Page 22 of Rear View
I grinned. “Five fifty.”
He loosed a low, impressed whistle before his attention tracked back to his daughter.
She must’ve seen the same question in his expression that I did, ’cause she cut in before he could ask. “Xavier brought me here.”
Her father smirked. “Fast, I bet.”
Everyone laughed.
Ryah’s phone pinged on her bedside table. Her gaze flicked that way and her eyes went wide. The colordrained from that perfect face as she flipped the thing over, her chest hitching on a rapid breath.
I cocked my head, stare narrowing until my focus was pulled when Doctor Vernon sauntered in, flicking through a chart. His attention lifted, landed on me, then dropped again.
That’s right, dickhead.
Stopping at the end of Ryah’s bed, he said, “Your scans are clear. Just some bruised ribs. You’ll be sore for a while, but you’ll be fine. No permanent damage.” He tapped the footboard. “I’ll write up your discharge papers and we’ll get you on your way.”
The pressure that’d constricted my chest vanished, and I took an easy breath for the first time in hours.Fuck me.But the need to take care of her… I couldn’t shake it. Not that I wanted to.
She swallowed hard like she was workin’ to steady herself, smoothing those small hands along my coat again. I shifted, and gripped my opposite wrist.
My phone buzzed with a text and I frowned as I pulled it out.
Alec: Hey. Earl called. Says he needs us for some approvals.
Me: When’s he want them?
Alec: Today. I’m parked out front in the main lot when you’re ready.
Damn.
Me: Be there in a minute.
Shoving it back in my pocket, I turned to Miles. “Might wanna watch that doctor, yeah?”
He eyed me. “Why? Something happen?”
“Guy was gettin’ a little handsy before.”
His chin angled up. “I’m on it.”
Pulling a receipt and a pen from my pocket, I scribbled my info on the back, then stepped forward. I found those pretty copper eyes and set my hand on the edge of her bed. “I gotta jet.”
Ryah’s lips arced down, and I wanted to take it as a compliment, but getting my hopes up was a dangerous game. Didn’t stop me from trying, though.
Taking my coat, she passed it back. “Don’t forget this.”
I wanted to so it’d give me a reason to come back. But I gave her a grin and accepted it, then shrugged it on.
Mrs. Nolan’s gaze softened. “Thank you for everything, Xavier.”
“No trouble, ma’am,” I said, and meant it, before I handed the paper to Ryah. “That’s my number, darlin’. Gimme a call if you need anything.” A statement for the cops, help getting around, a date. Whatever. For dream girl, I was a full-service station.
She took it, the note crinkling when she flattened it against her lap. Pink flooded her cheeks again, and she offered me a small smile. “I will.”
Wait. She’d call? Or she’dthinkabout calling?Dammit!I cleared my throat and headed for the door, eyeing her over my shoulder. Her gaze crashed with mine, and I offered her a wink. That pink morphed to red.
Oh, she’d call.
