Now the other side of T.J.’s mouth curved. “I love dogs. Here. I’ll help you get him back to the car.”
“Um, okay. It’s just there.” She led him toward a red Dodge Durangowith a crushed side panel.
“So, uh, the someone you were visiting … Are they okay?” Hehad no idea why he was asking. From sulking around Serena, he’d gone tojabbering at this unknown woman.
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Oh shit. Notokay. A moment later, she said, “I’m not sure.” Then she was wrangling theleash around her arm, heaving up the hatch, and wedging in a one-by-one to holdit in place.
“Broken liftgate, huh?” He waitedfor the smaller dog—Annie—to hop into the back before handing Meathead over,then grasped the hatch to make sure it didn’t jump the stick and come crashingdown.
“Yeah. The Rolls is in the shop.” She let out a warm littlechuckle, obliterating her earlier hesitant expression. And that’s when henoticed her mouth—full, rose-colored, soft, ripe.
As she maneuvered the dog and the gate, an enticingfragrance, a mixture of cookies and fresh flowers, wafted up his nose.
With a swift motion, she snatched out the stick, tossed itinto the back, and took the liftgate from T.J.’sgrip. He stepped back as she banged it shut and dusted her hands. No rings.
“Well, thanks again. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem.” He ransacked his brain for something else tosay and came up short, his arsenal of jabber apparently depleted, but he kepthis eyes pinned to hers. Jesus, they were the prettiest color he’d ever seen.Bronze and copper and gold, all precious metals melded together. Lost in them,he let himself forget for a moment the real reason he stood in a hospitalparking lot.
“Well, I have to be going now.” She ducked into her car.“Thanks again.”
He just stared, entranced, hoping he hadn’t been drooling infront of her like Meathead.
.~* * * ~.
Exiting the parking lot, Natalieglanced out her window, taking in the hulk still standingwhere she’d left him. He smoothed a hand over dark, short, thick curls, thoughit did little good. They rebelled and sprang right back up again. He’d done itseveral times as he’d faced her.
Thank God he’d corralled Meathead. The action had distractedher enough that she hadn’t gone to pieces in the parking lot for contemplatingKevin’s condition. The mood swings, the inability to do simple tasks, his wavesof despair devastated her, and she was helpless to do anything. When time cameto leave, she’d practically fled his room, guilt nipping at her heels theentire way—especially when his forlorn voice trailed after her, asking whenshe’d be back.
How many visits was it now, and she’d only caught flashes ofthe old Kevin? Her belly buckled with worry. Colin had reassured her it wasnormal—sometimes TBIs caused temporary shifts in personality, he’d said. Okay,she’d nodded.
She’d never been a weepy woman, subscribing instead to thestiff-upper-lip code, but her throat had been tight, and her lip had beenquivering all the way to her Durango—danger signs of an imminent tearfuloutburst. And she’d had way too many of those lately.
Just let the dogs out to do their business then hightailit home, she’d told herself. No focus, only painful thoughts bombardingher. And that’s how Meathead had broken her hold.
Just then, her phone rang, jangling her already stretchednerves, and she sucked in a breath before answering. “Drew?”
“Hey, Sis. What’s up?”
“Just left Craig Hospital.”
“Yeah? You don’t sound so good. Everything okay?”
“No, it’s not.” Dear God, the tears she’d held back suddenlysprang loose. Frustrated with herself, she swiped at them with the heel of herhand as she drove.
Drew stammered, sounding alarmed.“Hey, hey. What happened?”
“Nothing. Everything. How do I describe it? Sometimes itfeels like I understand Kevin’s state of mind, and other times I feel like I’vejust landed on an alien planet and I can’t get my bearings. I mean, the overriding question is will he be okay? But it’s somuch more complicated than that. What’s in store for him, physically and mentally?Will he get his old life back?” The latter she wanted for him more thananything—to return, intact, to what he most loved. She sighed. “I’m sorry. Youcalled me for a reason, and I’m dumping all over you.”
“I called to tell you I was done early and can take the dogsoff your hands. Wanna headto the river and see if the fish are biting? Grab a beer?”
The offer touched her, and she smiled through her tears. “Notime. I’m buried in bookkeeping I have to play catch-up on. God, I am so farbehind.”
“Your loss,” he teased.
Yeah, it was her loss. She didn’t bother telling him she’dbeen so preoccupied she’d missed the deadline to submit her article to the Journalof Accountancy. Never had she spaced such an important opportunity before.And now her clients were grumbling about their slipping deadlines; thethought spurred a panicky feeling that climbed from her stomach into herthroat.
“I’ll drop the dogs by your place. See you in a few.” Sheclicked off.
She came to a sudden stop at a crosswalk when a kid on abike flew across, completely unaware how close he’d come to getting creamed.The dogs slid in the back cargo area, and Natalie’s heartbeat picked up itspace. Just like that, everything can change.
.~* * * ~.
T.J. weaved his way throughglaringly bright halls around staff and equipment as though he belonged there.A few more minutes, and he’d have eyes on Kevin May and know he was fine. Hepictured the guy surrounded by giggling nurses sitting on his bed while hepoured on the charm, just like T.J. had poured on the charm so he could findMay in this labyrinth.
Muscles tauter than normal, nerves on the verge of fraying,T.J. barreled toward the door with May’s room number before he lost his nerve.The door was ajar. Rolling his shoulders, T.J. grasped it. Opened it. Came toan abrupt halt. Sucked in a sharp breath.
Monitors glowed with bright, squiggly lines. Wires led to alump in the bed that stirred, then croaked, “Christ, can’t a guy sleep?”
T.J. took a tentative step inside
