Page 8 of Blinded
“What?” Sandra exclaimed. “Oh my God, is she all right?”
Ruby shrugged. “As well as one would expect. Physically she isn’t hurt badly. She wrenched her shoulder, but emotionally…” Ruby paused, and Sandra could fill in what her friend didn’t say. “The asshole took off with the earnings from the busiest day of the week. Thank God, most people pay electronically nowadays, but he still got over $200.”
Sandra shook her head. “I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry that happened to her.”
Ruby gave a sad smile as they went into the restaurant.
“So,” Ruby continued as they waited for the hostess to show them where to sit, “instead of going to Club Indigo last night, I was in the waiting room of the emergency department at the hospital.”
“Did they take x-rays, or did they do a scan?” Sandra asked as she stretched her neck to peer around the seemingly unmoving line.
“Both. That’s why it took so long. We had to wait for a radiologist to evaluate the results. Fortunately, her shoulder wasn’t broken or dislocated. The doctor said it’s only strained.” Ruby didn’t sound confident.
“What did they do for her?”
“She’s supposed to ice it and take ibuprofen against swelling and pain,” Ruby answered.
“Hmm.” Sandra scrunched her eyes. “If the shoulder is strained, she should rest it, too, and maybe use a sling for a few days. Then she should have some physical therapy.”
Ruby laughed wryly. “You know you’re talking about Jewel McCormick, right? No way she’s going to do that.”
“She at least needs to let me help her with exercises for it,” Sandra replied as the line finally started to move. “You said emotionally was worse?”
Ruby’s head went up and down like a bobble-head doll. “She’s pissed it happened, but also afraid it could happen again. I’ve offered to go with her next week, but I won’t be able to all the time.”
Sandra could feel the unease radiating from her friend. As a tattoo-artist, Ruby’s working hours were not exactly nine to five since her clients mostly worked during the day.
She gave Ruby a one-armed hug and whispered in her ear, “I’ll help, and we’ll figure something out. I agree she shouldn’t be walking alone with lots of cash on her.” She let go of Ruby and said with a severe expression on her face, “I hope you called the police.”
Ruby’s whole upper body seemed to agree. “Of course! The cops were interviewing her and the bystanders when I got there. I wish she’d gotten a better look at the guy, though. I don’t think the police will be able to find him based on what she remembered, and it didn’t seem like anyone else saw anything.” Ruby sighed, a resigned look on her face.
They fell silent as they got to their table and were able to order from an easy on the eye server. Sandra shoved her shoulder against her best friend as she noticed Ruby watching his ass when he walked away from the table.
“What?’ Ruby mouthed with mirth in her eyes. “He has a fine ass.”
“Speaking of fine men, I talked to Will for a while, yesterday. He’s an adorable guy and has a great smile.”
Ruby looked uncertain before concurring. “I agree. Although he’s not classically handsome, he does have a great body, muscles, tattoos, and piercings.”
Sandra’s mouth dropped open. “You like him.”
“A bit,” Ruby admitted. “First I didn’t buy his dominance, but – yeah – he’s fun to play with.”
Sandra studied her friend and smirked. Ruby did like the big Dom – a lot!
To Sandra’s utter relief she was having her last therapy session with Dr. Lewis. His recovery had stunned both her and Dr. Owens. Apparently, besides being stubborn and arrogant, he was also a hard worker and a quick healer.
Sandra knew the doctor was used to being treated well. As one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country he had the respect of his colleagues, patients bowed before him, and women fell at his feet. Well, I’m different! As a PT she knew the human body almost as well as he did and with her own doctorate, she was in a position to judge him by more than a title.
She studied him as he went through the exercises as though his accident had never happened. He was dressed in a light grey cotton tank top and tightly fitted sports shorts. The fabric of the shirt was dark with perspiration and the shorts hugged his muscular thighs and ass. Sandra blinked as she realized he was an attractive man. He was well built, fit and smart and – she reminded herself – a total jerk!
When her eyes came into focus again, she met his gaze and he smirked knowingly. Argh, that rat – she didn’t allow herself to finish the thought. Dr. Lewis was a client and after today she didn’t have to see him on a regular basis. All she had to do is keep things professional for, she glanced over at the clock, twelve minutes and she could give him a polite nod when she ran into him at the hospital.
GT slowed down the treadmill to a leisurely five miles per hour for his cool down and looked over at Sandra, who was stashing weights on the rack. She was wearing yoga pants and a black long-sleeved shirt embroidered with the hospital logo. Their eyes met and he wondered if she caught him checking her out. He gave her a confident smile and suppressed the urge to wink. He had begrudgingly started to respect the hell out of the little brunette. His recovery had been going much faster than anticipated, and it was thanks to her skill as much as it was due to his fitness and determination.
The last week they had butted heads on numerous occasions, but he could admit – at least to himself – it was mostly because he liked to antagonize her to see her reaction. Oh, the woman was always professional and polite, but she had a temper and her eyes and actions spoke volumes. The more he teased the longer his exercises, the heavier the weights, and the more the repetitions. He realized he was disappointed it would be the last session today and he wouldn’t see her regularly anymore.
GT pressed the stop button and got off the machine. He grabbed a nearby towel and rubbed his hair dry. When sweat wasn’t dripping in his eyes, he rested the towel on his neck, his hands wrapped around the ends in a casual stance. “So, you’re going to torment other people from now on?” he teased.
