The Brass Ring by Mavis Applewater Page A

might use to harm himself, she knew that he was about to face an endless night of taunting.
    Finally they stepped outside to find that the sun had set. CC swayed slightly and fought back the bile that was rising in her throat. "Calloway?" Max asked, his voice trembling slightly. "Are you all right?"
    CC nodded her head only to reach out so she could hold onto the wall of the building. "No," she managed to choke out. Max steadied her as he led her to their vehicle.
    "I’m taking you to the hospital," he stated firmly as he lowered her into the car.
    "Fine," she conceded. "But you can do the paperwork, jackass."
    A short while later CC found herself sitting in the emergency room waiting area with an ice pack on her head and one hell of a headache. She let Max call it in to the precinct and handle everything. She thought it was only fitting since he had been the cause of her pain. It gave her a small sense of pleasure that he would be getting home very late after dealing with the paperwork and their lieutenant.
    Finally a nurse escorted her into a curtained exam area. Max tried to follow but retreated when she glared at him and said, "Sit!" The nurse instructed her to put on the ugly paper Johnny and have a seat on the exam table.
    CC held up the flimsy sheet of paper in disgust. "It’s my head," she protested. The gray-haired woman just stared at her and then scowled as she crossed her arms, daring CC to argue. "That didn’t work for my mother" CC said in defiance.
    "Are you going to be trouble?" a familiar voice questioned her as Jamie stepped into the room.
    "Officer, you wouldn’t be giving my nurse a hard time now, would you?" Jamie mocked her.
    "Howdy, neighbor," CC jested as her stomach clenched. After that night and disastrous morning, the two women had been getting along. It was all very friendly although CC couldn’t stop feeling something more for the blonde doctor. She was becoming very good at convincing herself that it was just old emotions. That is until she would see Jamie. It was always that first glance that would make her heart skip a beat. So far she had successfully managed to hide her feelings from everyone except herself.
    "What?" she asked, realizing that Jamie had been speaking to her.
    "I said, are you going to be a good girl?" Jamie repeated. Despite her teasing tone, CC didn’t miss the look of concern on the smaller woman’s face.
    "I’m always good," CC jested in response as she winked playfully, hoping to lighten the mood.
    "Humph," Jamie scoffed as she blushed slightly. "Behave," she cautioned CC as she ran her fingers through her short blonde hair.
    "Okay, you win." CC sighed as she rolled her eyes. "I’ll put on the paper napkin." She watched as the two women stood their ground. "I don’t need an audience." She shooed them away.
    "Oh, she’s shy," Jamie joked to the nurse before they departed the room.
    Later CC was tugging on the paper Johnny, trying to cover some part of her body as Jamie flashed a pen light in her eyes. "Stay still and follow the light," Jamie scolded her.
    "I can’t help it." CC groaned as she tried to close the gap in the back of the gown. "I feel so exposed."
    Jamie sighed as she lowered the light. "CC, I’m a professional," she explained gently. Then she glanced over her shoulder at her nurse who was carefully recording CC’s vitals onto a chart. Jamie leaned in. "Besides, I’ve seen it before," she whispered in CC’s ear. CC blushed as the inside of her thighs quivered slightly. "You’re adorable when you blush," Jamie whispered teasingly.
    "Stop it," CC cautioned her as she gritted her teeth.
    "Behave and I will," Jamie instructed her as she pulled away. "Now let’s try this again. Follow the light with just your eyes."
    CC decided to cooperate just so she could get out of there. Jamie seemed to be placated as she continued her exam. "You’re not going to ask me who the President is again?" CC teased as Jamie examined her shoulder.
    "No, although Howdy