Page 13 of Protecting Peyton

When I took his hand, the zing that shot through me was more electric than I’d expected. His touch was warm, his grip firmly reassuring. “Thanks.” I pulled my hand away after a few seconds. That simple movement took more effort than it should have. This man was dangerous.

He looked over, and I smiled back at him as my insides turned to jelly.Danger, danger. No men.Touching could lead to kissing and more. My inner voice told me to say something nasty to break the spell and re-establish distance.

I didn’t. Instead, I put my hand under my thigh and sat on it to avoid the temptation to feel the zing again. My life had been completely zingless since the dinner that derailed my life.

March urgedme ahead of him, right by the two ambulances parked in front of the UCLA Medical Center emergency entrance, probably worried that if I was behind him, I’d take the opportunity to run. His instincts were good.

He maneuvered me through to the emergency room check-in.

“My friend,” March said, “was mugged.”

The young nurse looked concerned. “That’s terrible.”

“She was hit and knocked her head against a concrete wall. She lost consciousness.”

“It was just for a minute,” I noted.

“She needs a CAT scan,” he insisted.

I rolled my eyes. “No I don’t.” It wouldn’t be my first CT and likely wouldn’t be my last.

“He’s right,” the nurse said. “If you lost consciousness, a CT is standard procedure.” She pulled out a sheet of paper and put it on a clipboard. “Let’s get you started and have a doctor take a look. Any other injuries?”

“Uh…” I flicked my eyes quickly in March’s direction and back to her. I couldn’t let my name go into the system. My pursuer might find me.

The nurse got the idea. “Sir, can you take a seat, please, and give the lady some privacy?”

March looked shocked for a second but quickly retreated to one of the waiting room chairs.

The nurse tapped her forehead. “Did he hit you?”

“No. Nothing like that. He actually saved me.” I touched the raised bump on my temple that was probably looking pretty bad about now. “One of the muggers hit me here. He got very agitated last time I mentioned it, and I didn’t want him to make a scene.”

“Boyfriend?”

I smiled. “He’s applying for the position.”

She laughed. “He’s pretty easy on the eyes.”

“That he is,” I had to agree.

She handed me the clipboard. “Fill this out. Did you already report it to the police? If not, I can call them for you.”

My heart skipped a few beats. “Already took care of it.” I nodded to the side. “He insisted.” Maybe that bit of truth made up for the lie.

Looking at the paper, this was just as dangerous as I’d thought it would be. A request for my name was the first line.

“I’ll need some ID as well,” the nice nurse said.

I didn’t go for the license in my pocket. “Sorry. I don’t have anything on me. The muggers took my purse, everything.” I tapped the cut on my wrist. “Even tore the watch off my wrist.” At least I’d kept the earrings.

“I understand,” she said. “Just fill out what you can. We’ll start a bill, and if you bring in your insurance information within a week, that’ll be okay.”

I chose Payton Ellis as the name to fill in, changing the spelling of Peyton on purpose. Since Elise was the middle name on my fake ID, it was close enough to laugh off the difference if my name was called.

March couldn’t know what I was doing, or why.

“We’ll call you shortly,” the nurse said after I handed back the clipboard.