Page 45 of Beck and Call

I shook my head. If it were up to me, yes that would be my demand, but Evie wouldn't appreciate it. "No, that seems sufficient."

No one argued when I slipped into the room where they were treating Evie. I stayed off to the side while nurses covered her with blankets from the warmer. "Her temperature is about ninety degrees," one nurse reported.

Dr. Holcomb looked at the monitors. "Okay, start a warmed IV of saline. Keep her blankets warm, and switch them out when they cool."

He came back over to me. "I suppose it's pointless to tell you to go home and get some rest?"

I nodded. "I want to be here when she wakes up."

"Well, the couch is exceedingly uncomfortable, but it works fine in a pinch. We'll be able to release her when her temperature increases and when she regains consciousness."

The activity slowed down after she was set up. Occasionally a nurse would come in, record her vitals, and swap out blankets for ones fresh from the warmer. Despite her temperature steadily increasing, she still hadn't woken up.

The urge to hold her was strong. I couldn't believe I'd let the last week pass by with her staying in my guest room, all because she innocently told me she wanted my heart. She certainly didn’t deserve me pushing her away to try and make her change her mind.

She changed her mind alright. It seemed she no longer wished to marry me. I couldn't blame her. I did my best to convince her I wanted nothing to do with her. One thing was certain, I had a lot of groveling to do.

Close to three in the morning Evie began to fidget and whimper. I rushed to her side when it appeared like she might rip out her IV because she didn't know it was there.

"Evie, honey, wake up," I begged.

Her hazel eyes blinked a few times before fully opening. She looked around the room, and in her confusion started to panic. "Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital. Evie, why did you go out into the cold alone?"

Her brow furrowed. "I only remember needing air. Then it was cold, and I wasn't sure where to go."

"Did you have too much to drink?" That would explain why she wandered off without her things, if she was inebriated she wouldn't have been thinking clearly.

"No, I wasn't drinking." She looked away from me.

"Tell me," I demanded.

She turned her face back toward mine, with a look of defiance set in her expression. "I had a panic attack. I've had them before, just not in a very long time."

I could tell by the curve of her brow that she thought this bit of information was going to drive me away. Instead of reacting, I pressed the button for the nurse.

"Let's see if your temperature is high enough for me to bring you home."

She sighed. "I think it would be best if I went to stay with Jana."

"I disagree."

Her chin came up, and she looked as indignant as a person could in a hospital bed with wires crossing their body. "Too bad. This isn't one of those situations where we both get to have an equal say. I'm going to stay with Jana."

I sat back in the chair I'd pulled close to her bed. "No. There were pictures of you when I carried you into the hospital. It's only a matter of time before the press figures out your name. Are you willing to bring that attention to Jana's doorstep?"

It was an asshole move on my part, but I could tell she was going to do whatever possible to get away from me, and I needed some time to convince her to stay.

She turned her head, and I knew I'd won for the time being. It was only one battle though, and I knew she wasn't conceding the war I'd have to wage to win back her heart.

* * *

Evie

My temperature had risen to a more normal range, and I was cleared to go home. Too bad I didn't have one of those. Beckett was back to being attentive and demanding of my attention. This time I saw it for what it was, a ploy to keep me. The moment I gave in or showed any sign of softening toward him I'd be back to the fringe of his sphere of concern.

Beckett treated me like glass all the way back to his apartment. With my body temperature more normal, the heated blankets he wrapped around me were sweltering. It was nearly dawn. I was exhausted and irritated after all the poking and prodding I had to endure to be cleared to leave.

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