“I'll have someone go and get him. I think it's best if you stay here tonight. Actually, I think it's best if everyone stays here tonight. Call everyone in.” Giving her a small smile, I waited for her to argue.
She didn't.
“Shower?” I asked when it became clear that she wasn't going to fight me.
“Please.” Turning back to her patient, she smiled a dazzling smile. “Rest up, painkillers and sleep, and I will check up on you in the morning. If he starts running a fever, come and get me. It looks like I will be around.” Turning back to me, she sighed. “Lead the way, Fang, before this blood dries.”
* * *
She didn't take longin the shower, but waiting for her when I could hear the water behind the closed door, knowing she was naked just beyond my reach, was the longest ten minutes of my life.
When she finally emerged, dressed back in her dress with the blood splatter on the front, I frowned. I had been imagining, no,hopingthat she would come out in just a towel. Something I could flick open so I could feast my eyes on her body finally.
“This is your room isn’t it?”
“Yes, I thought you might be more comfortable here tonight?”
Her eyebrows arched into her hairline as she gazed around. When she finally turned back to me, there was no anger in her voice. “Is this you trying to be a gentleman or is this you trying to get into my panties?”
“Both,” I said without thinking. “But mainly the first one. You did good out there tonight, Gypsy, I expected more screaming.”
For a second she didn't say anything, and then she shrugged. Her whole face closed down. “I'm not afraid of blood.”
“You didn't even blink, and you patched him up without a second thought. You’ve obviously done that before.” I took a step towards her, my hand brushing against her hip. Gypsy didn't move away. Her head tilted upwards.
“Been around many gunshot victims have you?”
“I'm a girl of many talents.” She grinned. “Fang, this isn't going to happen. You know we hate each other. Falling into bed with you would be wrong.”
“Would it?” I took another step closer. Our bodies were almost touching. “Life is short Gypsy, why shouldn’t we enjoy ourselves a little?”
Laughing, she threw back her head. “Normally I would agree with you, but a few hours ago you were trying to run me out of town and now you are looking at me like you want to eat me.”
“I do want to eat you. Tell me Gypsy, did you fuck Bobby? Honestly?”
She shook her head. “It’s none of your business but no, we got drunk and he passed out on my couch. There was no sex involved, neither of us were in any fit state.”
“Did you want to?” I searched her face. If she told me she liked Bobby, I didn't know what I would do. Continue my vendetta and run her out of town?
Maybe.
“No, Bobby is a friend. We were talking about things that upset me and the alcohol helped numb the pain for a while.”
Things that upset her. Things from her past. I had been right to ask Hansel to talk to Bobby. He knew something. And I was guessing it was something important.
“Things like how you know how to deal with trauma?”
“My past isn’t anything to do with the here and now, Fang. Drop it.” The venom was seeping back into her voice.
“Why don't you take off your bloody clothes…” I changed the subject, but I wasn't about to drop it. I was surer than ever that she was indeed hiding something big. “And get some sleep Gypsy,” I added when she shot me a look. “You can wear something of mine to sleep in if you don’t feel comfortable naked in my bed.”
“Fang.”
I held up my hands. “I have some business to sort out so you don't have to worry about me pawing at you. Not yet anyway.”
19
Gypsy
