Briar had never been in such pain in her entire life, and it struck her even before she opened her eyes. For a woman who knew exactly what the weather was going to be like from the second she woke in the morning, she didn’t know what to make of the stabbing radiating throughout her body.

Is this what a snowstorm feels like? her hazy, unfocused mind asked almost comically. Is there a blizzard outside? She was too out of it to understand that she was in the hospital, even after she pried her eyelids apart to look around.

Her eyes were gritty, dry, matching the cotton in her mouth and throat. She wanted to cough, but the noise that came out of her was more of a kitten cry than anything else.

Suddenly, a man was peering down in her face, and Briar gasped.

“Are you God?” she asked. “Is this heaven?”

His attractive face twisted into a near-sneer. “Uh, no,” he replied, his green eyes emanating relief, as though they knew one another. “Not God, and I’m ninety percent sure this is not any semblance of heaven.”

Briar continued to study his face, taking in the firm jawline, despite the auburn scruff of a five o’clock shadow. He was only wearing a black sweater, the color bringing out his bronze complexion.

“Do I know you?” she mumbled. Abruptly, the accident came flooding back to her, and Briar struggled to sit up in the bed. “Oh, God!” she choked, and her words rasped out like her tongue was made of sandpaper. “Was anyone hurt?”

Perplexity shadowed the stranger’s eyes, but instead of answering, he moved out of view. Briar strained to move, but she realized that she was heavily bandaged around the waist. Breathing was painful.

“Don’t try to move,” the man instructed, returning to her side with a cup of water. “Here.”

Gratefully, she took it and downed it quickly, her eyes fuzzily following him. The liquid sloshed dangerously in her gut, and for a terrifying moment, Briar thought she was going to be sick.

“What happened? Who else was hurt?” she asked, her voice much clearer now that she had dampened her mouth.

“I don’t know,” he answered. “But I’ll call for a nurse and let them know you’ve regained consciousness.” He spun toward the door, but Briar called out to him.

“Who are you? Why are you here? Were you in one of the other cars?” Her eyes widened. “I need to call into work! I’m going to get fired!”

He looked at her in shock.

“You know you were almost killed in that accident, right?” he asked dubiously. “I think your work will understand.”

Even when Briar knew how ridiculous she sounded, his words did nothing to ease her state of mind. It’s easy for him to say. Those jeans cost more than my car… Oh, God, my car…

She was overwhelmed by the catastrophe which had struck her, but the man had already left the room, presumably in search of a nurse, leaving Briar to sort out her thoughts. A moment later, he returned with a nurse.

“Oh, you’re awake,” the nurse announced, smiling at her warmly. “You gave us quite a scare, Briar.”

“Did anyone else get hurt?” Briar asked the medical worker as he checked her blood pressure. “Please tell me no one died.”

“I think you took the brunt of the damage,” he chuckled. “You and your van. The police want to speak with you when you’re feeling up to it.”

Briar’s eyes widened. “The police? Why?”

“Well, it was a big accident,” the nurse explained. “I imagine your insurance will need a report.”

Briar closed her eyes, a feeling of impending doom overcoming her. What insurance? Who had money for insurance? Little by little, she felt her sanity slipping away.

I have no car, no auto or medical insurance, and I’m probably not going to work again for weeks. Colton and I are a week away from being evicted. So much for living in my van.

“Briar, the most important thing now is your recovery. Are you in any pain?”

“A little,” she lied. She was in more pain than she could begin to tell. Every muscle in her body ached. Even breathing was a task.

“I’ll get you something for that. Let me find the doctor to come in and explain the extent of your injuries. In the meantime, just visit with your husband and try not to stress out too much, okay?”

“My husband?”

The nurse looked to the stranger. “Didn’t you say you were her husband?” he asked, scowling. “Family only in here. Off you go!”

“Wait!” the man protested. “I just wanted to—”

“Ah, ah,” the medic interrupted. “Get going before I call security.” Before anyone could stop him, the nurse ushered the handsome guest out of the room, but not before he looked over his shoulder at Briar.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he called. “Get well soon.”

“T-thank you…?” Briar didn’t know what else to say, her mind flooded with confusion. Why was he there? The nurse returned to give her a painkiller and shook his mop of blonde hair in disbelief.

“Sorry, hon,” he told Briar. “Boyfriends aren’t family.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Briar replied, a hot blush staining her cheeks as she admitted it.

You’ve got brain damage, she lectured herself silently. You’re making eyes at a stranger who snuck into your hospital room to watch you sleep. Yet even when she spun it like that in her own head, Briar found her eyes trailing back toward the door, silently willing him to return.

“Well, friends aren’t allowed in here, either.”

“I don’t know him. Did he leave his name?”

The nurse eyed her warily. “Are you sure? He came in asking for you by name. Seemed very concerned.”

A shiver slithered down Briar’s spine. “I’m sure,” she replied. “I would remember a man who looked like that.”

The nurse grinned and winked. “I hear that, honey.” Then he frowned. “In that case, he was probably a reporter. The damned media are like little termites getting in anywhere they can. Sorry he snuck by. It won’t happen again.” He turned away.

“Wait!” Briar called after him.

“Hm?”

“If… if he comes back, can you get his name at least?”

The nurse grinned. “Sure, honey. Aren’t you going to ask mine?”

Embarrassed, Briar looked down.

“Sorry,” she muttered. “Of course I want to know yours, too.”

“Dan.” They smiled at each other. “Rest now, Briar. You’re going to need it.”

The effects of the morphine were kicking in, and Briar felt her eyes growing heavy.

“I suppose you’re right,” she agreed softly. “I’m going to need all my strength for the upcoming days, aren’t I?”

Dan chuckled softly, compassion lighting his eyes. “Don’t worry, Briar. Things always work out in the end, don’t they?”

The sentiment didn’t comfort Briar in the least. Maybe things always work out for you, Dan, but not for me. Never for me.

Briar drifted off amidst the anxiety mounting in her gut, not to be woken until someone gently pushed upon her shoulder. “Briar? Can you open your eyes for a minute?”

She reluctantly did as she was told and stared up into a pair of pale blue irises. It didn’t take her as long to regain her bearings as it had the last time she had woken in the hospital bed.

“I’m Dr. Locke-Syme. Do you know where you are?” the woman asked, peering into her eyes with an otoscope.

“The hospital,” Briar offered. “I’m not sure which one… I didn’t ask.”

“Jackson Memorial,” Dr. Locke-Syme offered. “Do you know what happened?”

“I was in a car accident,” Briar replied, slowly sitting up. It didn’t seem to take the same effort it had earlier, either.

Maybe I’m not as badly hurt as I thought, she thought, and the notion filled her with hope. If she wasn’t that bad, she could get back to work.

“I really need to touch base with my job,” Briar told the doctor nervously. “I should have called them already.”

“I just need to ask you some questions first,” Dr. Locke-Syme replied smoothly. “Work will understand, I’m sure.”

Briar grimaced. She was getting annoyed with all these people making assumptions that she wasn’t going to be fired. She wished she could share their optimism. Still, she didn’t argue.

“All right.”

“Great,” the physician smiled. “Now, can you tell me how old you are?”

“Twenty-eight.”

“And when’s your birthday?”

Briar’s brow knit. “Didn’t you find my ID in the crash?”

“Yes, but these questions are to gauge your memory,” Dr. Syme explained. “Could you humor me?”

“Oh. Uh, yeah. February ninth.”

“Perfect. Do you remember the accident?” Guilt flooded through Briar, and she nodded, hanging her head in shame.

“Yes,” she mumbled. “I caused it.” Dr. Locke-Syme’s mouth became a firm line.

“This is not meant to assess blame, Briar,” she explained quietly. “They are investigating what happened, but until they do, I wouldn’t go around volunteering any information like that.”

Briar’s face burned. “Yes, ma’am.”

The doctor reclaimed her smile. “Why don’t you sit up for me? I want to take a look at these broken ribs, all right?”

“Broken ribs?” Briar sighed. “How many?”

“Three. You also sprained your ankle and wrist, not to mention the abrasions on your face and back. You were lucky. It could have been much—” Dr. Syme stopped speaking and peered more closely into Briar’s face. She looked to her tablet and back at Briar.

“What’s wrong?” Briar asked with alarm. “What happened?”

“No, nothing. The facial contusions are not documented accurately,” the doctor explained.

“I don’t understand.”

“Oh,” she laughed. “My records are showing that you have injuries where you clearly don’t have any. It’s a good thing.”

Briar wanted to take that as a happy sign, but the look on Dr. Locke-Syme’s face told her that something wasn’t quite right.

“I’m just going to feel around your ribcage. Please let me know if there’s any discomfort, all right?”

“Sure.” Briar extended her torso and again realized how much better she felt than she had earlier. That morphine did the trick.

“What the…?”

“What?” Briar asked, staring at the doctor. “What’s wrong now?”

Dr. Syme laughed shortly and shook her head. “Your ribs,” she muttered. “They feel fine. Does this not hurt?”

“No… Is this bad? Am I going to need surgery or something?”

“You’re going to need another x-ray,” the doctor grunted. “Someone messed up. You’re not nearly as hurt as the ER doctors claim.”

“Really?” It was the first piece of decent news Briar had heard in days.

“Well, let’s double check, but it looks that way. You shouldn’t even be in a bed. I would have discharged you right away if I was in the ER.”

Briar exhaled with happiness. “Oh, thank you!” she gushed. “Now can you tell me that my van isn’t trashed?”

Dr. Locke-Syme snickered.

“I’m afraid that’s out of my jurisdiction, Briar.” The blonde smiled warmly at the doctor. “I’ll have another x-ray done of you, full body, but I think you’re going to be okay to leave here in a few hours.”

“That’s excellent,” Briar sighed. “I just need to call work now.”

“Maybe you can get your husband to call for you? He’s waiting outside. I’ll let him know.” Dr. Locke-Syme disappeared, leaving Briar gaping after her in shock.

He’s still out there? Who the hell is that guy, and what does he want from me?

Briar realized that she wasn’t annoyed in the least. She hoped he would wait until she was discharged so she could ask him to his face.