Part 52 (1/2)
She swallowed and winced. ”We didn't die.”
”Doesn't look like it.” Gently he cupped her head and held a cup of water so that she could sip through the straw. ”Just take it easy.”
There was a fear lurking deep inside her. But she had to know.
”Are we burned badly?”
”We're not burned. A couple of singes, maybe.”
Relief made her s.h.i.+ver. ”I can't feel anything, except-” She reached up to touch the bruise on her forehead.
”Sorry.” He pressed his lips to the lump, felt himself begin to tremble, and drew back again. ”You got that when I tackled you.”
She opened her eyes then. They felt weighted. Her whole body felt weighted. ”Hospital?” she asked. Then her breath caught as she focused on him. Scratches on his face, a bandage at his temple, and a larger one that started just below his shoulder and nearly reached the elbow. His hands, his beautiful hands, were wrapped in gauze.
”Oh, G.o.d, Ry. You're hurt.”
”Cuts and bruises.” He smiled at her. ”Singed my hair a little.”
”You need a doctor.”
”I've had one, thanks. I don't think she likes me. Now shut up and rest.”
”What happened?”
”You're going to have to move your office.” When she started to speak again, he held up a hand. ”I'll tell you what I know if you keep quiet. Otherwise, I'll just leave you to stew. Deal?” Satisfied, he sat on the edge of the bed. ”Deirdre tried to call you in Colorado,” he began.
When he finished, her head was throbbing. Impotent fury ate away at the remnant of the sedative until she was wide awake and aching. Antic.i.p.ating her, Ry laid his hand over her mouth.
”There's nothing you can do until you're on your feet. Not much you can do then. It's up to the departments-fire and police. And it's being handled. Now I'm going to ring for the nurse so they can take a look at you.”
”I don't-” Her protest turned into a spasm of coughing. By the time she'd regained control, a nurse was gesturing Ry out of the room.
She didn't see him again for more than twenty-four hours.
”You could use another day here, Nat.” Boyd crossed his feet at the ankles as he watched Natalie pack the small overnight case he'd brought her.
”I hate hospitals.”
”You've made that clear. I need your word you're taking a full week off, at home, or I'm calling in the troops. And not just Cilia, but Mom and Dad.”
”There's no need for them to fly all the way out here.”
”That's up to you, pal.”
She pouted. ”Three days off.”
”A full week. Anything less is a deal-breaker. I can be just as tough a negotiator as you,” he said with a grin. ”It's in the blood.”
”Fine, fine, a week. What difference does it make?” She s.n.a.t.c.hed up the water gla.s.s and drank. It seemed she could never get enough to drink these days. ”Everything's in shambles. Half my building's destroyed, one of my most trusted executives is responsible. I don't even have an office to go to.”
”You'll take care of that. Next week. Hawthorne has a lot to answer for. The fact that he didn't know you and Ry were in the building isn't going to save him.”