Page 99 of Nothing to Fear

“Brant, get the doctor,” Benedict said.

“Baby…?”

“You stood me up, Gentleman.” Her heart leaped. Darroch’s eyes closed, but his heavy arm tried to rise. Helping him out, she immediately pressed his hand to her cheek. “You scared me.”

“Cherry—”

“What happened?” That stern male voice again. “Darroch?”

“I don’t know.”

“There are drugs in your system,” Tripp said. “Serious drugs. GHB. How did that happen?”

“I don’t remember.”

“They found you passed out with a skull fracture. When you wouldn’t wake up in the ER, they drew your blood.”

“Sweetheart,” Alice said, laying a hand on his shoulder. “What is the last thing you remember?”

“I was at the office. On my way to meet Sav.” He forced his eyes open a sliver. “I never made it?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, baby, I—”

“Shush,” she said, a tear skittering from her lashes to meet his hand. “You can spend the rest of your life making it up to me.”

“Everyone heard that, it’s a promise.”

“Please don’t joke,” she said, reaching to kiss him again.

When she tried to stand, he caught the back of her head to pull her back. She didn’t resist when his tongue touched hers. The whole family might be there, but she’d give Darroch whatever he needed. Anything.

“Geez, man, have some class.”

Tripp again, just like before.

Darroch’s grasp relaxed and she slipped free, though he was quick to snatch her hand. The interruption was funny. Or so she thought. Darroch’s face said something different.

When he tried to sit straighter, the whole posse advanced in one loud, “whoa.”

“He’s staying put,” Benedict said when a pair of doctors came in with Brant. “Do you need to assess him?”

“Yes.”

“No one’s assessing squat,” Darroch said, eyes closed again. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t know that,” Alice said. “Let these people do their jobs.”

The brothers filtered out as the doctors got closer. She tried to let go of his hand, but he tightened his grip and yanked her down.

“I’m sorry about dinner, baby.”

“Forget dinner and cooperate with the doctors.”

“What do I get?”

“You just stuck your tongue down my throat in front of your mother.”

Yet somehow, the elation at seeing his eyes again erased all inhibitions.

“You saying I get to do that again?” His arm snaked around her, his hand trailed up the back of her thigh, in between them and—

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