Page 41 of Beach Cottage Kisses

“I know.” She held up the bag she’d carried in with her. He was pretty sure she had, at any rate. He’d been looking at her face.

Glad to see her.

“I’ve got everything you need right here, including pain meds. You’ll have them if you decide to take them.”

Wow. She was good.

He’d known that.

“And Sage is on board?” Didn’t matter, he was leaving anyway. Just had expected her to have put up a fight.

“She’d rather you spent the night, but she knew you wouldn’t. And the doctor says that while he’d like to have you stay, you’re fine to go home as long as you follow all instructions.”

He would. “I don’t have them yet.”

“I do.”

Okay. “I’m going to need them.”

She nodded. Just that. Nothing more.

He needed some privacy. Had to get on with the exploration of his current circumstances. Moved his hand under the sheet to find out that he was in a hospital gown.

And nothing more.

“Where are my clothes?”

“You were in a wet suit. They had to cut it off.”

He’d opted to go nude underneath. Had left his neoprene swim trunks wadded in the laundry sink the day before and they’d stunk.

“I have pants and a shirt in my car.”

She nodded again. He didn’t like it much. But before he could tell her, she said, “It’s still parked in South Beach.”

Where he’d been surfing that morning.

Fine. He was getting somewhere. Had his first hurdle to tackle.

“I bought you some sweats and a long-sleeved T-shirt in the pharmacy gift shop,” Iris said, nodding toward the bag she’d set back down on the floor. “Nurse Windsor said that you’ll probably prefer shorts at home, but for now, we can cut the one leg of the sweats to prevent any friction against your bandage.”

We?As in, her and him?

Made sense since he was currently immobile, and she was in the room.

Something else occurred to his slowly wakening brain, too. “Would you mind giving me a ride home?”

He didn’t have his car. Could call a cab, but since she’d be going where he needed to go…unless…

What time of day was it? He’d been surfing early, just after dawn. “That is if you’re going home from here,” he added. Cab would be second choice. And…

“My phone’s in my car.”

That time when Iris nodded, her chin was puckered. He tensed. Sensing some kind of barrier coming his way. When all she said was, “I can take you home. And get someone to take me to get your car, too,” he was confused.

She was there at his twin’s behest. Seemingly ready to make sure he got just what he wanted. So why her sudden chin dimple?

“What’s the catch?”