the car window, she closed her eyes. “I’m sorry I messed up your clothes.”

“Not a problem. I’m just relieved you weren’t more seriously injured.”

She must have slept because the next thing she knew Kiefer was opening her door. “Here, let me help you.”

“What did they give me? All I want to do is sleep.”

“That’s the pain meds. You need to sleep. That way you’ll heal faster.”

He kept an arm around her waist as they walked to an elevator. “But I have things to do. I need to call people about the block party. And—”

“What you’re going to do for the next couple of days is take it easy,” he said as they rode up three floors.

The elevator opened and they exited to face a metal door. Kiefer unlocked it and pushed it open. Ashley entered and he closed the door behind them.

“Why don’t you sit down while I get your bed ready?”

“I don’t need to be in bed.” She sank into an overstuffed couch.

“Even if you don’t, I do. A man my size shouldn’t sleep in a chair. I want you in a safe place where I know you’re comfortable so I can get some sleep.”

“Who’s covering at the clinic for you?”

“I have a buddy who fills in sometimes. He agreed to take a couple of days for me.”

“Aren’t you afraid for him?”

“Not really. They were after you. Whoever it was didn’t even try to shoot me. And I’ve hired a couple of off-duty policemen to watch the place.”

“I wish you hadn’t done that. The people of Southriver are suspicious enough as it is. Another stranger only makes it worse.”

“The clinic should have already had security. With the drugs and supplies in it there should be security. The two guys I hired are from Southriver, so that should help ease the residents’ concerns.”

“You’ve thought of everything.”

“I tried.”

He’d managed to make her feel childish and selfish at the same time. “Kiefer, I really appreciate you taking care of me. I’m sorry I’m such a difficult patient.”

“It’s understandable under the circumstances. You stay put and I’ll be right back.” He went through a doorway, leaving her alone.

It wasn’t that Kiefer’s place wasn’t a nice place to stay. It looked like a comfortable enough apartment. It was in one of the old warehouses that had been converted to apartments. It had all the basics but outside of that it showed little of Kiefer’s personality. It was as if it was a place for him to stay but not a home.

Her head dropped to the couch cushion and her eyelids closed.

CHAPTER FIVE

KIEFER RETURNED TO the living area to find Ashley asleep. He grinned. The pain medicine had really knocked her out. She had a real thing about showing weakness and accepting help, even when she needed it. What had happened to make her so independent? Picking Ashley up, he carried her to the spare bedroom. Kiefer had given a moment’s thought to letting her have his room, but he was afraid she would pitch a fit and demand he take her home if she discovered she was sleeping in his bed.

He settled her and pulled the covers over her, taking care not to move her arm unnecessarily. When the pain medicine wore off Ashley would be unhappy. Leaving the door open, he plopped into his favorite spot on the sofa and propped his feet on the footstool.

What was going on with him? Insisting Ashley come and stay at his home? He hadn’t invited any other woman to stay since his divorce. He’d gone to their places, yes, but never had them to his. Truthfully, bringing Ashley here had more to do with his concern for her safety than intimacy.

But those kisses were personal. Each had been far too short. Far too right. He drifted off to sleep remembering them.

* * *

Someone was watching him. Kiefer opened his eyes. Ashley stood over him. “What’re you doing out of bed?”

“I’d like to go home. I need some clean clothes.”

Scooting to a sitting position, he retorted, “I thought we’d settled that. I understand your need for independence, but right now you need help even if you don’t realize it. By the way, are you in any pain?”

“A little but I’m more worried about having a bath. I feel all yucky.”

“We’ll work on getting you clean but you’ll have to settle for a shower. I’ll find you something to wear. Then I’m sure you’ll need pain meds and some food.”

She continued to glare down at him. “Since you won’t take me home I might as well take advantage of your hospitality.”

Kiefer wiggled his brows. “You haven’t seen anything yet. I’m just getting warmed up.”

“Hey, I didn’t mean like that.”

He chuckled and stood. “Nothing like having an appreciative guest. I’ll get a plastic bag to cover your bandage so it won’t get wet. I’ll be right back.” When he returned he said, “Come this way.”

“Where’re we going?” Ashley moved to follow him.

r /> He wiggled his brows again. “My bedroom.”

She jerked to a stop. “Why?”

“Because my bathroom is through there and I have a walk-in shower you can use.” He stopped at the bathroom door and looked back. Ashley stood in the opening of his bedroom. “Problem?”