Chapter One
David
"So, what seems to be the problem today?"
"Hey, Doc."
Dr. Seamore Jones glanced up from his clipboard. "David? What are you doing in here?"
I held up my arm so Skip could see the knife slash in my side. "Druggie bombed out of his skull took a swipe at me. I didn't jump out of the way fast enough."
Skip set the clipboard down on the counter and then went to the sink to wash his hands. He dried them really well and then pulled on a pair of plastic gloves before walking over to the side of the exam table.
"Can you lift your arm over your head?"
I did as the doctor suggested then sucked in a breath when Skip started probing the wound.
Skip glanced up. "My hands too cold?"
"Yeah."
Let's go with that.
It had nothing to do with the fact that the man I'd been mooning over for the last couple of years was touching me. There was no way in hell I'd ever admit it. I didn't really do relationships, and Skip had commitment written all over him.
"Sorry about that. I'd blow on them, but then I'd have to wash them again and change my gloves."
I chuckled. "Yeah."
I tried not to react when Skip started touching my side again.
"Well," Skip said after a few moments, "I think we can get away with just a couple of stitches."
I let out a relieved breath when Skip stepped back. "Just a couple? Felt like that knife went a lot deeper."
"It's the location I suspect. You use those muscles pretty much every time you inhale. With them moving constantly, it's going to cause it to hurt every time you breathe. My suggestion is not to—"
"Breathe?"
Skip snorted. "Not to get stabbed."
"Yeah, I'll get right on that."
Skip chuckled as he shook his head. "Okay, I'm going to go get a tray ready. A nurse will be in a few minutes to numb you up."
I tilted my head. "Isn't that kind of like being stabbed?"
"It is, but if you piss Jean off, he'll make sure you need surgery and not just stitches."
That sounded lovely.
Not.
"Got it."
Skip chuckled again. "I'll be back soon."
"I'm not going anywhere." Specifically because my commander on the SWAT unit I served on, Lieutenant Salvador Delvecchio, threatened to suspend me if I didn't come in and get stitches.
