Fixed up in February (Spring River Valley Book 2) by Clarice Wynter Page A

very hard.”
    He stuck out his chest and cocked a brow. “I’m tough as old shoe leather. Can’t dent this hide.”
    “Is that a challenge?” She set the chart down and gave in to her instincts to feel him for broken bones even though the paperwork said he didn’t have any.
    His wicked smile faded as she ran her hands over his shoulders, the back of his neck and down his arms. When she met his gaze, her heart gave one of those painful thuds. “Are you in any pain?”
    “Just my broken heart.”
    She dropped his hand and backed up a step. “And who broke your heart, wise guy?”
    “You. You won’t give me a chance to make up for my arrogant behavior the other night.”
    “Oh, so you talked to your cousin?”
    “She does feel terrible about the whole thing, and she wants to make it up to you.”
    “I’m fine, really.”
    Just then, the resident popped his head around the curtain . “Mr. Shannon? Your paperwork is all done. You can go home, get some rest and stay out of the way of runaway cars in the future, okay?”
    “Thanks, doc. I’ll do that.” Max swung his legs off the cot and stood up. He sort of hovered for a second, then his knees buckled. Instinctively, Audrey ducked under his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his waist for support. He leaned on her heavily for a moment.
    “Easy there, big guy. Are you dizzy or weak?”
    “I’m head over heels for a prickly nurse.” He winked at her and regained his feet. “I just wanted to see if you’d put your arms around me.”
    Her blood heated, and she scowled as she heaved him off her. “Very clever. You realize I have the authority to sign you up for an exploratory colonoscopy, don’t you?”
    To his credit, he shivered as he grabbed his jacket from the nearby chair. “I’ll behave from now on. Hey, you wouldn’t happen to know how Mr. Dochanti is?”
    “Who’s that?”
    “The man who was in the car that got stuck on the bridge. I’m sure he was pretty shaken up by the whole thing.”
    His serious tone tugged at her. This was the Max she would have liked to get to know, not the wise cracking troublemaker. “Stay here a minute, and I’ll see what I can find out.”
    Audrey let out a slow breath as she left the room. Her pulse had to have doubled in the time she’d been with Max, and she didn’t like that. He left her off balance. Best to tell him what he needed to know and get him on his way.
    She found Mr. Dochanti’s chart and scanned down to the discharge orders. The elderly man had been admitted, but it looked like it was merely for observation due to elevated blood pressure and a few very minor bumps and bruises. He’d been very lucky.
    Before going back into Max’s room, Audrey paused to collect herself. She’d give him what little information she could about Mr. Dochanti and then get an orderly to escort him out. He’d probably complain about having to ride to the door in a wheelchair, but hospital policy was hospital policy. She ducked back in. “He should be fine. He wasn’t hurt badly. That’s all I can tell you, since you’re not a relative.”
    “Thanks, I appreciate it.” He held her gaze for a minute, during which time the temperature in the small room seemed to quadruple.
    Audrey gulped air. “I’ll get you a ride to the door.”
    “Huh?”
    “Wheelchair. Nobody walks out of a hospital. If you think about it, it’s sort of silly. It would be much better press if the people we discharge d were on their feet, don’t you think?”
    He broke into a wide, genuine grin. “You know, I never thought about it that way. Um…when is your shift over?”
    “Why?” She narrowed her eyes.
    “Maybe we could get coffee? I could show you my bruises.”
    She shook her head. “If you’ve seen one bruise, you’ve seen them all. Besides I don’t get off until midnight, and by then all I want to do is go to bed.” Her throat closed. Had she actually said that? Good God, where was a full face mask when you needed