Page 4 of Hot Pursuit (Love To The Rescue #1)

THREE

VIOLET

A soft beeping pulled me from my dreams, slowly waking me up. I tried to make sense of where I was when it all came tumbling back.

The worst Friday known to man.

I blinked, taking in the dark skies I could see through the window. The steady beeping was almost soothing as my senses took inventory of my body. My toes wiggled and I flexed my fingers, touching a semi-scratchy sheet. I swallowed and winced. My throat and lips felt dry.

“Hey,” a rich, deep voice sounded, and when I turned my head, my eyes widened.

“Officer Hottie,” I whispered, and if I hadn’t been freaking out over what I’d called him, I would have noticed the way his cheeks turned pink.

“Logan, actually,” he corrected, and I nodded. “I’m so glad to see you wake up, princess.”

His hand gently squeezed mine, and my eyes dropped. His was so big compared to mine, slightly tanned, but even still, mine was darker than his. Not that any of that really mattered when I realized he’d been holding my hand. Has he been doing that all along?

“Officer Logan Monroe,” I softly said, and his hazel eyes sparkled.

“You remembered,” he noted with a grin as his thumb stroked the top of my fingers but never let go.

“I do,” I whispered. A beat of silence fell between us.

“How are you feeling?” he asked and then winced. “I just mean––“

“Alive,” I cut him off, and for some reason, maybe it was the meds they had me on or I wasn’t completely awake, but I tangled our fingers together. “I feel alive. I think I have you to thank for that.”

“I didn’t––“ I squeezed his hand and shook my head slightly, overwhelmingly thankful the movement didn’t make me dizzy.

“You did,” I interrupted. Something flashed in his eyes, turning them more brown than green, and I swallowed hard.

I wasn’t going to let my mind wander to dark thoughts like what could have happened if he hadn’t been there.

“Umm, do you think I could have some water?” I changed the subject, and by the way he looked at me, he knew exactly what I was doing.

“Yeah, princess, let me check with the doc, ‘kay?”

“You don’t have to check. I’m here,” a deeper voice sounded from the door, and my eyes rose to the doorway.

My brow rose. What the hell was in the water for first responders?

The doctor was handsome. Darker tanned skin, deep brown, almost black eyes, and lips and lashes that would make any woman jealous.

“Hello, Miss Perez. How are you doing?”

“I think I should ask you that?” I sassed, and the doctor chuckled. When I glanced at the sexy cop next to me, he was frowning. But before I could ask what the matter was, he sat up straighter in his chair, never letting go of my hand. Something the doctor didn’t miss by the smile on his face.

“Thankfully, for the gravity of your accident, nothing is broken and there are no signs of concussion,” he announced.

“Good.” I raised my free hand to touch my forehead, but the doctor shook his head.

“It’s going to be tender. You have cuts and bruises.

Thankfully, the worst one was just above your brow.

” He moved closer. When he touched my forehead, I could have sworn I heard Logan growl.

“I had to give you about six stitches on this one, but it shouldn’t scar.

I think you’ll be happy with the way it heals. ”

“I wouldn’t care if it scared,” I blurted and felt both men’s eyes on me. “I mean, it would suck to have a reminder of the worst Friday known to man, but honestly, after today and what happened and what could have been… a scar is minor.”

“Vi,” Logans deep voice called my name as his hand tightened around mine.

“Very true, Miss Perez. Very true. Great way to look at it,” the doctor cut in.

His dark eyes softened. “But still, I hope you won’t have to look in the mirror and be reminded of the worst Friday known to man on a daily basis.

” He winked. “Thankfully, it wasn’t too bad.

We did give you some pain meds while we ran tests. That’s why you slept for so long.”

“Thank you.” I sat up straighter. “So, I’m okay?

I can leave?” I asked, suddenly aware of every machine and wire I was connected to.

I was probably unemployed now, and knowing Roddie, he cancelled my medical insurance the moment I stepped out of the office.

There was no way I could afford whatever labs and tests they’d already run plus an overnight stay.

“Is the bed that uncomfortable you want to leave?” the doctor teased.

“Vi––“ Logan started to say.

“No, it’s just my roommate is probably worried and––“

“Vi,” Logan called out again, and I looked at him. Something in his eyes told me I wasn’t going to like what he had to say. My stomach rolled and my lips wobbled.

I never cried, but I had cried in front of this man way too much already. Somehow, I kept my emotions in check. “Let me guess… she kicked me out?” I asked softly. Heat from shame and embarrassment flowed through me.

God, not only had that happened, but it had to happen in front of the guy I could have sworn I’d dreamt to life.

“Not in so many words but…”

“Yeah,” I whispered, chewing on my bottom lip.

“Did Ree say when I had to be out by?” He opened and shut his mouth then glanced at the doctor, who was taking in the free show we were giving him.

“It’s okay. I can stay in a motel until I figure it out.

” I smiled tightly. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“I wouldn’t recommend that,” the doctor said, and I frowned.

“Why?”

“Due to your injuries, I would like for you to stay overnight for observation.” Just the mention of an overnight stay had me thinking about the ever-growing medical bill. One that would more than likely take a lifetime to pay off.

“You just said I was okay,” I pointed out.

“No concussion or internal bleeding,” I squeaked.

I didn’t want to be a difficult patient, but there was no way I could afford the bill.

Especially now that I had to come up with not only getting a new job but a new place to live.

I shut my eyes for a moment because suddenly, the room started to spin.

A new place was going to be crazy expensive. How am I going to get through this?

“I know, but I don’t recommend you being alone.”

“She won’t be,” Logan cut in. My eyes snapped open and felt like they were about to pop out of their socket. “She’s going to stay with me.”

“You don’t know me,” I whispered, but Officer Hottie-But-Apparently-Crazy ignored me. I swung my head to look at the doctor, who had a sneaky little grin on his face.

“I’m gonna have to tell Ron about this,” he mumbled.

I frowned. Who is Ron? “Sounds good. But you have to keep an eye on her for the next three days, and then I’d like to see her to make sure we didn’t miss anything.

I’ll write out and print the instructions of things you should keep an eye on, along with prescriptions for pain meds and some antibiotics, both topical and pills, I want her to take, just to be on the safe side,” he told Logan as if Logan was my guardian or mine or something.

“I don’t need that!” I said loudly, but it was like the two bossy men in the room weren’t even listening to me. “I really don’t. I’ll be fine,” I spoke again, and this time, the doctor turned towards me and tilted his head slightly.

“Your body went through a traumatic crash of sorts, and you have open wounds. I cleaned them and stitched you up, but it would make me feel better if you took some antibiotics just to prevent any kinds of infections.”

“But it’s going to cost too much,” I blurted out, hating this whole situation. If there was a way for me to fall asleep and forget about the day, I would. Liar, a little voice in my head whispered.

There would be no way I’d do that if it meant forgetting about the officer who had just all but offered to take care of me. I knew he had vowed to protect and serve when he got his badge, but I was pretty sure this was way too above and beyond the call of duty.

“You don’t have to worry about that, baby,” he said softly, and when I turned, he was mere inches from me.

I wasn’t sure how he did it, but Logan had to have some kind of magic powers.

He moved from the chair and sat next to me without bumping into anything, making it look seamless.

Easy. He was double my size and didn’t bump into anything; the chair hadn’t even made a sound.

My bed dipped, and we were so close our legs touched.

Suddenly, all my worries melted away, leaving me hyperaware of the big, strong man who my body, and for some reason my heart, wanted to lean on.

“I have to worry about it,” I muttered, but we both knew the fight in me had started to waver.

“I got it,” he persisted. But before I could figure out something to say, the doctor spoke up.

“Actually, the hospital does. I have a ton of samples for all of it. So, don’t worry about that, okay?”

“Okay.” I nodded with relief. Suddenly, I was really tired. Almost like I couldn’t keep my body up. Logan’s hand cupped the back of my head, silently instructing me to lean on him, and I did. I didn’t know more than the man’s name and occupation, but I felt like I’d known him forever.

“So, are you willing to be released into Officer Monroe’s care if I discharge you?”

“For three days?” I asked, licking my lips.

“At least.” At least. I didn’t like the sound of that. More time than that, and things could get messy. I glanced up at the man whose shoulder I was resting on. I’d pay him back. Somehow, I would figure out how to do that.

“Okay,” I agreed and felt Logan’s arm wrap behind me and rest over my shoulder.

“Good girl,” Logan whispered low enough for my ears only. And just like that, I melted closer into his body before my eyes fluttered shut.

This was such a bad idea.

I didn’t lean on people. I didn’t ask for help. I’d learned early on that nothing good came from that. This whole thing, with the way my body reacted to Logan’s, had disaster and heartbreak written all over it.

I was the queen of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet knowing that, I had no plans of figuring out somewhere else to stay.