Tags:
Romance,
Mystery,
Twins,
love,
fireman,
tattoo,
Jewelry,
wedding,
cop,
sheriff,
bakery
climb up onto the paper-covered exam table before Verity descended on her with cold wet cotton balls.
“Geez, Verity,” she hissed as the doctor swabbed the wound.
“It’s full of dirt.”
“You could’ve warned me,” she mumbled.
“Sorry.” Verity squeezed the wound several times and Annessa wasn’t entirely convinced she was sincere in her apology. “I’m going to have to stitch this.”
Annessa swallowed hard. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. What cut you?”
“I don’t know for sure. Probably a rock or something metal.”
“Try again.”
“Huh? I really don’t know, Verity, I was too distracted by the blood.”
Verity loaded a syringe with clear liquid then gave it a thump. “Take a deep breath.”
Annessa inhaled just as Verity jabbed the needle into her skin. Within seconds the pain became a dull ache.
Verity drew back the needle and tossed it onto a nearby tray. “I can’t say for sure, but I’d say you’ve been shot, Annessa.”
“What? No I haven’t, I tripped over a brick and fell. I was just outside the back door of the bakery.”
Verity ripped open a package then removed something that resembled a fishing hook, complete with the line attached. “The edges of this wound resemble a burn.”
Suddenly, Annessa wasn’t in the mood to argue. Somehow deep down she knew bees didn’t buzz quite as loud as the one that whizzed past her ear. A low moan left her throat while her head swam and polka dots danced in her vision.
“Lie back.” Verity propped the back end of the table into a makeshift chair then loaded another syringe. “This will help you relax.”
This time, Annessa didn’t even wince when the needle invaded her skin.
“Now, I want the whole story.” Verity garnished the hook and began to sew.
“You gave me truth serum, didn’t you?”
Verity giggled and took another stitch. “Start talking.”
“You can’t tell anyone.”
“Technically, I’m supposed to report a bullet wound.”
A little more relaxed, Annessa still wasn’t prepared to give in. “Then, I don’t remember. I think I hit my head too.”
“You did.” Verity reached with her free hand to move the hair back from Annessa’s forehead. “The lump is pretty impressive but not enough to cause memory loss.”
“Promise, Verity.”
“Fine, I promise.” She returned her concentration to stitching. “Besides, you’re my patient – I’m sworn to secrecy by law.”
“Is the bullet in my arm?”
“No, my best guess is that it grazed your arm just enough to leave a wound to stitch. Were you running?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Someone is following me but I swear I didn’t see anyone.”
Verity poked the needle through another piece of skin then pulled the line taut while the whole sordid story left Annessa’s mouth. By the time she’d finished, Verity tied the last suture and taped a piece of gauze over the wound.
“Why haven’t you told Casey?”
“Because I’m still not sure I’m in trouble.”
“Really? Even after this?”
“Okay, if I really have a bullet wound like you insist, I might reconsider.”
“If?”
“No offense, Verity, but I didn’t see anyone else in the alley and I didn’t hear any sound close to a gunshot.” Except for that annoying buzz in my ear . She ignored that possibility and continued. “All I know for sure is that I tripped on a brick and fell.”
Verity reached into a cabinet and then handed her a package. “Take one tablet every four hours. If your pain worsens or you see signs of infection, come see me. I’ll keep your secret – for now.”
“Thank you. I don’t want to worry my family. Van’s got enough to worry about and Travis would go ballistic.”
“What about Casey?”
“Don’t even go there, Verity. You know as well as I do that he’d lock me up.”
“You’re right.” Verity released a hard sigh. “Just please be careful, Annessa, and promise me you’ll tell Casey if anything else freaky