Page 6 of The Trail Boss

The paramedics nodded, securing a neck brace around her neck before strapping her to a backboard. They then lifted Roxie onto a stretcher as she continued to grumble about not needing help. Gavin couldn’t help but notice the way her toned legs looked in the tiny black shorts she wore for class, or how the curve of her waist dipped into full hips. Heat flickered in hisgroin, but he tamped it down quickly, irritated with himself for noticing.

“She’s Keely’s friend,” he muttered under his breath. “Focus.”

As the paramedics wheeled her toward the door, Gavin followed. “I’ll meet you at the hospital,” he said, locking eyes with Roxie. “No running away.”

Her lips twitched, but she didn’t respond, the grimace that made her shudder betraying her discomfort.

When the ambulance pulled away, Gavin turned back to the studio. The women had mostly scattered, leaving the room eerily quiet. Gavin crossed to the pole that had fallen, crouching to inspect its base.

The mount was jagged, as if it had been pulled free rather than simply breaking. He ran his fingers along the edge, noting the worn screws and the uneven marks on the metal. He looked up—the break was much cleaner. No jagged edge, nothing that seemed torn. Something about it didn’t sit right. Pulling out his cell phone, he took several pictures.

Gavin’s gaze swept the room, his sharp eyes landing on the scuffed floor near the base of the wall where Roxie had fallen. He found small scratches and grooves, as if the pole had been tampered with, shifted deliberately before the accident. More pictures.

“Tampered,” he murmured, the word sitting heavy on his tongue.

Straightening, he took another long look around the room, his gut telling him this wasn’t just a freak accident. Roxie’s protests replayed in his mind, but he knew better. Someone had done this, and until he figured out who, she wasn’t safe.

Gavin pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to Reed:Heading to the hospital. Something’s not quite right.

Sliding the phone back into his pocket, he stepped out of the studio, his mind already turning over the possibilities. He didn’t know Roxie well, but one thing was certain—her world had just become his business.

3

GAVIN

Gavin gripped the steering wheel as the hospital loomed closer and closer. He pulled into the ER’s parking lot and strode inside. As he wasn’t related to Roxie, the staff was unwilling to allow him beyond the security doors. Gavin placed another call to the head of ER.

“John? The gal I called you about? They have her in the back and won’t let me through.”

“That’s standard procedure, Gavin.”

“I understand, but she’s a friend of Reed’s sister. She’s concerned. If I can just tell Keely I saw her and spoke to those who are looking after her…”

“Give me a few minutes and I’ll call you right back.”

Gavin paced the floor as he waited for what seemed like an interminable amount of time. Finally, John called back.

“I’ve talked to the doctor who’s managed to confirm that it appears that the fall gave her a concussion. Somebody will be right out to take you back.”

“Thanks, John. Next time you’re at the club, I’ll buy you a drink.”

The doctor laughed. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

Gavin ended the call, placing his phone back in his pocket and waited. He went back to pacing as he waited. The ER got busier, and no one came to get him. When one of the staff nurses went through, nobody challenged him as he walked through the security doors right behind her. He looked up at the whiteboard by the nursing station and located Roxie’s room. He heard Roxie before he got to her room.

He opened the door just wide enough to slip inside. The antiseptic smell and bright lights brought back unpleasant memories and seemed to irritate Roxie more than her injury. Gavin stayed quiet as Roxie gave terse answers to the woman trying to finish filling out the paperwork, betraying her frustration and most likely pain with each word.

“I’m fine,” she snarled. He kind of liked that she was feeling well enough to be difficult and wasn’t intimidated by the medical staff. “I want out of here. You can’t keep me against my wishes.”

“Maybe they can’t, but you and I both know I can,” he said, lowering his voice. “Settle down and let them do what they need to do.”

“You’re not the boss of me…”

“Oh, but I am. I’m also the guy picking up the bill so hush.”

She actually managed to look shocked. “You can’t coerce me…”

“I’m pretty sure I can,” he stepped closer so only she could hear him. “And I have a whole club full of discipline and punishment devices so knock it off and settle down.”

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