River Wolf Read Free Page A

me before you leave.”
    “What do I get if I keep my promise?” Never give anything without negotiation. A hard lesson to learn, but one she had tattooed to her soul.
    Lips pursed, he studied her. When her glance landed on where he held her captive still, he released her. “I’ll behave and not throw anything at the nurses today.”
    Well, that was definitely a start. How far could she push him? “And?” While waiting for his answer, she took a sip of the strawberry shake and claimed her burger from the bag. He could have the fries. As much as she loved potato products of all kinds, she couldn’t afford to indulge. Her hips were round enough.
    “Not enough?” His eyebrows rose. A healing cut bisected one of his brows, but it only made his square-jawed face appear more rakish. They’d had to shave part of his hair due to his head injury, but even with the brutal cut, he still looked sexier than a man who’d been in a coma for two weeks and the hospital for three and a half should.
    “You’ve terrorized the floor since they moved you here.” Tucking her wrapped burger into her purse, she fixed her strap and then took a drink of her strawberry shake. “Not to mention, you’ve not cooperated with any of the questions they ask you. When they try to administer medication, you snarl and you’ve thrown four food trays by my count—all of which I had to clean up, I might add.”
    “I haven’t thrown one since you pointed it out.” Chagrin actually erased his smile. “You’ve been kind to me, Colby, and I appreciate it. So if you want me to earn your return visit before you leave, I will promise to be on my best behavior all day. Satisfied?”
    “No,” she said, not missing an ounce of the innuendo lacing the last word. When his smirk faded, she nodded. “But it will do for now. I’ve got another seven hours to work. I’ll stop by on my way out.” At the door once more, she paused. “Good luck on your recovery. Broken legs suck.”
    “You’re telling me, sweet cheeks.” His voice followed her from the room. “Seven hours and I expect to see you back here. Don’t make me chase you.”
    A chill raced along her spine. “Nobody chases me,” she warned him. “Not anymore.”
    “Then don’t be late.” Damn man wants the last word . She let the door close behind her. She was already behind and, last day or no last day, she needed to get her work done. Besides, the last time she’d been the subject of pursuit, she ended up in jail and sentenced to community service. No more chasing and definitely no more catching.
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    T he last hours of her internment flew past as she cleaned and prepped the empty rooms for future patients. One by one, she filled out the checklist for Miranda. Twice, Miranda swept through the rooms behind her and signed off on their prep. She’d finished her melted strawberry shake and ate her cold burger during a fast thirty minute lunch, abbreviated by an emergency that pulled all hands on deck. Running, Colby fetched fresh bandages and supplies for the patient who ripped their stitches. On another occasion, she sat with the husband of an elderly woman when they called a code. The octogenarian worried her with his trembling hands and racing heart rate. Holding his hand, she spoke to him as calmly as she could manage and explained every step the team took to help his wife.
    Thank God they saved the woman and her heart rate returned to normal. A surgeon came out and, when he began to report that the old woman needed surgery, the husband latched onto Colby and wouldn’t let her leave. Miranda nodded to her when they wheeled his wife to surgery, so Colby stayed with him. For last four hours of her shift, she chatted with him and kept him calm. When she worried about his pallor and fussed at him, he let her fetch him some food and hot coffee.
    Eventually the surgeon returned with good news. His wife came through the surgery and they were feeling confident about the balloon they’d