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CHAPTER 16

She didn’t want to be a wimp, but…what exactly was she supposed to be doing here? Her heart was still racing. Seeing Dwight attack Houston had terrified her. “You’re hurt. We should…the hospital…”

Ok, now she did sound like a wimp. Not like the woman who was effectively in charge of the entire station when the station manager wasn’t there. Brooke straightened her spine and pulled herself together. “We can deal with Dwight Hoby later. But for now…your hand. I think we should go to the hospital first. We’ll figure out everything else after. Angel, can you take over the booth after you drive Dwight home? Todd’s in there by himself.”

“We’ll take care of everything here. You just get Houston taken care of.” Angel patted her shoulder lightly. Brooke forced herself not to flinch away.

For so long before, she had hated to be touched, especially by men. It wasn’t going to be like that now.

Dwight Hoby had brought up bad memories. But she had worked hard to get through. He wasn’t going to take that away.

Houston had been hurt defending her.

She was going to take care of him now.

No matter what.

That meant…there was a fourteen-block walk or so between the college campus and the hospitals. He had to be hurting. It was time to take charge.

“Houston, come on; let’s go.”

He followed her docilely.

That’s how she knew the man was up to something.

Houston Evers had never been docile in his entire life; she’d bet her entire inheritance on it. She’d get Houston taken care of—then, she’d try to find a way home.

Her father was probably going insane with worry.

She hadn’t heard from him at all. And she knew…he was trying to get to her somehow.

She looked at Keeli. “When my dad shows up, tell him…I took Houston to the hospital.”

“Which one?” Keeli asked. “I heard General is still operational, but they lost the entire emergency room. And one of their parking garages.”

“County,” Houston said. He wrapped his fingers around Brooke’s. She didn’t even think to flinch away. “My parents work at County. We’ll be there. Probably for a long while.”

Keeli’s gaze dropped. Her lips quirked when she saw them holding hands. When her eyes met Brooke’s, Brooke could almost swear there was approval there.

And no one else seemed surprised at all.

It gave her something to think about.