Jaymie Holland Read Online Free Page B

or she could end up with a bad scar.
    She looked down at her lap, feeling the sting of almost-tears again. Damn it. She couldn’t afford insurance or a hospital copay, but she was too proud to admit it, so she only thanked the paramedic for his help.
    Colton was studying her intently. “We’ll take you to the ER.”
    “No hospital.” She shook her head. “I just want to go home.”
    “Then tomorrow you can go to the doctor that we see.” Dane crouched beside her. “We’ll make an appointment with Dr. Anderson, a first class surgeon, as soon as we can get you in tomorrow.”
    She started to argue, but she was too tired to do so.
    After she promised the police officer that she would go to the station the next day, she let Colton help her up from where she’d been sitting at the rear of the ambulance. Dane grabbed her purse, the cut strap dangling over his arm. He also picked up the rolling case holding her Sweet Sensations demo kit.
    She thought about refusing to let them take her home and just calling a cab, but she couldn’t afford it and it was just pure stubbornness and pride that made it difficult to accept their offer. So she swallowed her pride and let them help her into the back of their black Mercedes, wincing again from her sore backside. They climbed in on either side of her and the driver, Louis, slid behind the wheel. In moments they were headed toward her apartment.
    It wasn’t far to her place. Dane and Colton each took one of her arms as they got out on the sidewalk. She tried to shrug them off but they wouldn’t let go, so she let them escort her into the building.
    They reached the elevator and she looked from one man to the other. “I can go the rest of the way myself.”
    Dane shook his head. “We’re going to see you safely into your place.”
    As the elevator whined its way up to her floor, the adrenaline surge started to wane. She had a moment’s unsteadiness, but both men were there to hold her up. She liked the feeling of strength in their hands as they steadied her.
    When they reached the door to her apartment, Colton took the key from her and opened it. Instead of leaving, they entered the apartment with her and closed the door behind them. Her emotions vacillated, tipping from wanting them to leave to not wanting to be alone.
    She looked from one to the other, a feeling of deep gratitude flowing through her. “I didn’t tell you how thankful I am to you both. You probably saved my life.” Tears burned the backs of her eyes. This time she really might cry, no matter how hard she was fighting it.
    Colton brushed hair from her face with his knuckles, trailing them across her uninjured cheek. “We’re just glad we got there before something worse happened.”
    Dane came up behind her and rested his palms on her shoulders. “Are you going to be all right?”
    The two men surrounding her made her feel safe in a way that she’d never felt before.
    At the thought of them leaving her alone, a sudden rush of fear bottomed out her stomach.
    “I don’t want to be alone.” The words came out of nowhere, spilling out before she could stop them.
    “Then we’re not going anywhere.” Colton stood close as he linked his fingers with hers, their bodies touching. She became keenly aware of his bare chest in a way that she hadn’t been before, when he’d used his shirt to staunch the flow of blood from her nose and cheek, and to clean the blood from her face.
    Dane pressed his length along her backside and took her by the shoulders. “We will take care of you, Drew. No one is going to hurt you again.”
    She caught her breath at the promise in his words and because she was trapped between the two men. She felt so very safe in their arms, and as if she wanted to be there forever. Her tiredness drifted away and the ache she’d felt for them earlier renewed itself between her thighs.
    Colton kissed her forehead as Dane pressed his lips to the curve of her neck. Colton stepped back.