Acrobat Read Free Page A

thinking that as I sat on the small hospital bed on Monday night, waiting to see a doctor. I had saved a woman from getting mugged or worse—she had been more worried about the “worse” than the contents of her designer handbag—but I had succeeded in getting smashed in the face and then, when I was down, kicked in the ribs. Suzie Rais was very appreciative—so was her husband, when he met her at the hospital—and they told that to my friend Douglas Kearney, whom I had called instead of Melissa or Ben. Doug would be cool about it. Melissa and Ben would blow it way out of proportion.
    “You might look like a superhero,” Doug said from the chair by the door, “but you’re not, buddy. Take it easy.”
    “Just sit there and get ready to take me home.”
    “In like ten hours.” He yawned, getting up. “You know that time stops when you’re in the emergency room just like when you’re watching a basketball game.”
    I grunted my agreement.
    “You want something from downstairs? I need a soda or something.”
    “No, I’ll buy you dinner after this.”
    “A steak?” He sounded hopeful.
    “Yes, if we must.”
    “Oh yes, we must.”
    “I’m thinking I wanna go bowling or something this weekend. Maybe we can—”
    “No.” He shook his head. “Me and Dave and Jackie are hitting the clubs this weekend.”
    I narrowed my eyes. “Did my invitation get lost in the mail?”
    He looked at me like I was nuts.
    “What?”
    “For starters, you never pick up anyone at the club, you just talk everybody to death, and second, I don’t feel like looking like chopped liver standing next to you.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Dr. Qells?”
    We both turned toward the voice, and there, standing in the doorway, was Sean Cooper. Dr. Sean Cooper, MD. The smile I was getting was really nice.
    “Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about,” Doug said drolly, rolling his eyes.
    I quickly returned my eyes to the vision in front of me. The long, thick golden eyelashes were just beautiful, but the eyes were an even bigger thrill. Really, what did you call that color, brilliant summer sky? With his big blue eyes and golden honey-blond hair, the man looked good enough to eat.
    “I thought it was you,” he breathed out, crossing the room to stand in front of me, his eyes everywhere before they met mine and stayed. “When I saw your name on the board, I got here as fast as I could.”
    “Well, that was really nice of you to worry about your ex-English professor,” I observed.
    He squinted, pressed his lips together, and then excused himself for a moment.
    Doug cleared his throat, walked over to me, and punched me in the arm.
    “Shit, I’m hurt, you know,” I groused, rubbing my bicep. “I might have a concussion.”
    “You obviously have a brain tumor, you idiot,” he snapped, slapping me on the back of the head.
    “I will seriously beat the crap outta you.” I shoved him off me.
    “For crissakes, Nate,” he growled. “That fuckin’ gorgeous-ass doctor is dyin’ to get his hands on you, and you go and bring up the fact that you used to be his teacher? What the hell?”
    “He—”
    “Nate”—his eyes got big—“try not to be a total imbecile right now, okay? Christ, I’m outta here.”
    I sighed. “I’ll see ya in a bit.”
    “No.” He shook his head, gesturing to the clipboard sitting beside me. “Have the good doctor take you home.”
    “What are you—oh, you’re back.” I smiled at Sean as he walked back into the room. “This is my buddy Doug Kearney—Doug, Sean; Sean, Doug.”
    They shook hands, and Doug explained how he had to go and he was sure I would be well enough to take a cab home. He was gone before I could say another word.
    “Your friend bailed fast, huh?”
    “Yeah.” I forced a smile. “So you think I’ll live?”
    “I need to look at you first.”
    “I… uhm—” I cleared my throat. “—thought you worked at County.”
    “I do. We’re doing a trade this week,