Page 18 of Caught in the Crossfire

A short while later, the door opened and she hissed when someone placed a new ice pack at the back of her neck.

“I’ll remove it in twenty minutes,” Matt murmured. When she shivered, he draped a blanket over her.

Later, the door opened again and a large hand with roughened skin wrapped around one of her own. Nicole’s lips curved. “Mason,” she whispered.

“I’m here. Rest. I’ll watch over you.”

“Dawn?”

“In good hands with Linc. They’re in the waiting room down the hall. It’s small and isolated. If anyone means to harm her, they’ll have to go through Linc first.”

The time with Linc would allow Dawn the opportunity to get to know the handsome PSI instructor. “Love you.”

“I love you, too.” His voice sounded thick.

“Two months, six days, and fourteen hours until our wedding.”

A soft chuckle. “I can’t wait to introduce you as my wife.”

“Second best day of my life was the day you asked me to marry you. First day was the day I met you.”

“I’m honored that you said yes when I proposed. I won’t let you down.”

“We won’t let each other down. We’re a team, Kincaid.”

He squeezed her hand.

The pain medicine tugged her down again and the low-voiced conversation between Mason and Matt became background noise as she drifted to sleep. The next time she surfaced, Dr. Anderson entered the room. After talking to the medic, Anderson walked to her bedside.

“How is the headache, my dear?”

“Tolerable with the pain meds.”

He patted her hand. “Excellent.” The physician assessed her condition for himself and appeared satisfied with what he found. “If you still insist on leaving our fine facility, I’ll sign your release papers.”

“Thanks, Doc. You’re the best. If you get yourself a dog, he or she will have free grooming for life.”

A laugh. “I work too many hours to have a dog. If I ever retire and adopt a pet, I’ll take you up on your offer.”

“Deal.”

“Misty will be in soon with your discharge paperwork and instructions although I don’t suppose you’ll need the instructions with Grace to watch over you. The main thing I want is your promise to return if your symptoms worsen. No hiding the truth from Grace.”

“I promise.” Anything to get out of here.

Twenty minutes later, Nicole and her entourage exited the hospital with Trent in the lead. Linc sat behind the wheel of his idling SUV near the ER entrance. Nicole climbed into the backseat with Mason while Dawn sat in the shotgun seat. When Trent signaled Linc, the operative drove from the hospital with Matt following behind them. The St. Claires brought up the rear.

Her stomach began to churn. Nicole closed her eyes and prayed she wouldn’t barf in Linc’s SUV. Talk about embarrassing.

Mason’s hand tightened around hers. “How are you?”

“Praying we don’t hit a traffic jam.”

Linc’s gaze shot to the rearview mirror. “You sick?”

“Trying not to be.”

The SUV shot forward. “If you need to puke, tell me and I’ll pull over.” He drove through the center of town, then hung a right on Poplar Road. Thank goodness the St. Claire home wasn’t much farther.

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