Blake caught the movement out of the corner of his eye, and was beside her. “Summer, just relax.”

Moistening her lips, she studied the room again. “Hospital?”

“Emergency Room. They’re going to fix your arm.”

She managed a smile, but kept her gaze locked on the tray. “I’d just as soon not.” When she started to swing her legs over the side of the examining table, the doctor was there to stop her.

“Lie still, Ms. Lyndon.”

Summer stared back at the tough, lined female face. She had frizzy hair the color of a peach, and wire-rim glasses. Summer gauged her own strength against the doctor’s and decided she could win. “I’m going home now,” she said simply.

“You’re going to lie right there and get that arm sewed up. Now be quiet.”

Well, perhaps if she recruited an ally. “Blake?”

“You need stitches, love.”

“I don’t want them.”

“Need,” the doctor corrected, briskly. “Nurse!” While she scrubbed her hands in a tiny sink, she looked back over her shoulder. “Mr. Cocharan, you’ll have to wait outside.”

“No.” Summer managed to struggle back into a sitting position. “I don’t know you,” she told the white-coated woman at the sink. “And I don’t know her,” she added when the nurse pushed passed the curtains. “If I’m going to have to sit here while you sew up my arm with cat gut or whatever it is you use, I’m going to have someone here that I know.” She tightened her grip on Blake’s hand. “I know him.” She lay back down but kept the death hold on Blake’s hand.

“Very well.” Recognizing both a strong will and basic fear, the doctor gave in. “Just turn your head away,” she advised. “This won’t take long. I’ve already used yards of cat gut today.”

“Blake.” Summer took a deep breath and looked straight into his eyes. She wouldn’t think about what the two women on the other side of the table were doing to her arm. “I have a confession to make. I don’t deal very well with this sort of thing.” She swallowed again when she felt the pressure on her skin. “I have to be tranquilized to get through a dental appointment.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the doctor take the first stitch. “We almost had to do the same thing for Max.” He ran his thumb soothingly over his knuckles. “After this, you could tell him you’re going to put in a wood-burning stove and a hearth and he wouldn’t give you any trouble.”

“A hell of a way to get cooperation.” She winced, felt her stomach roll and swallowed desperately. “Talk to me—about anything.”

“We should take a weekend, soon, and go to the beach. Some place quiet, right on the ocean.”

It was a good image, she struggled to focus on it. “Which ocean?”

“Any one you want. We’ll do nothing for three days but lie in the sun, make love.”

The young nurse glanced over, and a sigh escaped before the doctor caught her eye.