Page 104 of Moonlit Temptation
Of course, she heard me. And of course she chooses this moment to challenge me.
“I'm alright, Hunter. You can come on over if you want,” she says, waving her hand and patting the space next to her. “But I'm kind of dirty and sweaty, so come closer at your own risk.” She flashes him a wink.
Hunter lets go of my hand immediately and practically bounds over to her. He doesn't get on the bed though, which is good. There's only like three inches of space on that small as hell little stretcher bed thing.
“I live with my dad, remember? He gets so sweaty after lifting weights in the garage that sometimes it looks like he just got out of a pool,” Hunter tells her seriously.
Evangeline rolls her lips inward, staving off the laughter I see twinkling in her eyes. “Ah, well then you're probably pretty used to it, huh?”
Hunter lifts a shoulder and trails his fingers down the metal part of the bed frame. “Yeah. But Eve, are you hurt real bad? Nan said you go to the hospital when you getreallyhurt, not just when I scrape my knee.”
Her face smoothes out, a tender sort of affection replacing her amusement. She reaches over and runs her fingers through the top of his hair softly. “Yes, your Nan is right. But sometimes you have to come here because you need to see a doctor quick. But I'll be fine, okay? Don't you worry.”
He nods slowly, like he's weighing her words. “And you'll be okay for all our plans this summer? We madea lotof them the other day.”
She laughs, and something in my gut clenches tight. She smoothes the hair down she ruffled with her fingers, squeezing his shoulders.
“Of course. I wouldn't miss our summer adventures.” She lifts her face to look around the room. “I'm fine, really. All of this is unnecessary,” Evangeline says, waving her free hand around to encompass the small room we're all stuffed into. The other hand grabs for an ice pack next to her.
“Well, now, we can't send you home just yet. You came in with a pretty serious knock to your noggin. So we gotta check you out. Alright?” The nurse sidles up next to the bed, cutting off Hunter from Evangeline. Her pen is poised over her clipboard, her gaze focused on whatever paper she has there, so she misses the sharp glare Evangeline sends her.
But I don't. I don't miss her displeasure at being separated from Hunter like that. Evangeline leans around the nurse, catching Hunter's gaze. She sends him a warm smile, and I see his little shoulders straighten.
“Come on back here by me, bud.”
Evangeline's gaze finds mine across the room, eyes wide like I startled her. She looks small sitting on top of the bed. Delicate. I nod imperceptibly.
Hunter stands close to me, crossing his arms over his chest and watching Evangeline and the nurse intently.
“Alright,” Evangeline says with a dip of her chin. “Whatever we have to do so I can leave.”
The nurse pivots on the ball of her black sneaker, popping her hip to the side, and stares at the five of us creating a barricade around Evangeline's bed. “Family, I understand you're worried. But rest assured, we're going to get her fixed up and on her way as soon as possible. To do that, we need a little privacy.”
I shift my legs, planting my booted feet wide on the floor. “Nah, we're not leaving her alone.”
“Yeah, 'sides, Dad can't fix Eve if he's not in the same room as her,” Hunter says, his tone conveying exactly how ridiculous he thinks us leaving is. It's then I notice he's mirrored my body language. His little arms folded across his chest, his superhero pajamas on display. One eyebrow arched high on his little forehead.
“Well, I don't know what your daddy does, but I'm a nurse, and I'm real good at my job. Alright, honey?” She switches her gaze from Hunter to the rest of us. “So I'm going to need you all to back up a step, give us a little breathing room.”
No one moves, not even Hunter.
The nurse huffs, focusing her glare on Bane, like she can reason with him. “Do I need to call security?”
He tips his chin up and stares at her. “We're not leaving her, so do what you need to.”
Always the fucking diplomat. I suppose it's okay though. She wouldn't want to hear what comes out of my mouth right now. The tight grip on my control has slipped, and not even I can predict what I will do if people keep fucking pushing me tonight.
“It's fine, they can stay. I'm a little sore, but I'm alright,” Evangeline says.
Her voice doesn't have the same exuberance I've come to expect, and the difference sets my teeth on edge. I shift toward her, my shins bumping the side of the bed. Her gaze snaps to mine, and her eyes go all soft. I don't even know how to unpack that look.
“You heard her, start the exam,” I snap, glaring at the nurse.
The nurse sighs, like she's over my shit already. Like I fucking care about her beyond her capability to make sure my girl is okay.
Fuck. She's notmy girl. She's my nanny— I mean Hunter's nanny. And as her boss, I have a moral obligation to make sure she's okay.
That's it.
