Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Looking down at our hands, she blushed.
Blushed.
The color flooded her full cheeks.
I couldn’t remember the last time I saw a woman blush. It was soft and feminine, and it seemed at odds with her sassiness, but it suited her. There was something about her. Something that drew me in and made me want to be closer to her.
Without thinking, I raised my camera and started clicking. Her gaze flew up, and I captured her startled expression and flushed cheeks to perfection.
Leaning forward, she grabbed it out of my hand. “Stop that.”
“The camera loves you.”
Her cheeks darkened even further. My fingers itched to capture that. They itched to touch her. I stuck my hand back out, to introduce myself. “Adam Kincaid.”
“I know. I saw your chart, remember?”
I chuckled at her tone. “Just wanted to do it properly. Your full name? Or should I just call you Nurse Nightingale?”
She shook my hand, rolling her eyes. “Alex Robbins.”
I held her hand tighter. “Robin? Another lovely bird. A pleasure, Ms. Robin.”
“Robbins,” she corrected.
I winked at her, knowing full well the correct name. But I wanted to tease her—I liked her sassing me back. “Robbins. Got it.”
I coughed, my throat feeling dry. “May I have some water?”
She poured me a glass, and I drank the cool beverage.
“Better?”
“My mouth tastes like sh— Um, awful.”
She rummaged in her pocket and brought out a small tin. “I have Altoids. Want one?”
“That would be great.”
She pressed a small disk to my lip, and for some reason, I wanted to capture the end of her finger and nibble on it, but I resisted. My strange reaction to this woman mystified me.
“Okay now?”
The rich taste of cinnamon filled my mouth, banishing the wet wool taste that had been there since I’d woken up. “Thanks.”
She popped one too. “I’m addicted to these.” She turned to leave. “I’ll get the doctor and tell him you’re awake.”
“You’ll come back, right?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, I’ll wait right here,” I deadpanned, enjoying the banter with her.
“Good plan,” she stated dryly.
But she was smiling when she left the room.
“You have a concussion. I’d like you to stay overnight for observation,” Dr. Nash informed me after his examination and looking over the CT scan.
I stifled my groan. Was he kidding me with this shit? It wasn’t as though this was my first concussion. I could look after myself. “I don’t need to stay. I’ll be fine.”
Across the room, Alex chuckled. “He’s a stubborn one, Doc.”
The doctor frowned. “You said you live alone. You need to be woken up every couple of hours, and your eyes should be flushed a few more times. The wards are full, but you can stay here, and Alexandra can check on you and clean your eyes.”
Suddenly, going home to my empty loft was no longer appealing. Not with the chance of spending more time with the sweet little nurse. I held up my hands in supplication. “If you insist, Doc.”
He nodded. “Alexandra can stitch you up, if you’re okay with that? She’s got a light touch.”
I bet she did.
“Sure, I’m good with that.” Glancing over, I saw her watching us warily, and I winked at her. Her gaze skittered away to a spot on the wall, and I tried not to snicker as I looked down.
I liked her reactions to me. A lot.
Dr. Nash spoke quietly with Alex, patted her shoulder, and left, muttering something about my chart and instructions. I followed his retreating form with narrowed eyes, and then I watched as Alex opened cupboards and drawers, looking for whatever she needed to stitch me up. If I had to stay, at least I’d get to talk to her more. I wanted to know more about her. A lot more.
“Why does he call you Alexandra?” I asked as she laid out supplies on the table.
“He’s my boss, and that’s my name.”
“You said it was Alex.”
She smiled at me, the sweetness of it warming my chest.
“My friends call me Alex. He’s more formal, and he prefers Alexandra, which is fine.”
Her friends. She introduced herself to me as Alex, as if I was her friend. I liked being thought of as her friend.
“I need a couple of other needles. I’ll go get them, and we’ll get started.”
Needles—they ranked up there with my dislike for blood. I looked down, not wanting her to see yet another weakness. I was losing all sorts of checks on my man card tonight. “Yeah, not big on those,” I mumbled.
She patted my hand in comfort. “Most people aren’t. I can use a topical freezing cream on your head first. You won’t even feel me stitching you up. Promise.”
I tried to make light of my discomfort, offering her my most charming smile. “Do I get my sucker afterward?”
With a grin, she pulled one out of her pocket. “There’s another one when I’m done if you’re good for me.”