Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
But now, leaning back on the cold brick wall outside, I could see why they wanted me to stay.
My head hurt like a bitch. Between the pain and lack of sleep, I was unsteady on my feet.
And pissed no one would give me Ally’s information.
I had to find her. I needed to know if she felt the same connection with me, or if it was all my imagination.
As soon as I got home, showered this hospital smell off me, and slept for a while, I would try to find her. I had friends who knew people; someone would be able to help me. Or I could take up residence in the hospital lobby and see her when she came back for her next shift. Vivian had let it slip when that would be. I didn’t want to wait for days, though.
A hand on my arm, and the gentle voice I recognized, made me start. “Adam, what are you doing out here?”
I lifted my head off the bricks, a smile already curving my lips as I opened my eyes and stared down at Ally. Her hair was even brighter in the natural light, her eyes shimmering. “Waiting for you.”
She frowned at my answer. “Why are you out here? You can’t have been released already.”
“I checked myself out.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
I shrugged, noting the concern in her eyes. I liked it. “I only stayed because you were there. You left, so there was no point in hanging around.” I narrowed my eyes. “You left without saying goodbye,” I added.
Her cheeks colored, fusing with a deep pink that heightened her pretty face. “Vivian ordered me to go home. I had already had too much overtime.”
“Then why are you still here?”
“I had coffee with another nurse. I was leaving, and I saw you standing here, holding up the wall. Or is it holding you up?” She shot back.
I ignored her remark.
“You could have come to tell me you were leaving.”
She crossed her arms. “No, I couldn’t, Adam. We aren’t supposed to fraternize with the patients, and I wouldn’t risk my job. I was going to call you later and see how you were, though.”
I itched to touch her cheek. I wanted to know if her blush warmed her skin. Her words, however, grabbed my attention.
“You were going to call me?” I asked, surprised. “How’d you get my number?”
“Off your file,” she admitted.
“I was gonna give it to you. And ask for yours,” I murmured and gave in to the feeling, cupping one of her cheeks as I stroked it with my thumb. Her skin was incredible—silky, smooth, and yes, so very warm.
She didn’t back away from my caress. Our eyes met and held. So many emotions were in her wide, expressive gaze that looked more green than blue in the dim light. I could make out shadows of exhaustion under them, and the sudden need to care for her hit me. I blinked at the sensation—I had never once in my life experienced anything like it. I stepped back, my sudden movement making me dizzy, and I leaned back into the wall for support.
“You need to go home, Adam. You should have stayed until they released you,” she admonished.
“Yeah, this head thing is messing me up.” I huffed in frustration, unused to feeling so weak. “I need to grab a cab.”
“I’ll drive you.”
I looked at her in surprise. “Yeah? You sure?”
“You’re not a serial killer, are you?”
I arched my eyebrow. “As if I’d admit that when you were falling into my trap so easily?”
She grinned, her dimples deep. “Well, 6B drove me crazy all night. Maybe you could take out your homicidal tendencies on them instead.”
I laughed at her humor. “I’ll try to resist.” Then I frowned. “Wait, what room was I in?”
Her grin widened, and I knew who had driven her crazy. I grinned back, liking her teasing.
“Okay. My car is right there.” She pointed to an older, but still nice Lexus parked at the curb. “Do you need help?”
I couldn’t resist the chance to touch her. “Maybe just your hand.”
She let me enfold her hand in mine. I liked how it felt enclosed in my larger palm. As if it belonged there.
I wondered if my recent head injury was causing these strange emotions.
Except, I had a feeling it was something much more tangible.
Something much more real.
Ally faltered when we arrived at my building. Conversation had been limited in the car, aside from directions. I had slumped down, closing my eyes and fighting the pain as she drove. Her car smelled like her, and I breathed in the scent, holding the air in my lungs, filling myself up with her essence. Now I could see she was torn, unsure of the next step.
I turned to her with an apologetic grin. “Can I ask another favor?”