Muscle for Hire(8)

“Yeah, yeah.” Chris waved a dismissive hand, a grin playing on his lips. “The ground broke my fall.” He ran his fingers across the cut still oozing blood above his eye and winced. “Did a damn good job of it too.”

Nigel threw a hard glare at the misplaced steps before turning to Aslin. “Do you know what happened?”

Rowan’s pulse thumped hard in her throat, her belly knotting. Why ask Aslin? Didn’t she—

“Someone moved the steps.”

The Brit’s deep voice sounded like calm thunder rumbling through Rowan’s irrational insecurity.

“On purpose?” Shock cut through Nigel’s question.

“If it was an accident I would have heard or felt it in the trailer.”

Rowan’s heart punched at her breastbone. Rhodes had just echoed her own thoughts, almost word for word.

So why did that fill her with cold trepidation? And squirmy arousal?

Nigel’s forehead creased with a frown. “You think someone’s trying to hurt Chris?”

Aslin studied the skewed steps for a few seconds, and Rowan noticed everyone—including herself, damn it—seemed to be holding their breath.

“Trying to cause harm to someone in his trailer,” he said, returning his focus to Nigel. “It may not be Chris.”

A sharp bark of a laugh burst passed Rowan’s lips. “You think someone’s trying to hurt you or me?”

Chris snorted. “I’d like to see them try.”

Rowan whacked her brother’s shoulder with the back of her hand. “Screw you, squirt.”

“Hey! Don’t hurt the talent.” He pulled a wounded expression, and if it wasn’t for the blood still trickling from the gash on his eyebrow, Rowan would have whacked him again.

Rowan rolled her eyes just as Aslin let out a low chuckle, and before she knew what she was doing, she was giving the Brit a wide grin.

“The talent already is hurt.” Thank God, Nigel’s gruff statement shattered the ridiculous moment.

Rowan lurched to her feet, her belly not just knotting, but twisting and churning as well. She didn’t want to connect with Aslin Rhodes. He would bring nothing to her brother’s already unnatural reality. He was an unwanted distraction.

“The paramedics have arrived, Mr. McQueen.”

Rowan blinked at Nigel’s personal assistant, the young man appearing from nowhere at his side.

“I don’t need the paramedics,” Chris protested.

“Of course you don’t.” Nigel shook his head. “But the studio will bust my ass if I don’t get you looked at by a medical professional. The film’s insurance policy and all. How much is that face of yours insured for exactly?”

Rowan snapped her stare to her brother, not even attempting to hide her shock. “You insured your face? Oh, Chris, I thought we talked about that kind of pretentious crap?”

Chris chuckled. “Shut up, sis.” He placed his palms on the ground beside his butt and pushed himself to his feet.

And stumbled sideward.

Straight into Aslin’s chest. “Whoa…”

Aslin closed his large hands around Chris’s shoulders, stabilizing him. “Steady there, lad.” The Brit shot Rowan a look over Chris head. The concern in his eyes made her throat tight and her heart beat faster.

Oh God, she couldn’t fall for him. She could not fall for—

“I feel…” Chris frowned at Rowan, “…odd.”

“And that’s my cue to get you to the hospital.” Nigel stepped forward and slipped his arm around Chris’s back.

Chris shook his head, and then moaned. “Might be a good idea. Aslin, can you take care of my sister for me?”

Rowan mouth fell open just as her pulse surged into a maniacal sprint in her throat. “Take care…? What, you don’t think I’m coming to the hospital with—”

Her blustered argument was cut short by the screeching halt of an ambulance beside them.

Chris grinned at her. “Nope. I don’t. I’m fine.” He paused as a female paramedic climbed out of the driver’s side and hurried toward him. A very cute paramedic, Rowan couldn’t help but notice. Chris’s grin turned flirty, bordering on kilowatt intensity as he focused it on the young woman inspecting his wound. “Exceptionally fine.”

He flicked Rowan a look and she wanted to groan at the devilish mischief in his eyes. “Now go. I’m sure Aslin knows exactly how to show you a good time.”

Rowan scowled at him. “Chris.”

“Is that okay, Aslin?” He ignored her, giving the Brit a wide smile. “Can you look after Rowie while I go to the hospital? If I let her come, she’ll just intimidate all the doctors and nurses into giving me a CAT scan or something equally horrible.”