Page 84 of Scoring Grey

“My new favorite word. Baby, I love you.” I kiss her blood-smeared forehead. “I love you so damn much.”

“Sir, we’re going to need you to back away,” a paramedic says, arriving on the scene.

“I’m not going anywhere, blondie. I’m right here, baby,” I say, stepping aside to let the medics help her.

“Ma’am, can you speak?”

Her eyes flick over the people surrounding her as she lies on the ground.

“She just opened her eyes. The impact of the car hitting the tree knocked her out cold,” I answer for her.

“Sir, are you hurt?” One of the medics does a double take when he sees me.

“No, I’m fine. Take care of her.”

“You’re bleeding.”

I look down and don’t see anything.

“On your face.”

I reach for my cheek, and my hand is instantly slicked. “The airbags deployed. It’s probably just a burn.”

“I’ll take a look,” another medic offers.

“No, I’m refusing treatment. Take care of the girl.”

“Miss, can you tell me your name?” He tries again.

“Eloise…” she rasps. “Eloise Grey.”

“Eloise, what hurts the most right now?”

“My head,” she answers, squeezing her eyes shut with a grimace.

“Eloise, we are going to get you on the stretcher. I’m going to put this brace around your neck before we move you.”

“Okay.” She swallows before they carefully tend to her neck, lift her onto the gurney, and cover her with a blanket. Her face contorts in pain as they move her, and I want to rage. It’s my damn fault she’s hurting at all. I’m the reason she ran. I was driving the car.

The four medics pick up the stretcher and start toward the ambulance. I pick up my jacket, and Dash and I follow the paramedics back to the waiting ambulance.

“We’re going to take her to St. Catherine’s,” one of the men says as they load her in the back.

“I’m riding along,” I state surely.

“Only family can ride along. I’m sorry.”

“I am her family. I’m her husband.”

“Dash, we are not married,” she answers, her voice cracking. I pinch the bridge of my nose. Does she think I’m Dash now? The two paramedics share a questionable look, and I think quickly.

“She hit her head,” I say as I squeeze by the medic and climb into the ambulance.

“It’s okay, baby.” I grasp her hand. “I found your ring on the floorboard when I lifted you out,” I say as I slip a diamond ring on her finger.

Her eyes widen, and she waggles her ring finger, examining the diamond I just placed on it. “Cal?—”

“Shhh.” I put my fingers to her lips and look to see that the medics bought my bluff. When I see they’re appeased, I add, “I told you I wasn’t going to ask.”

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