A soft smile stretched across Mary’s mouth. “I can tell.”
He rubbed his tired eyes. The stress of the day had taken its toll on him. But he’d not be able to sleep. Not until he knew Nicole was all right.
“Hey, who wants some coffee?” Kent asked.
“I do,” Mary said.
Kent looked at Mick and he gave the man a nod. “Black, please.”
Kent moved up the hall toward the cafeteria. Mick hoped Mary didn’t want to talk because he was in no mood to be social. Closing his eyes, he rested his head on the wall again. He couldn’t get today’s events out of his mind. If only he’d had the chance to kiss Nicole, maybe they’d be at a restaurant by now, holding hands across the table, and he’d be making her laugh, and she’d be making him feel like her hero.
If only... That was the story of his life. He’d made some poor decisions along the way, but he’d also made some wise ones. Having feelings for Nicole was definitely a wise choice.
“Mick!”
A woman’s shriek snapped him out of his thoughts and he sat up. Rushing toward him in three-inch heels, and wearing a strapless, black, shimmering evening gown, was none other than Tara. He groaned. What was she doing here?
“Oh, Mick. I’d heard you’d been in an accident.” She plopped on the chair next to him and gingerly touched his bandaged arms. “What happened?”
His gaze jumped to Mary for a second. She stared at him with wide, accusing eyes. Not too long ago, she’d called him an amazing man. He’d bet money that she was recanting her comment about now.
“No, Tara.” He met the strawberry-blonde’s eyes. “I wasn’t in an accident, but I saw one happen and I helped out.” He held up his bandaged arms. “That’s why I have these.”
She huffed and scanned the lobby. “So where is a doctor? And why isn’t he treating you?” She stood, placing her hands on her almost non-existing hips. “Are there no doctors in this Podunk town?” she said loudly.
“Tara, stop.” He stood in front of her, grasping her wrist. “I’ve already been looked at.”
“Then why are you still here?” She arched a painted-on eyebrow. “How could you have forgotten about our dinner date?”
He dared a quick glance at Mary. She glared at him. Of course, she would. Until he broke off with his girlfriend, he would always be the jerk in everyone’s eyes.
“Let’s go for a walk outside.” He started moving in the direction of the doors.
“Are you serious?” Tara whined. “I don’t want to go for a walk in my high heels.”
“Then take them off,” he snapped, continuing on his way.
Mick didn’t say another word until they were outside. Tara leaned against him as she slipped off her shoes one at a time.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you,” he began, “but helping Nicole out of the car was more important.”
She displayed a fake frown. “Who is Nicole?”
“She’s the woman whose company I’m trying to save. She’s James Adkin’s granddaughter.”
“Oh.” She nodded, but the look of confusion was still on her face. “Who is James Adkin?”
He rolled his eyes. “If you aren’t going to listen to me when I talk, there’s no reason to tell you anything.”
He moved away from her. The crisp night air helped make him alert as he followed the sidewalk around the hospital.
“Mick, I’m sorry. Please tell me.”
He slowed his steps, waiting for her to catch up. “Nicole is the reason I didn’t call you back – and why I didn’t take you out tonight.” He stared at her for a few seconds as his brain finally started working again. “How did you hear that I’d been in an accident?”
“Well, when you didn’t come home, and you weren’t answering your phone, I took a cab and had him drive me to the Adkins’ building. When I saw the cops at the accident, I stopped and asked them. They told me that you and a woman were taken to the hospital.”
He pulled out his cell to see why he’d never gotten her calls. The battery was dead. What luck... Why hadn’t this happened when he and Nicole were in the elevator?
