Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders #6)(54)

She waited several agonizing seconds before scrambling down from the chair. “I’ll see what’s going on.” India sidled between two very sweaty, tall men and one shorter, bald man in a shiny suit. She peered around a referee and watched Dr. Brewer shine a penlight into Colt’s eyes.


Colt murmured something and shook his head.


That’s when India noticed the red spots dotting the white linoleum. Her vision grayed and she bumped into the official standing in front of her.


“Hey! Who are you? You shouldn’t be here.”


She swallowed her panic, ignoring the red smears beneath Colt’s head. “I’m his, umm…girlfriend.”


Dr. Brewer glanced up at her admission and motioned her over.


India dropped to her knees. “Is he okay?”


“Appears to be, but he won’t let me call an ambulance. He’s worried Cam will freak out when he hears the call go through dispatch.”


“Make the call. Obviously he isn’t thinking clearly.”


“He,” Colt ground out from his prone position on the floor, “is perfectly capable of makin’ his own decisions. And I’m not goin’ to any damn hospital.” His eyes opened. “I’ll be fine. I just need about three hundred aspirin and a good night’s sleep.”


“What about the blood? How bad is Mr. Tough Guy bleeding?”


Colt grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut again. “What blood?”


“Yeah, what blood?” Dr. Brewer echoed.


“There.” She pointed to the red splotches on the floor. “That blood.”


Dr. Brewer peered over the top of Colt’s head. “That’s not blood.”


The bald man crouched down and admitted sheepishly, “That’s my blackcherry Icee. He knocked it over when he hit the table.”


India chose to feel relieved instead of stupid.


“McKay, sit up so I can see how bad it is. I’d be surprised anyone with a head as hard as yours can bleed at all.”


One of Colt’s teammates assisted the doctor in getting Colt upright. “In my opinion, he needs—”


“Then it’s a good thing you’re my veterinarian and not my doctor.”


“You sort of are acting like a jackass.”


The crowd around them snickered.


“Just help me up.” Colt struggled to his feet.


Two teammates supported him and the crowd cheered at Colt’s apparent recovery. He paused outside the locker room door.



The pain in his eyes nearly had her carrying him to the hospital.


“I’m coming in there to make sure you don’t pass out.”


“I’ll remind you this is the men’s locker room.”


“So?”


His breath tickled her ear and his voice dropped to a growl.


“So, the first time you see me completely naked, ain’t gonna be in front of a bunch of other guys.”


“Good point.”


Thirty minutes later, after the game ended and the crowd disappeared, India paced until Dr. Brewer ambled out. “Is he okay?”


“It’s not as bad as I initially believed, but he insists he’ll be better off with you than at the hospital.”


“With me?”


Dr. Brewer measured her thoughtfully. “Are you up for taking care of him tonight? Because he’s as grouchy as a grizzly with a sore paw. And we both know he won’t take pain meds.”