CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

BROOK

I lie with my eyes closed. My body aches and I have a killer headache. I move my head and overwhelming pain consumes me. I rub my brow and open my eyes. Wow! Does that hurt. I close and open them again ten seconds later. It’s not as bad now. Maybe it’s because of the panic.

I’m on a bed in an unfamiliar room with a man sleeping next to me. I don’t know who he is, so I inch away. My movement wakes him.

“Don’t move.” He raises a finger. “Stay right where you are.”

I scan the immediate area in search of a weapon. There’s a lamp on the other side of the room. He must see what I’m looking at and know what I’m thinking. He slides off the bed and raises his hands. “I won’t hurt you.”

This guy is huge, but doesn’t seem threatening. Might be because he’s so insanely hot. He has blonde hair and a short beard. Eyes as blue as the ocean. Could be a surfer dude. I like surfer dudes.

“Who are you?” I ask.

“Zac Sherman. I was outside the diner when that man attacked you. You fell and hit your head on the pavement. Got knocked out. I didn’t know what to do, so I brought you here.”

Since he mentions my head, I touch the back of it. “Ouch.”

“Hurt?”

“Yeah.”

“Is there anybody you’d like me to call? Boyfriend? Roommate? Parents?”

I shake my head. “There is nobody.”

It looks like he’s fighting back a smile. I think he likes me.

“How’s your head? Would you like some ibuprofen? It’ll help your headache.”

He doesn’t wait for my response, but he comes over to the nightstand next to me and takes two pills out of a bottle. Then he hands them to me along with a glass of warm water. I swallow everything down. The water feels good on my throat.

“Thank you.” I hand him back the glass.

He sets it down. “What’s your name?”

“Brook Mathews.” I need to get going and find a new job. I’ll probably have to find a cardboard box and a quiet alley, since I’m homeless now, as well.

I swing my legs to the floor. The room spins. My head hurts. I push past it and rise. Then I wobble. Zac’s giant hands ease me back down.

“Don’t even think about getting out of this bed.”

I don’t think I could leave this bed if I wanted to. But what if I needed to? Like right now, for instance. It’s embarrassing to say, but I must. “I have to use the bathroom.”

“Oh. Go ahead, then.”

I plant my feet on the floor and wobble again.

“Here.” Zac picks me up.

I wrap my arms around his neck.

He carries me to the bathroom. It’s spotless. The spigot glistens and the counter shines. Not one smudge on the mirror.

He sets me down beside the toilet and I use his arm to steady myself. “You want me to stay and help? I can close my eyes.”

That’s quite an offer, but I just met him. “I’ve got it from here. Thank you.”

I release his arm and he steps away. “You going to be okay?”

“Yes.”

“All right.”

Zac backs out of the bathroom, and I maneuver around and do the deed. Through concerted effort, I get off the toilet and flush it. Next I wash my hands and splash some water on my face. My skin is pale. I’m tired.

I turn and stare at the door. It looks further away than it is. But I can make it, I just have to take that first step. But before I do, the door opens.

“Good, you’re done.” Zac strides in. “I heard the toilet flush and counted to a hundred, hoping that would give you enough time.”

I smile.

He comes over and bends to pick me up.

“I’ll be fine.”

“You sure?”

“I think so.” I step and lose my balance.

“I got ya.” He swoops me up.

I wrap my arms around him again. My knight in shining armor.

He lays me on the bed and covers me with a blanket. “Can I get you anything? Drink? A sandwich? Anything. You name it.”

“I’m fine. Sorry to be such a bother.”

“You’re no bother, believe me.”

I actually do believe him. No one has ever been so kind to me. I’m almost happy this all happened. It’d be nice not to have the pain, though. It’s searing through my body.

“You all right?”

“I will be.”

He brushes a strand of hair from my eye. “You should try to get some sleep.”

“That sounds good.”

He helps to get me settled and walks to the door. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I will.”

He turns off the light and leaves.

I lie in the dark and wonder what my next move will be.