Page 7 of My Knight

Pirate

“Are you going to let me in there?”

I folded my arms over my chest and planted my boots a little firmer into the hospital tile like I was holding a door to a fortress. “She’s resting.”

Mac raised an unimpressed brow at me. “You think I’m gonna walk in there playing the trombone? Got some cymbals strapped to my ass that’ll clang every step?”

I didn’t blink. “When she wakes up, you can see her.”

Mac stared up at me like she was trying to see into my soul—or maybe just planning the most efficient way to kick me in the balls. “What the hell is going on here, Jack Sparrow?” she asked, her voice suspicious as hell. “Let me in to see my friend.”

Before I could respond, I heard the familiar sound of heavy boots and lighter footsteps behind her.

“Jack Sparrow?” Poppy’s voice chimed in with a grin as she and Yarder appeared a few feet away. “Your name isn’t really Jack Sparrow, is it?” she asked, eyes wide and amused.

“It’s because his road name is Pirate, babe,” Yarder explained, and his lips twitched with amusement.

Poppy smiled wide and rolled her eyes. “I know, Yarder. I was trying to be funny.”

Mac wasn’t laughing. She looked at Yarder and Poppy. “Why don’t you two hang out with the door troll here? I’m gonna go sit with Saylor.”

She tried to step around me, but I didn’t budge. “She’s resting,” I said again, my voice flat but not aggressive. Just… final.

Mac stopped toe to toe with me, folded her arms across her chest, and mirrored my stance. She had fire in her eyes. I admired that about her, even if she was damn annoying fornot listening to me. “Do you even know her last name?” she demanded.

“Murphy,” I grunted without hesitation.

Her eyes narrowed and studied me like I’d just pulled a rabbit out of a hat. “You saw that on her chart, probably.”

I had. But I’d remembered it. That had to count for something.

“Saylor Murphy,” Poppy said dreamily. “I like it. It has a nice ring to it.”

Yarder’s eyes scanned the hallway, then landed back on me. “What’s going on with her?”

“Doc said nothing’s broken. Just bruises, cuts, and a concussion. He said she could probably go home tomorrow if she stays stable.” I flicked a glance at Mac. “He also said rest was best for her.”

Mac glared up at me like she was seconds away from setting me on fire. “Did he also knight you as her protector while he was at it?” she snapped.

“Aw, you’re like her knight in shining armor,” Poppy sighed with a grin. She gave me a slow once-over. “Maybe her knight in worn leather on a Harley.”

Mac turned toward Yarder like she was bringing in reinforcements. “You’re the boss. Tell him to get out of my way so I can go see my friend.”

“You just want to get in there so you can figure out when you can start filming again.”

Mac glared at me. “I’ve talked to Don. He knows what happened. Shooting is paused for two weeks. He’s going to go over all of the footage and see if we really need anything more. I’m worried about my friend right now, not the damn TV show.”

That was surprising.

Yarder grunted and looked at me like I was barking up the wrong tree with Mac. I’m sure he was glad to hear that filming was suspended.

“She needs to rest,” I repeated.

“I promise not to blow my trombone,” Mac sassed with a smirk.

Yarder gave her a look like she’d completely lost it. “I would hope not.” Then he nodded at me. “Let her in. She can sit with her while we talk.”

Mac turned to me with a shit-eating grin lighting up her face. “Sidestep it, Jackie boy, you heard bossman.”

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