Protecting Cheyenne (SEAL of Protection Book 5) by Susan Stoker Read Free Book Online Page B

knew what else.
    The first time Cheyenne had looked in the mirror, she’d been shocked. She was a mess. She was splattered with blood and her hair was hanging limply against her head. Fortunately a nurse gave her a pair of scrubs she could change into and let her brush her hair. Cheyenne supposed she was lucky, but the only thing she could think about was getting home and into a nice hot shower.
    The problem with that was she wasn’t supposed to get her arms wet for the next twenty four hours because of the bandages and the antibiotic mixture they’d smeared on her arms. The nurses had helped as much as they could in trying to get the blood out of her hair, but Cheyenne knew until she had a shower, she wouldn’t feel clean.
    She sighed. Cheyenne hadn’t seen Faulkner since he’d helped her into the ambulance and squeezed her hand. She didn’t expect to see him again really. After all, he was just doing his job. He’d go home and probably shoot the shit with his friends about what a crazy day he’d had, and then continue on with his life, just like she would…except first she had to get home.
    Since her car was still in the grocery store parking lot, Cheyenne had to call a taxi. It really was pathetic that she didn’t have one person she felt comfortable in calling and asking to come get her. There was no way in hell she was calling her mom or sister. They’d never let her live down her bad luck. A shitty day would just get worse if she involved either of them. Eventually she’d call and explain everything that had happened, but it’d have to be on a day she felt better able to deal with them. And that day certainly wasn’t today.
    Cheyenne knew she was a loner. She didn’t really mind, except for times like this. She could’ve called one of her friends from work, but she hated to rely on other people, and besides, they weren’t really the kind of friends that she felt comfortable calling out of the blue to pick her up from the hospital of all places. So, she’d simply called a taxi and now was waiting to go home. Home to her lonely apartment. Cheyenne still had two days before she had to go back to work and she planned on crashing in bed and sleeping for one of those days, then she’d take the longest shower known to man, and then get herself together and back into the routine of her life.
    Cheyenne laughed out loud, making the little old lady sitting in the hospital waiting room look at her disapprovingly. She still had to get some food. She’d been at the grocery store that afternoon for a reason. She had some cans of cream of mushroom soup and salad dressing, and that was about it. Screw it. I’ll order in until I can I get back to the store . Cheyenne knew she’d never shop at the grocery store she’d been held hostage in again, even if it was where she’d first seen Faulkner. And even if it was a popular store for other men in uniform. It wasn’t that she thought she’d be taken hostage again, it was just…she didn’t know. She wasn’t comfortable with the thought of entering the store again.
    The taxi finally arrived outside the automatic doors. Cheyenne made her way outside, verified the car was there for her, and climbed into the backseat that smelled slightly of body odor and cigarette smoke. After giving directions to the taxi driver, Cheyenne put her head back on the seat, deliberately not thinking about how many germs and nasties might be lurking on the headrest, and closed her eyes. She felt weird. The painkillers the doctors had given her were obviously doing their job because she wasn’t in any pain, but they also made her a bit woozy. She probably shouldn’t be driving once she got to her car, but it wasn’t too far to her apartment from the parking lot of the grocery store. She’d be extra cautious. She’d be fine. She always was.
     
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    Dude couldn’t stop thinking about Cheyenne. She had to be the bravest person he’d met in a long time. Her actions reminded him a