Flirting With Desire (Contemporary Romance) Complete Collection (11 page)

“You had an accident. Three days ago,” her sister said gently, squeezing her hand gently.

Hanna’s head spun as images came flashing back.

Now she realized why her dream had seemed so real,
that fear she’d had of losing Damian. The crash. By the time all the moving parts of the vehicle came to a stop and the sounds of breaking glass and crushing metal ceased, Hanna had remembered turning her head, seeking Damian out and finding him in his seat, and just like hers his airbag had discharged. But suddenly she realized there was something not right in the way he was lying still, unmoving. Then she’d fainted.

She returned fully to reality and for the second time, said the one word that mattered to her in that moment. “Damian?”

It was her mother who came forward just as Hanna saw her father disappear, apparently to get hospital staff. “You don’t worry about him darling. You need to get better. We came as soon as we could. You were hurt so bad, honey.”

Hanna wanted to scream. No one was listening to her. Even the doctor and the nurses when they hustled in. as they fussed around her and went over her injuries, it was then she noticed that her arm was in a splint and her head felt like it was wrapped in some kind of neck brace. Apart from a broken arm, the doctor informed her she had a bruised hip. She told them she felt fine, but the doctor insisted that they’d keep her
overnight for observation and some x-rays to make sure there were no internal damages.

Hanna somehow found the strength to grip the tall, lean man’s arm. She looked straight into his warm and intelligent brown eyes. “The man I was with. Damian – Mr. Rush. I need to know how he is. If he’s OK.”

The doctor glanced up quickly at her hovering family, before bending slightly to look into her face. “Mr. Rush had no life-threatening trauma. But he did get some serious burns to his shoulder and back. You’ll be happy to know he’ll be well enough to have visitors soon. For now though, he’s still too heavily sedated.”

Hanna expelled a breath she’d been holding since she woke up. She hadn’t heard much since the first sentence when the doctor had said Damian’s life wasn’t in danger. But he’d been badly hurt. How had he gotten those burns? It made no sense.

It was later her father had explained everything. How Damian had woken up in the car and found her unconscious and the car already on fire. He’d managed to free himself and go round to lift her out of the car. He’d been just in time to carry her to safety before the automobile was engulfed in flames. He’d caught some on his back and the side of his face but he’d used his body to protect Hanna from the eruption.

“He risked his life to get you out of the car, sweetie,” her mother added, cupping Hanna’s stricken face. “He could have worried about saving himself but he took care to stay back long enough to see you were out of harm’s way. By the time the ambulance arrived, he was barely conscious but managed to explain what happened. He hasn’t been out of his black out since.”

“That’s a courageous boss you have, Hanna,” her brother said, eyes warm as he bent over her, his handsome face creased with concern but with a gentle smile on his face.

He’s not just my boss
, Hanna wished to say aloud. He’s the man I love.

She was just so happy he was going to be okay. She’d never forget how empty and stricken she’d felt in her dream when she’d sensed him slipping out of her reach. She knew she’d need to get better so she could be strong for him, as he’d been for her. That was all that mattered now.

*

The police came to question Hanna about the wreck. Hanna didn’t know what they expected her to say. Damian had always been a competent and careful driver. They’d gone on several trips together where he’d driven them long distances without incident. They’d been on their way to dinner and as far as she knew Damian had had nothing to drink. It had simply been an accident. Somehow, he’d lost control of the car. It could happen to anyone, couldn’t it?

She also got a visit from Damian’s father, her overall boss Elvin Rush. Hanna felt touched by the genuine concern he showed. “I’m sorry you had to get involved in any of this,” he said gently, patting her shoulder. Something in his tone had her frowning slightly in confusion. “And you don’t have to worry about the emergency hospital bills. Everything’s been taken care of. One thing I can promise you though: those responsible for this will be made to pay.”

Now Hanna was even more muddled. What could he mean? “Mr. Rush…”

He patted her shoulder again, the one not in the sling. “You just focus on getting better.”

“But, Damian, what…?” Hanna stopped short, just remembering she was speaking so familiarly of her immediate boss to his father.

Elvin Rush turned to her again, his lined, handsome face kind. “I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you he just woke up a few hours ago. The first thing he wanted to know is how you were. He knows you’re doing well but neither of you are exactly allowed to move. Knowing my son though, he’s going to have something to say about that.” Elvin suddenly grinned, and Hanna caught her breath, thinking how alike Damian and his father looked with that rakish smile.

“We miss you at the office. Get well soon my dear,” the older man said as he left.

Hanna exhaled deeply. It slowly began to dawn on her just what she’d just survived. The aches and pains on her body told her she was lucky to be alive. She couldn’t help but wince from time to time and shift about in the bed, her bruised body
still aching considerably. Deciding she was better off simply lying back and not trying to move, Hanna thanked goodness for the painkillers she’d been given. She could only imagine how unbearable the pain could have been otherwise. She didn’t want to think beyond getting better, so she closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

The next time she awoke, Damian was sitting by her bed. For a few seconds she simply drank him in. He looked like he’d been in a wreck. There was a bandage just at his hairline and beneath his shirt she could see bandages crisscrossed over his chest and shoulder.

Finding him sitting there waiting for her to wake up brought a warmth to her chest. She blinked her sleepy eye and smiled slowly.

“Hello, Lancelot,” she whispered.

“Lancelot?” he returned with an answering smile.

“Or would you prefer Ivanhoe, or Galahad – after all you’re my knight in shining armor. Thank you, Sir Damian – you saved my life,” Hanna said deeply.

Damian’s eyes looked pained for a moment. “More like I got you in the mess in the first place.”

“It wasn’t your fault. I was there, remember, I saw what happened. The car…it started acting crazy and you tried, but…”

“Hanna, my car was sabotaged,” he said gruffly. Hanna’s mouth clamped shut. “We couldn’t know for sure till today after a thorough investigation.” He grimaced. “My father…the company, has powerful enemies. Looks like I was a target. I want to apologize that you were in any danger because of me.”

“Oh God. Damian, you could have died,” Hanna gasped. “Why would anyone want to kill you?”

“I’m not worried about me,” he said, his jaw working harshly. His hand reached out and linked with hers. “If anything had happened to you, I’d never have forgiven myself.”

His touch was comforting but with him gazing so deeply into her face, she suddenly felt self-conscious. “I must look a sight,” she said weakly, running her uninjured hand through her unruly hair.

“After what you’ve been through, you look pretty much better than expected,” Damian said, giving one of his rare boyish smiles.

Hanna felt touched that Damian wanted to be there for her. He took it all as his fault but she chose not to blame him. He couldn’t have known there’d been an immediate threat and normally she wouldn’t be in his car anyway.

Hanna went over the past few days and how everything seemed tipped upside down. Just that week Chet had walked out and she’d gone on that trip with Damian, returning to find herself caught up in some kind of business rivalry gone wrong according to Damian’s explanation.

The day she checked out, Hanna had to endure being rolled out in a wheelchair by an orderly even though she assured Damian she could do fine on her legs. He walked beside her and she noted his slight limp but she felt overjoyed he’d recovered so well after what she knew he’d suffered.

The first thing she realized was different was that there was a security detail that stayed close as they made if for the car. Damian didn’t drive, a chauffeur waiting at the wheel as Hanna was lifted into the car. Damian said something to the two men in dark suits and glasses and they nodded, going behind to where their own car was parked. Hanna knew they were bodyguards even if their solid builds and can-do exterior were anything to go by.

Hanna found it difficult to find a good position to sit in considering how she ached on her left side. Damian got in beside her and noticed her obvious pain his face creased with concern. “We’ll be home soon and you’ll be able to be more comfortable.”

Hanna nodded, curious to know which ‘home’ it would be. She knew he didn’t have just one. When they arrived at a stately brick home she recognized it as his private residence which she’d never visited. At once, a uniformed operative appeared from the house and Hanna stepped out, assuring Damian she could manage but he didn’t listen. He came to her side and lifted her easily into his arms, showing no strain at all. Hanna blushed, what with the other men around though their expressions stayed unreadable.

Hanna realized she was going to have to get accustomed to her time or privacy no longer being her own.

Damian’s private home was beautiful. Wide open spaces, modern yet welcoming décor and flowers in every room they went past. Damian made his way to a large couch and lay her down with her feet up. She grimaced slightly, aching from the ride over.

Her eyes already felt heavy. The couch was so comfortable. She felt Damian’s fingers comb through her hair. “I need to take care of something in the study.
Just a few calls. Will you be okay?” he asked, in the tenderest voice she’d heard him use.

Hanna nodded. “I’ll be fine,” she murmured and was asleep before he even left the room

When Damian came back, he found her standing at the picture window gazing out at the surrounding gardens, beautifully tended and vast. She turned and smiled at him. “I love this place. And the gardens are awesome. So pretty.”

“I knew you’d like it,” he said, his arm slipping around her waist. Hanna shivered when she felt his face nuzzle at her throat. She was glad her mother had helped bring her something nice to change into for leaving the hospital and she’d freshened up with a bath that morning. Damian’s lips brushed over her skin and she heard him inhale deeply, making her body contract in secret corners.

“Considering the ugliness of the past several days I’m glad to offer you something pretty to enjoy. Would you like to see your room?” he asked lightly, lifting his head to look at her. Hanna nodded, curious because she assumed they’d be sharing a room.

Hanna moved better now that she’d had time to rest. The room Damian showed her was filled with windows and gorgeous fittings. Once again, there was so much space and no chance for clutter, every piece looking well thought out. There were flowers here too, which made the room smell incredible. She found much of her things in the closets and placed around the room but she didn’t comment. She should have known a
control freak like Damian would see to it that she’d have no cause to return to her apartment for now.

And then Hanna felt guilty for her thoughts. Damian had been stuck in hospital almost as long as she had. Yet he’d found time to arrange all this. She turned to him with a grateful smile.

He seemed to flush slightly at her warm glance and Hanna’s smile deepened. He said gruffly, “If there’s anything I forgot, we could always go shopping once you’re up to it. I want you to have all you need at your disposal.”

Other girls would have jumped at the prospect of shopping on Damian Rush’s tab but Hanna wrinkled her nose at the suggestion. “Oh, I think I’m good.” The last thing she wanted was to be indebted to him more than she already was. Besides, Damian having to spend money on her clothes and such would give this an even murkier perspective.

Hanna wasn’t sure what she was doing anymore. But something told her to keep from rushing into any decision especially with Damian looking genuinely bothered about her safety. Did he really think anyone would care about hurting her to get to him? She still believed it had been about her being at the wrong place, wrong time. And yet, imagining once again that Damian could have been alone in that car when it lost control and that he could easily have died, made her shiver with agony.

She found her feet going shaky so she sat down on the bed, shutting her eyes as she began to lie back on the bed. She felt Damian’s hands on her ankles, lifting them gently like he had in the living room. He sat on the side of the bed and found her hand, holding it in a warm grip. Hanna’s head turned in his direction and she sighed. “You’ve been very thoughtful and wonderful, Damian. I could say thank you all day and still it wouldn’t be enough.”

He only shook his head. “It’s the least I can do. How do you feel?”

Hanna made a small face. “It doesn’t take much to cause me pain but funny enough my broken arm doesn’t hurt as much as the bruises,” she said ruefully, lifting her arm in the cast.