In Your Wildest Dreams (Wildcat Hockey, #4)(11)

“Surprised.”

“I guess I’ll take it. Surprised is better than horrified.”

Our gazes lock and several beats pass while we silently smile at each other. Her turquoise eyes hold me hostage.

Bridget looks away first, checking the watch on her left wrist. “Do you need anything else?”

“No, I guess not.” I don’t want her to go. The thought of lying here all night with nothing but my own thoughts sounds downright awful. But I also don’t want her to miss her break.

“I’ll be back at the top of the hour. Buzz if you need anything.”





The minutes tick by so slowly. My head hurts too much to focus on TV or scrolling on my phone, which means I’m basically staring at the wall waiting for Bridget to come back. I have so many things I want to ask her. I don’t know her at all, really, but I feel this connection to her somehow.

When she finally returns, she’s joined by Dr. Weston, so I don’t get a chance to talk to her alone. Bridget hits the lights as they leave, orders me to get some sleep with a sexy glare, and tells me she’ll be back in a couple of hours.

Sleep? Unlikely.

I replay tonight’s game from the beginning to the hit that took me out. The Vegas player who delivered the late hit received a game misconduct penalty and was ejected, but it hardly makes up for the fact I’m lying here in this hospital bed. Damn. I cannot believe one month into the season and I’m injured. The thought of sitting around for weeks, or longer, has me getting to my feet. I head out into the hallway, not sure where I’m going but needing to move around.

The hospital is quiet. All the lights are dimmed, and the only noises are the air conditioning vents humming as they pound out cool air (it’s freaking freezing in here) and the distant chime of an elevator. I pass by several empty rooms on my way down the hall. I don’t particularly like hospitals—then again, who does? But I’m pretty stoked that it’s given me a chance to see Bridget again.

Which is why it shouldn’t really surprise me when my steps lead me to the nurses’ station. Bridget sits behind the desk with another woman. A few other nurses work behind them. Each of them are quiet, busy doing their own thing. My girl has her head bowed over a book, wearing a pair of cute glasses. Sexy nurse meets sexy librarian. That’s a fantasy mash-up I never saw coming.

“Ash Kelly. Holy crap, you’re tall.” The woman I haven’t met notices me first and elbows Bridget.

She rubs her arm and glances up at me. “Mr. Kelly. What are you doing up? Did you need something?”

“You can just call me Ash.”

“Ash.” She pauses after saying my name like she isn’t sure how she feels about using it. “Is everything okay?”

“Fine. Just bored.”

A small smile lifts the corners of her pouty mouth. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.”

“Impossible.”

“Is your pain increasing?” She gets a cute little furrow between her brows.

“No. I meant sleep is impossible because I know you’re down here.”

The girl next to her giggles, but Bridget cocks her head to the side and gets this sexy annoyed look in her eyes. “Mr. Kelly.”

“Ash,” I remind her.

“Ash. You really need to try to rest. Your body has been through a lot tonight.”

Don’t I know it, but it’s just another reason that I don’t want to sit and stare at the walls.

“What are you reading?” I ask her, then finally give the other nurses enough attention to realize their gazes volley between me and Bridget.

“She’s studying,” the girl next to her says. She smiles at me. “I’m Hannah. Huge fan. Go Wildcats!”

Ah, an ally.

“Nice to meet you, Hannah.” Smiling, I rest my good arm on the desk and lean forward. “Busy night?”

“Yes,” Bridget says, returning her gaze to her textbook at the same time Hannah says, “No.”

I look at Hannah. “Did Bridget tell you we’re old friends?”

“We are not friends,” Bridget interjects quickly.

Ignoring her, I keep my attention on Hannah. “We met at a game. I gave her a puck during warmups and tried to get her number. I’ve been looking for her at every game since. Imagine my surprise when I end up here and she’s my nurse.”

The accusatory glare Hannah sends Bridget makes me chuckle. “You went to a Wildcat game? And met Ash Kelly?” Her voice climbs higher. “When?! And how could you not tell me something like that?”

“It was forever ago and it wasn’t a big deal.”

“Last month,” I clarify. “The home opener.”

Hannah tips her head to the side. “With Gabe?”

Bridget says nothing but gives her coworker the tiniest of nods.

“Is that the boyfriend?” My jaw clenches remembering the way that asshole talked to her. I’d forgotten about him in my excitement at seeing Bridget again.

“Ex-boyfriend.” Hannah’s big grin matches mine.

Giddiness I haven’t felt since I was a kid spreads through me. They broke up. Hell yeah. Best news I’ve had all day.





5





BEEN CALLED WORSE