When We Met (Fool's Gold #13)(58)

“Oh, right. I’m not exactly a snake person. I know they’re people, too, but I prefer things with fur. So when I happened to glance over and realized the lid wasn’t completely secure on the container, I sort of freaked out. I think one of them is loose in the car.” She held out her cell phone. “I was just about to call Jack.”

For a second he thought about letting her do just that. Taryn had warned him Larissa was a do-gooder who loved to drag everyone into her projects. Here was a living demonstration. But in truth he had no problem with snakes, and how long could it take to capture one in a car?

“I’ll take care of it,” he said. “Did you secure the lid before you got out?”

Larissa shook her head. “I kind of screamed and stopped the car. The keys are still in the ignition.”

He held in a smile. “If you’re afraid of snakes, why did you agree to drive them anywhere?”

“Someone had to. They need a home.”

Yup, a do-gooder. Taryn was right—Larissa was trouble. But once he got the snake or snakes back in their container, not his problem.

He moved toward the car. “Do you know if they bite?” He opened the door and moved into the vehicle.

“I’m not sure. Oh, and someone mentioned they might be venomous.”

* * *

“I TOLD YOU,” Taryn said firmly. “I was extremely clear. But did you listen?”

If Angel hadn’t been feeling as if something had clubbed him with the side of a mountain, he would have enjoyed the fussing. But right now he was having trouble focusing and his body ached, as if he was getting the worst flu ever.

“Yeah, you said,” he admitted.

He was in a bed, which meant he wasn’t still on the side of the road. But he didn’t remember much about the trip. He saw the IV connected to his arm and knew the bed he was in wasn’t his.

“Hospital, right?” he asked.

“Yes, you’re in the hospital. You were bitten by a venomous snake, which is totally ridiculous.”

“I feel like crap,” he told her. “How about some sympathy?”

“I’m not sure you deserve it.” But she sat next to him on his bed as she spoke and she put a cool cloth on his forehead.

“I thought Larissa was kidding,” he admitted, the events from earlier that day coming back to him. The snake, the bite, Larissa calling for an ambulance. “I did get the snake back in the container.”

“Yes, you did. Larissa is very appreciative and she feels guilty.”

He looked at Taryn. “You’re going to yell at her, aren’t you?”

“Over and over again.”

“It’s not her fault.”

She stroked the side of his face. “You’re defending her? She was transporting venomous snakes without proper precautions and she could have died. You could have died. If she’s crossing state lines, I’m sure there must be a permit, but did she bother? No. She loves her causes and sometimes she doesn’t think.”

“I’m okay.” He put his hand on top of hers. “You can be intimidating. Go easy on her.”

Taryn glared at him. “I can’t believe you’re acting like this. You could have died.”

“But I didn’t.”

Her fierceness was kind of nice, he thought as he did his best to ignore the throbbing throughout his body. Her touch helped. The gentleness of her hands. He wasn’t surprised that Taryn had a caring side—he knew that while she complained about “the boys” she would do anything to protect them. However, he hadn’t expected that he would find himself the subject of her concern.

Consuelo appeared in the doorway. “You have a couple of visitors,” she said.

He stared at his roommate. “What are you doing here?”

She shrugged. “I heard what happened. I couldn’t believe you were that stupid. I came to make fun of you.”

Defiant words, but he saw the concern in her eyes. “I’m touched.”

“Later you’re going to be hit,” she grumbled, and turned away.

Taryn stood and shifted to the chair by the bed as Bailey and Chloe walked into the hospital room. Chloe was all big eyes. She’d gone pale and her freckles stood out. As she saw him in the hospital bed, her eyes filled with tears. Not knowing what else to do, he held out his arms.

“Hey, kiddo.”

She rushed at him. He wrapped his arms around her, amazed at how small she felt. But fierce. She hung on as if she would never let go.

“I was scared,” she whispered against his chest. “I thought you were going to die.”

Bailey smiled apologetically. “I told her you were going to be fine, but she needed to see for herself. I’m sorry we’re intruding.”

“You’re not,” Angel told her. “It’s okay.”

“It’s just...” Bailey paused. “Because of her dad.”

Angel touched Chloe’s chin until she looked at him. “Chloe, your dad was a hero. I’m just a guy who got bit by a snake. It was dumb on my part. But the doctors took care of me and I’m going to be okay.”

Chloe sniffed. “Did it hurt?”

“A lot.”

“Is the snake okay?”

“Yes. It wasn’t his fault. He was being a snake. That’s why we have to learn to respect nature. I was trying to help the snake, but he didn’t know.” He paused. “I’m not going to die.”