Page 136 of Burn Bag

The doctor cleared his throat and stepped around, glaring at Bradley with restrained disdain. “We’ve got your tests back, and despite the numerous hits to your head,” he added pointedly, “everything seems to be clear.”

“So, we can leave and go home?” I asked hopefully.

“I’d like you to stick around for another hour or so. You just woke up, so I’d like to keep an eye on you. Make sure there are no lingering issues.”

I had a feeling he was trying to get us to stick around in case my husband decided to beat me, but I had just woken up, so I let it go. Shifting upright in the bed, I groaned when the door shoved open and my parents came running in.

“Daphne, I can’t believe this happened!” my mom screeched.

“It’s just a bump on the head, Mom.”

“I know, but right when a huge discovery was made,” she sighed. “It’s just terrible timing.”

“What?”

Pursing her lips, she shot me that look that she always had when I was a kid. She didn’t want to have to tell me twice and she was irritated that I hadn’t listened.

“The tomb!”

Again, I was lost. “What tomb?”

“Queen Nefertiti! We found her!”

Bradley stood up, his face going pale. “Wait, are you talking about…” He swallowed hard, stumbling back a step. “Are you talking about a mummy?”

My mother beamed at my husband, but I could see the wheels turning in her head as she planned out everything that needed to be done. “It’s so exciting. Which is why I’ve been calling you for weeks now! I can’t believe you didn’t pick up the phone!”

“So, you flew all the way here to get me?” I said, surprised she’d done that.

“Well, this was always the dream, remember? To work on this as a family.”

It had been. Since I was a kid, going on digs with them and talking around a campfire, this was the ultimate goal. I just never thought it would actually happen.

“And we needed additional funding,” my father cut in. “Your mother wanted to keep working, but unless we get the proper backing, it could all be over in less than a week. I had to practically tear her away from the queen,” he chuckled.

So…they didn’t fly out here to get me. Yes, they wanted me there, but my mother did not drop everything to get me. I should have known better, but there was always room for wishful thinking.

“So, as soon as you get out of here, you’ll need to pack a bag. Then we need to fly to Washington and beg for the proper funds. I already tried the Brits, but they said they didn’t have any more funding available. They’re just pissed because they can’t take the credit for the find,” my mother muttered.

“But that’s all water under the bridge,” Dad cut in. “Because at this time tomorrow, we’ll be meeting with the man himself!”

“Excuse me,” Bradley cut in. “Who is the man?”

My parents laughed at him, apparently finding it exceptionally funny that my husband wasn’t connected in the archaeological world. Little did they know that he was connected in other ways. If theyknew he was a senator’s son, they would be asking him to find the money, and frankly, they’d be shoving me at him. For that reason alone, I kept my mouth shut. Whatever was going to happen between Bradley and me would be because we made it work and nothing else.

“Why, the director of archaeological research in the United States.”

As if that meant anything to anyone. I rested as my parents filled Bradley in on everything he could ever want to know about Dr. Cunningham. By the expression on his face, he wasn’t overly impressed, but then, none of the men at OPS seemed to be impressed by fancy titles.

“Darling, we should really get going,” my mother urged me. “Maybe you could push this whole thing along.”

This whole thing being my stay in the hospital. Luckily, I didn’t have to point out that I’d just slammed my head into a table. My husband was there to do all the talking for me.

“She will not leave the hospital until the doctor clears her. He said he would like to keep an eye on her for a little longer, and we will do as he suggests to make sure my wife is clear of any danger.”

I bit back the grin that threatened to break free, and had to hold back from fanning myself as Bradley stood there, arms crossed with a don’t fuck with me expression on his face. God, he really was so hot.

“Daphne,” my mother snapped, obviously trying to get my attention while I was ogling my husband.

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