“I cleaned the cuts on his face and hands. He’s not complaining of a headache, so I think he’s good.” I open the curtain, gesturing for Connor to leave now.
“I think I will be the judge of that.”
“Of what?” Connor asks.
“Of your well-being, Mr. Crossbow.”
“Nah, I will. And the next time your staff tells you I’m in here and you walk in like I invited you into my space, you might catch something there’s no cure for. Don’t open that fucking curtain until I tell you that you can come in. You understand me, Doc?”
Face pale, Dr. Olton nods. “Absolutely.”
The three of us stand there awkwardly. “I have to check on my patients,” I say.
Connor hops off the bed. “When should I pick you up?”
There’s a mirror hanging above the sink. I’m as bright as a tomato. “I’ll take the bus.”
“Buses don’t go near my house.”
Pete’s bug-eyed expression would be comical if I didn’t understand what he was going through.
“I’ll grab a cab.”
Connor’s phone pings, and he reads the message. “Cabs don’t go up there either. Do you want me to bring the baby to your apartment?” He looks up as he pockets the phone. “I don’t have another option. Either I pick you up or drop the baby off at your apartment.”
“You don’t know where I live.”
“Not yet.”
I don’t know what to say. I’m tongue-tied. But Pete’s not.
“I can drive you wherever you need to go,” Pete offers.
Connor smiles. “You’re so helpful, Doc. Drop her off at my house.”
Chapter 5
Renne
Connor closes the privacy curtain as he leaves, enclosing Pete and me inside.
Pete breathes a sigh of relief. “Thank God he’s gone. What happened? What are you doing here with Connor Crossbow?”
Pete has a thing for me. I think he’s cute, I guess. He’s stable, is more like it. “It’s a long story, Dr. Olton.”
He holds my hands. “You know you can call me Pete.”
“I know.” His soft hands rub mine, warming them. “You should stay away from that man.”
“I know, believe me, but my best friend is marrying his brother.”
“Perhaps you need better friends. I can introduce you to mine. You’d love Lizzie.”
“Perhaps,” I say just to be agreeable, but I take back my hands. “I should get back on the floor.”
“Are you running late again?”
“Only a little bit. I couldn’t find a babysitter in time.”