So, why not take a chance on Belle?
“You okay, handsome?” the woman asked.
“Yeah. Just tired. Gonna head home.” He stood, wavering on his feet. He was drunk for the first time in . . . forever.
The blonde looped her hand through his arm. He hadn’t been clear enough.
“I’m not in the mood for company tonight, but thanks for the offer.” He pulled his arm away from hers, unsteady on his feet.
“You sure? I could do all the work.” She winked, seemingly familiar. Tina? Tanya? Tonya?
“I’m sure. Have a good night,” he said, walking towards the exit. He’d sleep it off in his truck and then drive home once he was sober.
Opening the door, he stepped out into the cold night air. He stared up at the dark sky, filling his lungs. Stars peeked out from behind clouds, defying the encompassing blackness with tiny sparkles of light. Hope.
“Bent, you’re not planning to drive home like this, are you?” Mason asked.
Bently shook his head, immediately regretting the movement. “Nah, gonna take a little nap in my truck.”
“I’m sorry about leaving Charli that night. I should have . . .” Mason trailed off.
“Ness time call me if you gotta leave. Let the other bouncssser know too. I don’t want Claire or Charli walking out here alone at night.”
Mason nodded. “Already done. Won’t happen again.”
Bently walked into the darkened parking lot, heading to where he’d parked his truck. He pulled out his keys as a burst of pain erupted across his back. He was shoved against his car from the impact before he fell to the ground. His head spun as he drunkenly tried to make sense of what was happening. Was this another flashback? He searched the darkness as he groaned in pain. A hooded figure stood above him, angry eyes boring into him, with a metal bat glinting in the moonlight.
“What the fuck!”
“You’re gonna pay, pig.”
He lifted his hand to block as the bat swung and met his head with a crack!
Everything went black.
Chapter 20
Belle
Belle stretched her neck out, easing the kinks as she approached the nurses’ station. Sandy, the third shift head nurse, handed her a cup of coffee. “You’re almost there.”
“I could kiss you right now.” She gratefully accepted the hot cup of blessed caffeine before she sipped it. The earthy warm liquid perked her up. Third shifts were killer when she was used to seconds. But she was the go-to woman when someone wanted their shift covered. She needed the money. TJ was going to get some grants and scholarships, but it still wouldn’t cover everything. He’d need an outrageous amount for books, not to mention she hoped she could cover it all so he could focus on the classes rather than balancing a job and college like she’d had to.
“Patient in four needs an IV change and the one in two pressed the call button,” Sandy said with a smile.
“So, the coffee was to butter me up, huh?”
Sandy motioned to her leg. “These old knees are trying to make me retire before I’m ready.”
Belle took another sip of the warm drink. It would be cold by the time she next got a chance to drink it. “I’ve got it.”
“And that’s why you’re my favorite nurse in this whole hospital.” Sandy grinned.
Belle smiled.
“Though I’m not the only one it seems.” Sandy nodded to Doctor Stanley across the hall who was walking towards them.
“I take my job seriously,” Belle whispered, clearing up the insinuation.
“Good evening, ladies,” he greeted them.
“Doctor Stanley.” Belle nodded. He was tall and handsome. All the nurses loved him. But he didn’t make her stomach flutter.
“Please call me Rick.” He smiled.
Belle glanced at Sandy’s smirk before she responded, “Sure. I’ve got some patients to attend to, but did you need anything before I go, Doc—uh, Rick?”
“Not at the moment.”
She turned and walked towards emergency room number two. After getting the patient a cup of juice, she went to room four. A child snuggled against her mother, an IV sticking out from her tiny arm. Belle tried to be as quiet as she could so as not to disturb the sleeping duo. She exchanged the bags and turned the lights down in the room. The mother’s arms held the child protectively, lovingly. A longing in Belle floated to the surface. She’d never had that, been the one to be held. She closed the door and made her way to the desk where Sandy still sat, rubbing her knee.
“Do you want some ice for that?” Belle asked.
“No. I’ll be fine.”
“Sandy, can you help me in six?” Doctor Stanley asked.
Belle patted her hand. “I’ve got it.”
She made her way to the room and froze in the doorway. Her stomach turned to stone. Her heart pounded. Bently?
The gauze around his head was soaked red with blood. His cheek was swollen and bruised. His eyes opened, locking on her. Surprise and then shame clouded over those cerulean-blue pools. The wall slammed into place between them.
She swallowed. Get it together, Belle. You’re a professional. She walked to his side as the doctor put his X-rays into the lighted area.
“Been a while since I’ve seen you in here, Bently. Wish it was under better circumstances,” Doctor Stanley said.
“Me too, Doc,” Bently said.
“Glad to hear you’re cancer-free.”
What? Bently had had cancer?
Bently didn’t look at her. It was as if he was pretending she wasn’t even there.
“You made a good call and caught it in time,” Bently said.
“Looks like you got a few bruised ribs. No internal bleeding. But you do have a concussion,” Stanley explained.
“I would say you should see the other guy, but then again, I didn’t even get a good look at him.” Bently chuckled as if anything about this was funny. Humor was his defense as usual.
“It’s a good thing your friend found you when he did. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury,” the doctor started explaining.
“I know, Doc. This is not my first rodeo.”
Belle looked closer at the X-rays. Healed fractures from old injuries were
