I watch Kayla hurry out of the room. She’s still wearing her pink scrubs from earlier with my brother’s blood smeared all over the front. I’m glad it was her. The girl is smart as a whip and knows what she’s doing. It’s probably why she stays the hell away from me.
“Got a crush or something?” Reese asks snidely.
I turn to face him. “She’s a colleague.”
“And that’s stopping you why?” he grunts.
I shake off the idiot remark. Who I want to fuck is irrelevant at the moment.
“How do you feel?” I redirect.
“Like I just got hit by a car.”
I peer down at my snarky brother.
“Seriously.” I pin him with a stern glare.
“A little bit of pain,” he discloses.
“Where?”
“My leg and shoulder.”
“What about your chest?” I narrow my eyes.
“No, none there,” he grumbles.
“Perfect. Just what I want to hear.”
“Where’s my stuff?” Reese asks tensely, possessively.
“Relax, your precious backpack made it through the accident unscathed.” The fucking thing is like his security blanket. “I can’t say the same for your clothes, though.”
“I don’t give two shits about my clothes. My backpack is all that matters.” He settles down a bit. “How long am I down for?” he cuts to the chase.
It’s my turn to grunt. “You broke both bones in your leg. You’re out for the rest of the season, man.”
“What?” Reese nearly jumps out of bed. “Isn’t there anything we can do to speed up the healing process? Cortisone injections? Hydrotherapy?”
I shake my head vigorously. “This isn’t a torn muscle. I know you understand that. It’s highly unlikely you’ll race again soon.” I deliver the bad news.
Reese punches the mattress. I know how devastating this is for him to hear. Ever since I can remember, racing has been his life. It’s like he breathes it, and this year, he was a shoo-in to take it all home, again. To defend his Grand Prix title. Winning is what drives him. “Recover the right way and go back even stronger next year.” I place a consoling hand on his shoulder.
Anger radiates from his body. I know if he could get up, he’d wail on me. And I’d let him.
“I want a second opinion. What the fuck do you know anyway? You’re a cardiologist.” He lashes out, jerking his arm.
I huff. “You forget my first concentration was sports medicine. I’ve seen this. And I know how long the healing process takes.”
He bristles, fighting back the bubbling emotion.
“I’m going to get you set up in a private room. A little peace and quiet and some rest will do you good.”
“I don’t want peace and quiet. I want fucking fast.” He pulls on his hair with both hands.
I sigh sympathetically. “I know you do. But that’s not an option at the moment.”
Reese makes a sound in this throat like a perturbed cat. This is killing him.
“Want me to stick around a while? Keep you company?”
“Nah, I’m good.” He turns his head away petulantly. For a world famous motorcycle racer, who is a pillar in the Grand Prix community, he can act like a sulky child sometimes. I’ll let it slide this time. His season, and whole reason to be, just went up in smoke.
“How come you never told me you had a brother? A twin brother?” Kayla asks as I exit the hospital room. She’s leaning against the wall, obviously waiting for me.
I shrug. “Subject never came up.”
“Bullshit. You know I have no siblings. You know my aunt’s a detective, and my parents are divorced.”
She’s got me there. “I don’t know why I never brought it up.”
“Are you not close?” she snoops.
“We’re close. We’re just . . . different.”
“I noticed.” She pushes off the wall. She’s adorable in her bright pink Nikes and messy bun.
“What are you still doing here?” I snoop back. “Waiting for me?”
“Waiting for my ride,” she sets me straight. “I sort of had to abandon my truck on the side of the road to save your brother’s ass.”
“I can give you a ride if you need one.” I slide closer to her. “Maybe help you clean up. Get you out of these dirty clothes.” I tug on the hem of her shirt.
Kayla shakes her head flirtatiously. “My aunt is on her way. She heard about what happened. Said someone will be here tomorrow to take your brother’s statement. She’s going to take mine.”
“You sure?” I press.
“I’m positive.” She looks me directly in the eyes, steadfast.
One day, I’m going to break right through that resolve, but tonight, I’ll let her be.
Someone suddenly clears their throat behind me. I glance back to see Sam, Kayla’s hard-ass aunt, standing there authoritatively. She’s an older version of Kayla, dark-brown hair pulled back into a tight bun and big brown eyes with flecks of gold. The fact that she packs a piece makes her ten times more the MILF. Well, AILF.
“If you don’t step back, Dr. Dane, I’ll be forced to handcuff you.”
I smile. Did I mention she has a wicked sense of humor, too?
“My apologies, Detective Kincade. I know how protective you are of your niece. I was just keeping an eye on her.”
Both Kayla and Sam laugh animatedly. They don’t buy my shit for a second, and I think that only makes me respect them more. The Kincade women share the same traits: beautiful and no bullshit.
“I appreciate that, Dev, but I think Kayla can look out for herself.”
“There’s no doubt in my mind.” I back away reluctantly from Kayla.
She shoots me a cutsie grin over her shoulder as she walks off. “Later, Dr. Dane.”
“Later, Nurse Kincade,” I mutter under my breath as I watch her hot ass stroll down the hallway. One day, one way or another, I’ll have her more than just passively saying my name. I’ll have her moaning it, screaming it, dreaming about it. I’ll have her living for it.
One day.
One way or a-fucking-nother.