Once Bitten, Twice Dead - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,7

spend more time on his appearance than she did, and she was happy.

Of course, even those kinds of guys were growing thinner on the ground the older she grew. Sarah hadn’t dated much in the past year and she hadn’t been really serious about anyone in longer than that. She was devoted to her work and her small garden. She had a quiet life staked out for herself, although she missed having a man in her life, and the social activities that went along with dating. She didn’t get out much.

The handsome soldier whose voice dripped with sinful invitation could save his winks and flirtatious banter for someone who was interested. Yes, sir. Sarah didn’t want any part of him. Of course, it couldn’t hurt to look. And he did have a really nice, tight butt.

Sarah spent the next forty-five minutes being examined by two of the doctors. These legitimate doctors had extensive paperwork on her already, in addition to that in her chart on the clipboard at the foot of her bed. These doctors tested each and every one of her joints, checking her reflexes, and asked detailed questions about specific items.

They also told her details about her progress. They let her know what had been done to her over the time she’d been out of it. The only thing they didn’t talk about was her head, but she assumed the concussion was Dr. Singh’s specialty, and he was long gone.

About the time she was starting to get annoyed with the medical jargon and all the poking and prodding, the door opened and Studly the Soldier came strolling back in. He hadn’t replaced his mask and the lab coat was gone. Hubba-hubba. He certainly filled out those camo fatigues of his. She admired his physique even as she caught him giving her bare legs a thorough once-over while the doctors finished examining her calves, ankles and feet.

When they covered her again with the blanket, Xavier’s gaze roamed upward to meet hers. A hint of a grin lifted one side of his sensuous mouth. He knew damn well she’d caught him ogling her, and his expression said he didn’t much care. Yeah, he was definitely a scoundrel. She’d have to watch herself around him.

“So what about the bite?” Sarah refocused her attention on the doctors. They’d talked about every bruise and contusion on her body but hadn’t mentioned the bite yet.

The doctors drew back and looked at each other, then at Xavier. Neither of the medical personnel said anything for a long moment.

“It’s all right.” Xavier stepped up to her bedside as he spoke. “I’ll take it from here. Why don’t you two go back down to the lab?”

The two doctors followed the soldier’s orders without further comment and left the room.

“Alone at last,” Xavier joked as the door shut behind the doctors.

“I’m waiting for answers, Captain Beauvoir.”

“Straight to business, eh? Okay, I guess we can do that. You’ve been out for a week. You’ve earned some straight talk. But let me ask you one question first.” He leaned against the side of her bed, cocking one hip in an unconsciously sexy pose. “How much do you remember of the incident?”

“All of it,” she answered without hesitation. “I remember the guy down the hall and his buddy who snuck up behind me.”

His eyes narrowed. “There were two of them?”

“Definitely.” His surprise told her they hadn’t caught the guys.

“Maybe you’d better tell me what happened in that building before your backup arrived.”

“I’ll tell you, but then I want some answers, Captain. I don’t understand why the army is involved in this, unless the perps were yours somehow.” She was willing to play his game…to a point.

“You’ll have your answers, Officer Petit.” Oddly enough, she believed him. “First, I’d like to hear exactly what happened out there.”

She told him the sequence of events with as much detail as she could put in without editorializing. She didn’t talk about the way the perps had looked. She’d tell him if he asked, but she chalked up her impressions of gruesome monsters to an overactive imagination paired with makeup and special effects. Why the perps had been wearing it, she still couldn’t fathom.

“What about their appearance?” Xavier asked. His gaze told her nothing. When he wanted, he could be as stone-faced as any seasoned law officer.

She had to tell him, even though it would sound strange. She sighed heavily before replying, dreading his reaction.

“They had to have been wearing makeup. Special effects of some kind.