I still have a job. I’d be stupid to turn down free healthcare. So, I sit.
I take her through all my injuries, from the cut on my forehead that is now a small red scar to my broken ribs and finally the healing wound under my arm.
“You must have a lot of people who will be excited to have you home,” she says and presses lightly on sensitive spots.
“A few.” I’m sure Lincoln, Courtney, and Darin are going to be shocked.
She presses a stethoscope to my chest. “Your parents must be worried sick.”
I breathe in and out slowly. “I’m not close with my parents, so probably not.”
“I’m sorry,” she says with a sad smile, then pulls back and sets down her stethoscope. “Mr. North did an excellent job with your care. The antibiotics probably saved your life.” She nods toward my lip. “And when did the lip contusion happen?”
I part my lips while she examines the bite.
“I, uh… must’ve bit it in my sleep.”
She backs away, her casual grin falls. “Are you sure that’s what happened? There’s nothing else you want to tell me?”
You mean how the wealthy guy who I had sex with last night bit me in a moment of passion? No, thanks.
“Nope.”
She smiles sadly and backs away. “I’m going to ask that you get an x-ray to make sure your ribs are healing properly. And I’m going to give you a prescription for a more powerful antibiotic just to make sure we’ve wiped out all infection in that wound. You’re going to have some significant scarring on your abdomen where you got scratched up, and the wound will also leave a mark. I’ll prescribe some lotion that might help with that.” She’s punching all sorts of things into her phone while she talks.
I button up my shirt and readjust my sweater. “I don’t know if my insurance will cover—”
“No need to worry about that. Mr. North insisted he cover the costs. Are you familiar with the Cartwright Imaging Center? Walk in at any time for that x-ray. I’ll make sure they know you’re coming.” She slips her phone into the pocket of her coat. “The driver will swing by to grab your prescriptions on the way to take you home.”
“Wow. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me.” She grabs her purse. “Thank—”
Alexander.
“—Hayes.”
I stare at my boots. “Hayes. Of course.”
“Best of luck to you, Ms. Wilder. And welcome home.” She walks out of the bedroom, and I stay, stuck in place and staring out the window.
“Time to go home.” And yet, home doesn’t feel the same anymore. When did that dusty, rustic cabin begin to feel more like home than anywhere else?
I walk slowly from the bedroom, making sure to take in every detail of the penthouse, knowing I’ll never be in a place this nice again. I’m at the top of the spiral stairs when I hear mumbled voices filtering up from below. I lean in and focus, searching for Alexander’s voice in the mix.
“… dodged a bullet on this one.” That sounds like Hudson or maybe Hayes.
“She’s lucky, I’ll give her that,” another male voice says, this one smoother, louder, and a little lazy. “I can’t wait to meet her. She hot?”
“Be quiet,” the other voice says. A few beats of silence and then, “You need a haircut.”
“Ow—stop messing with perfection.”
“You just can’t resist pushing the old man’s buttons, can you?” Definitely Hudson. I can hear the smile in his voice.
“He’s too busy hero worshipping you three to give a shit about me.”
“Cry me a river into your two-hundred-thousand-dollar a year salary.”
Clearly, Alexander isn’t down there or I would’ve heard him snap at someone—or, at the very least, grunt. I head downstairs, make the final turn, and nearly stumble off the last two steps when I catch sight of the man standing with Hudson. He’s tall like the rest of them, but the complete opposite of Alexander. Where Grizzly is bulky, rugged, and has a brutal resting bitch face, this guy is lean, dressed like he belongs on a runway in Milan, and looks at me as if I’m dessert.
“Well, well, well…” He saunters forward as if he’s floating. The only proof that his feet are actually touching the ground is the sound of his polished lace-up shoes. “The woman of the hour.” His eyes devour me from my face down, and upon returning, he gives me a wicked smile that promises all kinds of dirty. “You’re gorgeous.” He touches the lapel of my coat, smooths it against my