Texas Hunt

Steven glanced at Alicia.

“That’s not a good idea,” Alicia said. “Let’s all settle down and think this through.”

“You’re assuming I haven’t already.” Lisa winced as she took a step forward. Ryan was there to catch her as her knee gave out, his steadying arm around her the only thing keeping her from falling flat on the floor. “You aren’t keeping me safe here.”

“I’m afraid I can’t allow you to go. Doctor’s orders.” Alicia’s resolve was steady.

Panic overwhelmed Lisa. Ryan couldn’t help her and deal with the big security guard at the same time. The air in the room was thinning. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest in part from stress and the very real feeling of contact with Ryan. What was it about him that could calm her and send her body into such a pinball machine of awareness all at the same time?

Trying to take another step toward the door, she faltered.

Ryan hauled her against his chest and made a move to kiss her.

He was giving them a show. She understood that on some level, but his hand guiding her lips toward his sent heat rocketing through her.

Ryan’s moment of hesitation—a brief pause to catch and hold her gaze for a split second—sent her heart soaring and caused a hundred somersaults to flip through her stomach.

His lips, tentative, barely touched hers. Her breath caught and she could’ve sworn she’d heard him groan right before deepening the kiss.

She tilted her head back to give him better access as she parted her lips for him. For one dizzying moment when his tongue slid into her mouth her pain disintegrated and all she could feel was his lips moving against hers and how right it felt to be in Ryan Hunt’s arms.

The thought was startling. She didn’t belong there.

Breaking away first, she forced her mind to the present because for a moment she got lost—lost in the moment, in the feeling of awareness, in the feeling of life being right for just a second.

Turning toward the folks intent on keeping her in that room, Lisa put one hand on Ryan’s shoulder and the other on her hip. No way could they push past Alicia and the big guy. Ryan was not small, nor was he incapable of handling himself. She was the weak link. She was the liability. Anger surged through her for being the one to hold them back. “Do you have a court order keeping me here, Alicia?”

The nurse’s lips thinned as she shook her head.

“Then I suggest you step aside.” The look of approval on Ryan’s face, the way he smiled out of the side of his mouth shouldn’t make her this happy. It did. She told herself it was because he was putting himself on the line for her. She owed him this at least.

He squeezed her waist and more of that fiery electricity shot through her, warming her in places she didn’t want to think about with him standing this close. Or maybe it was just that she didn’t want to go there with other people in the room.

Her thoughts couldn’t be more inappropriate under the circumstances. Because that kiss made her wonder if Ryan was feeling more for her than he’d let on.

And what exactly was she supposed to do with that? Her life was a mess and he deserved so much more than she could give him.

In times like these, Lisa had to remind herself to take it one moment at a time.

“Well?” she asked point blank. Her confidence had returned.

“We can’t keep you here against your will. However, I would like to ask you to stay, anyway,” Alicia said flatly.

They couldn’t keep her safe. They didn’t believe her. They gave her no other choice.

“I’m fine.” She looked up at Ryan. “Let’s go. They can throw away the rest of my things for all I care. There’s nothing in here that can’t be replaced.”

He gently leaned her against the bed and she missed his warmth as soon as he took a step away from her.

“Hospital regulation requires her to leave in a wheelchair,” the nurse said. “Will you at least sign the paperwork and let me take you out?”

Lisa nodded. “As long as it’s quick.”

The nurse disappeared, taking the security guard with her.

“My clothes are over there.” She motioned toward the tall cabinet next to the wall-mounted TV. “That’s all I have with me other than my cell, which is nearly out of battery.”

Ryan retrieved her folded-up outfit of shorts and a halter top along with her underclothes.

She hoped he didn’t see her cheeks warm with embarrassment at the idea of him handing her underwear to her.

Once they got outside, she’d breathe much lighter. As it was, tension threatened to crack her already bruised and hurting shoulders.

“I can step into the hallway for a minute to give you privacy while you dress if you’d like.” Ryan placed the clothes on the bed next to where she stood.

“Here’s the thing. I’m going to need your help.” She smiled weakly.

His gray-blue eyes darkened to steel. An almost-pleading look crossed his features for a nanosecond. Then he half smirked. “I guess it would be weird for a husband to leave the room while his wife dressed.”

“Hadn’t even thought of that. It shouldn’t take too long and I probably only need help getting things over my big size eights.” Did she just complain about her shoe size? Was she rambling? The thought of Ryan in the room with her while she was completely naked was almost too much.

“I happen to like your feet.” He helped her ease onto the bed and then he pulled the blanket over her, covering her midsection. With athletic grace he moved around to the other side of the bed, behind her, and then untied each bow on her hospital-issued gown.

Gently, he rolled the material down her arms. His breath was so close it warmed the sensitive skin along the back of her neck.

The white cloth hit the floor in front of her. She secured her sheet as Ryan moved in front of her. She was so aware of just how naked she was beneath her cover and how thin the material was that kept her cloaked. She white-knuckle gripped the seam with one hand while she reached for her clothes with the other. Thankfully, her ribs weren’t broken, just a hairline fracture on one, the doctor had said, but the pain was still excruciating.

Without saying a word, he bent down and then cradled her ankle in his hand. He slipped her black lace panties over one foot, then two and she could’ve sworn she heard him groan.

Her body went rigid trying to fight the attraction overwhelming her senses.

His hands moved up the sides of her legs, his eyes trailed and when his skin touched hers it blazed a hot trail.

She lifted her bottom long enough for him to slide the panties around her hips. He didn’t immediately move. His hands rested on either side of her.

Lisa couldn’t remember the last time she felt this intimate with a man. Maybe never.

A few seconds later and with similar ease, Ryan slipped her shorts on.

At least for her bra he stood behind her and she couldn’t see his intense expression—intense because they both had to know deep down that anything more than friendship between the two of them would be a bad idea.

After her bra and then halter had been secured, he moved to her side, eyes down. Was he thinking about the kiss they’d shared, too?

He lifted his head and made a move to speak.

The door opened, interrupting the moment. And that was probably for the best. The last thing Lisa needed to hear was just how much he regretted their lips touching. Or worse, an apology.

The nurse pushed a wheelchair in front of her. She helped Lisa into the seat and then handed her a stack of papers on a clipboard. The words Against Medical Advice had been scribbled in huge letters across the first page.