He crouched down in front of Camry. “Christ, Cam, that’s one hell of a shiner you got there.” He scowled at her ankle. “And you need to get that foot X-rayed. The ambulance will take you in, and you just tell them to bill me.”

“All I need is an ice pack, because it’s only sprained. And I am not riding in an ambulance. They’re for people having heart attacks or bleeding to death.”

His scowl darkened. “Don’t make me use my boss voice,” he said, dismissing her by turning to Luke and holding out his hand. “Dave Bean, Mr. . . . ?”

“Pascal,” Luke said, taking his hand. “Luke Pascal.”

“I’m sorry, Luke, that you got caught up in this mess. But I did see you come to our little girl’s rescue,” he said, nodding toward Fiona, “and I thank you. Most people aren’t so quick to get involved in other people’s business.”

Luke shrugged. “I have a kid sister about the same age as Fiona.”

“Food’s on the house for as long as you’re in town, Luke.” Dave looked at Luke’s bleeding cut, and the way he was cradling his ribs. “You go with Cam in the ambulance and let them check you out at the hospital. That cut might need stitches, and you might have some cracked ribs. I’ll cover the medical bills.”

He turned back to Camry. “You did good, kiddo. Don’t worry about anyone pressing any charges. By the time I’m done with those four, they’ll wish they’d driven straight through town.” He flushed and awkwardly patted her shoulder. “You take as much time off as you need to get back on your feet. You want me to call anyone? Your family, maybe?”

“No!” Camry said a bit more emphatically than she’d meant to, causing Dave to flinch. “I mean, thanks, but I’m really not hurt that badly.” She smiled over at Fiona. “And I happen to have a roommate at the moment, who can wait on me hand and foot for a few days.”

Two EMTs came over, wheeling a gurney. One of the men crouched down in front of Luke and pointed a tiny flashlight in his eyes. The other one did the same to Camry. He must have decided she was going to live, because he grinned at her. “Can you hop up on the gurney yourself, or are you willing to risk being dropped if I go weak in the knees when I pick you up?”

“I want to change into my jeans and sweater before I go anywhere.”

“Why? They’re just going to take everything back off you at the hospital.” He scanned his gaze over her costume, then grinned at her again. “What you’re wearing is just lovely. And anyway, Doc Griswell’s working the ER tonight, and he’s got a thing for legs—I mean ankles. I bet he puts you ahead of the stab wound and facial cut.”

Camry made an effort to stand, but the ruggedly built EMT suddenly lifted her in his arms, stood up, and set her on the gurney. “It’s a good thing you didn’t crack a smile,” he said dryly, spreading a blanket over her, “or I really would have gone weak in the knees.”

“Fiona, why don’t you go get Camry’s purse and clothes,” Luke suggested as soon as his EMT helped him to his feet. “And you can ride in the ambulance with her. I’ll follow in my car so I can bring you both home after.”

“We’ll take a taxi back,” Camry told him, holding the blanket up to her chest. She looked at Luke’s EMT. “He shouldn’t be driving, should he?”

“No.”

Camry finally found her smile, and she made sure it was damn smug. Fiona might have put the idea in Luke’s head that she might welcome his attention by giving him her number, but she’d be damned if she was entertaining some bored tourist on sabbatical.

“I’d offer to drive you home from the hospital,” Dave said, walking over to the gurney. He waved toward the police talking to people lined up to get their vouchers. “But I’m afraid I’m going to be tied up here until the wee hours.” He stepped closer. “Wipe that smirk off your face, MacKeage. The guy did rescue our little girl, after all,” he whispered.

“I don’t like pushy men,” she whispered back. “And I sure as hell don’t want to encourage them by being nice.”

Dave snorted. “I can see that’s been working well for you.”

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Chapter Six

Camry woke up to a wet tongue slobbering in her ear, but wasn’t alarmed because she recognized Max’s doggie breath. She rolled away with a groan, unwilling to open her eyes for fear of increasing the throbbing in her temple.

That is, until she rolled into a body that wasn’t canine. She sat up with a start, grabbed her head to keep it from splitting wide open, and fell back against the pillow with an even louder groan.

“What is licking my face?” Luke Pascal rasped from beside her. “I know it’s not your tongue, MacKeage, because it’s way too friendly.”

“That’s Ruffles,” she muttered. “And she’s a shameless hussy. Is there a reason you’re in my bed, Pascal? Not that it matters, because if you’re not out of it in two seconds, I’m going to blacken your other eye.”

“Give me a minute, would you? My head is killing me, and I’m afraid a rib will pierce my lung if I move right now.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I heard you whimpering in the night, so I came in and checked on you. I must have fallen asleep before I could leave.”

“That’s a flat-out lie, because I never whimper.”

“What in hell did they give us at the hospital?”

“Obviously some very powerful pain pills. Um . . . you don’t happen to have any spare ones in your pocket, do you?”

“Boxers don’t have pockets.”

“I have some for both of you. Max, get down,” Fiona said, walking up to Camry’s side of the bed. “You, too, Ruffles. Go on, shoo!”

Camry felt the bed dip and cracked open her one good eye to see Fiona holding a pill and a glass of water. Cam opened her mouth and the girl popped in the pill, then lifted her head to give her a drink. As soon as she was done, Fiona got up and headed around the bed to do the same for Luke.

“The doctor warned me that you’d both be pretty sore this morning. Max! I told you to go in the living room!”

“Whisper,” Cam whispered.

“Sorry.”

“Why is Luke here?” Cam asked.

“The nice EMT from the ambulance called his wife, and they both hung out in the waiting room with me. Then they gave us a ride home and helped me get you both settled in for the night. John put Luke in my bed, and his wife, Glenna, helped me put you in yours. I slept on the couch, so I don’t know how you two ended up in bed together,” she finished, sounding way too delighted.

“No, I mean why is Luke in my house?”

“Oh, that. When the doctor gave me instructions for both of you, I figured Luke should come stay with us for a few days.” She smiled at Cam’s one-eyed glare. “After he so gallantly came to my rescue last night, I thought it was the least we could do.”

“He doesn’t care to be talked about as if he isn’t here,” Luke said. “And thank you,” he muttered, only to groan when Tigger jumped up on the bed, jostling them both. “How the hell many dogs do you own, anyway?”

“None,” Cam told him. “But I babysit four.”

“You babysit dogs? Why?”

“To pay the bills.”

Camry heard Fiona sigh. “She’s still trying to decide what she wants to be when she grows up.”

“Excuse me?” Luke said.

“Right now she’s torn between being Suzy Homemaker or president of the United States. I told her she’s smart enough to be a rocket scientist if she wanted, but she doesn’t think that would be all that exciting.”

Apparently Luke was so impressed, he couldn’t comment.

Cam felt her arm being patted, and found Fiona standing beside her again. “Don’t worry about the dogs. I’ll take them for their runs for the next few days. The doctor said you need to stay off that ankle.”