Page 5 of Target Acquired
“Didn’t say anything.”
“Didn’t have to. What are you thinking?”
“What do you think I’m thinking?”
Cole scowled. “I don’t know, but you’re wrong.”
“If you don’t know what I’m thinking, how do you know I’m wrong?”
“Shut up.”
James’ low chuckles followed him all the way to Dolly.
TWO
Kenzie sometimes accompanied her “battlefield patients” to the hospital and sometimes she just patched them up on scene and let the paramedics escort them. Today, she was at the hospital. The wounded one was a team member, and she was going to be there for him no matter what he—or anyone else—thought about her position with the unit. She knew she belonged. One day they’d see it too. She hoped.
Cole and the others would be right behind her as soon as they could get away from the scene.
She walked into the ED and spotted Lainie Jackson, who was speaking to one of the doctors at the nurses’ station. Lainie and Kenzie had met during an incident much like the one that had injured Cowboy. Only Kenzie had been the one grazed by a stray bullet. Lainie had kept watch over Kenzie throughout her short hospital visit. Friendly, concerned, intent—and eyes shadowed with secrets and pain.
Like her own, no doubt.
She shook herself and walked to Cowboy’s room and knocked. She’d speak to him first, then get out of the way so the others could have a turn when they arrived.
“Come in.”
She pushed open the door and stepped inside, then leaned against the wall. The man in the bed was not a happy camper. He scowled at her. “This isn’t necessary.”
She shrugged. “A bullet—going very fast, I might add—hit you in the head. You could have a concussion.”
“I don’t.”
“If you haven’t seen the doctor, I can examine you and tell you for sure.”
“Go away.”
His mild tone brought a smile to her lips, and she pressed them together to hide it. But he was verbally sparring with her like he would any other member of the team, and that did more for her morale than anything she could possibly think of.
“You got there fast,” he said, his voice low.
“I heard the shots and Garrison’s shout. I knew someone had been hit.”
He eyed her. “Like really fast.”
“Just doing my job.”
His eyes stayed glued on hers. “Right.”
The door opened behind her and she turned. Cole. Her heart did not skip a beat, because that simply wasn’t allowed.
“Hey,” he said. “How’s he doing?”
“I’m right here,” Cowboy said, the growl in his throat unmistakable. “You can ask me, you know.”
“Yeah, but you won’t tell me the truth, so I’m not wasting my breath.”
Cowboy huffed. “Hey now.”