“Good.”
He doesn’t move and his gaze stays locked on me. “This is such a trip! Wow. I think I’m in shock. A nurse, huh?”
“Yep.” I smile at him. It’s a little forced, but hopefully convincing and doesn’t show how much I’m inwardly freaking out.
“Nurse Bridget.” His smile widens. “How long have you worked here?”
“Not that long, but I promise you’re in good hands.” God, why does everything I say suddenly sound so dirty? I back up toward the door. I need to get out of here and regroup. “I’ll be back in a little while to check on you.”
“I look forward to it, Bridget.” Ash swings his legs to the side of the bed and stands. He winces a little as the movement pulls at his shoulder. He takes a step, then sways and wobbles as he takes another. My instincts kick in and I’m at his side quickly, aiding him like I would any other patient. His skin is warm and my fingers tingle as I steady him on the right side. I glance up to meet his gaze. He’s taller than I realized. I’m five foot five, but my chin barely reaches his shoulder and I have to tip my head back to look at him.
“Are you okay?”
He looks first at where my fingers wrap around his bicep before answering. His voice is gruff. “Yeah. Shit. Guess I’m still a little unsteady on my feet. I got it now.”
Stepping away from him, I wait while he crosses the room. He’s almost to the bathroom when he stops and asks, “Do you still have the puck I gave you? Maybe sleep with it under your pillow at night?”
I resist rolling my eyes. I’d say he’s going to be just fine if he’s feeling good enough to hit on me. “Sorry to disappoint, but I gave it away.”
“You wound me, Bridget.”
I swallow hard. His teasing and flirty demeanor is disarming, even if I think he’s full of crap. “No, I think you did that all on your own.”
“Me and the guy that rammed into me,” he mutters, all traces of that playfulness gone.
I wince. Crap. The guy might be a total flirt and egomaniac, but he’s hurt and under my care. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”
My reaction to him has my guard flying up in defense. I will not fall for another guy who uses charm like a weapon.
His lips pull into a half-smile that’s cocky and endearing. “It’s okay, Nurse Bridget. You have all night to make it up to me.”
4
NURSE BRIDGET
ASH
Jack, Leo, Tyler, and Declan stop by after the game. The guys are crowded around the far side of the room, leaning against the wall. All except Jack, who’s sitting in the chair next to me.
I’m showered and sitting up in bed while they fill me in on the game. They won. Our first W in weeks. I freaking hate that I wasn’t there.
My head and shoulder hurt, but the painkillers keep it to a dull ache. More than anything I’m worried about how long I’ll be sidelined. A couple of weeks if I’m lucky, if I’m not, maybe a month or more. It’s a huge blow to me and to the team. This is supposed to be our fucking year.
“Wait, your nurse is the girl from the game?” Leo asks, brows lifted. “The one you’ve been searching for at every home game? The one who has you turning down girls left and right?”
I chuckle at his assessment, and playfully glower at Jack. The only way Leo would know that is from our dear captain because Leo hasn’t been out much since Callum was born.
“With good reason. I met a ten. You don’t shake off a ten that easily.”
A knock sounds at the door and I perk up, excited for the guys to meet Bridget. She’s cute as hell in her scrubs.
Her eyes widen as big as a hockey puck as she notes the four guys in the room with me. She’s carrying a cafeteria tray in front of her. That long, curly hair is pulled back in a clip, and falls over one shoulder. My memory of her didn’t do her justice. If she’s a ten, then every other girl I’ve ever called a ten was really a six. I’m going to have to redo my entire scale. Zero to Bridget.
She covers her surprise quickly, smoothing out her expression and smiling stiffly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had visitors. I can come back.”
“No, come in. I was just telling them about you.” I wave her over.
Her brows lift and she hesitates before she steps farther into the room.
She sets the tray on the table next to my bed, then eyes the bags of takeout my teammates brought.
Leo takes a step forward and offers his hand to her. “You must be Bridget. I’m Leo.”