Conceal, Protect - By Carol Ericson Page 0,37
eye on you today—just today. You should be fine, but keep taking the ibuprofen for the pain as well as the swelling.”
The doctor left the room with a wave of Noelle’s file.
J.D. sat in the chair by the bed, placing the coffees on the bedside table. “Did you have breakfast already?”
Her eyes, more violet than ever, bored into him, and he flinched from the intensity. Had the concussion messed with her mind?
He wrapped his fingers around one of the coffee cups and presented it to her while taking a sip from his own.
Her hand shot out and cinched his wrist so hard he almost dropped the latte.
“Who the hell is Zendaris?”
Chapter Eleven
J.D.—or whoever he was—choked on his coffee. Good. He deserved much worse for lying to her, keeping things from her, trying to control her. She’d had enough of that to last a lifetime.
“Well?” She whipped the sheet off and swung her legs over the side of the hospital bed, planting her feet on the floor. “Who is Zendaris?”
He placed his coffee cup on the table next to hers and brushed his hands together. “Where did you hear that name?”
“From your own lips.” Those lips that had felt so warm and inviting against her own. Those lying lips.
He tilted his head, and a lock of tawny hair fell across his forehead. Even liars could look sexy.
“When did I mention Zendaris?”
“Right after the crash last night. You must’ve thought I was unconscious, but I wasn’t—not yet. I heard you blame Zendaris for the accident.”
She’d also remembered his vow to kill Zendaris if anything happened to her. But that didn’t erase his deception. Who the hell was he, anyway? Why had he finagled his way into her life? Into her heart? And why had she let him?
That almost cut deeper. He’d been playing up to her, coming on to her, making her believe they had some emotional connection. And all this time he’d been leading her on for some nefarious reason—because he had nefarious written all over his handsome face.
He blew out a breath on a whistle. “You heard that, huh?”
“I heard it but didn’t remember until last night after you’d left. I thought I may have imagined it since the voices in my head were coming fast and furious, but everything I heard had actually happened. I wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating. Besides, why would I come up with a name like Zendaris?”
“Not a very likely name to dream up out of thin air, I agree.”
“Stop stalling.” She stamped her foot on the cold linoleum. “Who is he, and why would he be after me? And more to the point, who are you?”
“My name is J.D.” He spread his hands in supplication. “That’s not a lie.”
But everything else was? Including those intimate looks, the kisses, those soothing touches?
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. He ducked, deflecting it with his hands, and it hit the bedside table. One foamy latte keeled over.
Picking up the cup, he said, “Whoa. I’m going to tell you everything. In fact—” he licked his fingers “—I was going to tell you everything this morning, even though I’m sure you don’t believe me now.”
“You’re right.”
The nurse bustled into the room. “I brought your release forms. Is this strong guy gonna take care of you?”
The idea of J.D. caring for her would’ve turned her insides to sweet marshmallow twelve hours ago. Now it made tears prick the backs of her eyes.
Noelle hunched over the clipboard and scribbled her signature while J.D. answered.
“I sure am. What does she need?”
The nurse rattled off a list of instructions, and J.D. peppered her with questions.
Noelle ground her teeth and hardened her heart. You don’t have to pretend anymore.
Noelle handed the clipboard back to the nurse with her signature on several forms. “I can leave now?”
“Yes, ma’am.” She shook her finger in Noelle’s face. “You do exactly what this man tells you to do and you’ll recover nicely.”
“Exactly.”
J.D.’s grin had the knuckles of her fist itching to punch him in the gut.
She clenched her jaw instead. “I’m going to get dressed now. Leave.”
“I’m expecting the rental-car company to deliver a car to the hospital for me. My truck was totaled. I’ll go down and see about that and pick you up outside the main doors of the hospital. Then we’ll talk.”
“Whatever.” She had to get home somehow, and she still had to grill him about Zendaris...and his own identity.
When J.D. and the nurse left the room, Noelle nibbled on the scone and