Designing Woman (The Sloan Brothers Book 2) (23 page)

I folded the mirror back down and closed the drawer as the nurse came in, quickly followed by Anton who had his eyes glued to her ass.

She was smiling and had a syringe in her hand.  I liked her already.

“Hi Melody, I’m Heather.  Your husband said that you’re having pain.  Would you rate it for me?”

“I’d rate it as nicely executed in it’s sneak attack, and I’d applaud it’s tenacity.”

Austin chuckled and she began blinking rapidly trying to process my sarcasm.  Anton rolled his eyes and stepped closer to me.

“Babe, the nice lady is trying to do her job.  Could you answer her question without being a smart ass please?”

I looked up at him and batted my eyes.

“Gee babe, I’m sorry my ASS isn’t as pleasing as hers.”

He turned a nice shade of deep rose at being caught ogling and I turned back to Heather.

“Sorry Heather.  I’m trying to keep my sense of humor.  I’d say it’s about a six.”

She smiled, back in her comfort zone.  She injected the magic elixir into my IV and a few minutes later I was back in Pleasantville.  She handed me my call light and explained the thirty seven buttons on it with the grace of a speed reader on acid and told me she’d be back later.  All I could do was smile and nod.

I reached over and tugged on Anton’s sweater until he leaned down.  Then I took his mouth in the kiss I was denied earlier.  He growled and kissed me back.

He had one knee on the bed and was climbing in to join me, when Austin cleared his throat.  Twice.

“Guys, we’re not alone.”

I leaned back and kissed Anton again before I answered.  Damn I’d missed his kisses.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s a regular alien invasion...”

A familiar voice that was squeaking with laughter answered from somewhere behind Anton’s ass.

“More like a Sloan invasion.”

I peeked around my fiance and there stood Deacon and Dor’.  Next to them stood Chase, Ayla, and Pierce.

With a voice thick from the medication I’d just received, I grinned and gave a limp wave.

“Hi guys!  Good to see ya’!  Where the hell have you been?  I’ve been waiting here for days.  Have you met my husband Anton?  He’s the one perched over me getting ready to violate hospital rules.”

I patted Anton on the cheek and kissed him again.

“Honey, say hello to the nice people.”

I leaned over and in a voice that I thought was a whisper, said, “I think they’re ogling your ass babe.  Better stand up.  You can do me later.”

My sister started laughing and holding her very pregnant belly.  Deacon reached for a chair and pushed her down into it.  Pierce winked at me and something about that made me focus on him.

“Teddy Bear?  Are you okay?  Your eye is twitching.”

“I’m fine Jaws.  You okay?”

I started guffawing like a donkey giving birth and no one could hold it in any longer.  We were all laughing and just as I’d slow down, I’d start laughing again.

“Jaws... you called me Jaws... good one Teddy...”

I dried my eyes and calmed myself as I took in everyone around me.  Everyone looked exhausted but relieved.

I slapped my thighs with my palms and scanned their eyes.

“So.  Anybody see a giant limping asshat?”

My sister started giggling again and I made an effort to wink at her.  My body seemed to have a mind of it’s own at the moment.  Anton happened to be standing right next to me, and I watched as my hand snaked up the back of his thigh.  He had great legs.

He jerked away from me and narrowed his eyes.  I threw out my bottom lip in a pout and he raked his hand down his face.

“Sweetheart, you can’t play grab-ass right now, we’re not alone.”

I clucked and rolled my eyes.

“That never stopped you.  I’ve seen you grab plenty of asses in crowded bars, events, parties...”

He patted my head and I growled at him.

“That’s enough babe.  We all get your drift.”

I looked up and grinned.

“Wanna grab my ass?  This thing I’m wearing is wide open in the back, wanna see?”

I started to roll over and seven people yelled, “No!”.  I shrugged and settled back down.  Chase had moved a little closer and was now standing next to Austin.  I smiled up at him and he smiled back at me.

“You need something Chase?  You’re looking at me like I just bit some guys...”

Anton sighed and grabbed my shoulder.

“Mel’, baby please.  You’re stoned.”

Pierce started humming the theme from Jaws and Anton shot him daggers.

“You’re not helping here little brother.”

“What?  Are you afraid of her now?  Still wanna borrow a flogger?”

Something about that word perked my interest.

“Flogger?  Does that come with handcuffs?”

I heard a distraught voice next to me mutter, “Remind me to tell them she has a morphine allergy.”

I grinned up at Anton and patted his hand.

“Always taking care of me babe.  I love you Anton.”

He let out a deep breath and put his hand on my shoulder.

“I love you too Mel’.”

I sighed.

“He loves me.”

Deacon silently chuckled, his shoulders moving up and down as he raised tear filled eyes to his freaked out brother.  Anton narrowed his eyes.

“Just wait until Dor’ gets pain meds for the birth asshole.  We’ll see who’s laughing then.”

Deacon straightened up and seriously looked at my sister who shrugged.

My day had greatly improved.

At some point, I’d fallen asleep.  I woke once again to a silent, well lit room.  At least I hadn’t slipped back into a coma.  At least I didn’t think I’d done that.  For all I knew, I could’ve lost another three days.

I looked around and I was alone.  It was nice to have a moment to myself and I was surprised that it didn’t frighten me.  I’ve read that after a traumatic event, people often have trouble sleeping or being alone.  Not me.  I had a feeling that my alone time would be a rare and beautiful thing from here on out.  I’d given them no reason to trust my judgement and I was ready to accept the consequences of my actions.

I was still wired to everything but the security camera and there was nothing liquid on my bedside tray.  I pressed the button, hoping that it wasn’t the one thing wired to Anton.  My nurse (wasn’t her name Heather?) appeared almost immediately, her perfectly practiced smile on her face.

“There’s our girl.  Glad to see you awake.  Naps will take on a whole new meaning for awhile Melody.  You’ve been out about four hours.  What can I do for you?”

I smiled because I knew she was trying.  Anton had worked his charm on her and I had no idea what kinds of promises he’d extracted from her in reference to me or my care.  My feelers weren’t as tuned as they usually were, so I’d have to tread gently with this one.

“Hi Heather.  Where is everyone?”

“I’m not exactly sure.  Your husband went home to shower, eat, and change his clothes.  He was in the middle of that when your bartender friend called him to tell him that you were awake.  That’s quite a support system you have there.  I’m envious.”

“Don’t be.  They’re all gorgeous but it’s a ruse to rope you in.  Once you’re entangled in their web, it’s all over but the sad singing and the digging.”

She looked put off by that bit of knowledge.  Time to switch tactics and enlist an allie.

“I’m sorry Heather.  They’re lovely people and they mean well, it’s just that sometimes a large family can have a tendency to smother you a little.  Know what I mean?”

She relaxed and gave me a genuine smile.  Bingo.

“I understand more than you realize.  My folks are both from large families and I have three sisters and two brothers.  Been there, done that.”

“The pregnant one that was here?  That’s my actual sister Dorothy.  The one that hovers over her like a kite on a string is her husband Deacon.  My husband is his brother, Anton.  The tall one that lives in Armani and stays close to the pretty redhead?  That’s the youngest Sloan, Pierce.  He’s the sweetheart of the group.  Austin is the bartender and he’s Pierce’s girlfriend Ayla’s, brother.”

She was absorbing all of this like a sponge.  Speaking of sponges, I needed water.

“Who’s the tall good looking guy?  The one that looks like a surfing poster.”

He’d been as quiet as a church mouse, but at the tone of his voice we both jumped.

“My name’s Chase.  Chase McCartney.  Nice to meet you.”

Chase came to my bedside and placed a tall styrofoam cup on my bedside table.  He carefully unwrapped a straw and slipped it through the lid, then smiled at me.  I smiled back and reached for my salvation.  I took a long sip and my eyebrows shot up.

“Gin and tonic?  Chase, you charmer you.”

Heather looked horrified and reached for my drink.  I laughed and waved her off.

“I’m only kidding.  It’s a vanilla malt.  Chase is a cop Heather.  He’d never bring alcohol into a hospital.”

She relaxed again and narrowed her eyes at Chase.

“I’m watching you.”

He winked and she started blinking.  Chase had charms of his own it seemed.  When she finally turned back to me, I was openly smirking and sipping.

“Can I get you anything Melody?”

“I needed something to drink, but it looks like Chase took care of that.  Thanks anyway Heather.”

She nodded once and started backing towards the door like she didn’t want to stop staring at Chase.  I didn’t blame her.  His ice blue sweater made his indigo eyes pop and he had a cleft chin and dimples.  His hands were in the pockets of a pair of dark stonewashed jeans that looked like they were made just for him.  I couldn’t have done any better if I’d dressed him for the runway myself.

“Hit the button if you need anything Melody.  By the way, I think they’ll be moving you out of ICU in the morning.  You’re as stable as a rock and you’re clogging up the unit.”

That last bit was said with a twinkle in her eye and I twinkled right back.  Heather was alright.

Once the door closed behind her, I looked up at Chase.

“Thanks for the malt, I needed it.  Are you my babysitter?”

He took the chair that Austin had occupied earlier and put one ankle upon the opposite knee before sitting back, trying to look casual and nonthreatening.  Something was up.

“How much do you remember about your time with Tony Mel’?”

I thought about his question and took another sip before putting my cup back on the table.

“Most of it I think.  Why?”

“Because I’m gonna ask you some tough questions and I wanted to wait until everyone else was gone.  That’s why I volunteered to stay.”

I folded my hands on my lap and looked him squarely in the eye.

“Okay Officer Hottie.  Shoot.”

He grinned and looked down.

“Officer Hottie?  Is that what you really think or are you trying to distract me?”

“That’s what I’ve always thought.  Don’t try and tell me that you don’t use your looks to your advantage, Chase.  I’ll call bullshit if you do.”

He looked up and raised his hands in surrender.

“I’m not denying anything.  I will say it takes one to know one.”

Stalemate.  In that one exchange, we’d become close friends.  We understood each other.

“Ask me anything you want Chase.  I’ll always be honest with you.”

His lips moved up in a smile that told me I’d just made the grade.  He trusted me and in return, I found myself trusting him.  You could do worse than having a Detective on your side.

“This has now gone beyond me keeping an eye on Ayla to keep her safe.  The guy used physical violence.  We have to bring him in.  Strictly observing him is no longer an option.”

I was nodding because I agreed.

“I understand.”

He leaned over and took my hand, startling me.

“No Mel’, I don’t think you do.  There’s more.”

I felt my eyebrows crinkle, even if he couldn’t see them.

“More?  What kind of ‘more’?”

“There’s a cop outside your door at all times.”

“I expected that.  They’re protecting me in case he comes back to finish the job.”

Chase sighed.  I got a lot from that sigh and I started to tremble.  He squeezed my hand tighter.

“That too.  Before I tell you what’s going on, I want you to tell me everything.  Start from the first conversation you had with Marconi.  Did you call him?”

“What?  No!  How would I get his number?  I don’t even know how he got mine.”

Chase leaned back.

“Go on.”

I did.  I told him everything I could remember from every call and encounter that Tony and I ever had.  I was surprised at my recall capability.  Chase never took his eyes off of me and only interrupted when he needed clarification.