Harper looked at me, eyes wide with mock horror. “Faith, your brother is deeply unsettling.”
“He’s a doctor,” I managed between trying not to laugh. “An ER doctor. Not a serial killer.”
Harper blinked. Once. Twice. “Oh.” Her face went through an impressive spectrum of reds. “That’s … that makes way more sense than theskin suitthing.”
“Skin suitthing?” Blake looked personally offended.
“In my defense, you have very intense eyes,” Harper shot back. “And the way you were staring at my bruise? Total creeper vibes.”
Ryker was practically wheezing now.
Blake’s expression remained perfectly professional. “I’m an emergency room doctor at Mercy Harbor. May I examine your injury?”
Fresh apprehension washed over Harper’s features. She didn’t like someone seeing her bruise. Didn’t like attention called to it.
“It’s okay,” I assured her softly.
My words seemed to matter. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “Okay.”
Gently, Blake took her chin between his thumb and finger, tilting her face to catch the light better. His touch was clinical. Professional.
Harper’s eyes flicked to mine, wide and uncertain.
“Has your cheekbone been X-rayed?”
“No.”
“Dizziness? Dark spots in your vision?”
“No. And FYI, I’m a nurse, so I knew what to watch for.”
That didn’t stop Blake from completing a series of questions though, along with a careful inspection. “I don’t think it’s broken,” he concluded, “but I can’t be sure without imaging. You could have a hairline fracture.”
Harper looked to me for rescue.
“Imaging means explaining how she got it,” I said. “And that’s not happening.”
Blake’s fingers twitched at his sides, putting the pieces together. Not that it was a tough puzzle.
“You have somewhere safe to stay?” he asked.
Harper’s cheeks flushed. I could see Blake meant well, but she needed rescuing. Stat.
“She just moved in next door.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.
“Are you living alone?” Blake pressed.
Translation: Is whoever gave you that black eye still a threat?
“I live alone,” Harper replied stiffly.
“She just moved in a few days ago,” I added.
Blake studied her. “You must’ve moved pretty quickly after that incident.”
Jesus, Blake. Read the room.
To her credit, Harper straightened. When she spoke, her voice was strong. “Sometimes, you have to run while you still can.”
