The Fighting For Love Series

Chapter 9

“Dr. Innis said this might happen. It’s the drug.” Nick grabbed an extra blanket from an empty gurney, and wrapped it around her securely. “Is that better?”

She nodded. “Thanks.”

“Sure.” He sat down again, moved his chair a bit closer. He felt an overwhelming urge to touch her, but he restrained himself. “How’s your head now?”

“Better, I think.” She managed a weak smile. “It doesn’t feel like someone stomped on my brain anymore.”

“No?”

“No. Now I just feel like I have the worst hangover of my life.”

He grinned at her. “That’s an improvement, right?”

“I guess.” Mia lay back, staring at the ceiling as things started to sink into her consciousness. “So this guy – Trevor. He drugged me?”

“Yeah.”

“At the bar?”

“Yeah.” Nick was quiet for a second. “I must have been right there, but I didn’t see anything. I’m sorry, Mia.”

She looked at him, surprised. “Why are you sorry?”

“Because I feel like I should have seen something. I mean, I knew this guy was bad news from the word go. He gave off a weird, stalkery vibe, and I didn’t like the way he was looking at you. I should have known he was up to something.”

“It’s not your fault, Nick. It’s OK.”

“I wish I’d gotten to you sooner… I saw him carrying you out the door, and you were so out of it, and I knew that was all wrong. No way you were wasted. You didn’t even have one drink.”

She leaned forward now and took his large hand in her small one. Startled, he lifted his eyes to hers.

“Thank you, Nick." Her voice was soft, her eyes were bright stars in her pale face. "I don’t know what would have happened to me if you hadn’t seen us leaving, and you hadn’t followed us.”

“It was no problem." He cleared his throat, a bit surprised at how emotional he was at her grace and forgiveness. "I’m – I’m just glad you’re OK.”

“Me too.”

Their eyes met and held. Nick saw that same sweetness now that he had noticed in the club earlier. Her golden eyes were shining and clear, and he found himself being drawn forward into them. He saw – for the first time – that Mia was actually breathtakingly, heart-stoppingly, utterly and totally, beautiful. He’d totally missed it because he always went for the obvious hot chicks, for the blondes with big breasts and short skirts and painted nails. Mia’s quieter, more gentle beauty had completely passed him by until this very second. It was the kind of beauty that snuck up on you, that captured your attention one sense at a time, that was as gentle as a summer wind – but once you saw it, there was no way to ever unsee it.

From Mia’s side, there was no missing Nick’s drop-dead gorgeous face or body. Hell, she'd have picked up on it even if she were half-dead. The man was professional model material, but with more depth, more substance, than a handsome face in a magazine.

Despite the smooth charm and hot smile, he was tough, and centered, and focused, somehow. Not hard, exactly – more disciplined and strong. Confident. Powerful. In control.

Their heated gaze was broken by a man puking loudly and enthusiastically on the floor next to Mia’s gurney. They both stared at him for a second before looking at each other again, and bursting into laughter.

Nick saw that a bit of color had returned to her cheeks and her lips. “What do you say I get you out of here, Mia?”

“I say that sounds good.”

“OK. Let me go find Dr. Innis."