Page 29 of Meant for Her

“Oh, sure. I didn’t mean to delay you.”

Malia was happy to know that the sheriff would be stopping by, so she could polish her story.

When she stepped into the back, she sought out her cousin. When he finished looking over a patient, he came over.

“We have a problem.” Malia explained about the sheriff wanting to know where Luke and Ryan were. “I told Raina that you removed the bullets, and that once they regained consciousness, they insisted on being taken home. I told her I thought you had them sign a waiver when they insisted on leaving. They claimed they had a caregiver at home.”

David placed a hand on her shoulder. “Good job. You came up with a plausible explanation. We need to be on the same page. Did you say that I operated on them alone?”

She couldn’t tell if he was serious or not. “You never work alone. Maybe we should say that I assisted you, though you’d have to have an anesthesiologist.”

“Then I need to tell Cain.”

Thankfully, Cain Baxter was not only a werewolf, but a very close friend of her cousin.

“I suggest you tell the men everything you just told me in case the sheriff questions them,” David said.

“I will as soon as I contact Mason and have him track down their phone number.”

David shook his head. “I hope the Lattimores don’t cause any more trouble.”

Now he almost sounded like his mom, but being a doctor, Malia could trust him to be discreet. “I’m hoping, but I should tell you something about them.”

His eyebrows rose. “And what would that be?”

“They are my mates.”

His mouth open. “Is that so?”

“Yes, but please don’t say anything to anyone. Your mom is already negative toward them.”

David stood up taller and placed a hand over his heart. “I will be sure to use my doctor-patient privilege with you.”

“Thanks.” A call came over the intercom. There had been an accident. “I guess we’re up.”

“Never a dull moment in the ER,” he said.

A few hours later, shortly before her shift was up, Sheriff Hanson stopped by. To her delight, he seemed to believe her story—including why the men needed to leave. The sheriff seemed to think having someone care for them at home was a good idea. Even more encouraging was that he didn’t say he was planning to stop by the Lattimore’s ranch any time soon.

“I’d like to speak with Dr. Weston. You said he has the bullets?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll need them. Thanks.”

Malia stood up taller, trying to act as if everything she said had been true.

* * *

After Ryan sat in his car in the hospital parking lot for a few hours, he decided it would be best if he parked down the street to reduce the chance of attracting attention. Malia drove a blue Rav 4, so he’d spot her if she left. The problem would be how to avoid scaring her when he followed her.

After five hours of doing nothing, he had expected her to take a lunch break at least, but either she ate in the cafeteria, or she was too busy to eat.

Determined to speak with her, Ryan remained patient. He periodically returned to the hospital parking lot to make sure he hadn’t missed her. He wasn’t aware of any back entrance, but there could have been a staff parking lot. He was now on his third rotation into the lot, parking in a different area each time. Considering he drove a rather generic looking black truck, he figured no one would notice him.

He’d almost dozed off when something made him sit up and look. Then he saw her. His mate was rushing to her car, which was parked on the other side of the lot behind a line of trees. No wonder he hadn’t spotted it.

Here goes.

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