He eased the hem of her tank up.
Her hands closed over his, stopping him in his tracks.
“It’s okay. I’m just lifting it enough you can slide your arms out. We’ll get the bra off and get the tank back in place. The cotton will be fine for the X-rays.”
For a few seconds all she did was stand there, locked in place. More than anything, he wanted to move in closer and give her comfort. Tactile, lingering comfort.
She swallowed so big, it looked like it hurt, then she nodded and released his hands. “Okay.”
Moving as quickly as he dared, he lifted the shirt up, thankful for how the stretchy fabric allowed her to slip her arms out with minimum distress. He didn’t give her time to process what came next, flipping the clasp on her bra.
Her gasp ricocheted through the room and made his dick twitch with a whole lot of ideas on how he could illicit the same sound.
God, he was an asshole. A patient was standing in front of him, hurting and mortified, and he was entertaining how many ways he could get his hands all over her. He slid the straps off her shoulders and tugged the tank back down so she could maneuver her arms back in. “See? All done.”
Before she could answer, he strode around her, folding up her innocent white bra as he went, and laid it in the chair next to her purse. His mind conjured up a whole slew of images to go with that plain scrap of fabric, none of them decent or acceptable given the circumstances. He ground his teeth together and forced his thoughts back to the task at hand. “Okay, let’s see what’s going on with your ribs.”
The process went relatively quick and easy. Or easy for him, anyway. To her credit, she muscled through the difficult times when the shots required she lift her arms up and out of the way, but shook with fatigue by the time it was over. He guided her back to her chair and paused by the closed door. “You want help putting that back on, or can you handle freewheeling it on the way home?”
Another appealing flush rushed up her neck and she stuffed the bra deep in the hippy-style hobo bag. “I’m good.”
Yeah, she was. Tough in a way that put most of his patients to shame. And yet, she was still the kind of soft and sweet you wanted to see curled up next to you. Definitely a feral kitten.
He opened the door and found Danny anchored on the other side, his arms crossed and his mouth pinched in a hard line. “You done?”
“Yep. Give me five and we’ll know what’s up.”
Reality was more like three minutes, the result pretty much what he’d expected—two clean, nondisplaced fractures and no sign of damage to the lung. Good news for her as far as risk went, so long as she didn’t push matters in the early healing process. He grabbed an RX pad, powered down his computer, and flipped the lights.
Gabe’s semi-whispered words drifted into the intersecting hallway. “Don’t you think it’s weird he’s got access to his own mini hospital?”
Zeke hesitated outside the X-ray room door.
“It’s not a hospital, Gabe.” Danny didn’t seem as interested in hiding his commentary. His deep voice traveled crystal clear. “It’s like an Urgent Care. You can find one of those on every damned corner anymore. And no, it’s not weird. You know how rich people are. Enough money and connections and you don’t have to wait or deal with the riffraff. So what if it helped you out this time?”
“It’s just weird. How do you know those guys aren’t into illegal things?”
“Trust me. The brothers are many things, but the one thing you can count on is them doing the right thing. Always.”
“That’s the other thing. Why do you keep calling them brothers?”
“Because they are.”
“They don’t look a thing alike. No way they’re family.”
“Blood ain’t everything, Gabe. Let it go.”
Danny wasn’t wrong on that score. In the ten years he’d known Jace, Axel, and the rest of the guys, he’d had more of a family than he ever did growing up. Not that his parents didn’t try, they were just usually too beat after trying to make a living to have much energy left for a little kid.
Gabe kept up with her arguments, her suspicious nature undoubtedly something he should be more concerned about, especially with Danny having one foot in the brotherhood. Instead, all he could focus on was her voice. Soft and sweet as a fluffy kitten even if she was talking ninety miles an hour. Which was kind of funny when he thought about how limited her words had been throughout the rest of her ordeal.
A shaky vulnerability crept into her voice. “What happens if they’re not as good as you think they are and something happens to you? You’re all I’ve got left.”
“Jesus, I’m not in high school anymore, Gabe. I haven’t done anything like that in years.”
Well, not entirely true. Zeke knew damned good and well Danny had done at least three sizable B&Es to pay off his dad’s mortgage. But Gabe had gotten to keep the house she’d grown up in.
“I’m not Mom,” Danny said. “I know you missed her growing up, but I’m not going anywhere. Not by choice or by accident. The brothers are just guys like me who found a way to make their mark on the world. They’re helping me find my way.”
“How? Doing what?”
Danny hesitated.
Zeke straightened off the wall he’d leaned into and rounded the entry. Keeping his head down, he scribbled out a prescription, hoping his preoccupation would cover the timing of his arrival. “Well, the good news is your lungs are solid. On the downside, you’ve got two fractured ribs.”
“How do you treat that?” Danny said.
Zeke halted in front of the two of them and focused on Gabe. “Not much I can do. In the old days, they’d wrap the chest to alleviate the pain and support movement. Some folks still do, but I don’t advise it. The most important thing you can do is take big, deep breaths several times a day. If I wrap your ribs it’ll make deep breathing hard to do.”
“What about work?” she said.
“Danny says you’re a mechanic, right?”
She nodded.
“Yeah, engines aren’t going to be on your short list for at least three to four weeks.”
“I can’t be off work for four weeks.”
Danny squeezed her shoulder. “Mike’s cool. He’ll work you out some kind of deal.”
“If he doesn’t, let me know,” Zeke said. “My brothers have all kinds of businesses. I’d bet at least one of them needs some short-term help that wouldn’t put too much strain on your ribs.” He handed her the script. “These ought to help with pain until you can shift over to ibuprofen. For at least two or three nights, I want you to be sure and take them at night so your breathing stays steady while you sleep.”
She carefully tugged the paper from between his fingers and scowled down at it. “You don’t have drugs here?”
And there were those cute claws. Funny how all they did was make him want to provoke her a little more. “This is a medical facility. Not a pharmacy. Besides, uncontrolled narcotics are against the law. I’ve got a license to protect.”
Talk about a complete load of shit. He had enough narcotics to cover all kinds of injuries locked up nice and tight in storage, but no way was he clueing her into that after what he’d overhead. He stepped back and motioned Danny to the door. “Why don’t you get her home so she can rest? There’s a twenty-four-hour pharmacy just up the street, and those should be pretty cheap generic.”
Danny helped Gabe to her feet. “Aren’t you coming?”
“Nope, gotta clean up and turn everything off.” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his billfold and snagged a business card. He handed it to Gabe. “If the pain gets worse or you’re worried about anything at all, call me at that number. I don’t sleep much so don’t worry about what time it is.”
Danny stretched out his hand. “Thanks, man. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you help
ing us out.”
Zeke shook the hand offered and slapped Danny on the back. “Wasn’t a problem. Happy I could help.” He made it until Danny and Gabe reached the main door before he gave in to pure impulse. “Hey, gatinha.”
She kept her torso ruler straight, but craned her neck toward him.
“Whether you call or not, I’m stopping by in a few days to check on you.”
Gabe frowned.
Danny smiled huge and almost smacked Gabe on the shoulder, but stopped a few inches before he made contact. “See? Told you the brothers were awesome.”
An unapologetic snort drifted back to him a second before the door shut, leaving him alone in the sterile room.
Awesome was debatable. Dancing into dangerous territory was more like it. But for the first time in months, that constant buzz beneath his skin was quiet, and he had a pretty good idea tangling with the little kitten was the cause.
Don’t miss the next steamy Haven Brotherhood romance
WILD & SWEET
Available in ebook and audio April 2017 from Rhenna Morgan and Carina Press
Wherever Carina Press ebooks are sold
www.CarinaPress.com
Copyright © 2016 by Rhenna Morgan
Acknowledgments
One of the best parts of writing is sitting down with subject matter experts to explore new ideas and professions. Jace’s story gave me the opportunity to visit with one of the best and most personable doctors I know. My utmost gratitude to Dr. H. Dwight Hardy III for his time and patience answering my very long list of questions...not to mention his constant care throughout the years. If only all docs could be like him.
I’d also like to thank Angela James for her enthusiasm and support in launching The Haven Brotherhood. As with most of my characters, Jace and his brothers are near and dear to my heart, so having Angela as my editor and their champion is both a blessing and an honor.
Finally, a never-ending thank-you to Cori Deyoe, Juliette Cross, Kyra Jacobs, Audrey Carlan, Dena Garson and, of course, my family. In the ups and downs of the publishing world, they are my anchors. I might be able to struggle through the process without them, but I’d be frayed beyond repair in the end, and it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.
Also available from Rhenna Morgan
and Carina Press
Watch for the next book in The Haven Brotherhood series, WILD & SWEET, coming April 2017
About the Author
Rhenna Morgan is a happily-ever-after addict—hot men, smart women and scorching chemistry required. A triple-A personality with a thing for lists and an almost frightening iPhone cover collection, Rhenna’s a mom to two beautiful little girls and married to an extremely patient husband who’s mastered the art of hiding the exasperated eye roll.
When she’s not neck deep in writing, she’s probably driving with the windows down and the music up loud, plotting her next hero and heroine’s adventure. (Though trolling online for man-candy inspiration on Pinterest comes in a close second.)
She’d love to share her antics and bizarre sense of humor with you and get to know you a little better in the process. You can sign up for her newsletter and gain access to exclusive snippets, upcoming releases, fun giveaways and social media outlets at www.rhennamorgan.com.
If you enjoyed ROUGH & TUMBLE, she hopes you’ll share the love with a review at your favorite online bookstore.
Introducing the Carina Press Romance Promise!
The Carina Press team all have one thing in common: we are romance readers with a longtime love of the genre. And we know what readers are looking for in a romance: a guarantee of a happily-ever-after (HEA) or happy-for-now (HFN). With that in mind, we’re initiating the Carina Press Romance Promise. When you see a book tagged with these words in our cover copy/book description, we’re making you, the reader, a very important promise:
This book contains a romance central to the plot and ends in an HEA or HFN.
Simple, right? But so important, we know!
Look for the Carina Press Romance Promise and one-click with confidence that we understand what’s at the heart of the romance genre!
Look for this line in Carina Press book descriptions:
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise.
Find out more at CarinaPress.com.
If you like MC romances, you’ll love these series that are sure to rev your reading engine!
The Demon Horde series by Sarah Hawthorne
An ex-convict doesn’t realize he is falling in love with an MC’s hooker, in the first book in this MC series that’s heavy on the romance.
ENFORCER’S PRICE (Demon Horde, book one)
The Jericho Brotherhood series by Jade Chandler
A dark, erotic MC romance series that’s a sexy ride from beginning to end.
ENOUGH (Jericho Brotherhood, book one)
RELEASE (Jericho Brotherhood, book two)
DENY (Jericho Brotherhood, book three)
“Just one book. That’s all it took to get me hooked on this series.”
—Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick review for ENOUGH
The Defiance Series by Stephanie Tyler
Sons of Anarchy meets the apocalypse in this new adult post-apocalyptice MC romance series from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Tyler.
DEFIANCE (The Defiance Series, book one)
REDEMPTION (The Defiance Series, book two)
SALVATION (The Defiance Series, book three)
Also available as a box set.
“Unforgettable! The setting, the characters, the plot—every element of Tyler’s book is completely unlike anything else out there.”
—RT Book Reviews, Top Pick review for DEFIANCE
The Dirty Eleven series by Jill Sorenson
RIDING DIRTY (Dirty Eleven, book one)
SHOOTING DIRTY (Dirty Eleven, book two)
“You took the erotic MC storyline and gave it a Sorenson twist to create a story that is both different and entertaining. Also, did I mention that the sex is scorching?”
—Dear Author
Order your copies now!
Connect with us for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers and much more!
Visit CarinaPress.com
Other ways to keep in touch:
Facebook.com/CarinaPress
Twitter.com/CarinaPress
CarinaPress.com/newsletter
We think you have a good book in you!
Do you write in the below genres? Harlequin’s Carina Press wants to see your manuscript.
• Contemporary Romance
• Romantic Suspense
• Historical Romance
• Paranormal Romance
• Mystery
• Erotic Romance
• LGBT
• Science Fiction & Fantasy Romance
Submit today!
All manuscripts receive a thorough evaluation by a Carina Press editor and a decision within 12–16 weeks. What do you have to lose?
To learn more about our submission guidelines, visit us at CarinaPress.com/WriteForUs.
ISBN-13: 9781488024467
Rough & Tumble
Copyright © 2017 by Rhenna Morgan
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, deco
mpiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.
www.CarinaPress.com
Rough & Tumble (The Haven Brotherhood) Page 36