Playing Dirty (Risky Business, #2)(36)

“Someone pushed you?” Parker echoed. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I mean, I guess it could’ve been an accident. It happened so fast …” I was getting blood on Parker’s suit and winced at the stain. Doubtful that would come out, and I’d just gotten back on his dry cleaner’s good side. Of course, Parker also didn’t know that several thousand dollars’ worth of his clothes was currently decorating Madison Street.

The EMT glanced behind him. “The cops are here,” he said. “I’ll send one over to talk to you.”

Parker still had his arms around me, one hand stroking my hair—the bun I’d had it in was a distant memory—as I rested my cheek against his lapel. I was in no hurry to move. The guy had bandaged my arm to stop the bleeding until I could get to the ER for stitches and for the moment, I just reveled in the miracle that I was still alive.

“Call Ryker for me,” I said to Parker. “Please.” I needed to see him, feel his arms around me.

Parker didn’t say anything, though his body stiffened. I twisted slightly so I could look up at him.

“I don’t have his number,” he said.

“My phone is in my purse.”

His arms were slow to drop from around me, but he dug inside my purse and pulled out my phone. A moment later, it was at his ear. His eyes met mine.

“No, it’s not Sage,” he said curtly. “It’s Parker. Sage has been involved in an accident. She’d like you to come.”

There was a pause as he listened. “She’s injured, but will be all right,” he said. Parker gave him our location, then ended the call.

“He’s on his way,” he said to me.

“Thank you.”

“Do you want me to stay as well?” His face was carefully blank.

“Can you?” I asked.

Parker’s expression softened and he nodded. The shivering started again so I pulled the blanket tighter around me. Without a word, Parker stepped forward and drew me close to him. I sighed. The blanket was okay, but nothing helped more than the feel of his arms around me.

It must have been fifteen minutes or more before I saw Ryker coming toward us through the crowd. He caught sight of us and I straightened.

“God, Sage, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” he said when he was close. Parker eased a few feet away as Ryker grabbed me in his arms to hug me. I gasped in pain as he inadvertently pressed on my shoulder. He immediately let go.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” he said. “I just … I hadn’t expected …” His words cut off as he kissed me, a quick, hard press of his lips against mine. He said nothing else, just rested his forehead against mine.

I felt better now, and it was strange, in a way. I’d needed Parker, but something inside hadn’t eased until Ryker had arrived, too. Even as I knew it shouldn’t be that way, near-death experiences had a tendency of making you not lie to yourself.

Ryker’s thumbs brushed my cheeks, his breath mingling with mine. I reached out my hand behind him, searching, and felt Parker’s slip into it. I gripped it tightly. Now I could breathe properly again.

After a few moments, Ryker cleared his throat and stepped back. His gaze caught on Parker. “Why are you here?” he asked.

“Ryker—” I began tiredly. I didn’t want them to get into it. Not now. But Parker interrupted me.

“They called me,” he said. “I’m a block away. Of course I came down to see if I could help.”

“Was anyone else hurt?” I asked Ryker, figuring he’d know.

“The driver of the sedan has a broken leg and wrist,” Ryker said. I saw his gaze drop to where Parker held my hand. “The rest are just banged up a bit. But I want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine,” I said, then the pain in my shoulder reminded me that I wasn’t. “Well, almost, I guess.”

His eyes narrowed. “A couple of witnesses are saying that someone pushed you. That it wasn’t an accident. These corners have street cams. We’ll pull the footage and see what we find.” He glanced over to where a group of cops were talking and I could tell he wanted to go talk to them, but was torn because he didn’t want to leave me.

“You can go,” I said. “I know you have to work. I just … I needed to see you.”

“You need stitches. Are they going to take you to the hospital?”

“I’ll take her,” Parker said.

Ryker didn’t like that at all, judging by his expression, but what could he say? He couldn’t take me and I’d feel ridiculous riding in an ambulance to the hospital for mere stitches.

“Thanks,” he said at last, the word sounding forced from him. He turned back to me, his palm gently cradling my jaw. “I’ll be by when I get off, okay?”

I nodded and he kissed me again. A longer kiss this time, and while it was always a toe-curling experience to be kissed by Ryker, this time so blatantly in front of Parker, it felt more akin to a dog marking its territory. Not actually peeing on me, of course, just as a figure of speech. Because, eww.

When we came up for air, I saw that Parker had given us some space, walking a few yards away and turning his back to us. I looked up at Ryker, the blue of his eyes so startling beneath his dark lashes.