Page 13

“I did it!” She held the bullet up, grinning like she'd just won the lottery.

“Never had a doubt,” Kent said, sounding more confident than she'd felt.

Her smile somehow grew even bigger.

She dropped the bullet into the tray while Angelina flushed the wound before handing her the Steri-Strips. A few moments later, the incision was closed.

Slade and Angelina started cleaning up while Kent pushed himself into a sitting position. Dawn glanced his way and noticed a little blood still seeping from the wound on his leg. Grabbing a piece of gauze, she walked over and gently cleaned it away.

“You have a little seeping,” she said, studying the healing wound as the doctor she was. “With the way you guys heal, it'll stop in no time.”

“Appreciate it,” he replied, his voice rough as his eyes met hers.

She looked up...and forgot all about the wound.

There was something about the way he looked at her that made her feel like they were the only two people in the room. It wasn't cocky. It wasn't flirtatious. It was just...him. Honest. Steady. Intense enough to make her pulse kick up for reasons that had nothing to do with medicine.

Breaking eye contact first, she reached for his bloody shirt, only to realize he'd already stood. She turned too quickly, bumping into him, and his hands settled on her arms to steady her.

Neither of them moved.

“Dawn!” Sid's voice echoed down the hallway a second before he appeared in the doorway. His gaze bounced from Dawn to Kent, then back again.

“Am I interrupting something?” Sid’s grin was crooked, as if he’d just caught them standing there naked.

Dawn stepped back so fast she nearly tripped over Kent's discarded jeans.

“No,” she answered a little too quickly.

Kent's slow grin didn't help.

Sid narrowed his eyes. “Ah, yeah, okay.” He eyed them both a little longer, then shrugged.

“What do you need, Sid?” Slade broke the uncomfortable silence.

Sid pointed toward the hallway. “Lana had another cramp.”

Dawn sighed. “Sid⁠—”

“Nope.” He held up a hand. “Before you say they're normal, I know. You told me. Becky told me. Hell, I think Sloan even told me. But here's the thing...” He leaned in, lowering his voice. “What if this is the one that's not normal?”

Kent snorted.

Dawn bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

“Sid, she's fine.” Dawn tried again to reassure him, but she knew it wasn't going to help.

“That's exactly what everybody keeps saying.” He pointed toward the hallway again. “Just come and see her, because I'm one cramp away from throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her to the hospital.”

Dawn laughed and shook her head before looking back at Kent. His eyes found hers again, and for one crazy second, she considered telling Sid to give them another minute. Thankfully, she came to her senses before opening her mouth.

“Coming,” she said, forcing herself to look away.

She followed Sid out of the room, but not before stealing one last glance over her shoulder.

Kent was still watching her.

Damn.