She’d been assessed upon arrival at the hospital, and her condition had been declared “fair.” As a result, she now found herself awaiting her discharge from the emergency room by way of a twelve-year-old Doogie Howser who’d told her he wanted to observe her for a few more hours before signing off and sending her home.

“We just want to be sure you’re okay,” he’d said when they first put her in this room.

She’d wondered if she should give him a lollipop because children typically liked those.

When had she gotten so old? Or maybe she wasn’t old. Maybe she only felt old because she was quickly approaching thirty and she was still as single as the day she was born. With hardly any more clothes on at the moment.

A nurse entered her room, and Louisa could see a small crowd in the hallway.

“The news heard about the daring rescue,” the nurse said with a sigh. Her name tag said Kiki, and she had short hair and a big, bright smile. “That is one hunky Coastie. You sure are a lucky girl.” She wrapped a sleeve around Louisa’s arm and started taking her blood pressure.

“Right. Lucky.”

Kiki’s eyebrows shot up. “Have you seen that man without all his gear on? I think you were pulled out of the water by a Greek god.”

Through the small window in the door, Louisa caught and held Cody’s gaze. His eyes practically drilled into her, leaving her with about as much oxygen as she’d had when she was underwater.

He looked away, a serious expression knitting his brow.

Cody hadn’t always been serious. She supposed she had something to do with that. Or maybe she didn’t. (How arrogant of her to think so!) Maybe he’d simply grown up and nothing she’d done made a bit of difference to him anymore.

But she knew that wasn’t true, didn’t she? She knew it because she still felt those deep pangs of guilt. She knew it because she was the one who had ruined everything.

Kiki rambled on and on about Cody’s muscles (which were, in all honesty, impressive) and his dark hair and even darker eyes. “He’s got this sort of mysterious thing going on. Do you want me to bring him in here? I mean, he did save your life.”

“No,” Louisa said quickly.

Kiki stopped what she was doing (what was she doing?) and stared at Louisa. Louisa quickly shifted. “Thanks, but I’ll talk to him in a little while.”

Kiki shrugged. “Suit yourself. If it were me, though, I’d be looking for every possible chance to talk to that man. And maybe slip him my phone number.” She laughed. “I mean, if I was single. I’m not. I’m happily married. But you don’t have a ring, so I think you should go for it.”