Page 49 of Bullseye
Looking back at Dr. Holly, I’m floored. She’s gorgeous, but oh-so-out-of-place here. Why the hell is she here? Even Sen takes notice and sits up taller.
“I hope it’s okay I just popped in like this. When I was working on Mr. Hardy, I noticed you all had jackets with Steel Knights emblems. Anyway, we got to talking about the club and it sounded fascinating.”
Really? To this extremely educated goddess?
“So, I just stopped by to check on Mr. Hardy.”
“Seth, please.” He smiles.
“Okay, Seth.”
Standing there in awkward silence, she clasps her hands before her.
“Gentlemen,” says Nick from behind the bar. He clears his throat and motions to us.
“Oh, yeah.” Harry gets to his feet, but not before Seth takes the hint, and jumps up to get her a chair.
As Dr. Holly settles in her seat, Seneca leans over and whispers in my ear, “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room.”
Nodding, I smile at her and then let myself be distracted by Seth and his girl. Damn, if there was ever a real-life beauty and the beast…
Holding her bag tightly to her, Seneca stands and then slips into the back to go to the bathroom. Shit. Sen’s so quiet. Way too quiet. She’s not at all her usual exciting and charismatic self. As soon as she comes back, I’m going to whisk her into a corner and talk this thing through. Okay, I can’t tell her my troubles, but I sure as hell can support her through hers.
Nick brings Dr. Holly a beer, placing it on a bar napkin like a coaster, and Dr. Holly drinks hers straight from the bottle.
Damn, this woman is going to keep Seth guessing. But it’s good that way. I know this from experience because I have a woman like that.
Glancing at Sen’s empty seat, I feel the void even though she’s only been gone a few minutes. What’s going to happen when I have to leave her for good? Or at least for a while?
Furrowing her brow, Dr. Holly gestures to Seth’s reddening bandage. “Your wound is seeping through your dressing.” She scowls. “Something tells me you haven’t been resting it the way you’re supposed to.”
“You’re supposed to be resting it?” Nick uses his fatherly voice when he asks.
“I haven’t done anything but sit here all night.”
“Well...” She’s on her feet. “I have some bandages in my car. It’s right out front. Would you mind if I redressed this?”
“No. Thanks. I’d appreciate it.” Seth nods at her, and they share a smile.
Damn.
“Let me just grab my kit,” she says.
“I’ll walk you.”
Following Dr. Holly to the door, Seth pulls it open for her and they disappear outside.
While Sen’s in the bathroom, this is as good a time as any to corner Harry. No, I can’t tell him what’s going on, but I can tell him that I need some help keeping an eye on her.
“Hey, Bullseye?”
Before I can even open my mouth to talk to Harry, Seth comes rushing back in.
“I don’t want to alarm you, but Seneca’s bike is gone.”
“What?” I’m on my feet. “Are you sure?”
“Before we grabbed the supplies from Holly’s car, I walked her over to show her my bike. There were only three others.”
