Page 15 of Playing with Trouble

Everything hurt.

The doctors swore it was just a minor crash.No broken bones, no major injuries, and no internal bleeding.Just a whole lot of bruises where the seatbelt and airbags had done their job.Still, every inch of me ached, my muscles screaming from the way I’d locked up on impact.

“Next time try and relax your body,” the young, thirty-something doctor told me.“It’ll help.”

“Next time?”I snapped at him incredulously, unable to believe those words had even come out of his mouth.“You think there’ll be a next time!?”

Not fair, I knew.He was just doing his job and trying to be kind.But my nerves were shot and biting back at him felt easier than reliving that crash.

When I drove onto the highway, I swore a dark sedan had been following me.And then that same dickbag sped up and sideswiped me—deliberately, it felt like—sending me careening right into the guardrail.And the asshole didn’t even stop after I’d crashed.

After everything that had happened with Andrea’s stalker, I wasn’t about to ignore or shrug off the feeling that the incident could have been calculated and intentional.I’d rather be paranoid and wrong about my instincts, than negligent and right about someone trying to send me a message.It had only been a week since that customer at the casino had accused me of cheating and had insisted he was going to make me pay for his loss.

The doctor left and I rested my aching head back against the pillow while I pondered what to do about my situation.Then, the door to my room opened and Andrea entered—followed by Ford.

I blinked.Stared.Blinked again.Nope, still there.Broad-shouldered, impossibly gorgeous, and filling the doorway like he owned the joint.My pulse skipped traitorously, because all I could think about was how it felt when that same body had pinned me down against that leather table as he’d fucked me and I came all over his cock.

“I might be concussed,” I muttered to Andrea.“Because I swear I see Ford behind you.”

“Yes, Ford’s here.He drove me to the hospital,” Andrea said, coming up to my bedside.“And you’re not funny.”

“Well, if I’m not allowed to joke about my own car accident…”

Andrea’s phone buzzed with a text and she glanced at the screen.“Chase is here.I’ll be right back.Behave.”She shot me a stern look and left the room.

Which left me alone with Ford.The man I’d had the hottest night of my life with.The man I’d bolted from like my sanity depended on it.

He didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable.Of course he didn’t.Ford never did.He moved into the room with quiet authority, every step confident and controlled.The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up, exposing his corded forearms.My stomach tightened at the memory of those strong, steady hands on me, the way he’d coaxed me from sass to begging in no time flat.

“Here,” he said, reaching for my pillows.“Lower back support is important after having an accident like yours.”

I swatted his hands away.“Oh my god, I can do my own pillows.”Big lie.My body felt like it had been steamrolled, and lifting my arms above my chest sounded like torture.

He arched a brow, clearly seeing right through me, and leaned in to adjust the pillows anyway.He was so close I caught the faint scent of soap and spice—clean, masculine, and maddeningly familiar.

“I have no doubt you can do it yourself,” he said, stepping back and pouring some water into a paper cup, which he held out to me.“Water?”

He was being too damn nice and it was unnerving.“Fine.”I took the cup, careful not to let our fingers brush.Admittedly, the cool liquid felt heavenly sliding down my parched throat.

I reminded myself that this was Chase’s friend and co-worker, and I should probably make an effort to get along with him.Admittedly, he’d been very respectful about what I’d said about us being a one and done.There was no reason why we couldn’t try and get along as friendly acquaintances, for Chase and Andrea’s sake.It wasn’t Ford’s fault I had so much baggage.

Ford pulled a chair closer to the side of my bed and sat down.“Would you mind telling me what happened?”

I set my empty cup aside, surprised that he was interested.“What do you want to know?”

“Anything.Everything.I’m a bodyguard and I work security.”He shrugged.“Suspicion comes with the job.”

Suspicion I understood, especially in this circumstance.I exhaled a deep breath, and instead of resorting to my usual snappy, smart-ass comeback, I recounted what happened.How I’d driven onto the highway and a dark sedan I was pretty sure had been following me swiped my car, sending me into the guardrail.And that the person hadn’t stopped to see if I was okay after doing the deed.

He listened, jaw tight, gaze never wavering from mine.It was that same focused look he’d given me after restraining me to the exam table, like I was the only thing in the room worth paying attention to.It made me shiver.

“You’re very lucky that you walked away with only a few scrapes and bruises,” he said.

I sighed.“I know, but it’s hard to feel grateful when my car is probably totaled.”

“Could be worse.”

“Wow, thanks, Captain Sunshine,” I said, though I knew he was right.