Authors: Dixie Lee Brown
She was sorry? Cause him problems?
Thank God.
Nate’s heart stuttered against his rib cage as peace flooded him. He could die a happy man now, except that he refused to die in this tunnel without the chance to experience a lifetime with Alex.
“You just keep thinkin’ like that. When we get out of here, we’re going to—”
“Nate!” Ty’s voice echoed through the tunnel.
“We’re here.” Nate pushed himself up to kneel beside her, still holding her hand. Pure, sweet relief nearly blinded him until the pain in her eyes reminded him she wasn’t free yet.
“We’ll finish this conversation when we’re alone again.” He stroked her fingers as a tear-filled smile shone from her eyes.
Hastily, she blinked the moisture away as Ty and the rest of the team picked their way through the rubble to reach them.
Walker knelt beside her. He checked her heart rate, removed Nate’s shirt, and tucked a blanket around her shoulders. “Are you in pain, Alex?”
She shook her head. “I’m numb.”
“Shock. Low levels of oxygen in your blood. Lying on a stone slab isn’t exactly conducive to good circulation.” Walker patted her shoulder. “We’ll get you fixed up.”
Alex laughed. “Hey, could one of you guys tell Walker he sounds like a damn encyclopedia?”
Everyone snickered, including Walker. Nate squeezed Alex’s hand, stood, and shrugged into his shirt. She amazed him with how easily she fit into this world of danger. Maybe he was wrong to want to take her out of that life. Maybe she wouldn’t be happy being just a cop’s wife.
Whoa! Slow down, Sanders. You’re getting way ahead of yourself.
Joe laid out the plan, and it was fairly simple. They’d packed in rope and pulleys, but there weren’t any timbers still standing that were sturdy enough to hold the weight. So their best bet turned out to be manpower. Joe, Walker, Ty, Ben, and Nate spread out around the edges of the rock slab.
Joe knelt beside Alex. “We’re going to lift this rock long enough for Jim and Rayna to pull you free. You help them however you can, okay?”
Alex nodded, but her gaze darted to Nate’s with something close to fear mirrored in her eyes.
Nate winked. “Thirty seconds and you’ll be out of there.”
She smiled in response, but Nate got the feeling it was only for his benefit.
“On three,” Joe said. “One—two—three.”
Nate concentrated on lifting his one-fifth of the rock with the knowledge that it was the most important job he would ever have. Grunts and groans came from the men all around him as they put their backs into it.
“She’s clear,” said Jim as he and Rayna pulled her a safe distance away and helped her stand.
Walker let out a whoop as they let the rock crash to the ground, and cheers filled the air when Alex threw her arms around Jim and Rayna, tears running unchecked down her face. Nate hadn’t realized how worried he was until it was all over and Alex was standing on her own power. At that moment, his brain apparently decided to send his entire blood supply elsewhere, and he had to find a place to sit quickly before he collapsed.
From his position, sitting against the tunnel wall, arms resting on his knees, Nate watched Alex, unable to get enough of the sight and sound of her. In the strange lighting, her black hair leaned toward gray with its generous dusting of grit. Her exotic face was lined with fatigue. Frequently, she winced when she laughed or moved too quickly. She needed a hospital and, as soon as he collected himself, he’d see that she got one.
Walker and Joe hovered around her, checking her out and, more than likely, giving her hell for getting herself in trouble to start with. Did Joe know he was wasting his breath? That something inside her made it impossible for her to do anything else? The hard truth was, it was very likely Marco would have disappeared, never to be found alive again, if Alex hadn’t rushed in exactly as she’d done.
“Thanks for staying with her.” Jim appeared at his side.
“There was never another option.” Nate leaned his head against the wall and met Jim’s gaze. “Didn’t really expect to see you here. How’s your arm?”
“Good enough. I left Sanchez with Marco. No way was I sitting out when my best bud was in trouble. I told you she took a lot of watching.” Jim grinned and shifted his gaze toward Alex. “Maybe I won’t worry about her so much now.” He walked away.
Nate pushed to his feet, picked his way over the rubble to Alex, and slid his arm around her waist. She smiled, looking more peaceful than he’d ever seen her, and leaned against him. He longed to kiss her and finish their interrupted conversation, afraid that self-doubt and recriminations would sneak in and steal her confidence once she returned to the light of day. She needed to know she’d made him the happiest man alive—or he would be, anyway, as soon as they were out of this miserable tunnel.
R
HYTHMIC BEEPING WORKED
its way into Alex’s consciousness until she jerked awake, her breathing quick and shallow, and her inability to remember taking her back to another time. Déjà vu.
Where was she? She forced herself to remain still, filter out the irritating noises, and concentrate on what she could ascertain. She was lying in a strange bed, her head propped higher than the rest of her. Other sounds faded in and out, background to the constant beeping. Chill air raised goose bumps on her arms and the light covers tucked around her did little good. She frowned.
Her eyelids were heavier than she could ever remember.
Drugs?
Fear spiked her heart rate and she broke out in cold sweat. On the count of three, she forced her eyes open. Immediately, a groan tore from her throat, and she squeezed them closed again. Her brief glimpse showed a room bathed in brilliant sunlight, the walls a bright shade of white. The radiance scraped like sandpaper across her retinas.
Blindly, she fought the covers and the pillows, cursing the infernal beeping, until someone’s weight settled against her hip and strong hands pinned her shoulders to the bed.
“You’re okay. You’re in a hospital room.” Nate’s voice was calm and patient, and just what she needed to hear.
She stopped struggling and gripped his arms. “I can’t see. My eyes . . .”
“They’re fine. You were in the dark for a long time, and then you passed out before we got out of the tunnel. They’re a little sensitive is all. The doc left some sunglasses in case you needed them.” He let go with one hand, and she felt him slide the glasses onto her nose. “You just need a few minutes to adjust to the light and you’ll be as good as new.”
The tunnel . . . Diego . . . the earthquake . . .
She remembered it all, and in some strange way, that was a good thing.
Alex scrunched her nose and slowly opened her eyes. The brim of Nate’s baseball cap was inches from her face. Relief, like a breeze off the ocean, warmed her and chased away the cold dread that had settled in her limbs. Nate was there, and the concern in his eyes was directed at her. Whatever else was wrong, she could deal.
She drew a calming breath, let it out, and smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself. Better?” Nate straightened, sliding his hand down her arm until he folded his fingers over hers.
“Much. Thank you. What else is wrong with me?”
“Very little, considering. You have a couple fractured ribs, bruising all over your body, and five stitches in your forehead. You’ve been asleep for about twelve hours, but, whenever you feel up to it, we can take you home. You were damn lucky, Alex.” Dark emotions flitted over his rugged face before his smile returned.
Something niggled at the back of her mind—something important—but she couldn’t make it take form. “I remember Ty and the rest of the guys showing up and everyone discussing the best way to move the rock, but I don’t recall much after that.”
“It was textbook. Ty, Joe, Walker, Ben, and I did the grunt work while Jim and Rayna slid you out from underneath.”
“Then someone got stuck carrying my dead weight out of there.” Alex laughed, but it was hollow at best. She hated causing trouble for others, and it seemed like that’s all she did anymore.
“I carried you. The others offered to take a turn, but I wasn’t about to give you up.” Nate shrugged. “Now you know—I have obsessive stalker tendencies.” He winked.
There it was again—that
something
right at the fringe of her recollection. This time when she tried to remember what it was, thoughts swirled in her head and gradually took shape.
She’d told him she’d fallen in love with him. At the time, she’d been sure the aftershock would finish what the earthquake had started—positive they’d never see daylight again. She’d wanted Nate to know how she felt about him. He deserved to know if he was going to die because of her.
Nate’s response had been totally gracious. Was he counting on the earthquake to finish them too? He loved her. He’d said so before they left Ramon’s, but much had happened in the last few hours. Common sense told her she should simply believe him and be happy for once in her life. Instead, she felt as though she needed to give him another chance to come to his senses.
He stared at her with lashes at a sexy half-mast over expectant eyes, dark with desire. Did a man really look at a woman that way if there was nothing between them but sex? Some were good at pretending. Others had no patience for anything tender. She’d learned the hard way, but she refused to believe Nate was playing some kind of game.
“Are you all right? You look a little pale.” He studied her, concern casting shadows across the planes of his face.
“Fine. A little sore.” She couldn’t force herself to hold his gaze any longer.
“Rayna will want to see you soon and the guys too, but if you’re not up to it, I’ll make sure they don’t bother you.” He turned her hand over and massaged her palm with his thumbs.
“It’s okay—but then I’d really like to go home.” She focused on his chest where the first and second buttons of his shirt were undone.
“I’d like nothing better than to take you home . . . with me. That’s what you meant, right? You
did
agree.” His blue eyes seemed to accuse her, even though she’d had no intention of breaking her promise.
Her insecurities instantly snapped to attention. Was he giving her a chance to change her mind? “Yeah, that. Maybe I should postpone my visit until I’m not such a mess.” It was more of a question than a statement, and she hated herself for not stepping up and taking what she wanted.
“You’ll have to come up with a better excuse than that. It’s perfect timing. I’ve got some vacation I need to take. I can help you until you’re a hundred percent. Unless you don’t want to come. If you’ve changed your mind, you’ll have to tell me.” His gaze swept her face and then dropped to the hand he held.
If she really dared to be honest, what would he do? Shoot her down? Run for cover? No time like the present to find out. She squeezed his hand, drawing his gaze back to her face. “I owe you so much. It may not be the best—”
“Wait. You don’t owe me anything but honesty.” He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and traced his fingers along her jaw. “You told me you love me in that tunnel. I’ll admit it occurred to me you might have said it only because you expected us to be buried alive any moment, but I’m going to hold you to it anyway. ’Cuz I’m just that stubborn. I want you to come and stay with me for a while. Truth is, I apparently have a
thing
for a smart-mouthed, knife-wielding, tough little woman who can definitely take care of herself. I love you, and I want you with me.” Nate stuck his hands in his pockets as though he didn’t know what else to do with them.
Her heart slammed into high gear for a few seconds, spreading warmth and weakness clear down to her toes. She clamped her lips down on the smile that tried to break free.
“You could be right. It might not be the best idea for us to get together, but from where I’m sitting, it’s damn tempting to give it a try. I’ll leave it up to you. You can think it over and let me know.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently. “I’ll go tell your friends you’re awake.”
Alex grabbed his sleeve when he stood. “What if it doesn’t work and we both get hurt?”
Nate leaned over and placed one hand on each side of her. “What if it might have worked and we don’t take a shot?”
“You know I’m crazy, right?” She fingered his shirt sleeve nervously.
His soft laugh caressed her cheek. “It’s part of your charm.” Warm lips met hers in a light kiss.
Desire pooled in her core, and her moan drew him in for a more intimate exploration of lips and tongue. When he pulled away, she would have followed him, until the knifelike pain of her broken ribs made its debut. He gently pushed her back on the pillows.
Nate straightened and pulled the brim of his hat down rakishly. “You don’t have to decide yet, but I’m winning . . . aren’t I?” A self-satisfied smile lit up his eyes.
“Oh . . . too bad. You were ahead by a nose until you got a little too cocky.” She tried to hide her amusement, but ended up laughing.
He turned toward the door. “I’ll just have to try harder then.”
Watching his very nice butt glide out the door, Alex added a few more points on his side of the calculation. Oh man—she had it bad for the fine Detective Nate Sanders. Why shouldn’t she go for it? They were both adults, and they knew the risks. Still, she liked Nate, and hurting him would be as bad as, or worse than, being hurt herself.
Rayna was the first one to poke her head in the door. “Hey, how are you doing?”
“I’m ready to get out of here.”
“Good. Nate went to the nurses’ station to tell them to get your paperwork ready. He’s in a really good mood, I noticed.” Rayna studied her questioningly.
Alex tried to hide her amusement.
“Out with it. What’s going on?” Rayna advanced into the room, hands on her hips.
“Nothing is going on. He asked me to . . . stay with him for a while.”
An I-told-you-so grin appeared, and Rayna gave her a hug. “And what did
you
say?”
“Nothing, yet.” Alex chewed on her bottom lip.
“Well, you must have given him some reason to think the answer would be yes.” Rayna sat next to her on the bed.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Feigned innocence raised the timbre of Alex’s voice, and they both laughed. She crossed her arms over her rib cage as the pain stabbed at her again.
Jimmy was the next to enter, holding the hand of a bright-eyed Mexican boy. Marco, his long, wavy hair shining, his dirty and ill-fitting clothes replaced with a brand-new set, looked like a different kid, complete with wide smile.
Jimmy strode to the side of the bed and bent to kiss her cheek. “Damn it, Alex. You were supposed to wait outside—not go off solo looking for Diego.” A muscle flexed in his jaw as his gaze bored into her.
Alex smiled, then looked at the young man beside him and held out her hand. “Hi, Marco. I’m Alex. Do you remember me?”
The boy slipped his hand into hers and stepped closer. With big eyes dark and solemn, he nodded. “
Sí
, señorita. I was too afraid to run until you came and said it was okay. You were so brave. I knew I had to be brave too.”
“Your mother will be very proud of you.” Alex patted his hand. She didn’t know Marco’s mother well. Had met her only once, at Nate’s, the last time she was there. Maria was a beautiful, petite woman with flawless brown skin, brown eyes, and long, silky black hair that rivaled Alex’s own. She’d never heard the full story of how and why Marco had been kidnapped, but surely any mother would be ecstatic to have her son returned. Whoever drew the assignment of taking this little guy home would be lucky.
She released Marco’s hand just as Ty crossed the threshold.
He strode to Rayna’s side of the bed, sat behind her, and gave Alex’s arm a squeeze. “You look good. Ready to go home? Joe and Walker are anxious to get going.” He slid his arm around Rayna’s waist and tugged her back against him. “Now me—I’ve got everything I need right here.”
Alex groaned as Rayna threw her elbow into Ty’s gut. The air left him in a
whoosh
, and he coughed for a few seconds, but he didn’t release her, which told Alex that Rayna had pulled her punch. Another couple deeply in love. Alex seemed surrounded by them. Their relationships were almost enough to convince her it was possible—for anyone but her.
Joe and Nate entered the room in quiet conversation and stopped as soon as they saw everyone staring. Alex locked gazes with Nate as though she might decipher what their serious talk had been about. He stopped just inside the door.
Joe continued to the bed and took her hand. “Are your eyes still bothering you?”
Alex had forgotten the sunglasses and reached to remove them. Her eyes reacted to the sudden light the way they were supposed to, taking only a second to adjust. She tossed the glasses on the stand beside the bed. “I’m good to go.”
“You’re signed out—a free woman.” Joe’s brow rose. “Liftoff in thirty. We’ll get out of here so you can dress . . . and you might want to decide where it is you’re actually going?”
They all filed out. Joe was the last one to pass by Nate, and they exchanged silent nods.
Damn him!
She didn’t move from her place on the bed as Nate walked slowly toward her. “I can’t believe you told him.”
“Someone had to. He would have noticed if you didn’t get off the Huey in Montana. Now, let’s address the question of why it bothers you so much.”
“It doesn’t bother me.”
“Liar.” Nate stopped at the foot of the bed. “Why, Alex?”
“Because, damn it, what if we try this and it doesn’t work? It might be a minor setback for you, but another failure at real life would be devastating to me.”
“So you’re just going to hide from the world—from your feelings—and not really live? Is that what you want?” Nate’s deep voice held her spellbound.
“Yes . . . maybe . . . no—I don’t know if I can do this.” She tore her gaze from his and focused on the beeping machine by her head.
“I understand . . . if you’re afraid.”
Alex’s gaze darted to his in time to see the wisp of a smile disappear. Those were the same words he’d spoken to her the first time they’d met when he’d wanted her to ride in his sporty little hot rod after she’d made disparaging remarks about the car. Now he was trying to get her to repeat the words she’d thrown back at him that day. God, was it even true anymore?
She glared her annoyance as he watched and waited silently. He clearly thought he’d outsmarted her. Even if the words were true, she had a good mind not to say them. A man should never get what he wants too often. Makes them needy and arrogant—a dangerous combination.
Nate wasn’t like that, though. He’d only ever been kind and considerate to her. He wanted to give them a chance. There was no diabolical agenda behind his invitation. Her sixth sense, or whatever it was, would alert her if that was the case. If she left him—went home—what then? Regrets?