Page 69 of Crash

“What the fuck happened?”

The nurse immediately shot her eyes to me. I wasn’t using my doctor voice; I was using my brotherhood voice.

“What happened is, it turns out, your houseguest is just fine. So was I until I checked on her. I have a board meeting in three hours, Blake. I’m in the middle of acquiring a company worth half a billion, and instead of prepping my strategy, I’m sitting in your ER with my brain possibly leaking out.”

“Tessa did this to you?” I couldn’t keep the hint of pride from my voice.

“If you ever have an intruder, you should send her in to protect you. She’s five foot nothing and nearly decapitated me with a mixing bowl. A mixing bowl, Blake.” He winced as he shifted the ice pack. “I have security teams that couldn’t react that fast.”

“What did you do, sneak up on her?”

Jace’s eyes narrowed. “You’re taking her side? I’m the victim here. I have plenty of enemies: corporate rivals, that senator whose company I took from him. Yet it’s your petite baker who managed to assault me.”

“You must’ve scared her.”

“I’m showing up with a bloody head, and that’s what you have to say to me? My PR team is already drafting a statement about a ‘minor household accident’ because I can’t exactly tell theWall Street Journalthat I got my ass handed to me by a cupcake chef.”

“Oh, you’re fine. That head of yours is too hard to do any real damage.”

“Am I still stunningly handsome?” He pulled the ice pack away from his face, revealing a nasty gash and impressiveswelling, noting my grimace. “Don’t lie to me, Doctor. I need to know if I should cancel myForbesphoto shoot next week.”

“Can they reschedule?”

“Great.”

“Don’t worry; once the swelling goes down, I’m sure you’ll be beautiful again. At least it’ll make it easier to tell you and Grayson apart now.”

His identical twin.

“So, this will scar.”

“Too early to tell.”

“Great.”

“So, she was okay?”

“You’re still worried abouther?” He pointed to the gash on his head. “I’m bleeding out in your ER while she’s happily baking away like some disturbing Betty Crocker.”

“You’ll be fine. But do me a favor.”

“Another one? Oh, sure. Sign me up. What’ll it be this time, a compound fracture to my arm?”

“Don’t mention this to the guys.”

He cocked his head, wincing at the movement. “Ryker’s going to kill you if you date his sister.”

“I’m not dating her.”

“Whatever.” He rolled his eyes. “Just get me out of here. Fast.”

“I’ll call a plastic surgeon down so you look just as handsome as before.”

“Yeah, well, watch your ass, Morrison. If she can do this with a mixing bowl, you should keep her away from your knives.” Jace adjusted his ruined tie with his free hand. “And for the record, when you end up murdered in your sleep by Kitchen Ninja Barbie, I’m telling the detective everything. Right after I send flowers to your funeral with a card that says,I told you so.”

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