Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Shit,” I muttered, scrubbing my hand over my face and wincing when my bent arm tugged on some raw skin.
“Fox and Mav are looking into options for anyone who might be targeting you to get to the club, but they don’t think that’s gonna pan out.”
Fox was the club president, and Maverick was our vice president. If this was related to club business, they’d figure it out quicker than anyone else.
“Only other person I can think might be behind this is Keith Franks,” I mused, my brow furrowing low. “Assumed he was too much of a pussy to take things this far, but maybe I was wrong.”
4
MARNIE
“Sending me to the cafeteria was probably a mistake,” I warned as I nudged the door of Hayes’s hospital room open with my hip. Luckily, it wasn’t latched because I had gone overboard with the snacks. “My sweet tooth took over, and I got three candy bars, a few donuts, two pieces of pie, and a slice of chocolate cake.”
Both men turned toward me, humor in their eyes as they took in the heaping tray of food I was carrying. Hayes’s lips curved into a grin. “Looks like you wiped them out.”
“Yeah, I eat when I’m nervous,” I mumbled, setting the tray on the table next to his bed with a shrug.
His smile widened. “If it’s because of me, better be the good kind of nervousness.”
He was right, but I wasn’t going to admit that. Not out loud at least. “Maybe it’s from worrying that you’re more hurt from the accident than you seem.”
“Don’t stress about that too much.” Hayes jerked his thumb toward the doctor who’d met us in the ambulance bay. “That’s what I have him for. Blade will make sure I’m good before he discharges me.”
“Blade?” I echoed, glancing at the doctor.
“Yeah,” he confirmed with a nod. “When I’m not in scrubs, I wear an Iron Rogues cut, same as this stubborn asshole. That is why he’s gonna let me do a thorough examination to make sure he didn’t do permanent damage to his thick skull. ’Cause the last thing either of us wants is for our prez to get pissed because I let him walk outta here with a traumatic brain injury or some shit like that.”
I narrowed my eyes at Hayes. “Or for me to worry myself sick that you’ll fall asleep tonight and never wake up.”
“Fine.” He heaved a deep sigh. “I’ll let Blade run whatever tests are needed.”
I beamed a smile at him. “Good.”
“But you won’t need to worry about me not waking up because you’ll be right next to me,” he added with a smirk.
His confidence was a major turn-on, but no matter how much I wanted Hayes, I couldn’t agree to spending the night with him when we’d just met. “Don’t you think we should go out on at least a few dates before you assume that you’ll be able to sweet-talk me into bed? I might not have much experience with guys, but I've even heard of the three-date rule.”
Hayes reached out to snag my wrist and tug me toward the side of his bed. Once I was there, he wrapped his arm around my waist and growled, “Don’t want to hear about you and other men.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing that no experience would’ve been a more accurate description,” I whispered, acutely aware of Blade staring at us. My cheeks filled with heat, and I mentally cursed my fair skin.
“I’m gonna get you in for an MRI before your inner caveman fucks with your head even more than a potential concussion,” Blade murmured.
Hayes shook his head and grumbled, “Like you’re one to talk.”
Blade’s deep chuckle trailed after him as he stepped out of the room.
“About you staying with me”—he squeezed my hand, his ice-blue eyes serious as he looked up at me—“it’s not just because I want to get in your pants. Or needing someone to keep an eye on me if it turns out that I have a concussion.”
My brows drew together. “It isn’t?”
“Wish like hell that the first time I got you in my bed it was just because of the pull between us.” His thumb stroked my palm, sending a shock of awareness straight to my core. “But while you were in the cafeteria, I found out that my bike was sabotaged. That means you’re a witness to more than just an accident. I don’t want anything happening to you, so I’m gonna keep a close eye on you to make sure you’re safe.”
“I didn’t even see much,” I protested, shaking my head. “Just you crashing your motorcycle. Nobody hit you or anything like that. I have no idea what’s going on. There’s no reason for anybody to come after me.”
“People do a lotta shit for no good reason,” he countered. “No way in hell am I going to let them do it to you.”