“Stable.”
“How long has he been unconscious?”
“A few minutes maybe—since we arrived at the scene. Looks like he hit the steering wheel or the dashboard pretty hard.”
“So you couldn’t get a history from him.”
“Nope.”
Angela nodded before turning her attention to her staff. “Is Dr. Donnelly on the way?” At the nod from one of the nurses, she said, “Let’s get started on routine labs and exam, Sheila. I’m sure Dr. Donnelly will order a CT head, spine series, chest X-ray and abdominal series.”
“Will do.”
Angela helped Sheila remove the patient’s designer suit jacket before she pulled his oxygen mask off and let out a shocked gasp. Cam Stewart! It couldn’t be, but it was. She’d know that handsome face anywhere—especially since it had only been a couple of days since she had last seen him.
“Angela?” Sheila touched her arm. “Are you all right?”
“What?” She tore her eyes away from Cam’s unusually impassive face to stare into her friend’s questioning gaze. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“Do you know him?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe you should let someone else—”
“No!” The single word was spoken more forcefully than she intended. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, she said, “I’m fine, Sheila.”
“If you two are involved—”
“We’re not. He’s the best friend of Alesha’s husband,” Angela further explained, referencing their former coworker.
“Oh, I see.” Sheila nodded, satisfied with her explanation. “Well, let’s take good care of him, then.”
“Absolutely,” Angela agreed. She needed to call Alesha and Derrick, but first things first. She snapped back into emergency mode and did her job, saying a silent prayer hoping Cam would be all right.
* * *
“Let me take him and put him down, babe.” Alesha’s hand gravitated toward the sleeping two-month-old son nestled in Derrick’s arms.
“In a minute.” Derrick gazed lovingly at the little boy. “I haven’t seen him all day.”
Alesha smiled tolerantly. “You are spoiling him.”
Derrick glanced up and grinned. “Like you’re not.”
“It doesn’t matter what I do because you’re bad enough for both of us,” Alesha reasoned. “When you’re gone, D.J. just wants to be held and held all day long.”
“And you’re only too happy to oblige, aren’t you?” He chuckled as she softly touched D.J.’s cheek.
Before she could answer, the phone rang. She reached over to pick it up. “Hello.”
“Alesha, it’s Angela.”
“Hi, Angie.” Alesha tucked her legs underneath her. “What’s up?”
“I want you to remain calm.” At Angela’s words, the hair on the back of Alesha’s neck stood up.
“I was calm until you said that.” Alesha sat up a little straighter. “What’s going on?”
“What’s wrong?” Derrick glanced at her, and she shrugged.
“I don’t want you and Derrick to worry,” Angela began. “He’s stable, and I’m sure he’s going to be fine.”
“Who’s going to be fine, Angie?”
“Cam, he was in a car accident.”
“Cam?” Alesha’s worried eyes found Derrick, who immediately tensed at the mention of his best friend. “How bad?”
“What’s happened to Cam?” Derrick asked. Alesha could feel the apprehension rolling off her husband.
“Just a minute, babe.” Alesha touched his cheek reassuringly and continued talking to Angela. “How long has he been there?”
“Not long. He was brought into the E.R. by EMS about an hour and a half ago. I was part of the team working on him. He’s unconscious.” Angela seemed reluctant to admit this, and then hurriedly added, “But his vitals are strong and stable.”
“We’ll be right down, Angie. Thanks for calling.” Alesha hung up the phone without waiting for a response. “Cam was in a car accident. Angie says he’s stable...but unconscious.”
“Damn,” Derrick swore softly and stood.
“Let me take D.J. upstairs, and then we can head out.” She took their still-sleeping son from his arms.
“You don’t have to come with me.”
“Of course I do. Cam is family.” She kissed him softly. “He’ll be all right, babe,” she promised before heading for the stairs. “If you leave without me, I’ll have your head.”
“I won’t.” He managed a slight smile. “Hurry.”
“I’ll just tell Emma we’re going and be right back,” she said, referring to their housekeeper as she hurried up the stairs.
* * *
“Jeez,” Cam groaned, eyes closed. “Why does my head hurt so much?”
“You have a concussion.” Angela’s fingers touched his badly bruised temple gently. His eyes sprang open at the sound of her voice, and his frowning eyes focused on her.
“Angela?”
“In the flesh.” She smiled, relieved he recognized her.
“Where am I?” He glanced around the stark white room before returning his confused eyes to her.
“In the hospital.” She took out a penlight and shone it into each of his eyes.
“What happened?” He shooed the annoying light away from his eyes. “How did I get a concussion?”
She studied him closely. “Don’t you remember?”
Cam seemed to think for a few minutes before responding, “Some idiot ran a red light and plowed right into me.”
“That’s right.” She glanced at the monitors over his bed to check his vitals, which thankfully were normal.
“Oh, my poor baby,” Cam groaned in misery. “She’s totaled. I know it.”
Angela chuckled at his obvious angst. He looked so comically forlorn over an inanimate object that she couldn’t stop herself from laughing.
“I would think you’d be more concerned with your own welfare instead of your car’s.”
“I’m fine.” He pressed a button to raise the head of the bed into a sitting position. “But my poor Yvette.” He dramatically brought both hands to his bald head. “She’s toast.”
Angela tilted her head thoughtfully and asked, “Why do men insist on referring to their vehicles as female?”
His frown quickly turned into a wicked smile. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“Of course.” She wanted to keep him talking to make sure he had all his faculties about him.
“Okay.” His smile widened. “On the perfect car, like a good woman, the first thing we notice is the body—the sleek, appealing curves and pleasing aesthetics. If those attributes grab and hold our attention, we can’t wait to see what’s on the inside to make sure she’s not just another pretty face. We check under the hood to see if her engine and inner workings are powerful, well tuned and, more importantly, turn us on. If they do, we have to step inside and sit down to ascertain if her soft curves will cradle us in all the right places—maddeningly caressing us every second we’re inside her, making us feel right at home.” Angela’s breathing was arrested, and she was certain her pupils dilated, judging by Cam’s sexy grin before he continued, “If she’s the right one, she’s responsive to our every whim, caress and desire. She heightens all of our senses and gives us the ride of our lives until we can’t wait to get back inside of her again and again.”
Angela was breathing hard when his soft, sexy voice finally ended the most erotic description of a car she had ever heard. Mercy, she needed a cold glass of water.
“I see.” She purposefully averted her eyes on the pretense of removing the blood pressure cuff from his muscled upper arm.
“You asked.” Cam’s voice held a hint of laughter.
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“I did.” She turned away from his intense gaze to pour him some water.
“Are you all right?”
She took a moment to compose herself before turning around to face him again. “The question is, are you all right?” Thankfully, she sounded coolly professional when she felt anything but.
“I told you, I’m good.” She agreed he certainly was good enough to tease her. “How long have I been here?”
She glanced at her watch. “A few hours. Here, drink this.” He took the glass and downed the contents before returning it to her. “More?”
“No, thanks.” A smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “You know, when the accident happened, I was on my way to see you.”
“You were?” Her eyes widened in shock. “Why?”
“I was going to ask you to dinner.”
“Why?”
“Why?” He echoed, laughed and answered, “Because I want to spend time with you.” He scratched his hair-covered chin thoughtfully with his free hand and said, “We should have gotten together last year.”
“Things happen for a reason.” Angela shrugged. “You were busy with Derrick’s campaign. I was very busy with my new promotion to head nurse, and—”
“All true,” he interrupted, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. “What about now?”
“What about now?” Lord, she wished he would stop stroking her fingers with his. It felt too good. What was it about this man that sent her pulse racing?
“Is the time right for us to get to know each other better now?” At her silence he continued. “I meant what I said a few nights ago. I really want to get to know you better. Don’t you want that, too?”
“Cam, this isn’t the time or the place for this.” She tried to retrieve her hand, which he refused to release. “I meant what I said, too. I really don’t have time...”
Thankfully, Derrick and Alesha chose that moment to enter the room, allowing Angela the diversion she needed to retrieve her hand and move to the foot of the bed out of Cam’s physical reach, though his eyes stared straight through her, silently promising they weren’t finished with their conversation.
Derrick walked over and squeezed Cam’s shoulder. “Thank God, you’re awake.”
“Don’t tell me you were worried about me.” Cam smiled at his best friend.
“We both were.” Alesha squeezed his hand. “How do you feel?”
“I’m fine.” He gingerly touched his temple. “Just a few aches.”
“Consider yourself lucky.” Derrick heaved a sigh of relief.
“I do.” Cam grinned at Angela and then glanced around the room as if searching for something. He returned his attention to Angela and asked, “Hey, where are my clothes?”
Angela frowned. “Why?”
“That’s your favorite word, isn’t it?” At her frown he elaborated. “I want to get dressed. I can’t wear this thing home.” Cam pointed to the flimsy hospital gown. “Since Derrick is here, he can give me a ride.”
“You’re not going anywhere, Cameron Stewart,” Angela firmly promised.
“Oh, yes, I am.”
“Oh, no, you’re not.” Angela placed her hands on her hips, preparing for a battle she was determined to win. “Not until you’re officially released.”
“Says who?” Cam defiantly crossed his arms across his chest. “You’re not the boss of me.”
“Maybe she isn’t,” Derrick said, chuckling, “but I know who is.”
Cam turned his frowning gaze to his friend. “What does that mean?”
Derrick took his phone out of his pocket. “Do you really want me to make this call?” Comprehension dawned in Cam’s eyes.
“You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, wouldn’t I?” Derrick turned his phone so Cam could clearly see the name and number on the screen. “Are you staying, or do I press Dial?”
Alesha and Angela stared at each other in confusion and then glanced from Derrick to Cam. Cam glared at Derrick for long, tense seconds, but Derrick didn’t flinch. Finally Cam sighed in resignation, all fight seeming to leave him.
“All right, you blackmailer.” Cam dejectedly plopped back against the pillows. “I’ll stay.”
“Wise choice,” Derrick said.
“Who were you going to call?” Alesha asked.
“His mother.” Derrick laughed at Cam’s dark scowl.
“Oh.” Alesha said, “Shouldn’t we call her anyway?”
“No, I’m fine,” Cam quickly interjected. “If you call her, she’ll drop everything, hop on a plane and mother me to death for the next few weeks. I don’t have the strength for that. I was just in a car accident.” His loud sigh elicited laughter from all present. Cam fixated on Derrick’s pleased countenance. “I’ll pay you back for this, Senator, when I get out of here.”
“I’ll be ready for you.” Derrick winked. “You really should call Mama Mabel, though.”
“I know, and I will when I’m home and I can assure her that I’m fine.”
“Okay,” Derrick reluctantly agreed. “Since you’re obviously in good hands and apparently as stubborn as ever, Alesha and I will leave you alone. We just had to make sure you were all right.”
“Thanks for coming by to coerce me into staying.”
“Anytime.” Derrick patted his shoulder.
“Obey your doctors, and you’ll get out of here soon.” Alesha bent down and kissed his cheek.
“I’ll try.” He gave her a halfhearted smile.
“Do you need anything?” Derrick asked.
“No.” Cam’s eyes strayed to Angela. “I have everything I need.”
“I see.” Derrick smiled, following his friend’s line of vision. “Okay, then. We’ll check on you tomorrow.”
“I guess I’ll be here,” Cam said grudgingly, watching Derrick and Alesha leave hand in hand.
“You’ll be here,” Angela said, and smiled when he groaned as if in pain. When he eyed the closet, she warned, “Don’t even think about it.”
“Think about what?” he asked innocently.
“Leaving,” Angela answered. “If you’re not here when I come back to check on you, I’m going to call Derrick and tell him to call your mother.”
Angela fought a smile. Cam sighed heavily and looked like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He really was extremely cute.
“I’ll be here,” he promised before adding, “I’m really enjoying the company of my beautiful nurse.”
“Get some rest.” Angela ignored his second comment. “I’ll check on you later.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Angela shook her head at his wolfish grin and exited the room. A smile turned up the corners of her mouth, and she chuckled lightly as she walked down the hall. Cameron Stewart was something else. He was just as handsome and funny as ever.
If she wasn’t a magnet for disaster when it came to relationships, she would have taken the time to get to know him better. However, she knew from past experience that she didn’t do relationships well at all, and she had no intention of getting serious with anyone ever again.
She was focused on her career like a laser beam, and that’s where her attention would remain. But...if she was going to date someone, Cameron Stewart would be at the top of the list, she admitted.
“But you’re not looking for a relationship,” she firmly reminded herself. “No good will come from that, and you know it.”
Having sufficiently chastised herself, she quickly walked down the hall, away from the heady temptation that was Cameron Stewart.
Chapter 2
The next morning when Angela entered Cam’s room, he was sitting up in bed flipping through channels on the television. His frowning countenance and cagey appearance informed he
r he couldn’t wait to escape from what he deemed his unjust imprisonment. She had the feeling that if he wasn’t released soon, he’d plan on leaving against medical advice. Luckily for all concerned, his test results had come back negative, and she had the feeling he’d be released today.
“Good morning,” she greeted him brightly. “How are you feeling?”
“Bored out of my mind.” Cam threw the remote back onto the bed. “When can I get outta here?”
“Tired of us already?”
“Of you? Never.” His appreciative eyes roamed over her face. “Of this place? Definitely. I don’t do hospitals.”
“Well, you’ll do this one until your doctor says otherwise.”
“I feel fine.” She fought a smile at his defiant expression. “Why can’t I leave now?”
“Dr. Jackson wants to make sure you’re okay. You don’t want to go home only to be readmitted, do you?”
He shuddered at her question. “Heaven forbid.”
“Well then, be a good boy, behave and just enjoy the rest.”
“Rest?” He raised an eyebrow, and the corners of his mouth turned down. “You’re kidding, right?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“People come in here at all hours of the night, poking, prodding and taking blood, needing to check this or that and asking if I’m okay, or more annoyingly, waking me up when I do manage to catch a few z’s to see how I’m doing.” He paused for emphasis before ending theatrically. “Who can rest in this place?”
Light laughter bubbled from Angela’s smiling lips as he finished his heartfelt tirade. “Would you rather they ignored you and missed something vital that was detrimental to your health?” she asked.
Cam cracked a smile. “Taking their side against me, huh?”
“I’m part of them,” she reminded him wryly.
“You can bother me all night long anytime you want.” Cam’s eyes sparkled. “In fact, I wish you would.”
“Do you now?”
“Mmm-hmm.” He treated her to a disarming smile and asked, “Will you go out with me when I’m sprung from this joint?”
“No.” She bit her lip to stop a smile when he frowned at her quick denial.
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