Page 3 of Under Fire

Cade patted Delilah’s hand. “Better heed his advice. We all have the scars to attest to his medical skills.”

When he glanced at his friend, Cade just grinned at him. Whatever. As long as Delilah went to the hospital, he’d take the razzing from his teammates.

“Listen to Matt,” Jay said as he knelt by Delilah’s left side. “He knows what he’s talking about. If he says you need to see the doc, you can take that to the bank.”

She gave a slight nod.

Excellent. Matt squeezed her fingers. When he loosened his grip, Delilah grabbed his hand to hold him in place. Matt’s gaze flicked to hers. While Jay and Harry checked Delilah’s vitals and reported to the hospital, she held his gaze.

Probably needed reassurance, Matt concluded. Delilah hadn’t hinted at feelings for him beyond friendship. That was something he hoped to change in the near future. Bravo team had to stay home long enough for him to actively pursue a dating relationship with the candle shop owner.

If she would give him a chance. Delilah might not be into him or willing to involve herself with a man who chased terrorists for a living. Not exactly the safest job on the planet.

“We’re ready to transport,” Jay said to Matt. “You riding along?”

He glanced at Delilah. “Yeah, I’m going with her.” He refused to stay behind while she was injured and vulnerable to attack.

“I’ll follow in your SUV,” Cade said. “That way you’ll have wheels when Delilah is released.”

“Thanks.”

Delilah squeezed his hand. “My groceries are on the counter. Some of it needs to be refrigerated.”

“I’ll take care of it before I come to the hospital,” Cade said.

The EMTs shifted Delilah to the gurney they’d brought in and rolled her from the house with Matt on their heels, his mike bag slung over his shoulder. He never left home without it.

He climbed into the back of the ambulance with Delilah and Jay and forced himself to act like a friend instead of a medic. As they drove away from her home, Matt wondered who had broken in and roughed up his beautiful friend. Would he return to finish the job?

CHAPTER TWO

Matt leaned against the wall across from the exam room where Dr. Anderson was checking Delilah. He willed the old country doctor to move faster. If the exam took much longer, Matt would hunt down his team leader’s wife and have her check on Delilah. Grace St. Claire worked as a nurse at Memorial Hospital and was currently working in the ER. She’d passed him a few times rushing from one place to another.

Just as he pulled out his phone to text Grace, Dr. Anderson walked out. Matt shoved the phone into his pocket. “How is she, Doc?”

“Your assessment was correct, Matt. Delilah has a concussion and cracked ribs. No internal injuries.”

“And the cut?”

“Required eight stitches. I think the scar will be minimal. I was careful.”

Matt clapped Otter Creek’s favorite doctor on the shoulder. “I never doubted that. Can I see her?”

“She’s been asking for you.”

His heart skipped a beat. She’d been asking for him? A comfort thing, he reminded himself. Didn’t mean she saw him as more than a friend no matter how much he wanted her to.

“I’ll admit her for the night. Provided she doesn’t have complications, Delilah can go home tomorrow morning.”

Oh, man. Delilah wouldn’t be happy about the hospital stay. “Thanks, Doc.”

“I assume you and one of your friends will be staying with her tonight.”

He grinned. The doctor was familiar with PSI and their security measures. “Yes, sir.”

“See that she rests, but let the nurses do their jobs. You’re here as her friend. When she rests, I suggest you take the opportunity to do the same yourself.”

He didn’t bother to argue with the physician, but Matt was on guard duty until Delilah was safe.

---