Page 31 of The Candle Palace (Jamison Valley 6)
The smell of the room was like wrapping a warm blanket around my shoulders, chasing the nerves away. It didn’t smell like a hospital in here, scentless and sterile. It smelled like Milo, clean but rich and manly.
Milo’s eyes opened as he lifted his head from the pillows. He stared at me for a long moment, not making any indication that he wanted me here. Not making a sound.
My anxiety spiked as the silence dragged on. Damn it. Maybe Kym had misread this situation. Maybe Milo was angrier at me than I’d thought.
I was about to tuck my tail between my legs and go running for the hills when he dropped his head into the pillows.
“Where have you been?”
“I got in trouble. Well, sort of.” I swallowed hard. “My boss told me to work on the other side of the unit because I was too attached.”
“You disappeared on me.” His eyes bored into mine, hard and stern. But his voice was so gentle, it made me want to melt.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t leave me again. Or at least pick up the damn phone. I’ve been waiting for it to ring for two weeks and—” He shook his head. “Scratch all that. Ignore me. I’m being a dick to everyone today.”
“Understandable.”
“I just . . . I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too,” I whispered as the emotions swirled. I was overjoyed that he wanted me here. Relieved that I hadn’t dreamed up these silly one-sided feelings. Angry that I’d let other people dictate who I could see.
It was too much to deal with all at once and a wash of tears flooded my eyes. I looked away, blinking them clear. And then I sucked in a shaking breath to rein it all in.
“I have your morphine.” I lifted the syringe in my hand, then approached his bed. “I’m sorry you’ve been in pain.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“But I think . . . I think it is. None of this would have happened if I’d been able to stay away.”
The admission flew past my lips. Embarrassed and vulnerable, I spun for the sink. I washed my hands, counting to ten. God, I was bad at this. Was I ever going to be cool around men? Or cool period?
“Sara.” Milo’s voice rose above the running water. “I’m happy you couldn’t stay away.”
“You are?” I asked, still not facing him.
“Given the state I’m in, it would have made it a lot harder for me to find you if I’d had to go looking.”
I smiled and shut off the water. Definitely not one-sided.
When I turned around, Milo was grinning. He patted the edge of his bed so I went over and sat by his side.
“I didn’t ask to be reassigned,” I told him.
“I figured as much. I’m not a great cop but I can spot a lie. Plus Vernon is being a fucking asshole at the moment.”
“He’s still your doctor. And since this is such a small unit, he’s your only option at the moment. If you don’t want him, you’ll have to go to Seattle or Salt Lake City.”
“Not an option. I’ll—” He winced, a sudden flare of pain cutting him off.
“Let me give you your morphine.” But before I could grab the syringe from by the sink, he stopped me.
“No, wait. I want to get this out first while I’m still clear.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
“I’ll tolerate Vernon because I’m not leaving here. I’m not giving you up.”
