Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders 6)

She waited several agonizing seconds before scrambling down from the chair. “I’ll see what’s going on.” India sidled between two very sweaty, tall men and one shorter, bald man in a shiny suit. She peered around a referee and watched Dr. Brewer shine a penlight into Colt’s eyes.

Colt murmured something and shook his head.

That’s when India noticed the red spots dotting the white linoleum. Her vision grayed and she bumped into the official standing in front of her.

“Hey! Who are you? You shouldn’t be here.”

She swallowed her panic, ignoring the red smears beneath Colt’s head. “I’m his, umm…girlfriend.”

Dr. Brewer glanced up at her admission and motioned her over.

India dropped to her knees. “Is he okay?”

“Appears to be, but he won’t let me call an ambulance. He’s worried Cam will freak out when he hears the call go through dispatch.”

“Make the call. Obviously he isn’t thinking clearly.”

“He,” Colt ground out from his prone position on the floor, “is perfectly capable of makin’ his own decisions. And I’m not goin’ to any damn hospital.” His eyes opened. “I’ll be fine. I just need about three hundred aspirin and a good night’s sleep.”

“What about the blood? How bad is Mr. Tough Guy bleeding?”

Colt grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut again. “What blood?”

“Yeah, what blood?” Dr. Brewer echoed.

“There.” She pointed to the red splotches on the floor. “That blood.”

Dr. Brewer peered over the top of Colt’s head. “That’s not blood.”

The bald man crouched down and admitted sheepishly, “That’s my blackcherry Icee. He knocked it over when he hit the table.”

India chose to feel relieved instead of stupid.

“McKay, sit up so I can see how bad it is. I’d be surprised anyone with a head as hard as yours can bleed at all.”

One of Colt’s teammates assisted the doctor in getting Colt upright. “In my opinion, he needs—”

“Then it’s a good thing you’re my veterinarian and not my doctor.”

“You sort of are acting like a jackass.”

The crowd around them snickered.

“Just help me up.” Colt struggled to his feet.

Two teammates supported him and the crowd cheered at Colt’s apparent recovery. He paused outside the locker room door.

The pain in his eyes nearly had her carrying him to the hospital.

“I’m coming in there to make sure you don’t pass out.”

“I’ll remind you this is the men’s locker room.”

“So?”

His breath tickled her ear and his voice dropped to a growl.

“So, the first time you see me completely naked, ain’t gonna be in front of a bunch of other guys.”

“Good point.”

Thirty minutes later, after the game ended and the crowd disappeared, India paced until Dr. Brewer ambled out. “Is he okay?”

“It’s not as bad as I initially believed, but he insists he’ll be better off with you than at the hospital.”

“With me?”

Dr. Brewer measured her thoughtfully. “Are you up for taking care of him tonight? Because he’s as grouchy as a grizzly with a sore paw. And we both know he won’t take pain meds.”

“How did I get elected as bear bait?”

“Ask Colt. He said that you…” Dr. Brewer looked around and lowered his voice. “You already played Nurse Ratchet when you shot him in the butt with a nail gun and you owe him big time.”

“He said that? Haul him to the morgue. He’ll need funeral arrangements, not medical care when I get finished with him.”

The doctor chuckled and rummaged in his coat pocket for a sheet of paper. “My home phone number is at the top. Call me if you need anything.”

“Your wife doesn’t mind?”

“My wife is used to it, although human patients are a novelty.

This late in her pregnancy she can’t sleep. Which means I don’t sleep.”

“Thank you.”

A freshly showered, but very slow moving Colt exited the locker room. He managed a half-smile before he sagged against the brick wall. “Did Jay talk to you?”

“You should be in the hospital, not having me play nursemaid—”

“Forget it.” He closed his eyes. “I’ll just go home alone and sleep it off. Ain’t like it’d be the first time.”

Guilt kicked in. “Colt. Look at me.”

His eyes opened.

“I’m sorry. I’m just worried and I’m not qualified—”

“Don’t matter if you’re qualified, I just want you with me.” He winced.

“Stay put. I’ll get my car.” India turned around as the side door slammed.

Cam strode toward them, an imposing figure in his khaki uniform. “What the hell happened?”

India froze. Even Colt snapped to at Cam’s commanding tone.

“I lost my footing in the game and smacked into the table. No big deal, besides I’ve got a helluva headache.”

When Cam moved, India noticed Domini was right behind him.

“I heard about it on the scanner.” Cam gave Colt a head to toe inspection. “You refused to go to the hospital. Big surprise.

Although, I’m startin’ to think maybe you’re not the best thing for him, India. Every time I’ve seen you two together in the last two weeks, he ends up injured.”

“Shut up,” Colt snapped. “It has nothin’ to do with her.”

Cam put up his hands in mock surrender. “Sorry.”

“You should be. Why are you here anyway?”

“I need to talk to India.” Cam motioned Domini closer. “I wondered if she could stay with you tonight. That ass**le ex-husband of Nadia’s keeps calling to find out where she and Anton have gone. I’m afraid he’ll show up at some point and I don’t want her stayin’ alone.”

India looked at Domini. Tear tracks lined her face. She’d wrapped her arms around her stomach, but it didn’t keep her body from shaking, even in Cam’s enormous jacket. The poor woman was seriously freaked out and India didn’t blame her. Nadia’s ex was a bad guy. “Sure you can stay at my place. I’ll get you set up before I leave—”

“Whoa. Leave? Where you goin’?”