Page 8 of Sheltered by the Lawman

“Mr. Cade?”

He brought his gaze up to the nurse. “Yes?” He stood.

“The young woman you were sitting with earlier is awake now. Would you like to see her?”

And here it was. Did he want to see her? He should deny the opportunity because why did he need to see her? He’d already sat with her most of the night. As long as she was here in the hospital he didn’t have to worry about her escaping, although did she have any clue who he was? He didn’t think she did.

Cull did the opposite of what he knew he should do. He decided to see her. When he entered her room, she was staring out the window. Clearing his throat, she turned her cheek and his stomach clenched. Her face was smudged with ash and her forehead was covered with a large bandage. Her skin looked two shades whiter. Lying in the bed with wires hooked to her made her look tiny and vulnerable and he felt that susceptible part of him react again.

Her expression remained blank. Did she not remember him saving her? He shifted in his boots while she remained silent. What does a man say to a woman in a situation like this? “Hey, I’m here to apprehend you so hurry up and heal.” Or, “Do you have a preference for a color of handcuffs?” He cringed. Not because he didn’t like the idea of putting her in cuffs, but the fact that an image evolved in his mind that didn’t involve clothing. Where the hell did that come from? He’d never been this way before. He’d always kept boundaries between personal and professional.

The wild disarray of her hair and bruising on her cheek didn’t help his situation. He was raised a gentleman and taught to take care of a woman when needed. Although he guessed Monica could handle herself, right now she looked scared.

“Hey,” said Cull quietly. Her brows scrunched.

“Uh…do I know you?” she asked softly.

He sensed that he needed to be gentle when he explained who he was to her. After all, she was hooked to machines and she looked like she’d been run over by a freight train…and yet still beautiful. Feeling guilty, he squashed the feeling. The only alternative was to let her slip away and pretend he never found her, but that only meant she’d be bait for the other sharks that needed a hundred grand. “I’m Cullen Cade.”

“Are you the one who saved me?” Her eyes crawled into his body and squeezed.

“Yeah. Your apartment was on fire.” He wasn’t sure how much she’d been told and wasn’t sure he should be the one who revealed that someone almost killed her.

“I-I asked to see you, Mr. Cade.”

“Cullen…or Cull. People call me Cull.” He gnashed his teeth together and cursed under his breath. What the hell? Did he care what she called him?

“Nice to meet you, Cull.” His name came off her tongue as if she was trying it on for sound. “I-I was hoping you could help clear something up for me.” She squinted and reached up to touch her forehead.

“You okay?” He stepped closer and she recoiled against the bed. A wave of protectiveness swept through him.

“I’m a little sore. My head. Do you know what happened? Did I fall?”

“You don’t remember?”

“Everything is…a bit blank.” Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.

“I don’t have all the details on what happened. A detective, his name is Whitlock, will want to speak to you, ask you a few questions when you’re feeling up to it.”

“A detective? For a fire?”

“The fire department and local police are working together to figure out what happened. This is completely protocol in these situations.”

As if that was enough to satisfy her for the time being, the tension in her expression eased some and her lips pursed, which were an amazing color of pale pink. “Are you and I…you know…”

He blinked. “Are we what?”

“Do we know each other? I don’t have a ring on so I’m assuming we’re not husband and wife, or engaged, but are we involved?” she said those words without cracking a smile. Was she joking? When he didn’t answer, one corner of her mouth dipped into a frown. “I’m sorry if we are. Sorry that I have no recollection. I’m having difficulty remembering much. The doctor said this can happen after a head injury.”

Oh shit! A difficult case just became more difficult. “Amnesia?” His throat tightened.

“The doctor explained it all. He said I have a concussion, which is a type of brain injury that can impair a person’s cognition…or memories, for days and even weeks.”

“So, you don’t remember anything prior to the accident?”

She gave her head a shake against the pillow. “You didn’t answer me about you and me.”

He could only stare for a good five seconds. Was this a manipulation tactic? Could he trust that she really couldn’t remember? She didn’t fake the fire and getting hit over the head. “Don’t worry. We don’t know one another.” Relief spread over her pale features, but it didn’t last long. Moisture filled her eyes and her full bottom lip puckered slightly. “Do you know your name?”

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