“I need to see my brother and ensure myself of his well-being. And I need to do that now,” Fawn demanded, her cheeks suddenly burning, with what seemed like temper but was actually worry for her brother.
It obviously sounded like the former to the nurse, if the way her smile faded and she sat up straighter in her chair was any indication. “Might I remind you of the notice beside the door when you entered the hospital which states our strict no verbal or physical abuse policy? The penalty for challenging that policy is removal from both the hospital and the grounds.”
“You—”
“We understand,” Declan soothed pleasantly as he stepped forward to grasp Fawn’s arm, a slight and charming Irish lilt having entered his voice. “Miss Meadows is just very concerned about her brother.”
The nurse’s expression softened, her eyes wide with obvious interest as she studied Declan. “Of course.” She stood up. “I promise I’ll be back very shortly with news of Mr. Meadows,” she told Fawn, even as she gave Declan another coy smile.
“I—”
“Thank you,” Declan accepted in that lilting voice.
“Thank you?” Fawn turned on him as soon as the two of them were alone. “She wasn’t being in the least helpful?—”
“Are you going to calm down, or do you want me to kiss you again?” he bit out evenly.
Fawn studied his raised brow above that challenging gaze and closed her mouth with a sharp clack of teeth.
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“It’s anI haven’t decided.”
His mouth twisted. “Then I advise you to do so. And quickly, because time is running out.”
“Maybe the nurse would have done her job more efficiently if she hadn’t been so busy flirting with you after you deliberately let your Irish charm loose on her,” Fawn muttered.
“What?” He eyed her quizzically.
“You heard me,” she mumbled.
“Are you jealous?” Declan questioned incredulously.
Her head reared back. “Of course not.” To her chagrin, Fawn knew that was exactly what she was! “Does that Irish lilt always work?”
“Every time like a charm, me darlin’,” he deliberately exaggerated that accent.
Fawn gave a disgusted shake of her head. “No wonder that poor nurse was too busy looking at and listening to you to do her job prop?—”
“The doctor says I can take you both back to see your brother now.”
Fawn briefly closed her eyes before opening them again. Only to find that Declan was now looking at her with amusement and the nurse with hostility. The latter obviously because she had overheard Fawn’s derogatory—jealous?—comment.
“I apologize,” Fawn told the other woman sincerely. “I’m a little stressed out by this situation. But I’m a nurse too, and I know better than to behave so rudely when you are only doing your job. I really do apologize.”
The older woman’s expression softened. “I’m sure once you’ve reassured yourself about your brother’s well-being, you’ll feel a lot better. Besides, I apologize too,” she added with a mischievous quirk of her lips and a glance at Declan before confiding, “But your boyfriend really is worth looking at and listening to.”
Fawn chuckled. “He’s not my boyfriend. But you’re 100% correct about the looking-and-listening part.”
“That Irish accent is todiefor?—”
“If we could stay on subject, ladies…?” Declan interrupted them impatiently.
Fawn and the nurse looked at each other before they both burst out laughing, totally easing the tension Fawn had been feeling for the past hour. She was still worried about River, but this silly conversation had eased some of that. Mainly because she doubted the nurse would be having this teasing conversation if River’s condition were serious. More serious than usual, that was.
Fawn patted a scowling Declan on the arm. “It’s a female thing.”
His nostrils flared. “It’s a bloody Fawn thing, is what it is. If we could see River now?” he prompted the nurse pointedly.
