Page 60 of Island Protector

“Right. Okay. Thanks.”

She stepped inside the room, swiping her clammy hands across her jeans. There was a chair next to the bed. She assumed Knox had recently vacated the spot to come find her. She sat down, her purse in her lap, wondering what to do or say while Miles slept.

Just as the nurse promised, she didn’t have to wait long before he woke. Groggy, he blinked a few times. “Molly?”

“Yes. I’m here.”

“Thought I was dreaming,” he managed.

“We really need to stop meeting here,” she said. “Who did this?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t text you when I got home. Lost my phone.”

This man. Next time—let’s hope there was never a next time like this—she’d trust herself. “You didn’t actually get home yet, so there’s nothing to apologize for.”

He started to laugh, only to wince and grab at his side. “Laughter might not be the best medicine right now.”

Contrite, she apologized.

“You were mad at me.”

And now she felt guiltier. “Confused, maybe. I thought I was being silly to worry, or clingy to want you to text. But here you were in trouble. What happened?”

He shifted in the bed. Paused to catch his breath. “Got jumped from behind walking back from your place. I got in a few good licks though and the doc should cut me loose soon. He wanted me to have some fluids on board.” He jerked his chin toward the IV bag. “Almost done.”

“Are your ribs broken?”

“Just banged up. Sore as hell.” He smiled through his busted lip. “Tell me, is it true?”

She frowned. Had no idea what he was talking about. Did he have a concussion?

“Do chicks really dig scars?”

Laughing softly, she stood up and kissed him on the forehead, careful to avoid the worst of the bruising around his eye. “I’m sure any scars will be sexy as hell.” She touched his arm, avoiding the angry scrapes across his knuckles. “What can I do?”

“Not much,” he said. “Knox is working on it. With the chief.”

Hopefully they’d have better luck finding his attacker than they’d had finding the driver of the truck who’d driven into her. “Is it tied to the vandalism on your boat?”

“We don’t know yet.” He looked up at her with such earnestness. “It’s possible this is related to some work I did for the Guardian Agency a while back.” He caught her wrist. “I can’t talk about it in any detail. But if that’s the case, you’ll need to keep your distance.”

“Let’s hope that’s not it, because I’m not going anywhere, Miles.”

“Molly.”

She stared him down, her fingers drifting lightly over his forearm. “Would you leave me to deal with some kind of trouble on my own?”

“No, but that’s?—”

“Exactly the same thing,” she said before he could put his foot in his mouth and make her mad. “You changed the rules last night,” she reminded him. “Unless you’re breaking up with me?”

“No.” He tugged her down for a soft kiss.

“You two better be behaving in here.” Dr. Sanders walked in with a sly grin. “If you’re feeling well enough to kiss your girl, I guess you’re well enough to go home.”

“I can take you,” she volunteered.

An alarm sounded from Molly’s purse. “Oh, I need to go get Bryce. But…” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t want to leave Miles. “Normally, I’d call Sharon,” she said.

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