Hungry For You - Argeneau Series - Book 14 Page 0,51

back and scared him off.”

Cale glanced around as if prepared to chase after theculprit, but apparently not seeing anyone, he turned back, then paused to bend down, and she heard the jangle of keys. He’d found hers, she realized, as he straightened with them. Holding them in one hand, he used his other to catch her chin and tilt her face up to his. “You’re bleeding.”

Alex didn’t know how on earth he could tell in the darkness surrounding them, then frowned as she realized just how dark it was. She glanced toward the light over the door that usually lit up half the parking lot.

“What’s wrong with the light?” Bev asked, glancing that way now herself.

“I don’t know. I’m sure I turned it on,” Alex muttered, and then started to shake her head but pressed a hand to her forehead at the pain that caused. “We’d best go in and get your glasses, Bev, so you can get home.”

Not waiting for an agreement, Alex started toward the door, grateful for Cale’s supporting hand at her arm. Her legs were a bit shaky still. At the door, he used her keys and unlocked and pulled it open, then ushered her inside.

“Where’s the light switch?” Cale asked, pausing inside the door.

“I’ve got it,” Bev said, and the overheads suddenly flashed to life, making Alex wince as the bright light knifed right through her eyes and into her head. She heard the other woman flip another switch several times. “You did have the outside light on, Alex, but it’s not working. It was on when I left though,” she added, a frown in her voice. “Maybe the bulb burnt out.”

“I’ll look at it before we leave,” Cale said grimly,urging Alex forward. She moved willingly enough, but was grateful when he drew her to a halt in the kitchen and didn’t make her walk all the way to her office. Movement seemed to just exacerbate the pain radiating from the back of her head, and she couldn’t hold back a moan when Cale suddenly caught her at the waist and lifted her to sit on the counter.

Of course, he didn’t miss the sound, and she noted the concern that crowded onto his face as he peered her over. When he then began to move his hands through her hair, Alex guessed he was looking for a bump, and said, “It’s in the back.”

Cale immediately moved to her side and began to feel around the back of her head. He paused at once when Alex sucked in a sharp breath as his fingers found the lump.

“It doesn’t appear to be bleeding,” he muttered.

“Your cheek is bleeding though,” Bev said, peering at her worriedly.

“I think it was his watch, or a ring,” Alex said, recalling the sharp pain as his hand had dragged across her face in the struggle.

“You need to go to the hospital,” Cale decided.

“Is the cut that bad?” she asked, reaching instinctively to her cheek, worried it might be some horribly disfiguring wound that would scar.

“No, but the bump on the back of your head is huge and still growing,” he said grimly, and then glanced to Bev. “Could you get some ice and put it in a towel or plastic bag or something? ”

“Of course,” Bev murmured and moved off at once.

“I don’t need to go to the hospital,” Alex said quietly. “I didn’t lose consciousness or anything. It’s just a bump.”

“You could have a concussion,” Cale said firmly. “It’s better to have it checked to be sure everything is all right.”

“He’s right,” Bev agreed, returning with ice in a baggie. “Better to be safe than sorry.”

Alex rolled her eyes as Cale took the bag, but then winced as he pressed it to the back of her head, sending pain radiating outward through her skull again. She bit her lip until it eased a bit, and then let her breath out on a sigh. “Fine. I’ll stop at the hospital and have it checked out on my way home.”

“I shall take you, and then deliver you home if the hospital says it’s all right,” Cale said firmly, and added, “We can call the police about the attack from there.”

“Why?” Alex asked dryly. “The guy is long gone, and I didn’t see who it was. I also don’t particularly feel like filling out a stack of reports about some mugger they’ll never catch.”

“Was he mugging you?” Bev asked doubtfully. “It looked like he was trying to drag you behind the Dumpster. I thought