Tending Tara (Alaska Blizzard #7) - Kat Mizera Page 0,2
to make sure, but this feels dislocated. It’ll only take a second or so for me to pop it back into place, so let’s take that X-ray and get this done. You’ll feel a lot better.”
“Will it hurt, Doctor?” Miikka asked, frowning.
“Somewhat, but it’ll be quick. If we take the time to sedate her, she won’t feel it, but then—”
“No sedation,” Tara murmured, shaking her head. “Just do it.”
She quickly got to her feet, and Donovan got up, too. Miikka gave them a funny look, but Tara just wanted to get this over with. She hated showing weakness, especially in front of people she barely knew, so she didn’t even realize she was still holding Donovan’s hand until they were walking down the hall behind Dr. Newman.
What the hell was wrong with her? She was tougher than this, and she had her brother if she needed to hold someone’s hand. But now she was walking down the hallway holding the hand of a professional hockey player. A sexy-as-fuck professional hockey player who made her wonder if she was ready to start dating again. Or at the very least, finding a hot guy to flirt with.
This probably wasn’t the best time to think about it, though.
She abruptly let go, not daring to look at him.
“Have a seat,” Dr. Newman said. “Let’s get this done.”
“I’ll be right here.” Donovan leaned against the wall.
Tara looked away again, unsure how this had happened. Miikka or Charli should be here with her, not Donovan, with his long-lashed hazel eyes and unruly dark hair. He was proving to be a nice distraction, though, standing against the wall like he didn’t have a care in the world. Of course, he wasn’t the one whose jaw had been knocked out of place.
It didn’t take Dr. Newman long to take the X-ray and explain what he was going to do. Normally, she was okay with medical things, but this didn’t sound like fun at all.
“Last time I got hurt,” Donovan said, coming over to stand next to her, “was during a bench-clearing brawl in Calgary. It was before I got traded to the Blizzard.”
“You were a damn menace,” Dr. Newman agreed. “I saw that game on TV. The whole bunch of you were fucking lunatics.”
“The guys from Seattle had been playing dirty all night,” Donovan protested. “Somebody needed to shut them up.”
“And it had to be you?”
“Apparently.” Donovan reached for Tara’s hand again, squeezing a little.
“Tara, this is probably going to hurt, but I promise it’ll be over before you know it. Close your eyes and breathe.” Dr. Newman briefly met her gaze.
Tara closed her eyes.
“Tell her, Doc—I took that guy down with one punch.”
“That you did. Got yourself an instigating suspension, though.”
Dr. Newman put his hands on either side of Tara’s face, but she was listening to the story.
“It was worth every minute.”
“Coach Saunders will kick your ass if you pull shit like that here in Anchorage.”
Donovan increased the pressure of his hand just as another jolt of pain made Tara gasp.
“I’m not in net often enough to get into trouble here,” Donovan continued as if nothing had happened.
“It’s all done, Tara. You okay?” Dr. Newman was peering down at her.
She managed a shaky breath. “Y-yes. Thank you.”
“Then I think my work is done here,” Donovan said, giving her a quick wink as he released her hand. “Bye, Doc. See you around, Tara.”
2
Donovan went home after he left the arena. When he’d headed down there to see the women’s hockey game, they’d all had plans to go to breakfast afterward. He hadn’t expected to be watching Doc Newman putting Tara’s jaw back in place. He definitely hadn’t been expecting to hold her hand. He hadn’t known what else to do when she’d grabbed his, and then he hadn’t wanted to leave her.
She’d been nervous, and he hated seeing her that way. Miikka had given him a weird look when he’d seen their hands clasped, but at that point, there hadn’t been anything to do but keep it casual. Besides, Tara had needed someone to distract her, so he’d started telling stories. She hadn’t said anything, but she’d been listening. Her eyes had met his a few times. Those dark blue eyes of hers. They reminded him of the ocean when it was storming. He’d wanted to get lost in them since the first time he saw her, but she was his teammate’s sister, and he was recently divorced. Not to mention probably on his way out of Anchorage.