A Natural Act (Contradictions) (4 page)

He frowns slightly and I feel bad for asking.
“Part of the territory of being a doctor, I guess,” he chuckles. “Bad habit of caring for the patients.”

“
Doctor?” I blurt because I didn’t see that coming although maybe I should have. Why else would he have been hovering?

He raises an eyebrow at me and there’s a flicker of irritation there.

“Why aren’t you wearing doctor stuff?”

“
Doctor stuff?” He quickly masks a one-sided smirk. “Because I finished my shift about an hour before I first saw you.”

“
Oh,” I answer dumbly.

“
Who did you think I was?” He asks and it’s obviously a loaded question.

“
I have no idea. You just said you were Craig.”

“
I did, didn’t I?” He grins. “Craig Carter, foundation doctor.” He offers his hand and I shake it.

“
Isabella West, patient,” I grin because he’s quite cute behind the tattooed, bad boy façade.

“
Now that we’ve been formally introduced, will you let me drive you to the hotel?”

I nod bashfully. I feel like I shouldn’t be calm but I am. The moment we leave this hospital, I’ll be on my way back to Nigel and my own personal hell. I know I want out I just need a plan of action. The house is in his name, I work for his family’s company, and I don’t even have a private bank account.

I’m trapped.

I’ll find a way out and start all over again but I need time.

Craig’s presence helps me push all that out of my mind for the moment. He’s a conundrum I can’t figure out. With his hair shaved practically bald and his multiple tattoos, he’s the furthest thing from looking like a doctor I could have imagined.

“
Is bouncing people from the hospital part of your job description?” I ask because I like to hear him talk and he doesn’t seem to do it voluntarily very often.

“
No,” he smiles. It’s slightly lop-sided and completely adorable. He looks almost completely happy for a brief second until the smile drops. “But it happens on occasion and I probably would have bounced him without being asked if I’d seen you first.”

I remain silent because I don’t really want to talk about Nigel.

“How long?” He asks when I don’t say anything else.

I know what’s he’s asking. How long has it been going
on? It feels wrong to admit it but at the same time, we’re not talking about it directly.

“
I met him in my first year of university,” I reply. “It started when we moved in together in my third year.”

He nods contemplatively.
“You deserve better.”

I open my mouth to reply but I don’t know why because I have no words. It doesn’t matter though because his eyes are on the main doors and he strolls away.

He comes to a stop in front of a guy who looks even bigger than he does. They’re approximately the same height but the other chap is a good few inches broader.

They greet each other with a casual one-armed hug and I can just about hear what they’re saying.

“Cheers, Danny. Where’s Rick?” Craig prompts

“
In the Merc with Tank,” Danny responds, glancing around the waiting room.

I quickly divert my gaze as I realise I’m
overtly eavesdropping.

“
Want to tell me what’s going on?”

“
Later,” Craig shakes his head.

Danny studies Craig a little longer but then nods.
“Alright. Rick says he wants to borrow your Garmin as payment.”

Craig sighs.
“Like I have a choice.”

Danny grins.
“Alright. I need to get back. Jelly called, she wants you to call. Laters, bro.”

“
Laters.”

“Whose car is this?” I ask just so I can hear him speak. I’m finding his voice to be quite calming and I need calm right now.

“
Danny’s,” he answers, knowing yet again that he’s not really giving me an answer.

I nod anyway.
Whoever Danny is, he has heated seats and they feel amazing against my sore body so I guess it’s not that important to know his connection to Craig.

“
Pain medication wearin’ off?” He prompts with obvious concern.

“
I’m okay,” I reassure him. For now. I can’t see that still being the case once I enter the hotel room.

He nods and reaches over to make sure I’m belted in properly before we pull away.

“You want the radio on?” He asks and I shake my head. I need to focus my thoughts before I descend back into the nightmare.

A mere
ten minutes later, Craig pulls the car over to the side of the road in what looks to be a rather deserted part of town. I feel like I ought to be concerned that I'm in a car with a strange man and he's taking me to what seems to be the back end of an industrial estate.

But I'm not.

“Why are we stopping?” I ask because I may not be scared but I am curious.

“
It's a posh hotel,” he shrugs.

“
I suppose so,” I frown.

“
You going in there like that?” He nods his head at my hospital gown.

“
I was going to,” I worry my lower lip because I see his point. With no ID and a bandaged face, I might not make the best impression on hotel security.

He chuckles and opens his car door.
“Wait here. Won't be long.” He shuts the door and is out of my vision in a few long strides.

Apparently I'm staying put.

I let my eyes close and take in the relative silence of the area. It's late evening which means I was in hospital for a full day. I spent so much of it unconscious or asleep that it feels more like a couple of hours.

Craig said he finished his shift right before I saw him for the first time. He's been by my bedside pretty much ever since. Has he not slept?

“Here,” he surprises me as he opens the car door and hands me a carrier bag.

“
What's this?” I frown, peeking inside the bag.

“
Jogging bottoms and a t-shirt,” he shrugs. Figured it wouldn't be too uncomfortable to put on and it was free,” he winks.

“
Free?” I look at him and then around because I don't see any shops nearby and then it wouldn't be free anyway.

“
That's the back entrance to my gym,” he gestures over his shoulder with his thumb. “I know the owners so I nabbed some of their promotional stuff.”

“
Won't they mind?” I ask cautiously.

He just laughs and I assume that's my answer. I take the clothes out of the bag. They're pretty good quality and look extremely comfortable so I'm very grateful. The hospital gown is slightly itch
y. I'm impressed that he thought of this.

“
I'll keep my eyes closed. Scout’s honour,” he says as I look at him with the clothes in my hands. He closes his eyes and his head tilts back onto the headrest.

I watch him for a few seconds longer and then, once I'm satisfied he's not looking, I begin by trying to drag the jogging bottoms up my legs.

I grunt because it involves bending double and it feels like my stomach is going to split open and my lungs are going to rupture.

“
Stop,” Craig says, looking over at me.

“
You weren't meant to be looking,” I pant, my breathing laboured with the physical exertion as I try to push past the pain.

“
Change of plan,” he winks, opening the driver-side door and coming around to my side. He opens the door and lifts my feet out of the car cautiously, using one arm to support my torso and help me to rotate round.

He carefully slips each of my sock-sheathed feet into the legs of the jogging bottoms and then stands up, slipping his arm underneath my shoulders and helping to pull me to s
tanding. I don't even need to use my muscles as he effortlessly places me on the pavement.

“
You okay?” He asks as I let my bodyweight settle on my feet and waver slightly on my unsteady legs.

“
Fine,” I manage but it's obvious I'm struggling.

He frowns and slowly removes his hands from where they'd come to rest on my waist.

“Put your hands on my shoulders,” he instructs and I do as I'm told because I feel suddenly exhausted again.

“
What about the no looking?” I ask weakly.

“
Doctor, remember?” He winks, kneeling down in front of me.

Exhaustion takes over and I stand
there lamely as he pulls the soft fabric over my quivering legs.

“
Take deep breaths,” he says gently, tucking my hair behind my ear as he rises to standing.

“
It hurts,” I whimper because it does and I just want to sleep.

“
I know, Bella,” he says sadly. “But you're strong. You can handle this.”

I frown because he's wrong but I don't want him to realise
that so I stay mute and concentrate on stopping my legs from buckling.

“
Look at me, lady,” he whispers with a subtle urgency. “I'm here.”

I nod because that somehow makes this better. He cautiously takes me in his arms and hugs me lightly. His large hands gently rub my back, miraculously avoiding all my injuries.

“I can take you anywhere, you know,” he whispers.

There's nowhere else for me to go so I don't answer. Instead, I cling to him as hard as my tired body will allow. I don't have to hug very tight to know that he's toned beyond belief. My fingers rest on the middle of his back and the muscles here are so defined that his spine dips into a deep groove.

He's the very definition of strength and that's exactly what I need right now. I find myself wishing I could borrow some of his strength, even a small fraction would be enough.

He sighs, realising I'm not going to answer and then withdraws from the embrace, keeping his hands on my shoulders.

“Now the t-shirt,” he says sadly, his fingers digging into his pocket and drawing out a Swiss army knife.

“
My dad once taught me you should never go anywhere without a knife,” he explains when I eye it wearily.

“
Except airport security,” I reply.

“
Except there,” he agrees with a chuckle. “Cross your arms over your chest.”

I do as I'm
instructed and he gently eases the knife into the sleeves of my gown. He carefully cuts along the seams, taking great care not to touch my skin with any part of the instrument.

When he's done, he slides the oversized gym t-shirt over my head and nods for me to move my hands away and let the hospital gown fall to the ground. He carefully stret
ches the fabric to manoeuvre it over my arm, cast and all, before rewrapping the sling to support my broken limb.

“
All done,” he smiles, squeezing my left hand gently. The one not attached to my broken arm. “Are you right-handed by any chance?”

I nod glumly because I'd already considered what an inconvenience it'll be to have my right arm in
plaster cast.

“
Probably for the best. The word sinister means left-handed in Latin.”

“
Are you fluent in Latin?” I manage a weak grin because I'm tired but he's cute with his dorky Latin knowledge.

“
No,” he grins, helping me back into the car. “I just find words interesting.”

I look at him curiously because he keeps surprising me.

“Right, let’s go,” he sighs, settling back into the driver's seat and ensuring I’m buckled in once more. I get the sense he was putting this bit off but he pulls the car back onto the road regardless.

We're lucky enough to find a
parking spot right outside the hotel and I sigh and close my eyes as he pulls the handbrake on.

“
Well...” I let out a slow breath. “Thank you for everything.”

“
I'll walk you in,” he replies, his eyes on the steering wheel which his fists are gripping tightly.

“
No!” I blurt too quickly. I appreciate the sentiment but I can't risk Nigel seeing me with him. I'm already praying he doesn't ask me how I got back.

He always knows when I'm lying.

“Fine,” he nods, ashen-faced and closed off once more.

I open my mouth to apologise but there's no point and I probably won't see him again anyway. I
ignore the way that thought makes me feel like my ribs are broken rather than fractured.

It's best I get away as quickly as
possible. This man makes me question myself in a way I'm not quite comfortable with.

I open the door wordlessly and slowly
manoeuvre myself out of the car. I can feel the cold tarmac through the thin fabric off my socks and the sharp chill is a welcome distraction from the feel of my body and the nagging bite of my emotions.

“
How are you with numbers?” Craig asks me, quickly rounding the car and shutting my car door.

“
Not too bad,” I furrow my brows in confusion. “Why?”

He quickly
reels off a mobile number and repeats it twice more. “Got it?”

“
I think so,” I reply uncertainly.

“
You need anything, call that number.”

“
Thank you,” I whisper, trying hard to fight my tears. This man is a virtual stranger and his generosity seems to know no bounds. It’s been so long since I received such kindness and I find myself wondering how long it will be until next time.

He uses the soft pad of his thumb to gently wipe away a lone tear but the gentle gesture doesn't match the firm set of his jaw.

I can't look at his expression any longer so I turn and hobble the short distance to the front door of the hotel. Craig stands and watches me, his back resting against the car as he tracks my movements with his eyes.

I get almost to the
main door but my path is blocked by a burly chap in a black t-shirt with a security tag hanging from his waist.

“
You lost, love?” He eyes me sceptically like he expects me to start catapulting faeces at him like some delirious, heroin-riddled miscreant.

“
I'm staying here,” I answer shakily.

He eyes me
suspiciously and I know he won't believe me. My eyes scan the lobby behind him, hoping in vain I can see Nigel. It's very rare I actually want to see him.

“
Let her in, man,” Craig's voice startles me slightly.

I wince because he’s come over here and it seems he’s expecting to strong-arm the security man into submission to obtain entrance into the hotel.

“Carter,” the security chap drops the burly macho-ism and his face softens into a boyish grin of recognition. Apparently they know each other and I have to wonder how a doctor and

“
Let her in,” Craig nods again.

The security guy looks back at me and then nervously at Craig.

“Patient?”

Craig nods.

The man steps aside and I look down to avoid meeting his eye as I make my way into the lobby. I cling onto the sound of Craig’s voice for strength as I stumble towards reception.

“
Good evening,” I greet the well-dressed receptionist. After seeing her tailored suit, I'm grateful for Craig's forethought in getting me some proper clothes, even if they're probably not quite what this 5-star hotel is accustomed to.

“
Good evening,” she replies, looking down her nose at me.

Nigel usually orders my clothes and it helps me act the part of the rich, upper-class
businesswoman. I feel uncertain without that pretence.

“
My partner, Nigel Callaghan, should have checked in already. He’s probably left a key for me. My name is Isabella West.”

“
Do you have a driving license or credit card?”

“
I'm afraid not,” I answer dejectedly. “I've come straight from A&E and I'd be very grateful if you could call up to him to let him know I'm here.”

She raises a disgusted eyebrow in an unfriendly sneer but her attention is captured by something behind me. I already know Craig is stood behind me.

“There a problem, Bella?”

“
Um,” I hedge because I’m panicking slightly in case Nigel sees us together but, at the same time, I feel like I’m drowning and Craig is my life raft.

His eyes are on the receptionist as he looks at her expectantly.
“Have you called up to him?”