Page 35 of Smoke and Mirrors
“It’s alright, Hunter,” Raz returned, smirking as his eyes remained glued to the road. “I got a good warranty on these. If I pop one, I’ll get a brand new one for free.”
We were all in high spirits as we pulled up to the hospital. I drummed my fingers with nervous excitement in the elevator, determined to stay positive and not assume the worst.
I launched out of the elevator as soon as we reached the floor, gripping the edge of the reception desk like a lifeline.
“Hi, we’re here to see Connor Shaw,” I said in a single, rushed breath.
A different receptionist from yesterday typed on the computer for a few moments before shooting me a friendly smile.
“You can go right in. He’s awake and already receiving visitors.”
“Oh,” I said, surprised. It had to be Nigel. “Thanks!” I returned her smile and walked around to the side door as fast as my legs could carry me.
Remembering where the doctor escorted me last time, I rushed past nurses and other hospital staff in my eagerness to see my grumpy Marine boyfriend. And then my feet abruptly froze when I looked through the window of his room.
He was awake alright, and talking to someone. A woman with a short blond bob sitting at the edge of his bed.
No, it couldn’t be…
My feet wanted to run in the other direction but I forced them forward as I turned the knob on his door. I had to know.
“…doll face.”
Connor stopped talking abruptly and they both looked at me as I crossed the threshold.
“Mel,” Connor said, sitting up straighter. “Hey.”
Mel. Notbabe.While I swore he just calledherdoll face.
I looked at the woman now facing me, with red painted lips and an adorable button nose. Her cropped blonde hair framed her face in sensual waves. Not just a doll face but a goddamn Marilyn Monroe clone.
“Who are you?” I demanded, not bothering to mince words.
Connor cleared his throat. “Mel, this is Vicky. She was my, ah…”
“Fiancee,” she finished for him.
17
CONNOR
My head felt stuffed with cotton, but the pain was gone. I groaned and started to move my fingers and toes. Wait, I didn’t have toes.
Gingerly I moved my head from side to side. No neck injury. The only concrete thought I could form through the fog that wrapped around me and even seemed to go through me. I cracked my eyes open to a room that was entirely too bright.
“Good morning, Mr. Shaw,” a male voice greeted me.
“Where am I?” I groaned.
“You’re at Crying Falls emergency hospital, Connor. I’m Doctor Harman. You had a pretty serious fall.”
Hospital? Fuck.
“I can’t be here.” Pressing my hands into whatever surface I laid on, I began scooting my hips away. “I can’t afford a hospital. This’ll ruin everything. I can’t do that to Mel.”
“Calm down, Connor.” Two hands grabbed my arms to still me. “Please calm down, we’ll work out payment later. But you’ve had a concussion and you don’t have any prosthetic legs with you.”
Damn it. Fucking hell.
