Evers & Afters

2. Cammi

Chapter Two

Cammi

Elias actually looked like he felt bad. Good Lord, this man was dangerous for my sanity. There he sat in a hospital bed with the sheet draped at his hips, and his hospital gown barely concealing his chest and doing a whole lot of nothing to hide the lean muscles of his arms and shoulders.

His shaggy dark blond hair was rumpled, falling almost to his shoulders on the sides. His piercing espresso eyes met mine. I took a moment to study him. His skin was burnished bronze, even in the middle of winter. Being alone near him had my libido giving itself a shake and perking up like a cheerful puppy after a nap. It did that every time I saw Elias.

His face was a thing of beauty—cut cheekbones, and a strong jaw with a little dimple at the bottom of his chin. His rich brown eyes stood out, and oh my word, his lips were bold and sensual. Just looking at him made my mouth water a little. Being in the hospital, his raw masculinity should’ve been a little weaker now. I mean, he was injured. I tried to convince my body to cool its heels, but no such luck.

Of course, being Elias, the reason for him being in the hospital was no mundane accident. Oh no, even that carried an edge of sexy danger. He and his friend crashed in the wilderness in a small plane. Elias had braved cold weather and stayed conscious the entire time with cracked ribs, a broken ankle, and a nasty gash on his side, according to my friend who had given me the scoop.

Injured and in a hospital bed, Elias still had that crazy effect on me. Every time I looked at him, it was like getting a hit of hotness. My hormones lit up like a pinball machine, and my libido did a little dance. As far as I could tell, it was a one-way street.

I hadn’t come to the hospital with designs on Elias. I’d gotten to know him over the last few years when he stopped by for coffee almost daily at my little coffee truck. Even though he was usually a grumpy guy, he was a very reliable customer and left ridiculous tips, like five bucks for a three-dollar coffee. Even if he didn’t call himself my friend, I considered him part of my circle, such as it was in the small world of Diamond Creek, Alaska.

“It’s okay, I know I’m not your girlfriend. I wasn’t confused about that part,” I teased, injecting lightness into my tone.

“I know you’re not,” he said, his voice coming out a little rough. “I hate being here, and it makes me more of an a*s than usual.”

“You’re not an a*s, and you’ll be free tomorrow,” I said, my heart squeezing a little. He looked like a lost boy. “Like I said, I’ll bring coffee tomorrow for you. It’ll improve your morning.”

“That’d be more than nice. How are things?”

“Be careful now,” I teased. “We’re about to have the longest conversation we’ve ever had.”

Elias stared back at me, just long enough that I wondered if I saw heat flicker in his eyes. Surely not. Because that was crazy thinking.

Just then, the door to his room opened again, and Flynn Walker came striding in. Flynn was another gorgeous specimen of a man, tall and lanky with dark blond hair, and glacial blue eyes. There were plenty of women who pined after him.

He was a lost cause, or so I kept telling every girl who’d listen. He was beyond in love with Daphne Bell who was the chef at the outdoor resort he ran on the outskirts of Diamond Creek. I was thrilled for them.

Flynn flew planes with Elias and rumor had it they’d been in the Air Force together, along with the rest of the pilots who worked for Flynn. Flynn wore battered jeans and a navy T-shirt that made his eyes pop. He stopped beside the bed, looking from me to Elias. “Is he being nice to you?” he asked with a sly grin.

“Absolutely,” I said sweetly.

“I was only a little cranky,” Elias added. “I even let the doctor think she’s my girlfriend.”

Flynn’s eyes went comically wide at that. “Damn. I guess that means she is your girlfriend.”

Elias actually laughed, and then immediately grimaced.

“Take it easy,” Flynn said.

“It’s my f*****g ribs, man.”

“I feel you,” Flynn replied, patting his own side. “You know I cracked a few. I’m still sore.”

“Yeah, but you’re not in the f*****g hospital,” Elias muttered.

“Dude, it’s only been three days,” Flynn said.

“Yeah, but you’re free. You didn’t have to spend the night,” Elias argued.

“Yeah, well, I didn’t get stabbed in the side with a branch and a piece of metal. You did.”

Elias rolled his eyes with a sigh. “I’m gonna have a hell of a scar.”

“Well, scars are badass. Right, Cammi?” Flynn glanced toward me.

“I prefer for my friends to not almost die,” I said sincerely.

“Let me see that side anyway,” Flynn commented, stepping closer to the bed.

A wash of heat blasted through me when Elias slid one arm out of his hospital gown and bared his chest and abdomen. I’d never actually seen him without a shirt. Now, I knew for sure he had a genuine six-pack, maybe even an eight-pack. My fingers twitched. Oh my God. I was getting hot and bothered over a guy in a hospital bed.

Elias pushed the fabric over further, and I gasped. He had a wound, probably eight inches long on his side, about halfway between his waist and armpit. There was a tidy line of stitches and it appeared to be healing nicely. I didn’t like thinking about what it must have looked like before it was stitched up. The entire area surrounding it was still bruised.

Flynn whistled through his teeth. “Ouch. The bruising is ugly, so that means the swelling is going down. You’re well on your way,” he offered encouragingly, unperturbed at the sight of Elias’s injury. “So, it’s that and your broken ankle, right?”

Elias nodded. “Yup. They had to repair my spleen where it got nicked and put a pin in my ankle.”

My heart twisted in my chest, and I wanted to take Elias home, wrap him in a warm comforter and ply him with tea and coffee and sweets. My response to Elias made me feel a little crazy. It alternated between pure l**t and this sudden desire to take care of him. As if Elias needed anyone to take care of him.

“What time is your get out of jail card scheduled for tomorrow?” Flynn’s question drew me back into the conversation.

“The doctor said in the afternoon. They have to clear me before they truly agree to set me free.”

“I’m bringing him coffee in the morning so he’ll be in a better mood,” I offered.

Flynn chuckled. “Daphne is making him something special for dinner. You’ll get spoiled when you come home.”

“I’ll stay out in the other house,” Elias muttered.

“No can-do,” Flynn said. “A nurse called this morning to make sure somebody could help when you change the dressing on that injury, and you still can’t get around on that leg. Daphne’s gonna set you up downstairs. It’s a win-win.”

“Okay, I know you’re crazy about Daphne, and I think she’s awesome, but how do I win?”

“You get a bed downstairs and amazing food, plus all your friends get to visit.”

My phone rang, and I slipped it out of my purse, glancing down to see my friend Susie’s name flash on the screen. I stood and glanced between them. “I should get going. I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” I said, casting a last smile at Elias.