Julia heaved a sigh as she stared at him. “Okay, what did you need to talk about?”
He tugged his lips into a grimace. “I, umm…yes, I’m bleeding. I broke a stitch. It’s fine. It’s nothing to worry about, okay?”
“You what? How?”
“Julia, please, I just…overdid it on the walk and…”
She narrowed her eyes at him. He wouldn’t look her in the eye. “You’re lying.”
“I…” He pressed his lips together. “It’s fine, okay? There is no reason to worry.”
“I think we should go back to the hospital and have you checked, just in case.”
“No!” His voice, laced with heat, startled her. He squeezed his eyes closed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell. But, please, Julia, leave it alone.”
She eased onto the edge of the bed. “Kyle, I don’t want to take any chances. I think we should have this checked. Why don’t you want to go to the hospital?”
“Because there is no need to have it checked. I’m a surgeon, and I checked it myself. I’m fine.”
“Then why can’t you look me in the eye? And why are you so defensive?”
Kyle kept his eyes trained on his lap. “I just feel stupid for taking that walk. That’s all. I’m a doctor, I should know better. Hey, did you happen to get the samples for me to have tested?”
“Stop changing the subject. I have them, but you’re not getting them until you level with me.”
He pressed his lips together, still refusing to meet her gaze.
“You know, Grant and I spent years not being honest with each other. It was the worst thing we could have done. If something happened, you can tell me.”
He shifted in the bed again, blowing a breath as he winced, a shadow of guilt flickering across his face. “Okay, fine. But…please don’t judge me.”
“I have never judged you,” she answered.
“Good point. Okay…I…didn’t go for a walk.”
“Okay?” she prodded.
“I went to see Lydia.”
Julia leapt from the bed as if jolted by an unseen force. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide as a surge of questions flooded her mind. What had driven Kyle, still wounded from his ordeal, to seek out the woman responsible? “Youwhat? Kyle! That woman nearly had you killed.”
“I know that, Julia. I was there, remember? After what happened to you in the fire, I just…I had enough and…I don’t know. I went there to confront her. I wanted to have my say. But I didn’t kill her. When I left her apartment, she was alive. I need you to know that.”
“I do,” Julia said.
“Thank you,” Kyle said with a glance at her. “I’m really glad you believe me. But the last thing I need right now is a hospital report about my stitches the night Lydia was murdered.”
“I know you didn’t kill her. But you’re right.”
“Thank you.”
“We still need to keep an eye on it,” Julia answered. “So, let me see.”
She reached for his shirt, but he blocked her hand.
“Kyle!” Julia exclaimed. “There’s no reason not to show me now.”
“I…still want you to think I have washboard abs.”
