Page 44 of Safe With Me

“I know. That’s where the drunk hit you. The cold makes it sting more at first.”

“Alice, get the pillow block.” A triangle support made of hard foam. Alice and Annie helpedStephto sit up and lean against it.Stephgroaned.

With her thick hair parted, he applied more antiseptic and salve. Then he took the bandage, put the end of the gauze over it and wrapped it around her head.

When that was done, he said, “Are you nauseous, sweetheart?”

“I don’t think so. I’m sore everywhere, though.”

“I’ll bet. We’ll get you something for that.” He nodded to Alice. “Put a couple of regular pillows behind her. Then get her some ibuprofen, please.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“Now, let’s lay you back down.”

Gingerly, he held her behind her back and laid her on the exam bed. Annie continued to hold the ice pack to her cheek.

Diego peeked in. “I’ll stay out front to make sure everybody’s okay but wanted to know how she is.”

“She’s awake but in pain,” Annie told him.

Paxstepped away. “I’d like to know what happened, Jon.”

“A guy was sleeping and she woke him up. He smacked her on the cheek, hence the bruise on her face. She flew across the room.”

Annie said, “He reeked of booze so he was drunk.”

“SorrySteph,” Jon said. “But does this mean you’re too little to guard this place?”

“I don’t think so,” Annie stated beforePaxcould. “Unless your guard weighed 300 pounds, that would have happened to any normal or large sized man. The drunk was huge and woke up in a startle. No self-defensemove would have prevented this. He could have sent Diego across the room.”

“I agree with Annie,” Alice said.

Paxonly nodded.

* * *

Stephkept her eyes closed, but she couldn’t sleep so she could hearPax’s softly uttered words. He grasped her hand gently. “I was so worried when I saw you lying against the chair. I realized how much I love you,Steph. I’m not about to let you go over something that didn’t happen between me and Noreen. And I’ll lay her off if you want me to. Please, please, forgive me.”

She sighed heavily.

“Are you awake?”

She opened her eyes but they were sleepy. “Uh-huh.”

“I didn’t know.”

“I guessed that.”

“I meant what I said.”

“Noreen…doesn’t seem so important now.”

“She isn’t.”

“Nah.”

“Are you in pain?”

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