by DB Michaels
“I’m fine.” Maxim finally noticed the officers hovering close by. “What the hell are you all doing here? Go search 207 again. Maybe there’re more drugs in that dorm.”
The guards fled to do his bidding.
“They were concerned about you. No need to yell at them like that.”
“Useless, the lot of them.” Maxim flicked a disgusted glance at the doorway. “Where’s Gonzalez? He should’ve been guarding you today.”
“He was. He had to step out to help with the pill line.”
“He’s assigned to you. What the hell was he doing at the pill line?”
“They were short. And we were done seeing patients.” Emma made a sweeping motion for him to sit down. “I need to examine you.”
“He should’ve been with you.” Maxim glared at her, refusing to budge.
“Hey. We have to go, Doc.” Madison held out the phone. “An inmate fell in the shower in SNY. They need us up there.”
“Go ahead. I’m fine here.”
Ms. Carter and Madison left, taking their emergency bag with them. Maxim’s face turned paler and he swayed again. Emma rushed to his side and put an arm around his waist. He stiffened up like a board.
“Let go. I’m not that weak.”
“Let me check.” She gently pushed him onto the gurney. “I need to look at your head. It’s probably bleeding again.”
He let out a long-suffering sigh and settled his large body onto the stretcher.
Chapter 23
She was going to be the death of him, Maxim was sure of it. God, he’d lost at least ten years of his life when that bastard had hurled himself at her. He’d acted on instinct, knowing he had to save Emma at all costs. Thank God she was okay, every maddening precious inch of her.
The woman was fussing over him as if he were a mere child. He was fine—just got the wind knocked out of him, that was all. How embarrassing could it be? He got leveled flat right in front of her. Way to go, Max. He sure knew how to impress a girl. Damn, but his head did hurt.
“Stop being so stubborn,” she told him as he lay down on the stretcher.
“I’m not.” Must she stand so close? He could hardly breathe without taking a whiff of that delicious rosewater scent. And he’d been so good keeping his distance from her. True, he’d been in Sacramento the whole past week but he hadn’t thought about her very much. Oh hell, who was he kidding? The woman had been constantly on his mind, ever since well…ever.
And when he’d finally seen her again, she’d smiled. And he’d been lost as usual, even forgetting temporarily about the K-9 units. Damn, but she’d been afraid of those dogs. He’d wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her to reassure her she was safe. But they were at work, for heaven’s sake. She was his employee. An employee who wasn’t even interested in him. He was the last man she’d ever want to date, she’d told him. He was never going to forget those words.
“Ow. What are you doing? That hurts.” His wound felt like it was on fire.
“I’m washing your laceration with Betadine,” she said from the head of the bed. “Don’t worry. The stinging should be over in a second.”
“Jesus, Emma.” A probe was gouging through his skin. “What the hell is that?”
“It’s a Q-tip. I’m exploring how deep the wound is.”
“How bad is the damage?” he gritted out through the pain.
“About an inch and a half long and a few millimeters deep.” The torturous digging continued.
“Do you hate me or something?”
“What?” she breathed out, the soft breath fanning his cheeks. She popped her head over to his right side, her beautiful green eyes wide with anxiety. “Why would you say that?”
“You’re torturing me. Stop with the probing,” he said. “Sew it up already.”
“I think you should go to the ER.”
“For what? Can’t you fix it here?”
“You may need a CT. You were out for a few minutes.”
“But I’m fine now,” he insisted. No way was he going to the ER. He wasn’t that hurt.
“Better to be safe than sorry.”
“I’m fine. Maybe it doesn’t even need stitches. Let me go. I need to deal with ISU.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Her slim hand had the audacity to grab his wrist. His massive wrist. Sure, she had gloves on but her touch burned all the way down to his bone. He shook her hand away. A man could only take so much. “Fine,” he bit out. “Just fix it and let me go.”
“I’m going to use staples. That’s our standard.” Some papers rustled and then another cool blast of liquid singed through his scalp. “You want lidocaine or can I forge ahead with the staples?”
“Just get it over with.” Damn, but the room was starting to spin. He clutched the railing when some instrument gripped the back of his head. Click. Click. Click. And so it went. Six in total. At least they hadn’t hurt as much as that damned probe.
“All done,” Emma said, her voice absurdly cheerful. “You did really well, Maxim. How are you feeling?”
“Great.” If you didn’t count his throbbing head and the spinning room.
“Good. Let’s get you up,” she said. “The nurses are going to need that bed for the SNY patient.”
He stood and almost keeled over with dizziness.
“Maxim!” Emma’s tiny body wedged itself to his side as her left arm curved around his waist. God, but it felt wonderful having her so close. If only his cursed brain would stop spinning. “What’s wrong?” She pushed him back on the gurney.
“I’m a little dizzy,” he managed to get out.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Her voice rose. “You’re so stubborn, you know that?”
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it?” he shot back.
She ignored him and shined another light into his eyes. “Good, they’re reactive. You know where you are? What’s the date? Move your arms and legs for me. I have to test your strength.”
And so the torture continued. Emma took what seemed like hours to finish the neurological exam. As long as he lay with his head back, the spinning didn’t bother him.
“You have a concussion, Maxim,” she announced when she was done. “Here, take a meclizine. It’ll help your vertigo.” She handed him a cup of water and a small white pill she pulled from the medicine dispenser. “Your exam is good but it’s better if you get a CT.”
“No.” He swallowed the pill in one gulp.
“It’s either that or constant neurological observation over the next twenty-four hours.” She put her hands on her hips. “You have to have one or the other.”
“I need a good night’s sleep. I’ll be fine tomorrow.”
“You may not even wake up tomorrow.” Her voice softened. “Get the CT, Maxim. We’ll both sleep better knowing you’re okay.”
“We?” His eyes flew to her face. Had he heard right? His heart thundered at the possible implications. Was that why she was fussing all over him?
“Yes. I feel so responsible.” She shook her head. “If it hadn’t been for me, you wouldn’t even be hurt.”
“Don’t be silly.” His heart settled back to normal even as a pang of disappointment shot through him. She felt guilty about what had happened. Nothing more than that.
The phone rang, pulling Emma thankfully away, finally leaving him some breathing room. Maxim gingerly brought himself upright. He couldn’t lie here forever, especially with the recent drug bust. He needed to talk to his officers, and the spinning wasn’t bad if he took things slowly. There, he was even standing now without any problems. He attempted a few steps, feeling his strength come back.
“What are you doing?” she hollered as he was about to make his escape.
“What do you think I’m doing?” he called back. “I’m going to check 207. See what’s going on with the drug situation.”
“Maxim.” She ran to his side. “You can’t work right now. You need to rest.”
“See? You can’t work like this.” Emma latched to his side, her arm wrapping around his waist.
He was a fool twice over but it felt too wonderful with her next to him to raise any objection. And it seemed she was right. Maybe he needed to lie down. “I’ll ask one of the officers to drive me home,” he admitted begrudgingly as they headed out of the health care building.
Gonzalez happened to roll by at that moment, saving him some phone calls.
“Where have you been?” Maxim demanded.
“Sorry, sir. I just heard.” The burly guard shuffled his feet. “The pill line needed me.”
“Dr. Edwards needed you more.” He felt Emma stiffen beside him and consciously lowered his voice. “Don’t leave her next time.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I need an officer to drive me home,” Maxim said. “You think you can manage it? It’s an hour away.”
“Uh, sure.” The officer cleared his throat and then swallowed a couple of times.
“What?”
“It’s…uh…we’re really short-staffed today. A lot of the officers called off.”
“Why? What happened?”
“I think it’s the Las Vegas boxing match.” Gonzalez swallowed again. “Jones versus Keller.”
“Of all the stupid, idiotic…” Goddamn it. He couldn’t believe his officers could be so irresponsible. Sure, it was a big fight but work was work. He’d just flown in from Sacramento and hadn’t heard anything until now. “How many called off?”
“Around fifty, sir.”
Maxim swallowed back another curse. He was going to discipline the lot of them on Monday. “Just drive us to the Eagle gate. I’ll make it home on my own.” No way was he going to drag an officer away to babysit him now.
Emma made some sort of distressed sound but he chose to ignore her. Or ignore as much as he could with that delicious body pressed against his. Damn. He was going to have to take a long cold shower when he got home. They settled in Gonzalez’s golf cart and not surprisingly, the doctor wouldn’t leave him alone even when they reached the Eagle gate.
“You can’t drive home by yourself, Maxim. I’ll drive you,” she said as they walked into the parking lot.
She was no longer holding him and Maxim found himself foolishly missing her support even though he knew it’d been only temporary.
“Thanks but no thanks.”
“Why not?”
“The drive is completely out of your way. It’d take at least two hours for you to get back with the traffic.”
“I don’t mind. Oh, wait.” She snapped her fingers. “I’m on call. I can’t be that far from the prison in case there’s an emergency.”
“There you go.” Maxim sighed. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’ll drive nice and slow. Haven’t felt dizzy since I left the clinic.”
“Who’s going to watch you tonight?”
“Why do I need someone to watch me? Your head was hit pretty hard by Ransom, remember? You didn’t need a nursemaid that day.”
“Because I had a CT and it was clean.” That determined look came back in her eyes. “You want to get one? It’s not a bad idea. The ER is close by.”
“No way. The wait alone would kill me.”
“Okay, fine. So we have to find someone to watch you then.” Her eyes suddenly lit up. “What about your friends? You know, the parents of your godson?”
“They’re in Hawaii, celebrating their anniversary.”
“I guess there’s only one solution left.” She bit her lip. “We’ll have to bring you to my place.”
“What?” His heart did a peculiar leap. “No way. Why would we do that?”
“Someone has to monitor you tonight.” She shook her head. “Didn’t you pay any attention to what I’ve been saying? I thought one of the officers could but if you’re so short-staffed and you don’t have anyone else, I don’t mind doing it. I know my studio is small but it’s closer to the prison in case I have to be called back.”
“You’re not doing this,” Maxim tried to protest, despite the queer thrill in his chest.
“Come on, Maxim. Please.” Her green eyes pleaded with him. “It’s the least I could do. You got hurt trying to protect me. I’d feel awful if something happened to you.”
“You really want to do this?”
“Yes. Please. I’d love to take care of you tonight.”
“Really?” He raised his eyebrows suggestively, knowing what she meant but he couldn’t help teasing her. She needed to laugh more, this beautiful maddening doctor.
She didn’t laugh, though. No. Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink and she tugged on her necklace, not looking at him. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I knew that.” The peculiar feeling was back in his chest. She looked adorably confused and a little embarrassed at the same time. And dare he say it? She seemed attracted to him. Or was that just the concussion giving him ideas? Whatever the case, it was clear she wanted to help him out. Which in itself was such a gift. He wasn’t that much of a fool to refuse it.
“Okay. Let’s go back to your place,” he finally said, the feeling in his chest expanding by the minute.
Chapter 24
Dear God, how obvious could she have been? Emma shuddered. I’d love to take care of you tonight. Yeah, you bet she did, but did she have to say it out loud? Her subconscious must have been working overtime. Thank goodness the man knew what she had intended to say.
“So, let’s go then.” She licked her dry lips. “My car’s this way.”
Maxim walked beside her, not saying anything until he saw her Honda Civic. “I don’t think I’ll be able to fit in there,” he said with a wry expression.
“You’ll be fine. We’ll push your seat all the way back.”
“Let’s take my car instead.”
“I can’t drive stick.” Emma opened the door of her car. “And I don’t like convertibles.”
“What?” He sounded offended. “What’s wrong with convertibles?”
“Too fast. And too bumpy.” She waved him in. “Come on, Maxim. I live only ten minutes away. You can fit. I’m sure of it.”
“If you say so.”
He slid in and Emma knew she’d have to eat her words. Even with the seat pulled all the way back, his knees were touching the dashboard. “It’s a little bit of a squeeze.”
“You think?” His eyebrows shot up comically.
Emma bit back a grin. “Sorry. We’ll be home before you know it.”
They stopped by Maxim’s car to fetch his overnight bag before hitting the road. He said he kept it for the days when he had to stay overnight at the prison. Luckily there was hardly any traffic. They made it back to her place all in one piece, with Maxim squeezed tight the whole way. He got out and stretched as soon as she parked the car.
“I think I hurt more now than before.” He groaned out loud. “My back is killing me.”
“Sorry. Was it really that bad?” She felt a tad guilty.
“Yes. I’d get rid of your car if I were you.” He gave an exaggerated shudder. “It’s a deathtrap in there.”
“That’s because you’re huge.” How dare he insult her Civic? She’d had it since medical school and it ran just fine, thank you very much. “You wouldn’t fit in most cars.”
“You’re right. Most isn’t good enough. I only drive the best.”
“Oh. You are so arrogant,” Emma began before noticing the twinkle in his eye. “Is that a joke?” She laughed. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“What? I’m not that bad, am I?”
“Let’s just say you won’t be winning the Mr. Congeniality Award anytime soon.”
“Too bad. Another huge failure on my part. My father must be rolling over in his grave.”
His fat
her. How could she have forgotten? Emma felt like a heel. “I’m sorry. I forgot to ask about the funeral. How did it go?”
“Well enough.” He glanced over and forced out a smile. “Don’t worry. I’m doing okay. I wouldn’t have joked about it otherwise.”
“It still must be very hard.”
“He’d been sick for a long time.” Maxim took in a deep breath and exhaled. “I’m glad he’s at peace now.”
“Me too.”
“Too bad he never knew you. I think he would have liked you a lot.”
Aw. How sweet was that? “Thanks,” Emma said, her heart skipping a beat. There he was, giving her that look again.
As they entered her studio, a certain lightness blossomed in her soul. Emma glanced at Maxim, suspecting the reason for her happiness. What a lovely compliment he’d given her, especially as she knew how much his father had meant to him. And he didn’t look as sick anymore. He was going to be okay.
“How’s your head?” she asked, ushering him to the sofa.
“Much better. The pill must be working.”
“Good. Thank you for what you did today. I’ll always be grateful.”
His eyebrows drew together. “I don’t want your gratitude.”
“Well, you have it,” Emma insisted. “Whether you want it or not. Let me get you some ice for that wound. Does it hurt a lot?”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to baby me, you know.”
“I’m not.” She pointed to his head. “That’s a nasty cut. I’ll get you some Motrin too.”
“Okay. Mind if I wash up? My head feels sticky.”
“Sure. But don’t scrub at the wound. Remember, the bathroom is that way.” She pointed to the only room with the door a couple of steps down. Her five hundred square foot studio was tiny, and she was sure he’d much prefer to be back at his place. He looked disgruntled just now. But too bad. They had no other choice. He was stuck with her tonight. Those neuro checks were important. She’d seen enough patients die from head injuries to let him be on his own.
Emma pulled out three Motrin pills from the medicine cabinet and deposited them on a small plate. She grabbed an ice pack from the freezer and put it next to the pills. Next she placed the plate on the end table by the sofa. Now for dinner. She opened the fridge, scanning inside and finding nothing but milk, yogurt, a few fruits, and chocolate cake. They’d have to order. She pulled out the stack of takeout menus. Thai, Chinese, Italian…she’d just gotten to the Greek one when he reentered the room.