“You’re still here,” Erin said, straightening out of the wheelchair, wishing she had on clothes, not the hospital gown. She winced when her bruised, scraped hip took her weight. Jack was by her side in an instant.
“Of course I’m still here. I’ve got her,” he said, his strong arms under hers, helping her up into the bed. Her breath hissed out when she stretched out again. Jack tucked the sheet and blanket firmly around her lower body.
“Hey, you,” he said softly. He took her hand, thumb stroking over the backs of her fingers.
She dragged in a shaky breath. “Hi,” she said. She couldn’t easily meet his eyes, not knowing what would show in hers. She felt like she’d been dragged through the day by the scruff of her neck, the jump, the accident, the completely unexpected realization that she’d fallen in love with Jack.
“I called a truck to take your bike to the dealership. They’ll call you with an estimate for repairs, if they can fix it,” he said.
“Thank you,” she said faintly.
A figure dressed in the khakis and button-down of an insurance salesman appeared in the doorway. Erin blinked for a second, then recognized her ex-husband. “Erin. What the hell,” Jason said resignedly.
Just when she thought the day couldn’t get any worse. “Why are you here?” she said, perhaps not all that kindly, but they were divorced.
“Apparently I’m still listed as your emergency contact,” he said, approaching the bed and eying Jack, then the motorcycle helmets sitting side by side on the floor. “Erin. You didn’t.”
“Not your business anymore,” she said. “But yes, I did. I said I’d do it, and I did it.”
“At least you’re not on my insurance,” he said.
She was spared the necessity of responding when two more people appeared in the doorway. “Jack. Thank goodness you’re okay!” the woman said, squeezing the hand of the man accompanying her.
“Rose,” Jack said, straightening. “What are you doing here?”
Ah, the sister. Erin wished for a split second that she was meeting the dazzling Rose under better circumstances, but then remembered it wouldn’t matter, because none of this was leading anywhere in the long run.
“Hawthorn’s brother, the police lieutenant, called Keenan saying one of the guys on his team was involved in a motorcycle crash. Jack. I’m so glad you’re okay. We’ve all been so worried about you.”
His voice trailed off. Jack’s gaze was fixed on the tight grip his sister still had on the other man’s hand. “You can let him go now, Rose. I’m fine.”
His sister’s chin lifted. Rather than stepping away from Keenan, she stepped a little closer. “I can’t, actually,” she said.
Jack sat up, then straightened, sending the rolling stool crashing into the wall. “What the hell?” he said, the phrase half question, half threat. “Keenan. Jesus!”
“Keep your voice down,” Rose hissed. “This is a hospital, and it’s not what you think.”
“It’s not?” he said, incredulous. “It sure as hell looks like what I think it is! When did this start?”
Rose opened her mouth. Keenan gave her hand a squeeze, then said, “In Turkey.”
Jack stared at him. “You bastard. You promised me you’d take care of her! Instead you get up to who the fuck knows what, and you don’t even tell me about it?”
At You promised Erin’s heart skipped a beat, but Jack’s shocked, disbelieving tone, made it stop dead in her chest. The only thing left behind when someone broke a promise was blood and tears. She knew that tone. Knew it well.
Keenan’s eyes narrowed, but Rose’s hand tightened on his. “Don’t even start, Jack,” Rose snapped, then drew a deep breath. Jason looked like he wanted to buy some popcorn and settle in for the show. Keenan looked like he’d been carved from the same mold as Jack, and Rose looked like she was on the verge of losing her temper in a really spectacular way.
The door opened slightly, and the scissors-wielding nurse poked her head in to survey the room. “I thought I heard raised voices,” she said mock-incredulous. “But I’m certain I was wrong, because this is a hospital, and people are trying to heal here. Including her. Surely you’re not all upsetting her. She’s had a very long day already.”
Jack looked abashed. Rose shot him a glare. Keenan, who Erin could already tell would be ice cold in a crisis, didn’t move a muscle. Jason smirked at Erin, as if to say See what kind of chaos you create when you start down this road?
“We were just leaving,” Rose said, eyeing Jack. “I hope you feel better soon,” her tone gentling in a heartbeat as she smiled at Erin. “Don’t let this stop you from riding. It happens to all of us.”
“Ma’am,” Keenan added formally to Erin. “We’ll talk later,” he added in Jack’s direction, then guided Rose out the door.
“You bet your ass we will,” Jack muttered.
Jason opened his mouth.