Page 21 of Double Take

“Thought you were going home.”

She met his hooded, hazy gaze. “Not just yet.”

WHEN JAMES WOKE,he stayed still, trying to figure out what had died in his mouth and why his head pounded and his lower back burned with each breath. Oh yeah, he desperately needed to brush his teeth and he’d refused any more pain meds.

His stomach rumbled.

Loud.

“Breakfast is on the way,” Lainie said from the chair in the corner.

He shifted so he could see her, hoping he covered his low gasp at the movement.

“How about something nondrowsy and nonnarcotic for the pain?” she asked, standing.

“Do you notice everything?” He was sure starting to notice her. How the fiery highlights in her red-gold hair flamed to life under the fluorescent lights and how her gray eyes sparkled with the desire to help him.

“When it comes to my job, I try.” She smiled, causing a small dimple to form in her left cheek. He’d never noticed that about her before.

And he shouldn’t be noticing it now. She was Steph’s friend and had always been like another sister to him.

But shewasn’this sister and his interest had nothing to do withsibling feelings. He shook himself.“Fine.” He barely managed to suppress a groan. “As long as it won’t put me back to sleep.”

She popped the cap off a syringe, walked over, and inserted the needle into the IV port. “That should take the edge off.”

“You knew I was going to wake up feeling like this, huh?”

Lainie shot him a small smile. “This isn’t my first rodeo, cowboy.” She stuck the syringe in the biohazard container.

“What time is it?” he asked.

She glanced at her phone. Something he could have done, he supposed, but didn’t feel like making the effort. “Early. 6:02.” He groaned and she smiled. “I know. But the good news is, the results from your CT scan finally came back, and the kidney seems to be working like it’s supposed to. I just need another urine sample. If there’s no blood, we can discuss you getting out of here.”

“You stayed here all night?”

She tilted her head. “I did. I clocked out and caught a few hours of sleep in the chair.”

“That’s not healthy.”

Her left brow rose. “I’m aware, thanks, but oddly enough, I slept better here than I usually do at home—in spite of your snoring—so, I’ll take the win, thanks.”

“I don’t snore.”

“Actually, you do. It’s a soft snore, not obnoxious or anything. Kind of comforting.”

“Oh.” He couldn’t tell if she was serious or messing with him. He cut her a sideways look. “Come on, I don’t snore.”

She shot him a Mona Lisa smile. “You snore.”

Now he’d have to record himself sleeping. “Well, glad to hear you could sleep through it.” He hesitated. “I ... uh...”

She raised one of her expertly plucked brows once more. “What is it?”

“Um ... I didn’t dream or ... do ... say ... anything else, did I?” He blurted the words, unable to stop himself from asking.

Compassion softened her still-weary eyes. “No. Seriously, youslept mostly well. A little restless at times because of the pain, I’m sure, but no more episodes, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

How would she know that unless she’d been awake? But relief swept him at her reassurances. “Good. Thanks.”

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