As Kathryn came to, she concentrated, trying to shake off the grogginess. Bits and pieces of hushed discussions dragged her eyes open. The dim light of the room made her struggle to pull everything into focus as she tried sitting up.
“Easy.” Dana gripped Kathryn’s shoulders, holding her on the leather sofa.
She was in an office, surrounded by her three best friends. Fortunately, her besties represented some of the finest medical professionals in the city.
“Do you remember what happened?” Dana asked.
“Oh . . .” Kathryn moaned with regret, flinging her forearm over her face. “I’m afraid I do.”
Julian tapped her arm. “You know the drill, sister. Let’s go down the list together. Is there any chance—”
She waved her hand for him to stop. “I could be pregnant? I know, I know.”
A husky voice came from behind her friends huddled around her. “Perhaps I should step outside.”
Kathryn pushed Julian out of the way to see Jake heading out the door. “No, don’t go. I’m not pregnant.” She smacked Julian’s leg. “I’m probably a little dehydrated, with the altitude and all.”
“Or this guy’s kisses cause women to faint.” Dana turned her head to Jake. “I can only imagine what other superpowers you might be harboring.”
Laurie looked down at Kathryn. “Or it might have been that blow to the head.”
Jake stepped closer and his gaze locked on hers. “What blow to the head?”
Is he . . . worried?
Laurie told him everything she knew. “She was robbed. Some lowlife douchebag clubbed her good for a laptop and some business cards. What the hell is this world coming to?”
Jake nudged Kathryn’s friends aside and sat next to her, gently working his hands over the back of her head. She flinched, but braved the soreness by biting her tongue, preventing any more moaning at his hands.
He lifted her chin, studying her eyes. “A knot like that . . . and fainting. Could be a concussion. Looks like I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“Oh no. That’s okay. Dana, or Laurie, or Julian can drive me.”
All three objected at once, each giving different reasons for not touching their friend in need with a ten-foot pole.
Jake’s crazy adorable eyebrows and mild smirk coaxed out Kathryn’s grin. She looked back at her friends, who were busy making an imaginative range of silent lewd gestures behind his back.
She sighed at Jake. “Well, sounds like I’m stranded.”
“Lucky me. I’ll be your driver.”