“You called me, remember?”He ran a hand through his thick hair, enticingly disheveled, his stubble a little longer than last time, his gaze troubled.“Someone tried to kill you, Natalie.I’m here to make sure they don’t get another chance.”
Her chest warmed, but as she was pulled into the fuzzy whirlpool of sleep yet again, she reminded herself that his words meant nothing.All the care and attention she’d once hoped were a sign of deeper sentiment had simply been him doing his job.
Finally, at some point, she woke feeling different, stronger, her mind mostly clear, concern for Emma foremost in her mind.She turned her head to ask Ford if he knew anything about her teammate’s status, but he was gone.
Had she imagined him?
She studied the room more carefully.Unlike last time she’d awoken, the window shade now stood open to reveal a sycamore tree just outside, its broad five-fingered leaves filtering the morning light.Inside, pale gray paint coated the walls, and a blue armchair had been wedged into a corner.
Nice enough, but— How long had she been here?Were her parents on their way?
She scanned the walls but didn’t see a clock.Only a small dry-erase board with everything written in German.
Pulling back the sheets with her good hand, she located a call button and pressed it.Another controller let her raise the head of the bed, and she gasped at the hot poker that shot through her right shoulder with the change of position.Sweat prickled across her forehead, and she focused on taking slow, careful breaths.
A loud click drew her attention to the door, as a short, curvy Black woman in scrubs entered the room.
Had the door beenlocked?
“Ach, Frau Braun,” the woman said with a bright smile, pleasantly butchering Nat’s last name.Continuing in heavily accented English, she said, “You are awake.Good.How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been shot.”
The woman chuckled, the skin around her eyes crinkling.“I am Doctor Amadi.You are doing very well.”She explained that Nat had undergone surgery to remove the bullet that had cracked her collarbone, and she now had stitches both internally and externally.The latter would need to be removed in a week or two, and she wouldn’t be able to lift anything heavier than a book for about six weeks.The anesthesia had mostly worn off, but would likely bring lingering fatigue, especially combined with pain meds and the trauma she’d been through.“I expect to discharge you at some time tomorrow.”The doctor made a littletsksound.“You wereverylucky.The damage could have beenmuchworse.”
Nat didn’t want to think about it.“How long have I been here?”
The doctor glanced at the clock on the wall.“Nearly twelve hours.”
She could feel her eyes widen.That was all?It felt likedaysalready.“Do you know where my phone is?I need to call my family.”
The doctor frowned.“You will have to ask Herr Beaumont.”
She blinked.“He’s really here?”Her heart drummed painfully in her chest.
“Yes, ma’am.I believe he will return soon.”The doctor clucked sympathetically.“He will be upset that he was gone when you awoke.”Dr.Amadi gave her a quick examination, made some notes in her chart, and turned for the door.
A rustling noise drew Nat’s attention to Ford, who had appeared in the doorway holding a paper cup, dark smudges under his eyes, jaw dark with stubble.“Hey.”
If she’d been standing, her knees might’ve buckled.“Hi,” she said, her voice hardly more than a whisper.
The doctor smiled and started toward the door.
“I’ll be right back.”Ford followed the woman out of the room.
Nat could only stare at the door.Ford.Ford Beaumont.Here.
Her stomach did a little flip when he returned a few minutes later, letting the wide door fall shut behind him.“I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up,” he said, running a hand through his dark hair.“Dr.Amadi said everything looks good.How are you feeling?”
How could he talk to her like everything was normal?Like they hadn’t gone four years without a word?She opened her mouth, but hesitated, not sure where to start.
“You probably have some questions.”He hovered at the foot of the bed, wearing an untucked charcoal polo and blue jeans that did nothing to hide his lean, muscular body.Just one of many things about him that had fascinated her four years ago.
“Why are you here?”
“I told you earlier, but maybe you don’t re—”
“I remember,” she said.“But why areyouhere?”
