Page 103 of Dance of Defiance
But the unspoken words that flicker between our gazes? That’s another story.
And he’shere.
He came.
Eventually, my nurse Tracy comes in and says everyone has to leave so they can run some more tests. Everyone says their goodbyes, and Tracy starts ushering them out.
“Actually…” She tugs on Roman’s wrist. “Can I use you for a second?”
My jaw clenches.
That’s my job, bitch.
Whoa. Where thefuckdid that come from?
“Sorry,” Tracy apologizes. “The casters on this bed stick and I need to move?—”
“No problem,” Roman says in that deep, sexy baritone. He turns to Evie, who smiles. “I’ll be in the waiting room with everyone else. Meet you down there?”
Roman nods and then steps back into the room with Tracy.
“It’s the bottom left side one,” she sighs, pointing to that corner of my bed. “Sorry to ask, but you’re…well…” She grins, blushing a little as she eyes him.
Back. The fuck. Off. Cunt.
Roman chuckles easily. “No problem. Where’s he going?”
“Just to the other side of the room, a little closer to the window. So the machine can reach.”
“Got it.”
Roman gently moves Tracy out of the way before he grabs the foot of the bed. I watch eagerly as his arm muscles fuckingbulgewhen he grits his teeth and gives the bed a sharp yank. Then he drags it across the floor—with me in it—to where it needs to go.
“How’s here?”
“Perfect!” Tracy says. She puts her hand on his arm and giggles.
Fuckinggiggles.
Bitch…
“I’m so glad you were here!” she gushes, squeezing his arm. “You’re so strong!”
Roman just smiles.
I picture heavy objects falling from orbit and reducing Tracy to Jello.
“I hate to ask…” She winces. “I need to ask another favor. Would you mind waiting here for a minute? I need to check with our x-ray tech about your friend's scans, but I can’t leave him alone since he’s not hooked up to a monitor yet. Do you mind?”
My eyes swivel to Roman. He swallows.
“Not at all,” he blurts. “Yeah.” He smiles. “I can for sure stay with him.”
“Great, thanks. Back in ten or so.”
The door shuts behind her, and then we’re alone: me in this hospital bed, him standing right next to me.
“So…” He laughs nervously. “Tracy’s a bit of a flirt, huh?—”
