Page 58 of Fourth Point Of Contact

“The doctor wants to look at your feet again. After that, if all is good, they’ll release you.”

“Good. I have things I need to do.”

“Speaking of which, the nurse didn’t find any identification on you, so they didn’t know who to call.”

“No one,” I sighed. “I lost my bag when the plane went down. It didn’t exactly cross my mind to grab it.”

“Why is there no one to call?” She eyed my ring carefully.

“Well, my fiancé,” I said, holding up my left hand, “cheated on me with his London mistress the day after he proposed. And apparently, most of the time I was with him. So, he doesn’t really need to know if I’m alive. Not to mention, I sort of ruined his apartment and all his clothes before I left, so there’s no love lost there. And then there’s my friend Jeanie. She lent me her favorite pair of heels to give me confidence. I sort of lost one in the plane crash, and the other was with me on the helicopter, but…”

“I think she’d forgive you for that.”

“Yes, but she’s more likely to forgive me in a few more days.”

“Parents?”

“Nope.” I tossed off the scratchy blanket and swung my legs over the side of the bed, gently touching my feet to the floor. The sting was instantaneous and it was clear I wasn’t going anywhere on my own.

“How about getting me out of here?”

“Planning an escape?”

“Just to a nicer place. I never cared much for hospitals. This blanket isn’t exactly comforting.”

“And where are you planning to go with no identification?” she smirked.

That was a conundrum. “Crap.”

“Don’t worry,” she chuckled. “I’ve already got a hotel room for you. No sane person would stay in the hospital longer than necessary. I also got you some clothes and cozy slippers. I figured anything else would be too tight on your feet.”

“You’re amazing.”

“Now, should I get a wheelchair so you can see Patrick or?—”

“Yes,” I answered a little too quickly, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to make sure he was okay. I eyed the robe on the back of the chair as she walked out the door. I needed something to keep me warm in this icebox. The throbbing in my feet didn’t feel too bad, but as soon as I pressed my foot to the floor, pain shot through my whole body. I had no idea I had torn up my feet so much.

I waited and waited, hoping Juliette would return with the chair, but ten minutes passed and she still wasn’t back yet. “This is ridiculous,” I muttered to myself.

I wasn’t about to wait around for others to do things for me. I just had to find a way to get from the bed to the floor. Then I could wiggle my way over and snag the robe. I rolled over on the bed and laid on my stomach, then slowly lowered myself to the ground, grasping at the sheets when I started sliding faster than expected.

I let out a yelp of surprise when my knees didn’t hit the ground when expected. “How much further do I have to go?” I muttered, trying to peer over my shoulder. I twisted too far and lost my grip, falling to the ground with a thunk. My knees burned from the contact, but that was the least of my worries right now.

“What do we have here?”

Gasping, I twisted to see Chase standing in the doorway with a very amused Patrick sitting in a wheelchair with his leg resting straight out.

“Did you need something?” Patrick asked. “A hand, perhaps?”

“No, I’ve got it,” I said with all the confidence in the world.

“I can see that.” His eyes trailed over my body and a smoldering grin grew on his face. “I can see all of it.”

“All of—” My cheeks flamed when I realized my ass was hanging out and I wasn’t wearing underwear. I quickly reachedback and tugged the gown closed, but it was too late. They’d both seen me bare-assed.

“Would you like some help?” Chase asked, keeping his gaze diverted.

“No, thank you. I’ve got this.”

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