Page 26 of Silver Secrets

“You know, if you wanted to give me a heart attack, you didn’t have to go venturing off in the woods all by yourself to do it. Could have just flirted with Hawk in front of me.”

She fought the smile that was tugging at the corner of her mouth. The smile faded instantly when she thought about Gage and Stone having to trudge through the woods to find her. “I feel so bad. I didn’t mean to make you have to come out here.”

“What happened? Lily and Mae said you took a call from a patient.”

She nodded. “I had a client in distress. He called me, and I just wandered as he talked to me. Should have been paying better attention to my surroundings.”

“Yeah, you should have. We’re lucky I was paying attention when you didn’t cross with the last people,” Gage grumbled. “A minute ago you mentioned someone else being out here with you. Did you see someone?”

“No,” she groaned. “This is so embarrassing. I thought I heard… A twig snapped behind me and I thought someone was there. My imagination just got the best of me. Can we start walking back?”

“Not yet. Finish that water first.” He pointed to the bottle in her hand and she forced herself to take another sip. “So you felt like someone was there? Watching, or following you?”

She paused, hating the way her mouth instantly went dry and her stomach wanted to heave. “Yes.”

“Do you think it could have been that client you dismissed?”

“David? No. I mean, I hadn’t considered it, but it’s not likely that he knew I’d be here today.”

“But he could have.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I guess anything is possible.”

“We’ll look into it. Now, do you think you could let Stone take a look at your wrist and your legs? It looks a bit swollen and I just want to make sure none of those scratches are going to give you any problems.”

She hesitated. Stone stepped closer, getting down on the same level as Gage.

“How about I start by looking at your legs. I won’t touch you, Sloane, okay? I just need to see what we’re working with.”

“Thank you,” she barely got the words out.

“It’s not a problem. Just stretch them out for me whenever you’re ready and we’ll go from there.”

Sloane winced as she tried to get her body to relax enough to pull her legs out from underneath her. After a little maneuvering, she got there, and Stone did just as he promised. Neither of them were making her feel uncomfortable.

“Shit. I don’t like how this cut looks. I’m sorry, Sloane, but I’m going to need to put some bandages on your legs. I think this one deeper cut needs some wound closure strips. And I need to clean it out before we move you.”

“Move me?”

“I’m sorry,” Stone had a forlorn look on his face. “I think it’s best if we get the wound tended to and then either Gage or I carry you back. We need to be careful not to reopen it. I think walking on it just isn’t the right call. I’m going to apply the strips now. I’ll be quick.”

“Shit,” she hissed as Stone flushed the scrapes with some sort of antiseptic fluid.

“Sorry, Sloane.”

“You don’t have to keep apologizing. I’m sure I look like a wreck, but I’m stronger than you’d think.” She tried not to wince as Stone pulled her skin together and secured the first bandage strip over it. “I didn’t even feel it before.”

“Adrenaline can really mess with your body.”

“Yeah.”

“Red, can I ask you something?” Gage’s voice was so quiet, she’d barely heard the question. Stone looked away, rummaging through his backpack.

“Okay.”

He hesitated. “Is it all touch, or is it just skin to skin contact?”

“It’s all touch,” she whispered, praying he wouldn’t ask her why.

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