Winds of Fortune (9 page)

“Eighteen minutes.”

“Amy,” Tory snapped, “call Hyannis and tell them to get the cath lab ready—we’re bringing in an emergency angioplasty. Let’s get him loaded guys, and make sure he’s strapped in tight. I’ll ride with you.”

“I’ll take point,” Reese said, “and clear the way.”

“Good,” Tory said softly and squeezed Reese’s hand before hurrying after the paramedics.

Reese watched Tory leave, then pivoted to Bri. “You’ll ride with me.” Her eyes flickered from Bri’s pale, stunned face to Caroline. From the looks of Caroline, she wasn’t about to let Bri out of her sight. “Both of you.”

“I’ll call in the evening shift to cover, okay, Sheriff?” Allie asked.

“Yes. And Tremont,” Reese said as she grabbed her hat and keys, “run the shift change and get these other guys home as soon as back-up arrives.”

“Yes ma’am.” Allie glanced at Bri. “Uh, do you think when you get a break someone could call—”

“I’ll contact you with an update.” Reese clapped Bri’s shoulder briskly. “Let’s go, Officer. We’ve got work to do.”

Bri twitched as if she were awakening from a dream and took a long shuddering breath. Clasping Caroline’s hand tightly, she said, “Yes ma’am. I’m ready.”

*

“Tory’s on the phone,” Randy said as Nita stepped out of a patient exam room. “She says it’s urgent.”

“I’ll take it in the office. Thanks.”

Nita scribbled a note into the chart and tossed it onto the dictation pile. Then she grabbed the phone.

“Tory? It’s Nita.” Frowning, she held the phone in one hand and flipped through the next patient chart on her desk with the other. “Don’t even think about leaving until the situation is stabilized.” She sighed. “Tory, I don’t
mind
working another shift. That’s why I’m here…How do things look?…Damn, Okay…call me later, then. Thanks.”

Aware that Randy hovered in the doorway, Nita traded the phone for the file folder marked Joey Torres and joined him. After checking that the hallway was clear, she said quietly, “Tory’s fine.” She lowered her voice. “Nelson Parker has had an MI. Keep it quiet for now, okay?”

“Oh hell,” Randy replied. “Let me know if you hear anything?”

“I will.” Nita indicated the chart. “I’ll be in doing a wound check on Joey.”

When she entered the procedure room, it looked like an instant replay of the day before, except this time Pia had joined the party. Sally, still laughing at something, laid out clean dressings and splint material on an instrument tray. Joey sat sideways on the procedure table, his injured right hand cradled against his chest in a sling. Pia stood next to him, her hip propped against the edge of the table. The person who held Nita’s attention, however, was Deo Camara.

Today Deo wore faded blue jeans that hugged her narrow hips and a faded grey T-shirt with the sleeves torn off. The neckline was ripped down the center, and Nita thought she glimpsed the soft swell of a smooth, creamy breast. She quickly averted her gaze, but she saw that Deo was smiling in a way that said she knew exactly where Nita had been looking. Annoyance at having given Deo more than a glance and, worse, having Deo catch her at it, set her on edge. She hated that Deo could throw her off stride with just a look. Deliberately, she turned away from Deo and smiled at Joey.

“How are you feeling?”

“Terrible.” Joey feigned a pained expression. “I think I might need three or four months off.”

Deo laughed. “Like hell. You’re not spending the summer on the beach.”

“Let’s have a look.” Nita kept her back to Deo, whose deep rich voice reminded Nita of hot summer air on a lazy August afternoon. That wasn’t all Deo reminded her of, and that was the real problem. Deo actually looked nothing like Sylvia, who had been the epitome of blue-eyed, blond beauty, but they shared the same seething sensuality. And apparently, if her racing pulse were any indication, she was still susceptible to such empty charms.

With effort, Nita put Deo out of her mind and, after donning sterile gloves, carefully removed the bandages from Joey’s hand. Pia watched from nearby.

“Incisions look good,” Nita reported. “There’s anticipated swelling, but nothing out of the ordinary. Finger position indicates the tendon repairs are intact.”

“What do you think about a functional splint?” Pia asked. “I’ll keep the affected fingers blocked for now so there won’t be any motion, but we’ll be ready for a little bit of gentle ranging in a few days.”

“All right. Sally can get you what you need if you want to fashion the splint yourself.”

While Pia worked on the splint, Nita re-bandaged the injured fingers and quickly recorded a chart note. On her way out into the hall, she said, “Two weeks for suture removal.”

She was almost to her office door when she felt a hand on her arm. She slowed, knowing who it was and silently chastising herself for the sudden swell of anticipation. Slowly she turned and met Deo’s eyes, knowing what she would see. Deep set eyes, liquid and dark. So dark. She could imagine how they would look when Deo was aroused, when that sultry shimmer turned to fire. When Sylvia orgasmed, her glacial blue eyes sharpened until Nita feared she’d bleed on their edges. Deo’s eyes…Deo’s eyes would be molten, hot enough to scorch the flesh from her bones.

“What is it?” Nita asked, her voice sounding breathy to her own ears.
It’s only chemistry. Mindless attraction. Ignore it. Haven’t you learned?

Deo was entranced by the rapid flurry of expression on Nita’s face. Annoyance, appreciation, intensity…desire. Even though the break in Nita’s careful façade had been fleeting, she hadn’t been wrong. She knew what desire looked like in another woman’s eyes. What she hadn’t expected was the quick surge of heat in the pit of her stomach. Taken off guard, she fumbled for words.

“I…uh…I wanted to thank you for taking care of Joey.”

“That’s not necessary.” Nita backed up a step, aware of her open office door just a few feet away. Sanctuary awaited. Being near Deo made her feel as if she were Daniel cast into the lion’s den. Her common sense told her to flee, but what she really wanted to do was reach out and sink her fingers into the thick black hair and thrill to the power of feline muscles rippling under her fingertips.
Lions kill,
she reminded herself. “It’s my job.”

“I know.” Deo took a step closer, wondering what it would take to stir that fire in Nita’s warily shuttered gaze again. Unused to women hiding their desire, she found the situation challenging. “How late are you working?”

Confused, almost certain she could feel heat pouring off Deo’s body, Nita said, “What? Why?”

“I’d like to take you out to dinner tonight.”

“No.”

“Why not?” Deo grinned, but she didn’t feel her usual confident self. Nita confused her. She couldn’t get a read on her—one second Nita looked at her as if she wanted to put her hands all over her, and in the next instant, her expression vacillated between fear and fury. Deo never chased after women, because she didn’t want to spend time with anyone who wasn’t interested in exactly what she was interested in—pleasant company and shared pleasure. Women came to
her
for that and that was the way she liked it. So why the hell had she just asked Nita out for a…date?

Nita considered making an excuse, but then realized that she wasn’t the one pushing the issue. She had already told Deo the night before that she wasn’t interested, regardless of how her traitorous body might respond, and she didn’t appreciate being forced to do it again. “You’re not my type.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why?” Deo snapped. “Because I’m a construction worker? Or because I don’t have a college education?”

“No,” Nita said, trying unsuccessfully to curb her anger. She pressed her fingertip to the side of Deo’s neck. “Because you’ve got a lovely bite from whoever you took home last night. If you happen to remember.”

“I just asked you to dinner, not to go to bed with me.”

“When’s the last time you had dinner with a woman you didn’t take to bed?”

Deo hesitated.

“That’s what I thought. Like I said, I’m not interested.”

Deo caught Nita’s hand as she started to turn away. “That’s not what your eyes tell me.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“No I’m not,” Deo whispered, rubbing her thumb over the top of Nita’s hand. Reluctantly, she loosened her grip and Nita snatched her hand away. “Sooner or later, you’re going to admit that.”

“That is never going to happen.”

“I’m going to change your mi—”

Nita stepped into her office and closed the door, cutting off the last of Deo’s sentence. She leaned her back against the solid oak, grateful for the barrier between them. Deo’s hand had been hot, her thumb a delicate tease as it swept back and forth over her skin. That brief caress had touched off an unwanted but undeniably pleasant spark within her. Apparently she was helpless to resist not just Deo’s beauty, but her touch. That was a terribly dangerous combination, and she had no intention of tempting herself any further. Not when she wanted very much to give in.

“Thanks, Nita,” Pia said, lingering in the hall outside the procedure room.

“No problem.” Nita smiled at Pia, but her gaze followed Deo and Joey as they disappeared through the door into the reception area. “He’s really a sweetie.”

“He’s the baby and everyone spoiled him. Sometimes he still thinks all it takes is a smile, and most of the time he’s right.”

“I imagine he’s going to break a few hearts,” Nita murmured, but she wasn’t thinking of Joey. His wasn’t the only smile that was irresistible. When she’d returned to the procedure room to discuss Joey’s physical therapy regimen with Pia, she’d been aware of Deo’s eyes on her the entire time. Part of her, the mindless id that ruled her body and some irrational part of her mind, reveled in the attention even as she chastised herself for responding. “Your family is captivating.”

Pia’s eyes widened in surprise. “I’ve got a couple of other brothers besides Joey who are still single if that’s your inclination.”

“Afraid not,” Nita said with a laugh. “Although if a beautiful face was my only criterion, I could be tempted.”

“Well, if it’s a beautiful face you want, Deo—”

“Deo’s gorgeous,” Nita said before she could catch back the words. She felt her face warm and added quickly, “But I’m sure she’s got a line outside her door already.”

“Not as long as you might think,” Pia said seriously.

“I’m not actually looking for anyone,” Nita said, hoping to derail the uncomfortable conversation.

“Left a girl back home? Providence, right?”

“Nope.” Nita struggled not to hear Sylvia’s laughter or see her taunting smile. Struggled and failed.
Come on, honey, you know you want me. Why are you fighting me?
“I’m just getting settled into this job and I’ll be starting the house renovations soon. Not much time for socializing.”

“Once in a while a girl has to have company.” Pia squeezed Nita’s arm. “It’s good for the disposition.”

Nita laughed. “Thanks. I’ll remember that.”

With a secret sigh of relief, Nita waved to Pia and returned to her patients. If she wanted company, it would not be for a casual night in bed with a woman who wouldn’t remember her name a week later.

*

“I’ll be right back, sweetie,” Tory said, leaning down to kiss Bri on the cheek.

“Okay,” Bri said hoarsely, her eyes dry and hot.

Tory ached to scoop her into her arms and cradle her, but as Bri had proven when Reese had been missing, she was strong and brave. And Caroline, who hadn’t let go of Bri’s hand for the last three hours, would provide all the comfort and support Bri needed.

“You want something? Coffee? Coke?”

Bri shook her head.

“Coke,” Caroline said immediately, countering Bri’s response. “And some kind of sandwich.”

“I’m not hungry,” Bri insisted.

“I know you’re not, baby,” Caroline said, caressing Bri’s cheek. “But you haven’t eaten anything all day. Don’t argue.”

Bri leaned her head against Caroline’s shoulder and shut her eyes.

“I’ll get you both something,” Tory said.

Not wanting to be gone too long lest she miss the cardiologist when he came out to report on Nelson’s status, she hurried to the elevators. Once in the main lobby, she crossed quickly to the exit and scanned the circular drive that fronted the emergency entrance where Reese had parked her patrol car. Reese leaned against the front of the car, talking on her cell phone.

Tory waited. Watching her while she talked was no hardship. She had always loved to look at her. All too often the demands of daily living prevented them from eating dinner together or even going to sleep at the same time, but she had never been able to look at Reese without being grateful and just a little bit amazed to have her in her life. She never felt it more acutely than now, after Reese had returned from duty overseas.

Reese hung up the phone and held out her hand to Tory. “Any word?”

“Not yet.” Tory pulled Reese’s arm around her and leaned into her for a quick kiss. Then she stepped back, mindful of emergency personnel coming and going through the ambulance bay doors. “It shouldn’t be long now. Is everything all right at the station?”