“Just you that we know about.” The blond woman with tattoos peeking out at her wrist moved efficiently as she got Tegan settled into place.
Beyond exhausted, she closed her eyes and lay back against the stretcher. She didn’t want to see anyone right now, not even her friends.
“Don’t go to sleep on me,” Blondie snapped as they started moving her.
“I’m not. I just don’t want to see anyone.”
“Fair enough until we get you in the ambulance.”
Tegan just wanted to curl into a ball and hide. Had she somehow brought her past troubles to Miami? The man who’d been after her was dead. She should have been safe.
As they lifted her onto the back of the ambulance, her eyes popped open at the sound of Aaron’s deep, annoyed voice.
“Damn it, be careful with her.” He was glowering at the paramedics as he climbed in after them.
A ridiculous surge of elation slid through her to see him.
“Don’t tell me how to do my job, Aaron.” The woman’s mouth pulled into a thin line and Tegan realized how much they looked alike.
She knew the Fitzpatrick brothers didn’t have any other siblings so maybe the woman was a cousin. “Are you coming with me?” she asked him.
Aaron seemed truly surprised by her question. “You thought I was just going to let you go to the hospital alone?”
Well, yeah, she had. “Oh God! The shop—”
“Don’t worry about it. I already called Kimmy, and Addie is locking up until she can get down here. She’s got an extra key.”
Another thought slammed into her and the panic she’d been keeping at bay started to bloom out of control. “My dog—”
“Took care of that, too. Addie said you’d be worried. She’s calling your neighbor to let her know what’s going on.”
“Thank you. I…” Tegan trailed off as Blondie told him to shut up and stay out of the way before she kicked him off the ambulance.
Tegan was grateful for his solid presence and was thankful when he obeyed the woman because she didn’t want him kicked off. He grew quiet and moved to the only free seat, right in Tegan’s line of sight. Seeing him there gave her strength she knew she was going to need.
Soon enough, she knew the police or a detective would be at the hospital to question her. Which meant all her past secrets were about to come spilling out. Just great. Aaron already seemed to judge her or dislike her for whatever reason—today’s behavior was an anomaly. He definitely wouldn’t like her once he heard all about her past.
*
Arms crossed over his chest, Aaron stood next to Tegan’s hospital bed as the doctor spoke quietly to her. She hadn’t lost consciousness during the explosion so that was a good sign. He’d been worried she had internal injuries but the doctor had more or less determined that she had a very mild concussion. Which wasn’t great, but considering the alternative, he was grateful how minor her injuries were. Other than that and the few scrapes on her palms, she was okay. Just shaken up. Not that he could blame her.
When his gaze strayed to her pale face, his gut tightened. She’d pulled her dark auburn hair up into a ponytail since arriving at the hospital, but a few strands had come loose, framing her bright blue eyes and sharp cheekbones. Freckles dotted across her nose and cheeks, making her look younger than he knew her to be.
He still couldn’t get the image of that explosion out of his head. Even when he closed his eyes. She could have been in that car. He scrubbed a hand over his face, wishing he could banish the horror that wanted to keep replaying in his head, over and over.
He’d seen his share of death and it wasn’t pretty. Some movies liked to romanticize war, but during his four tours in Afghanistan and Iraq he knew there was nothing glamorous about it, especially death. The sight and stench of burning bodies was something no one should have to experience.
“Mr. Fitzpatrick.”
His eyes snapped open at the doctor’s voice. “Yes?”
Dr. Morales nodded once at him. “I want to keep Miss O’Kelly here for another hour of observation. There’s a detective waiting to talk to her anyway so she might be here longer than that. I need to know if you’ll be able to drive her home—”
“That’s not necessary. I can call someone to get me.” Tegan’s brow furrowed and Aaron had the most ridiculous urge to smooth out the lines.