by Gina Kincade
He smiled. "You didn't."
She looked at his plate. "I'm impressed. You ate all the meat. I think you might have even managed to get a few pieces of lettuce."
"It was a struggle, but I did it."
"So how is school?" she asked.
"Good. It's a bit tough with my work schedule but I'm plodding along."
"Have you decided what specialty you want to go into?" she asked.
"I'm thinking a family practice maybe."
"Really?"
"In Wolf River; Doc is getting up there in years, so I figured it might be good to go into something general."
Her expression clouded and she slid her hand from his. "So you're planning on going back then? I've never heard you say that before."
Griffin's gut clenched. Cassie was sweet, smart and funny. The last months with her had dimmed the pain of his past somewhat. She made him think of the future– though he still couldn't picture his life with someone other than Dakota.
"I don't know," he said finally. "My family is there. It seems weird to think I'd never go back. It's my home." He grabbed her hand again. "But I like where I am right now too. I have no immediate plans." His wolf growled in protest.
A smiled warmed her features. "Good. I was just beginning to like you."
He laughed and his phone buzzed. He looked at it.
"How many times has that private number called you tonight?" she asked.
"I think this is the fourth time."
"Maybe you should answer it."
He stared at the words on the screen. "Maybe you're right."
He hit the green button. "Hello?"
"Mr. Reed?"
"Yes?"
"This is Dr. Stevenson at St. Luke's downtown emergency room."
Griffin's heart kicked up. "Yes?"
"It's about Mrs. Reed. She's been in an accident and you were listed as the next of kin on her intake form from the last time she was here."
Dakota. Griffin's throat dried and he fought to keep his hands from shaking.
"Is she dead?"
"No. No. Nothing like that. But she has been injured and–"
"I'll be right there." Griffin hung up the phone.
"Griffin, what's wrong?"
He rose from the table and pulled out his wallet. He tallied the meal in his head and added a tip.
"I have to go," he said. "I'm so sorry. Here." He held forty dollars out to her.
"What's that for?"
"An Uber to get you home."
Cassie rounded the table and grabbed him by the arm. "Griffin, what's going on?"
His mind reeled and he tried to think straight. "Dakota. She's been in an accident."
Cassie took a deep breath and nodded. "All right. Give me your keys."
"What?"
Her voice stayed calm and steady. "You are obviously upset. You shouldn't be driving. Give me the keys. I'll take you."
"You don't have to–"
She held out her hand. "What hospital?"
He played and replayed the doctor's words in his head. "St. Lukes. Downtown."
"Let's go." Cassie strode from the restaurant pulling Griffin behind her.
Dakota had been in an accident. Despite everything that she'd put him through, he thanked God she wasn't dead.
CHAPTER TWO
Dakota's head thumped with pain. She lay against the stiff, white hospital bed and listened to the sounds of people rushing back and forth. The scent of smoke clung to her clothing and her chest burned slightly from the inhalation. An oxygen mask covered her mouth and nose and the cool air tasted strange in her mouth. She tried to keep calm but the noises and scents of the emergency room pulled unwanted memories of Planned Parenthood to the forefront. Farmed out by her health provider she'd been sent there. Alone. In a hospital gown. Waiting her turn for a D&C.
She shook her head and cleared her thoughts and reached out for Bowgie. But he wasn't there. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch at the thought of losing him. No one had told her yet where her dog was or if he'd even made it out of the apartment. She squeezed her eyes shut and breathed deep. He was fine. He was fine. He had to be fine.
A pair of heavy footsteps stopped at the nurses’ desk outside.
"I'm looking for Dakota Reed."
Her gut clenched tight as a snare drum. She hadn't heard that sweet tenor in so long.
"Are you family?" asked a nurse.
"I'm her husband."
It surprised Dakota that he even still called himself that.
"Do you know what happened? Was it alcohol? Drugs? Did she hurt anyone?"
"Hold on Mr. Reed. Let me get the doctor to speak with you."
Dakota's rib cage squeezed so tight she felt like her heart might crush inward. She wanted to be upset with Griffin for thinking those things but how could she? The last time he'd seen her she'd been doped up and shaking like a hummingbird.
"Mr. Reed?"
"Yes."
"I'm Dr. Stevenson."
"Your wife has a concussion and some smoke inhalation. She needs to be monitored over night but she doesn't need to stay here."
"What happened? What did she do?" asked Griffin. "Is she going to be arrested?"
It was like being out of her body, listening as the two men discussed her condition.
There was silence and Dakota took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She couldn't blame him for thinking the worst. Everything that she'd been through had been her own fault. No one had forced her to take the drugs. That had been her choice. And everything that had followed or fallen apart because of it was her doing as well. But damn, she wished he'd at least show an ounce of concern. At least ask if she was okay.
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Dr. Stevenson said. "Your wife was in a fire."
"Was she making drugs?"
"Mr. Reed." A hard edge came into the doctor's voice. "The fire started in the apartment next to your wife's. Their whole building went up in flames. Your wife passed out from the fumes and hit her head on the kitchen counter trying to get out of the apartment. She barely made it out alive. " A moment of silence stretched between the two men. "You know what, I think maybe calling you was a mistake. I'll talk to Mrs. Reed and see if there's someone else that I can call."
"No wait. I apologize. You're right. I jumped to conclusions. I shouldn't have spoken like that."
"Well. I'm not the one you need to apologize to."
The curtain pulled aside and Griffin looked over. His expression turned to shame but also shock. He gave her a tight smile and nodded.
He looked amazing as always. Wavy dark hair cut short on the sides and longer on the top. Deep tanned skin, not just from his Native American heritage, but also from years overseas, and swimming in the lake. Piercing mahogany eyes that sparkled even brighter when he was in wolf form. Dakota's wolf sat up and howled at the sight of him.
Down girl, this isn't a happy reunion. Griffin could have reached out any time in the last eighteen months. Instead he'd stayed silent until called by an emergency room.
Griffin ran his fingers through his hair. "Hey." He moved to the side of her bed and looked her over. "I'm sorry about that. What I said–"
Part of her wanted to yell at him; another part wanted to say something snarky. She chose neither.
Dakota took off the oxygen mask and waved him off. "Don't worry about it." Her voice came out gravelly and raw.
"Mrs. Reed. Is there someone else you'd like me to call to come get you?" asked the doctor.
"It's okay." Griffin's voice came out soft. "I'll give her a lift home."
Interesting. The look on Griffin's face told her he was anything but happy to be there. So why did he insist on helping?
"I don't know how much of the building is left, but they won't let her back in tonight for sure." The doctor looked between them. "She has a concussion and needs someone to watch her for the night. I am assuming you two are–"
"Separated," Griffin replied.
"I see." Dr
. Stevenson pushed his glasses up his bulbous nose. "Well, I can try to pull some strings and see if we can get her a room here."
"That won't be necessary." Griffin replied. "She can stay with me."
They turned as a tall redheaded man with a scruffy beard walked in. He strode up to the doctor. "Hey Brad."
"Scott. I didn't know you knew Mrs. Reed."
The two men shook hands and then Scott walked to her bed and kissed her on the forehead. "Are you all right?"
"How did you find me?" she croaked.
"Saw the fire on the news and called you but didn't get an answer. So I hustled down and the firemen said you'd been brought here."
It warmed her to know that Scott was looking out for her. "Bowgie," she said. "Can you find Bowgie?"
Scott squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, he's outside. Apparently he followed the ambulance the whole way here and is sitting in the emergency bay."
Relief washed through her. Her dog was the only thing she cared about in her apartment.
"I'm sorry, and you are?" Griffin asked.
"Scott." He shook hands with Griffin. "Nice to meet you."
Griffin's expression darkened and Dakota put a mask on, to cover the smile that threatened to leak out. She knew that face. She'd seen it every time she'd been hit on while they were out and about. It was Griffin's protective alpha face. Maybe he did still care. Or maybe he just didn't like the thought that someone else might care about her.
"Okay. So who is she going home with?" asked Dr. Stevenson. "She needs to be monitored and kept hydrated. If she has any vomiting, increased pain, confusion, or dizziness she needs to come back in."
"Yes, I know," Griffin said. "I'm a paramedic and first year medical student."
"Oh. So, she'll go home with you then?" The doctor's left eyebrow arched.
Griffin looked from Scott to her, then back to the doctor. Dakota's head pounded. She didn't care who she went home with. All she wanted was to get into a real bed and get some sleep before her skull cleaved in two.
"She's coming with me," said Griffin. "I just need to talk to someone real quick." He walked out of the room and down the hall.
Dakota found herself listening to his footsteps as they died away. Her wolf whimpered at the loss and she sighed. If Griffin thought she was going to let him treat her like a rebellious teenager he had another thing coming.
It'd been a year and a half since Griffin had shut her out. Literally. She remembered the sound of the front door opening as she waited on their bed for him. The sound of his booted footsteps as they clomped down the hallway toward the bedroom. The sight of his green bag slung over his shoulder and fatigues as he stepped into the doorway and stared at her.
On previous furloughs she hadn’t even let him get through the door before she'd begun to rip the clothes from his body. They used to make love on the floor, the couch, the bed, and in the shower, all within the first two hours of his arrival. But not this last time.
"Why are you still here?" Had been his first and last words to her that day.
"Are you sure you want to go with him?" Scott pulled her from her memories. "I have room."
She removed the oxygen mask again. "It's fine. Besides, if my apartment really is destroyed, any possessions I might still have will be at his house."
Scott nodded and squeezed her hand. "I'm glad you're okay."
She tried to give him a reassuring smile. "Me too. Can you call John and let him know I won't be in tomorrow but I'll come in on Wednesday?"
"Of course."
She looked up into Scott's green eyes. "Thanks Scott. You're a great friend."
He winked at her, crinkling the corners of his eyes and making his freckles scrunch together.
"I'll go get your discharge papers ready," Dr. Stevenson said.
"Thank you," she replied.
Dr. Stevenson left just as Griffin walked back in. He sat in the chair across from the bed and bent forward, looking at the floor.
"You can go," she said to Scott.
His gaze slid to Griffin and he sniffed the air. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "Thank you for coming. I'll find a phone and call you tomorrow."
"If you need anything I'm here. Shopping, apartment hunting, insurance papers, you name it."
He kissed her on the forehead again and walked to where Griffin sat. Griffin lifted his head and looked Scott in the eyes.
"You better be nice to her, or you'll answer to me."
Griffin scoffed. "Sorry, but that threat doesn't scare me."
"It should. This isn't Wolf River and I don't answer to you." Scott's eyes flashed golden and Griffin's gaze narrowed. The heady scent of male testosterone filled the room.
"Call me tomorrow." Scott strode from the room and turned right.
Griffin watched Scott. When his gaze turned back to her, his eyes were hard a diamonds.
"So that's your new boyfriend?" He shook his head. "Figures. You always did like Alphas."
"Oh, did Jeremiah make you Alpha in waiting instead of Logan?"
"No, why? You gonna try for him next?"
That was it. She may be injured and she may have screwed up her life but she'd be damned if she was going to take his crap on the night she'd almost kicked the bucket.
He worked his jaw hard and looked at the floor again. Anger and frustration rolled off him in waves.
Dakota ripped the oxygen mask from her face and hopped from the bed, making her head spin. She felt like someone was beating on her like an anvil.
"You know what, Griff? Screw you." She pulled the chest monitor off and the machine flat lined. She stormed past him and out toward the nurses’ station.
"Dakota, wait."
She located the exit sign and headed for it.
Griffin and a nurse called to her but she kept walking. The sad, turquoise flecked linoleum was cold under her bare feet and her cami top and pajama bottoms barely kept out the chill of the air conditioner but she didn't give a damn. Asking if she was interested in his oldest brother Logan was a low blow. She'd beaten herself up enough about what had happened, she didn't need Griffin's crap too. Not now that she was in a good place. Now that she'd begun to finally move past it.
"Dakota!"
She turned the corner, keeping her tears at bay. She wouldn't let him see her cry. He didn't deserve to know how he still affected her. She hadn't expected to see Griffin this way, and she sure hadn't expected it to go like this. She'd known when she saw him again he'd be distant. Mad even, but not mean. Mean wasn't like Griffin.
Dakota stepped out into the warm August evening. Bowgie jumped to his feet and rushed to her side. His large Akita head rubbed against her hand. She reached down and hugged him tight.
"I'm so glad you're okay, boy." The knot in her chest loosened but her anger didn't. She had to get out of there.
"Bowgie, heel."
Her apartment building, or what was left of it lay south, down Broadway, near Boise State University. She took off in that direction.
A warm hand grabbed her arm and spun her around.
"Dakota."
She shoved Griffin’s chest. The effort made her head spin. "Don't touch me." Bowgie snarled and barked several times, stepping in front of Dakota.
"Easy," said Griffin.
Dakota whistled and took off again.
"Look, I'm sorry. Okay? Just stop."
She stomped down the cement walkway toward the steps. Her head thumped with each slapping step she took.
"Please!"
She blinked several times, trying to clear the spots from her vision.
"Where are you going to go?" he called.
"Why should you care now? You didn't care when you threw me out." She continued walking.
He ran past and jumped the stairs, landing in front of her. Bowgie was right at her side, awaiting her command.
"You have to stop. I know your head is killing you. Just staying on your feet is probably taking every ounce of energy you have. If it w
asn't for your wolf healing you'd be flat on your back."
She pushed past him.
He grabbed her arm again. "Will you stop?" he shouted. He spun her toward him.
Panic swept over her and her training kicked in. She pulled her arm up toward her and slammed her other hand down on his forearm breaking his hold. His eyes widened in surprise. This time Bowgie didn't wait for instruction; he lunged at Griffin, barking and growling. She hadn't realized she'd assumed a defensive stance until he threw his hands in the air and backed up.
"Okay." His eyes stayed on Bowgie. "Dakota. It's okay."
She scanned the area, head pounding, wishing more than anything she could sit down. She grabbed Bowgie by the collar and told him to sit. She rubbed his ear and concentrated.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to be a dick." He reached for her but seemed to change his mind. Swallowing hard, he shoved his hands into his pockets instead
"Mrs. Reed!"
Her gaze swept toward the emergency room door. Dr. Stevenson and a nurse came rushing out of the hospital and down the steps. "Mrs. Reed. You have to sign the paperwork and get your discharge papers."
Dakota relaxed her stance and wrapped her arms around herself. "I'd really like to just go. Can't I sign them tomorrow?"
"No. I'm sorry, but you can't. I need you to–"
"I'll do it." A pretty, redheaded woman in a butter colored, floral dress walked up to the group.
"Dr. Thomas, I thought you went home," said Dr. Stevenson.
The woman smiled. "I did, but I'm here now so, why don't you let Griffin get Dakota home and I'll take care of the paperwork."
How did the doctor know who she was? Dakota didn't remember seeing her in the ER.
"That's not how it works," said the nurse.
"I know," said Dr. Thomas. "But don't you think Mrs. Reed has been through enough for one day?"
Dr. Stevenson opened his mouth and then closed it again. "I suppose it would be best for her to get off her feet."
Sit down. Lie down. Conk out. Dakota wasn't picky.
"Thank you." Dr. Thomas squeezed Dr. Stevenson's arm.
Dr. Stevenson stepped forward and handed Dakota two small slips of paper. "These are prescriptions in case you need them."
"I won't," she said.
