Chapter 4

"Sending me to the cafeteria was probably a mistake," I warned as I nudged the door of Hayes's hospital room open with my hip. Luckily, it wasn't latched because I had gone overboard with the snacks. "My sweet tooth took over, and I got three candy bars, a few donuts, two pieces of pie, and a slice of chocolate cake."

Both men turned toward me, humor in their eyes as they took in the heaping tray of food I was carrying. Hayes's lips curved into a grin. "Looks like you wiped them out."

"Yeah, I eat when I'm nervous," I mumbled, setting the tray on the table next to his bed with a shrug.

His smile widened. "If it's because of me, better be the good kind of nervousness."

He was right, but I wasn't going to admit that. Not out loud at least. "Maybe it's from worrying that you're more hurt from the accident than you seem."

"Don't stress about that too much." Hayes jerked his thumb toward the doctor who'd met us in the ambulance bay. "That's what I have him for. Blade will make sure I'm good before he discharges me."

"Blade?" I echoed, glancing at the doctor.

"Yeah," he confirmed with a nod. "When I'm not in scrubs, I wear an Iron Rogues cut, same as this stubborn asshole. That is why he's gonna let me do a thorough examination to make sure he didn't do permanent damage to his thick skull. 'Cause the last thing either of us wants is for our prez to get pissed because I let him walk outta here with a traumatic brain injury or some shit like that."

I narrowed my eyes at Hayes. "Or for me to worry myself sick that you'll fall asleep tonight and never wake up."

"Fine." He heaved a deep sigh. "I'll let Blade run whatever tests are needed."

I beamed a smile at him. "Good."

"But you won't need to worry about me not waking up because you'll be right next to me," he added with a smirk.

His confidence was a major turn-on, but no matter how much I wanted Hayes, I couldn't agree to spending the night with him when we'd just met. "Don't you think we should go out on at least a few dates before you assume that you'll be able to sweet-talk me into bed? I might not have much experience with guys, but I"ve even heard of the three-date rule."

Hayes reached out to snag my wrist and tug me toward the side of his bed. Once I was there, he wrapped his arm around my waist and growled, "Don't want to hear about you and other men."

"Then I guess it's a good thing that no experience would've been a more accurate description," I whispered, acutely aware of Blade staring at us. My cheeks filled with heat, and I mentally cursed my fair skin.

"I'm gonna get you in for an MRI before your inner caveman fucks with your head even more than a potential concussion," Blade murmured.

Hayes shook his head and grumbled, "Like you're one to talk."

Blade's deep chuckle trailed after him as he stepped out of the room.

"About you staying with me"—he squeezed my hand, his ice-blue eyes serious as he looked up at me—"it's not just because I want to get in your pants. Or needing someone to keep an eye on me if it turns out that I have a concussion."

My brows drew together. "It isn't?"

"Wish like hell that the first time I got you in my bed it was just because of the pull between us." His thumb stroked my palm, sending a shock of awareness straight to my core. "But while you were in the cafeteria, I found out that my bike was sabotaged. That means you're a witness to more than just an accident. I don't want anything happening to you, so I'm gonna keep a close eye on you to make sure you're safe."

"I didn't even see much," I protested, shaking my head. "Just you crashing your motorcycle. Nobody hit you or anything like that. I have no idea what's going on. There's no reason for anybody to come after me."

"People do a lotta shit for no good reason," he countered. "No way in hell am I going to let them do it to you."

Just as much as I loved how protective he was being, I hated the idea of someone trying to hurt him. So there was only one answer I could give. "Then I'll come with you."

"Good," he grunted.

I wagged my finger at him. "But we'll need to stop at my apartment first to grab some stuff. I can be pretty high maintenance, especially when I'm going into the salon. Clients expect me to look my best if they're going to trust me with their hair."

His gaze drifted over my long black locks. "If that's how women pick their hairdresser, you gotta have a fuck ton of clients because your hair is fucking fantastic."

Butterflies swirled in my belly. I'd had plenty of people compliment me on my hair, but it meant more coming from Hayes. "Thanks."

I waited in his room while hospital staff came and went, taking him for the tests Blade wanted to run. It took a few hours, so it was good I'd grabbed so many snacks from the cafeteria because we went through them all. When he was discharged, I instinctively reached for my purse and remembered it wasn't there. "Darn it. I hope whoever drove my car here locked it and my bag is still inside. Canceling my cards and replacing my driver's license is a headache I don't want to deal with."

"Your purse will definitely still be there," he assured me.

I tilted my head to the side. "You seem very certain of that."

"Yeah, because your car is in the safest place in town—the Iron Rogues compound."

My eyes widened. "It is?"

"Yup."

I laughed softly. "I guess you were pretty darn confident that I was leaving here with you."

He nodded. "Damn straight."

I narrowed my eyes. "Even before you knew about your bike being messed with."

"Like I said, I have more than one reason for wanting you to spend tonight with me."

He wasn't even a tiny bit embarrassed to have been caught, which somehow didn't surprise me. "Hopefully, you also have a plan for how we're getting out of here since your bike was hauled away from the accident and my car is at the compound."

"Sure do," he confirmed with a grin as he shrugged on his leather vest. "One of our prospects will meet us outside."

Blade poked his head into the room. "Now that I know you didn't do irreparable damage to your thick skull, I'm headed back home."

Hayes flashed him a smile. "Thanks for coming in to make sure I'm good."

"No thanks necessary, Ice." Blade shrugged off his gratitude. "Just part of my duties as the club's doctor."

"Sure does come in handy," I murmured as Hayes stood and settled his palm against my lower back to guide me out of the room.

"Like you wouldn't believe," Hayes muttered.

I wasn't sure that I wanted to know what he meant by that, so I didn't ask any questions as he led me outside. An SUV idled at the curb, and a guy jumped out of the driver's seat to open the back door. "Hey, Ice. Glad to see that you're okay."

"Thanks." Hayes jerked his chin in recognition before helping me into the back seat and climbing in after me.

When the prospect pulled away from the curb, I leaned forward to give him my address. It wasn't long before we pulled through the gate at my complex, and he waited in the vehicle while Hayes came upstairs with me.

I grabbed a weekender tote bag big enough for a couple of days' worth of stuff, but he shook his head. "You're gonna need more than that."

"I am?" I asked, my brows drawing together.

"You're high maintenance, remember?" he teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, but I don't need a ton of stuff for one night."

"Sorry, angel." He reached up to grab my rolling carry-on from the shelf in my closet. "Not sure how long it's gonna take to clear up this mess, but I'm not gonna let you outta my sight until I do."

Considering I barely knew Hayes, I probably should have asked more questions. But something told me I could trust him. So I packed a week's worth of clothes and all of my favorite toiletries into two bags.

I stuck my tongue out at him when he teased, "Damn, I shoulda had the prospect come up with us to help with the bags."

"I warned you," I murmured as I rolled the smaller of the two out the door with his laughter trailing me.