Page 4 of The Sicilian Princess
"How did you get that?" she asked breathlessly.
"You didn't lock the car doors, Rose." I wanted to snap at her. I wanted to tell her that wasn't safe. I wanted to tan her hide. I needed to get a better control of my emotions. I didn't know this girl, and I damned sure wasn't going to be responsible for her.
She hung her head again, but this time I wasn't having it.
"You can't just leave your things unattended with easy access. You have no idea the people around you. Be more aware," I warned her. She needed a keeper, and although I couldn't be that person for her, I could at least make sure she knew the dangers around her.
"It looks like everything is all right. You were a little dehydrated and I would like to run a full blood panel to check for abnormalities." Doc Brown was looking at his clipboard. He didn't see the panic that crossed Rose's face, but I did.
"You can't," Rose protested. She was trying to get out of the bed, but I leaned over her and pressed her shoulders back down. There was something she wasn't telling us, and I needed to get to the bottom of it.
"What are you running from?" We didn't have the luxury of tiptoeing around her feelings. Rose needed to come clean.
But just as I suspected, she opened her mouth and lied to our faces. "My ex-boyfriend, he's abusive and looking for me. I can't have any records tracking me here," she stammered.
I'm not sure why it was so easy for me to read this girl, but it was. She was lying through her teeth. I didn't have the time nor the patience to figure out what she was hiding from. She was trouble, plain as day. I didn't want any trouble. So, it was in my best interest to stay away from her.
"Well, then, I guess you need to be on your way," I stated. I left no room for argument. I figured she would crumble and do just that. No, she surprised me again.
"Is there a motel here?" She directed her question to Doc Brown. Clearly, she didn't want anything to do with me, either, which was fine.
Doc Brown, however, couldn't stop himself from helping her. "Of course, there is. There's one right off main street, all the way at the end. Maya runs it, and if you tell her to keep you off the books, she will. I'll vouch for you, but I need you to come back here tomorrow so we can go over your prognosis." Doc Brown was one of those people who always tried to help. This was going to bite him in the ass, I could just tell.
I was about to leave again when he flagged me down. "Rose is going to need help getting back to the diner and I really don't want her driving until I see what she has going on. It isn't safe." He raised his eyebrows at me.
It was like he was telling me I had to take care of her. I couldn't help the swell of anger that hit me. This was ridiculous. I wasn't going to help a lying girl who was clearly trouble. I didn't care how pretty her face was. I was about to protest when Doc Brown shot me a look. It was one that told me if I tried to get out of it, he would say something to Maddox. The last thing I needed was Maddox on my case. I grunted in agreement. That was enough for the good old doctor. He went over some things with Rose on how to take care of herself. While she was looking in his eyes, I could tell she wasn't really listening. This just let me know that she was going to be in the Doc's clinic sooner rather than later. It wasn't going to be while I was watching her, though. She could ignore her health all she wanted as soon as I dropped her off at the motel.
I helped Rose off the bed and walked slowly with her over to the diner. I even carried her bag. Instead of listening to the doctor, though, she proceeded to go into the diner. I could hear her stomach growling from my position behind her and admitted I was a little embarrassed I hadn't asked her if she was hungry. Haley escorted us to a table, and I could feel the eyes of everyone on us as we sat down.
"You don't have to stay with me," Rose whispered fiercely. Clearly, she was rebelling against the doctor.
"Have to make sure you get to the motel all right, Doc's orders," I stated. I wanted to be as gruff as I could with her, so she didn't get any ideas in that pretty little head of hers. If she were mine, she would've been at my ranch. I would've made her a nice meal and tucked her in tight. I shook those wayward thoughts out of my head. This girl was not mine. She was never going to be mine. My heart clenched at the thought, but I was going to tough it out. I'm sure after she left this town in her rearview mirror, I would be able to forget her haunting eyes and lilting voice. She wasn't the woman for me. My ideal sub was someone who didn't come with baggage. I had more than enough of my own.
