Page 46 of One Unexpected Gift

“Do you know what caused them?”

Nick lowered his hands and tilted his head sideways. From her peripheral vision, she could feel his eyes on her. He let out a sound close to a snort and a sigh. “I think so.”

“Was it four wheeling? Did you fall?”

“No.”

“Do you have any other aches or pains?”

He moved his hands to his crotch and shifted. “None that are related.”

Sky rolled her eyes and shook her head at him. “Typical guy. In crazy pain and still a one-track mind.”

“It’s your fault.”

“Mine?” She flicked on her blinker and turned into the emergency room lot. The hospital was small, and she found a parking spot not far from the entrance. “How do you figure?”

“I don’t always think about sex. Only when I’m around you. Or thinking about you.”

Sky didn’t have a comeback for his comment, so she kept her lips pressed together and got out of the car. On autopilot, she opened the back, slung the diaper bag over her shoulder and unlatched the car seat.

Nick was a few steps in front of her making his way to the entrance. “You don’t have to come in. It’ll be a long wait.” He rubbed the back of his head and closed his eyes. “I appreciate you bringing me.”

“I’m not leaving you here alone. Besides, you’ll need a ride home.”

She prayed he didn’t have a serious condition and would be able to go home today.

His cheeks and eyes scrunched up in pain.

“Come on.” She draped her free hand around his waist, the diaper bag bumping into his hip.

“You’re carrying a baby.”

“It’s a long story.” She guided him to the front desk where a nurse took down his name.

“My doctor,” he winced in pain, “called ahead.”

“Yes, Mr. Pierce, Doctor Turner put in an order for a CT scan. You can head to triage now.”

A CT scan? Sky had a million and one questions, most of them as a nurse, a handful as a friend, she wanted to ask. Seeing how much pain Nick was in, she stayed quiet and let the staff at Mountain Medical take charge.

“You can have a seat here,” nurse Ruth, according to her nametag, gestured to the two chairs. “What a beautiful little girl. How old is she?”

“Nick is in a lot of pain. Can we get him in to see the doctor as soon as possible?”

Nick didn’t seem to notice her deflection from Gabby. Heck, he barely noticed the car seat and black diaper bag. He’d kept his eyes closed more than open and once again rested his forehead in his hands.

Ten minutes later, he was checked in and they were heading to an open room.

“We’re not very busy right now so it should be fairly quiet for you. You’ll need to take your shirt off and put this on.” The nurse handed him a johnny. “You can keep your jeans and shoes on. I hope you feel better, Mr. Pierce.”

“Thank you,” he moaned as he climbed into the bed, curling to his side.

Sky set Gabby and the diaper bag down in the corner, thankful she was still sound asleep. In another hour she’d be ready for her lunch. Hopefully by then Nick would be busy with the doctor and she’d be able to sneak out and nurse in private.

Nick sighed from the bed. She sat at the edge and rubbed her hand up and down his arm. “Can I help you out of your shirt?”

His eyes stayed closed but his lips turned into a giant smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”

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