“A chance?”
He opens his fist. Inside is the doe sticker I left for him. “A chance to hear you scream for me,Bambi.” A salacious grin blooms across his face. He probably means to be charming or flirtatious, butsomething about all those teeth on display makes me feel hunted instead. I’m prey for guys like Tom.
Does this mean he heard every word I told him during my visits? They say that coma patients can hear you but to recall it so clearly, to repeat my words back at me—is that possible? Or was he awake?
I don’t like the suspicions his words raise or the implication of them, so I do what I do best. I bluff and distract. “You should sleep. They’ll have you home soon and then there will be no escaping Sylvie’s fussing.”
Tom chuckles. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“I am sure you are. I’ll let her know. She’s been worried.” We both know I’m reprimanding him. But I’m also trying to drive home the point that Sylvie is besotted. After seeing how she reacted to him, it’s as clear as day.
“So worried that she took you shopping?” he bites.
Is he sulking? How does he have the gall to lie there and huff when he isn’t the only one affected by his stupidity?
True to form, I let him have it. “Because of that night, I lost my family, my home and everything I own. The shopping trip was for me because I only own one set of ripped clothing thanks to your appearance in my building. Sylvie was trying to help me and distract herself from obsessing about your condition.” I glare at him, not surprised to see him frown at my sharpness. “Think about how you speak to her. A forgiving girl is a rare thing. One day, they just stop.”
“Forgiving?”
“Caring.”
Picking up the lingerie bag that Sylvie left behind, I leave Tom to think over his attitude. The corridor guards are back in position. They don’t blink as I pass them. Dax hovers at the elevator, his phone pressed to his ear. His volume increases and pitch deepens as he argues into the receiver.
“Get him back and find out why he ran. I want to get to thebottom of this shit as soon as possible.” He looks up, watching me as I approach. He searches my face, but whatever he finds there upsets him some more. His brows furrow and eyes harden. “I’ve got to go. Get it done, Frank.”
He’s talking to Frank? Then he must be talking about Ben. Why am I not surprised to find he’s gone missing?
“What’s happened?” he asks, gripping me by the chin and tilting my face up to look at it better. He sweeps the thumb of his other hand over the crinkle at my brow, smoothing it out. “What did he say to you?” I want to ask him the same thing about Frank.
“Nothing much. He thinks he has to repay me for saving him,” I deflect.
Dax makes a huffing sound in the back of his throat, the air from his nose buffets my cheek.
“He is a lot like you actually,” I continue.
He releases a little incredulous huff. “In what way?”
“Runs hot and cold and thinks he’s God’s gift to women,” I snip.
Dax’s response is louder and angrier than I expect. “Did he make a pass at you?”
God only knows what Tom was thinking. A pass at me? Yes. For real though or for kicks? Who knows?
“To be honest, I don’t know what that was about,” I admit, avoiding a definitive yes or no response. “He got himself into a mood.”
“I’ll have words with him.”
My laugh is mocking, but more at myself than Dax. “Don’t bother, I did it for you. He’s got as much chance with me as you have.” I want to grin as Dax’s expression crunches into a frown, but I hide my amusement, rolling my eyes at him instead.
“Definitely having words with him then,” Dax grumbles, releasing my chin and calling the elevator.
“Okay. As much chance as Frank,” I amend.
Dax stares at the side of my face while I watch the elevatordoors. A considering hum rumbles through his throat. “That makes me feel a little better, I suppose.”
“So happy to have restored peace to your delicate sensibilities.” I see his sideways smile from the corner of my eye and struggle to bury my own.
“Are we still arguing, Jules?”
