Decklan ran his fingers back and forth over her hand. She wondered if he realized he was doing it or just how soothing she found his touch. It was driving her crazy, not knowing what had brought him here—or if he planned to stay.
“We’ll know more when the cops talk to the press or release a statement,” Decklan reassured her.
Max nodded. “And now that I know you’re okay, I’ll leave you two alone. Make the most of the time you’ve got, because the cops will come in to question you any minute.” He shot Decklan a pointed glance, then stepped over to Amanda and kissed her cheek. “Let him take care of you, doll.”
Max straightened and walked out, leaving Decklan and Amanda alone.
NINETEEN
Decklan never got the chance to talk to Amanda. As soon as Max left, the cops came in to take her statement. Knowing her story was necessary and he wouldn’t be getting her alone unless she spoke to the police, he resigned himself to waiting. Though the officer in charge asked him to step outside, Amanda insisted he not leave her alone—not that he’d had any intention of walking away. Not ever again.
She answered question after question, her voice trembling, her face pale as she recounted the event, until she looked ready to pass out. Decklan ground his teeth through the entire telling, her fear and panic becoming his as he realized how close she’d been to the bullet that had hit her friend. And all he could do was place a hand on her shoulder and listen. He’d never felt more useless in his life.
Finally, the cop had enough. He told her he’d be in touch if he had more questions. She was drained and exhausted, and the last thing Decklan wanted was to force her to have another emotional conversation with him.
She had to go through another check of her vitals and a talk with a doctor and a social worker about post-traumatic stress and what to expect once she left the hospital. Decklan doubted she processed anything they told her, but he did. And he intended to make sure she knew she wasn’t on her own in dealing with this. Anything that affected her affected him, and he would make sure she knew it.
The doctor signed her out, and then she insisted on checking in with Brad’s family. They were warm and kind to her, worried about her welfare as they assured her that Brad was in recovery now and would eventually be fine.
She was swaying on her feet, and Decklan had had enough. “Time to go home. You need to rest.”
She shook her head, an obstinate look on her face. “I want to wait until Brad’s in a room and can have visitors. I need to see for myself he’s okay.” She glanced up at him with those big brown eyes he normally couldn’t resist.
He steeled himself against her appeal. If she wasn’t going to look out for herself, he’d just have to do it for her. “You can come back tomorrow when Brad’s more awake and you’ve had some sleep. You’re dead on your feet.”
“But—”
He grasped her arm and led her away from Brad’s family. “Do you really want Brad to see you covered in his blood?” he asked, his tone deliberately gentle but firm.
She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut again. “Fine. You win.”
“It wasn’t a contest.”
He would have picked her up and carried her out, but he didn’t trust her not to make a scene. And it would only be making him feel better to have her in his arms. She was still hurt and angry with him, and he didn’t blame her.
At least she was accepting his support, and right now, he’d take what little he could get.
His hand on her back, he led her out of the hospital and into the hot summer air.
She stopped at the curb and turned to him. “I can take a cab to my apartment from here.” Before he could ask what apartment, she explained. “Brad rents one for me for when we’re in the city.”
A new piece of information. Apparently they had catching up to do about parts of her life he knew nothing about.
“You’ll come home with me,” he insisted.
“Why?” She straightened her shoulders and met his gaze without flinching. “Why are you here, and why do you want me back at your place?”
He groaned. “Listen, it’s hot as hell, and you need to be in air conditioning. So let me just get you back to my apartment and we’ll talk there.” He took her silence as approval and flagged down the nearest empty taxi.
He didn’t relax until they were out of Manhattan and the cab driver had dropped them off at his place in Great Neck and they walked inside his apartment. Just knowing he had her here gave him hope that they could get past their last awkward time together.
“I know you want to talk and so do I. But can we get you cleaned up first?” he asked.
Amanda nodded, sudden tears in her eyes that she swiped with one hand. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m never so emotional.”
“It’s the adrenaline drop. You’ve had a huge shock today. You went through something not many people ever experience. Remember what they told you at the hospital? Everyone’s reaction is different but to expect yourself to be emotional.”
She nodded. “I think I’d like a shower.”