was on purpose. The second I went off the road, he slowed before fleeing.”
Bastard.
Nikolai looked forward to punching his fist into the driver’s gut as soon as he caught up with him. He had to get rid of the angst riding him somehow. “Did you get a good look at him?”
She sighed. “Not really. Not enough to pick him out from a group of people.”
“Number plate?”
“It was covered with mud.”
A nurse bustled into the room, her soft-soled shoes squeaking on the hard floor. “How are you feeling? Still have a headache?”
“Yeah.” Summer sounded rueful, and Nikolai noticed she refrained from nodding this time.
“How long before she can go home?”
“Tomorrow morning,” the nurse answered with a cheerful grin. “Keeping her overnight is a precaution. Your wife will be fine, Mr. Williams.”
“Thank you.” Nikolai caught Summer’s hand and laced their fingers together, ignoring the soft choked sound that emerged from her.
“There was a phone call at the desk for you earlier. Your brother. He said he’ll be by later to visit,” the nurse said.
Summer’s hand tightened within his, and her mouth opened to deny the possibility. Nikolai sent her a silent warning with an imperceptible shake of his head.
“Thanks,” he said to the nurse. He waited until the squeak of her shoes faded before he voiced his suspicions. “Did you get someone to contact your family?”
“No. I asked the detective to ring you.”
“It took him long enough.”
“He apologized for the delay. Your cell phone was switched off, and then he was called out on another case and forgot. He was embarrassed. And I couldn’t ring anyone because my phone was in the car. The detective found it. Like I said—embarrassed. I think that’s why he made a special trip to drop it off. Anyhow, I didn’t ask him to ring my family. If they get wind of me being in the hospital, they’ll arrive en masse and ship me back to Eketahuna before I have time to blink.” She clutched his arm with a hint of desperation in her blue eyes. “Please don’t contact them. You heard what the nurse said. I’m all right.”
“If that wasn’t one of your brothers on the phone, then we have a problem.” Nikolai thought rapidly and came up with one solution. He needed to take her home, but first he’d check with the medical staff.
He stood. “I’m going to find a doctor. If anyone comes in here and you think they’re suspicious, press on the call button. Don’t let up until someone answers. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He returned in under ten minutes, his gut twisting with uneasiness the entire time he was away from her. When he strode back into the hospital room, he found Summer asleep, her hand clutched around the call button. He considered telling her the clotheshorse intended to drop by to see her but decided to ignore his conscience. He’d keep her away from the man until he knew what was going on and where the danger lurked.
Her eyelids flickered. “Nikolai?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. Come on, let’s get you dressed, and we’ll split this joint.”
“We’re going?” She sounded fractionally more alert.
“Yeah. Under the circumstances, the doctor said I can take you home.” He tugged away the thin sheet and helped her stand. No point filling her in on the rest of their conversation.
“Stay in the front,” she mumbled.
Her disgruntled tone brought a grin. “Scared?”
“Cautious.” She wobbled a little.
Nikolai held her firm. “I’ll close my eyes.” Not that he meant a word. He was a red-blooded male. Of course, he’d peek if she gave him the opportunity.
She wavered again, and he took control. He deftly undid the tapes that laced the hospital gown at the back and tugged it down her arms. She wore high-cut, pale blue panties beneath and nothing else. Nikolai paused, his gaze on her luscious breasts.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured with a trace of awe. Coral-colored nipples were puckered, as if
Bastard.
Nikolai looked forward to punching his fist into the driver’s gut as soon as he caught up with him. He had to get rid of the angst riding him somehow. “Did you get a good look at him?”
She sighed. “Not really. Not enough to pick him out from a group of people.”
“Number plate?”
“It was covered with mud.”
A nurse bustled into the room, her soft-soled shoes squeaking on the hard floor. “How are you feeling? Still have a headache?”
“Yeah.” Summer sounded rueful, and Nikolai noticed she refrained from nodding this time.
“How long before she can go home?”
“Tomorrow morning,” the nurse answered with a cheerful grin. “Keeping her overnight is a precaution. Your wife will be fine, Mr. Williams.”
“Thank you.” Nikolai caught Summer’s hand and laced their fingers together, ignoring the soft choked sound that emerged from her.
“There was a phone call at the desk for you earlier. Your brother. He said he’ll be by later to visit,” the nurse said.
Summer’s hand tightened within his, and her mouth opened to deny the possibility. Nikolai sent her a silent warning with an imperceptible shake of his head.
“Thanks,” he said to the nurse. He waited until the squeak of her shoes faded before he voiced his suspicions. “Did you get someone to contact your family?”
“No. I asked the detective to ring you.”
“It took him long enough.”
“He apologized for the delay. Your cell phone was switched off, and then he was called out on another case and forgot. He was embarrassed. And I couldn’t ring anyone because my phone was in the car. The detective found it. Like I said—embarrassed. I think that’s why he made a special trip to drop it off. Anyhow, I didn’t ask him to ring my family. If they get wind of me being in the hospital, they’ll arrive en masse and ship me back to Eketahuna before I have time to blink.” She clutched his arm with a hint of desperation in her blue eyes. “Please don’t contact them. You heard what the nurse said. I’m all right.”
“If that wasn’t one of your brothers on the phone, then we have a problem.” Nikolai thought rapidly and came up with one solution. He needed to take her home, but first he’d check with the medical staff.
He stood. “I’m going to find a doctor. If anyone comes in here and you think they’re suspicious, press on the call button. Don’t let up until someone answers. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He returned in under ten minutes, his gut twisting with uneasiness the entire time he was away from her. When he strode back into the hospital room, he found Summer asleep, her hand clutched around the call button. He considered telling her the clotheshorse intended to drop by to see her but decided to ignore his conscience. He’d keep her away from the man until he knew what was going on and where the danger lurked.
Her eyelids flickered. “Nikolai?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. Come on, let’s get you dressed, and we’ll split this joint.”
“We’re going?” She sounded fractionally more alert.
“Yeah. Under the circumstances, the doctor said I can take you home.” He tugged away the thin sheet and helped her stand. No point filling her in on the rest of their conversation.
“Stay in the front,” she mumbled.
Her disgruntled tone brought a grin. “Scared?”
“Cautious.” She wobbled a little.
Nikolai held her firm. “I’ll close my eyes.” Not that he meant a word. He was a red-blooded male. Of course, he’d peek if she gave him the opportunity.
She wavered again, and he took control. He deftly undid the tapes that laced the hospital gown at the back and tugged it down her arms. She wore high-cut, pale blue panties beneath and nothing else. Nikolai paused, his gaze on her luscious breasts.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured with a trace of awe. Coral-colored nipples were puckered, as if
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