What had he been thinking? That he could find her, and she would have feelings for him?That he had any right to have feelings for her?What had he done, really, anyway? Holding her that night was as much for him as it had been for her. He had no business being in any kind of relationship anyway. Guilt and fear paralyzed him.
“You couldn’t just say,Hey, I was there that night. I’m sorry for what happened?”
“What difference would that have made?” He found his voice, but he barely recognized it, he sounded so weak. Though she seemed to have a point.
“None! You’re right. It’s creepy either way.” She advanced on him, eyes narrowed, her mouth twisted in a sick smirk. “What the fuck were you doing in my room if you weren’t assigned to me?”
How could he explain that?
Angry tears swam in her eyes. “Leave. Now.” This time, her voice cracked, and she gasped for control. She was trying not to cry in front of him. Well, he could at least do that for her.
He forced his legs to move just as he did that day in the ER. He stopped at the door, turning his head slightly so she could hear him. “Two weeks. Your stitches should be healed in two weeks.”
Without waiting for her to say more, he opened the door and stalked out into the biting chill. Somehow, he reached his bike, his vision blurred by his own angry tears. Interestingly, he and Annika were angry at the same person.
Screw the helmet. He needed to ride.
CHAPTER TEN
ANNIKA
ANNIKAWATCHEDHIMwalk out of the bar and flinched when she heard the rev of his bike. What the hell had just happened? Never mind, she knew the answer. She’d started having feelings for a guy who turned out to be a liar, and possibly a stalker. How was that any different from having feelings for a guy who was self-centered? Honestly, her judgment waswayoff. If Naya hadn’t walked in on them, she’d never have known he was in her room that night.
His kiss still had her head spinning, and she shivered in the coolness left behind from where his warm body had touched hers.Forget him. Move on.
She blinked back her tears and turned to see Naya staring at her with one eyebrow raised.
“What?”
“That looked like some kiss.”
“Well, looks can be deceiving. Obviously.” She recovered the shakiness from her voice and shrugged her shoulders as if that kind of kiss happened all the time.
“He never told you he was your nurse?” Naya looked behind her at the door Daniel had just left from.
“He wasn’t my nurse. He’s a practitioner.”
“But he was in your room.” She shook her head and turned back to Annika.
“He never told me, Naya.” She sighed, exasperated, her patience running thin.
“What did he tell you?” Her cousin wasn’t letting this go.
“Nothing.” He had just listened. He had just held her and told her that she’d done nothing wrong. That it was okay to grieve even though she’d never even seen her baby. That it was okay to cry. Not to mention he knew right off that Steven was an asshole. Though he probably knew that from that night in the ER.
“Well, I guess it’s good you know now, before things got too serious.” Naya’s tone settled it. Let it go. Move on.
“Good thing I have you to save me.”
Her cousin’s eyes softened, as did her tone. “That’s not what I meant. I just meant...”
Annika raised her hand in surrender. “It’s okay. I know what you meant. It’s okay to say it. My judgment sucks. Plain and simple.”
“Maybe you’re still getting over Steven.” Naya was backtracking, trying to spare her feelings.
Annika examined her injured hand. “I doubt that. This is what happens when Steven’s around.” She shook her head at her hand, trying not to recall Daniel’s gentle touch or how it had made her feel. Or how he had made her feel. Light. Happy. Naya was right. Let it go. He’d lied to her, and she had been fool enough to believe him.
Annika inhaled and focused on her cousin. “Did you say something about a date?”
