Page 10 of Ruthless

Gideon’s voice again, this time sounding even more gruff and strained. Fighting against the need to let unconsciousness carry her away again, she blinked and finally managed to lift her heavy eyes to stare up at him blurrily.

“Please tell me all my body parts are functioning,” she murmured groggily.

“That, my darling Eve, is something you’ll have to figure out for yourself. But according to the doctors, all visible body parts are functional, although a few of them are slightly dented and are going to need some time to heal.”

Managing to open her eyes all the way, she noted the exhaustion in his beautiful eyes and the worry tugging at his mouth. Her heart turned over at the sight. It was good to know that even gorgeous, self-possessed men like Gideon Wright could get frazzled.

She cleared her throat and said raspily, “You look like the back end of a southern donkey.”

His mouth tilted in a crooked grin. “Now that is one of the worst insults you’ve ever dealt me.”

“What? I heard it on a TV show last week.”

“I think you mean the south end of a northbound horse.”

“Oh. Guess that makes more sense.”

“And besides, if anyone looks like the south end of anything, it’s you.”

She grimaced, fearing the worst. “My nose hasn’t been rearranged on top of my forehead, has it?”

“No, but now that you mention it, your left ear does appear to be several inches lower than your right one.”

“Liar. Besides, that would only make me more beautiful.”

“Impossible.”

She grinned, then winced when she realized that, along with the rest of her body, her face kind of hurt, too.

“Here, let me help you sit up.”

She heard a motorized sound, and her head and back moved slowly upward until she was sitting in a semi-upright position. Movement was painful but bearable. Before she could ask for it, a small glass of water with a straw was placed in her right hand.

“Slow sips.”

She swallowed several mouthfuls and felt more human with each one. Handing the glass back to him, she said, “Okay, so what’s the damage?”

He told her quickly, which she appreciated. Learning she had good reason for her pain didn’t really help.

“How’s my bike?”

“Dented but repairable.”

“Just like me.”

“Yes, but I’d say you got the worse end of the deal.”

She moved uncomfortably and then jerked to a stop as memory flooded her brain. “The op! Olivia and Hawke. Are they okay?”

“They’re fine. I’ll tell you all about it soon.”

“Why not now?”

“Because there’s something else you need to know before we go any further.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re home. In Ile de la Lune. In Amelie.”