Rescue After Dark

by Marie Force

  “You’re right. I don’t get the obsession. I’m tied to a phone around the clock due to my job. If I didn’t have to be, I wouldn’t. Trust me on that.”

  She gave him her best horrified look. “But how would you keep in touch with everyone you’ve ever met if you didn’t have your phone with you?”

  “I can think of much better ways to ‘keep in touch’ than through a cell phone.”

  Jordan also appreciated a good double entendre. Her rescuer was not only handsome and sweet, he was also witty and charming, which was far more dangerous than smoke for a girl recovering from a badly broken heart.

  Chapter 3

  Damn, she was gorgeous and funny and sarcastic. Normally, sarcasm drove him mad because he was overrun with youthful firefighters and paramedics, many of whom had never been taught not to talk back to their boss. He put up with it because they were a small, tight-knit department, and for all their faults, his firefighters and paramedics did an excellent job serving the Gansett Island community.

  But coming from Jordan, sarcasm took on new meaning. He liked that she gave it right back to him and more than held her own when it came to bantering with him.

  He liked her. While he’d waited for the pizza to be done at Mario’s, he’d taken a quick look at Google to get the latest lowdown on her. What he’d read about her husband had infuriated him. Other than seeing her show a few times and having been entertained by it, Mason didn’t know much about Jordan Stokes. However, he’d certainly heard about Zane and had even liked his music before reading about what he’d done to his wife in a hotel room in Charlotte, North Carolina.

  There’d been tons of speculation over what’d become of Jordan since the meltdown with Zane. Apparently, she hadn’t been seen in public or posted to her social media accounts since the night of their fight in the hotel. People were speculating as to whether they’d seen the last of her or if she’d be back for another season of her reality TV show.

  With the pizza finished and Jordan settled back against her pillows, with her face pale and her dark eyes big from the ordeal, he knew he ought to leave her to get some rest. The paperwork waiting for him back at the station wasn’t going to do itself, but he wasn’t in any rush to leave her.

  So he stayed until Jordan’s sister and future brother-in-law came rushing into the room a short time later.

  Nikki hurled herself at her sister, sobbing as she clung to Jordan. “Oh my God! You scared me to death!”

  “I’m so sorry about the fire and the house. I don’t know what happened.”

  “Who cares about that? All that matters is you’re all right. I’ve been shaking for two hours since we got the call.”

  “I didn’t want them to call you. It was your night away.”

  “Don’t be silly, Jordan,” Riley said. “All that matters is that you’re all right.”

  Nikki hugged her sister for so long that Mason worried Jordan might be having trouble breathing and was about to say so when Nikki finally pulled back to study the face that was just like hers, only with subtle differences.

  For one thing, Jordan had a tiny mole on the left side of her upper lip, and her right eyebrow had an arch to it that Nikki’s didn’t.

  And honestly, why in the world did he care about the differences between the twins, and why was he even still there?

  “I, um, I’m gonna get going. I’ll, ah, check in with you tomorrow, and we’ll be by for a look at the roof and chimney in the daylight.”

  Jordan nudged Nikki to the side so she could see him. “Thank you so much, Mason, for rescuing me, keeping me company, feeding me, entertaining me. I really appreciate it.”

  Nikki surprised him when she got up from Jordan’s bed and hurled herself at Mason, narrowly missing a full hit to his injured arm.

  “Whoa,” he said as he absorbed the impact.

  “Nikki!” Jordan said. “Watch out. He’s hurt!”

  “Thank you so, so, so much for saving my sister, Mason.” Nikki broke down into tears again. “You saved us both, because there’s no me without her.”

  Mason patted her awkwardly on the back and was relieved when Riley rescued him.

  “Come here, love. You’re freaking the poor guy out with your hysterics.”

  “Sorry, Mason,” Nikki said, sobbing into Riley’s chest.

  “No worries. Glad I was in the right place at the right time.” He thought it wise not to mention that Jordan hadn’t had much time left when he’d arrived on the scene.

  “We’re eternally grateful, Mason,” Riley said, shaking his hand.

  “Just doing my job.” He gave a small wave to Jordan, who looked so small and adorable in the big hospital bed. “Feel better.”

  She gave him a smile that did funny things to his insides, making him wish they’d had more time to talk before her family showed up. “Thanks again, Mason.”

  “Sure thing. We’ll see you all tomorrow when we come back to take a look at the house in the daylight.”

  “See you then,” Jordan said.

  As he walked out of the hospital into the warm late-spring evening, he couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

  * * *

  Nikki sat on the edge of Jordan’s bed, holding her hand. “What happened? Do you remember?”

  “I’d taken a sleeping pill, so I was kind of out of it. I remember my chest hurting and feeling like something was wrong, but I couldn’t do anything about it. Then Mason was there, and he was running me through the house. I couldn’t figure out what was happening. Apparently, there was smoke from the chimney, and I had an asthma attack.”

  “Shit,” Riley said, “I bet I left the flue open the last time we had a fire. I’m so sorry, Jordan.”

  “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known what would happen.”

  “I’d really like to know how the roof caught fire in the first place,” Riley said.

  Nikki brushed Jordan’s hair back from her face. “Shane said you were barely breathing when Mason found you. I almost had a heart attack when he said that! Then we heard it was an asthma attack. You haven’t had one in years.”

  “I know. I actually thought I’d outgrown it.”

  “The smoke probably triggered it,” Riley said.

  “I guess,” Jordan said. “It’s kind of scary to know it’s still lurking in there after all these years.” Asthma had been the story of her life as a child and teenager, but the condition had improved as she moved into her twenties.

  “Let’s hope it was a onetime thing and not the start of a new phase,” Nikki said.

  “God, I hope so.” Asthma was terrifying, with the attacks often coming with little or no warning. One minute, she could breathe fine, and the next, she’d be straining to get air into her lungs. It was the worst feeling she’d ever experienced, and she used to live in fear of each attack. Of course, freaking out over the attacks had only made them worse.

  “What did Dr. David say?” Nikki asked.

  “I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet. Katie was in earlier and said my lung sounds were much better.”

  “We’ll make an appointment with him for as soon as possible,” Nikki said. “If necessary, we’ll find a pulmonologist on the mainland to give you a complete workup. Try not to worry.”

  “I should just go back to LA and see my doctors there.”

  “No! You promised to hang out for the summer. You can’t leave yet.”

  After her marriage ended in spectacular fashion, she’d put her career in LA on indefinite hold. Since she had nothing pressing she needed to get right back to, Jordan had agreed to spend the summer with Nikki and Riley. However, she still felt weird about being at the house when they were crazy in love and not afraid to show it. She felt like the awkward third wheel in her sister’s love affair. “You guys don’t need me underfoot. I’ll come back a couple of weeks before the wedding.”

  “Please don’t go. I love having you here. It’s made me so happy to know we were going to do the wedding stuff together.�
�� Nikki paused, tipped her head and added, “Unless it’s too painful for you after what’s happened with him.” Nikki had refused to say his name after Charlotte. “God, I’m such an ass. Of course you don’t want to help plan a wedding when your own marriage just ended.”

  “That’s not it, Nik. I’m super excited for your wedding. I swear. I just feel like you guys need your privacy and—”

  “We’re fine,” Nikki said. “We get plenty of privacy, right, Ri?”

  “That’s right,” Riley said. “We’re happy to have you spending the summer.”

  Jordan eyed him skeptically. “As if you’d ever tell me otherwise.”

  “He would,” Nikki said. “He’d come right out and say, ‘I want to be alone with Nikki.’ You’ve heard him say it!”

  Riley laughed, because he couldn’t deny that he was rather blunt when he wanted Nikki to himself. “The house is huge, Jordan. There’s plenty of room for all of us. It’s no sweat, and we like having you there. You make Nik so happy, and I like happy Nik.”

  Jordan drew in a breath and exhaled, relieved that her breathing had returned to normal, even if the attack had left a lingering ache in her chest. “You guys are too nice.”

  “You’re family, Jordan,” Riley said. “I have my own version of a Jordan, too, don’t forget. Finn and I aren’t identical twins, but we might as well be.”

  “That’s right,” Nikki said. “He practically lived with us all last winter while we were renovating. Riley owes me big for putting up with Finn.”

  Riley scowled at her, but his eyes conveyed amusement. “Finn is a bit of a handful. You’re nothing compared to him.”

  Jordan had spent time with Finn and his girlfriend, Chloe, and liked them both a lot. “Fine. If you guys are sure you don’t mind a third wheel underfoot, I’ll stay. But I’ve got to go home eventually and figure out my life.” In addition to the show, she had numerous endorsement contracts she’d put on hold after the trouble with Brendan, and Gigi had been after her to think about getting back to work before someone decided to sue her for breach of contract.

  Despite the fact that Brendan had assaulted her, she’d been the one receiving death threats from his loyal fans after he’d been arrested and charged. Her grandmother had insisted on hiring security for her that she’d recently dismissed after the initial furor had died down. Gran and Nikki had been upset with her for ditching the security, but she couldn’t bear to be watched all the time. Besides, no one knew she was on Gansett, so she certainly didn’t need them on the remote island.

  It’d been a relief to be on Gansett, where she and Nikki had spent summers with their mother and grandmother. Those had been the happiest times of her life, and Jordan loved any chance she got to return to the island and to spend time at the house that had been more of a home to her and Nikki than anywhere else they’d ever lived.

  She wasn’t ready to return to the madness that was her real life. A few more weeks on Gansett would help her mentally prepare to reenter the maelstrom. Prior to the fire and the asthma attack, she’d been thinking it was time to go back and face the proverbial music. Now, she had a good excuse to take more time off.

  Jordan glanced at Nikki, who’d once been her full-time manager as well as her twin and closest friend. She’d never admit to anyone, especially Nik, who was so happy in her new life, how lost she’d been without Nik at home and at work. “Can you ask them about a note?” A doctor’s note about the severe asthma attack would buy her a few more weeks.

  Nik would know what she needed. She always knew. “Of course. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take care of it.”

  Jordan’s eyes filled with tears as she looked up at her sister. “I thought this shit was behind us.”

  “I know. Me, too, but it was probably the smoke.”

  “I hope so. If it’s back…”

  Nikki laid her hand over Jordan’s. “It’s not. It was triggered by the smoke. I know it.”

  Dr. David Lawrence came into the room, looking rushed and flustered. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to you, Jordan. A car accident resulted in several patients being brought in, so I got waylaid.”

  “Anyone we know?” Riley asked hesitantly. He was related to half the island, or so it seemed.

  David shook his head. “Tourists who took one of our famous curves too fast and found out how unforgiving Gansett Island trees can be.”

  The doctor was tall, dark haired and good-looking. Jordan had met him and his fiancée, Daisy, at the opening of the Wayfarer.

  “Are they going to be all right?” Nikki asked.

  “They will be.” David sat in the chair at Jordan’s bedside. “Anyway, about you, Ms. Jordan. How’re you feeling?”

  “Better. My chest hurts, but it always does after an attack.”

  “Talk to me about your history with asthma.”

  Jordan glanced at Nikki.

  “If I may?” Nikki said.

  Jordan nodded. She was too tired and wrung out to tell that story.

  “Jordan had her first asthma attack when we were six. It came out of nowhere, and at first, our mom thought she was choking. She called for rescue, and the paramedics immediately realized what was happening. That was the start of a cycle of attacks that went on for years, well into high school when the situation seemed to stabilize. She’d go years without an attack, and when she had them, they were less severe than they’d been when she was younger.”

  David nodded as he took notes. “That can happen. People grow out of it in many cases. Others continue to struggle with it into adulthood.”

  “She hasn’t had an attack in more than seven years.”

  “I kind of thought my asthma issues were behind me,” Jordan added.

  “They probably were until you were stuck in a smoky room, which will trigger the old demons.”

  “So you don’t think it’s back like it was before?”

  “I can’t really say for certain, but it’s probably safe to assume this particular attack was situational due to the smoke. We can only hope it won’t lead to others. Do you still carry an inhaler?”

  “No. I haven’t needed it in years.”

  “I’m going to prescribe one, and I’d like you to keep it with you for the next three months or so. I’d recommend a check-in with your pulmonologist to update them on this latest incident.”

  “Can we take her home?” Nikki asked.

  “I’d like you to spend the night so we can monitor your breathing. Just as a precaution. There were no signs of burns in your throat or upper airway,” David said, “and your chest X-ray was clear. We just want to be sure you’re okay before we release you.

  Jordan groaned. She’d spent so many nights in the hospital as a kid that the thought of even one more was unbearable.

  “I’ll stay with you,” Nik said.

  “Absolutely not. Go home. I’m fine.”

  “I don’t want to leave you.”

  “Riley, take your fiancée and get her out of my hair, will you, please?”

  “Come on, Nik. Let’s give Jordan the chance to get some rest. We’ll come back in the morning to bring her home.”

  “Can we, Doc?” Nikki asked David. “Can she come home in the morning?”

  “Provided her vitals are where they need to be, she can go home in the morning.”

  Seeming to realize that was his best offer, Nikki leaned across the bed rail to hug Jordan. “Will you call if you need me?”

  “I don’t have my phone, but I’ll make sure they have your number in case you’re needed.”

  “You can give it to me,” David said. “I’ll be here all night.” He wrote down the number Nikki recited. “Try not to worry. Everything is looking good, and we’ll keep a close eye on her overnight.”

  Jordan had given Nikki plenty of reasons to worry about her, especially lately. Her sister was now preconditioned to worry. Jordan hated being the cause of the line that had begun to form between Nikki’s brows from all the time she’d spen
t jammed up over Jordan’s shit.

  It was time to make some changes. She just wished she knew what changes she wanted to make or how to actually reset her life.

  She would use this time on Gansett to do some deep thinking and contemplation. Hopefully, by the time she left, she’d have a plan that would give her sister far less to worry about.

  Because neither she nor Nikki could go on this way for much longer.

  Chapter 4

  Riley half-dragged Nikki out of the clinic and held the door for her while she got into his pickup truck.

  She went through the motions of putting the seat belt on.

  “Hey,” Riley said.

  Nikki glanced at him.

  “She’s okay,” he said. “David’s only keeping her as a precaution. Everything is fine. We’ll come back in the morning to pick her up.”

  “I know.”

  While Nikki stared straight ahead into the darkness, Riley walked around to the driver’s side and got in. His phone rang, and he took the call from his dad, Kevin, who’d apparently heard about the fire at Eastward Look.

  “Yes, we’re fine, and Jordan is spending the night at the clinic, but she’s okay. No, the house is fine. From what we heard, there’s a little damage, but nothing we can’t handle. Sorry to freak you out. How’s Summer doing?”

  At times like this, Nikki thought while Riley talked to his dad about his new baby sister, it was handy to have a contractor for a fiancé. Riley, his brother and cousins would have the place back to rights in no time.

  Riley promised to check in with Kevin in the morning and ended the call.

  As they drove home in silence, Nikki relived the last few hours, from the time Riley received the call from his cousin Shane about a fire at Eastward Look, how Jordan had been rescued by Mason and found to be in the midst of a severe asthma attack.

  She shuddered remembering the frightening attacks from their childhood that would turn their lives upside down, sometimes for weeks at a time. The utter terror of realizing Jordan couldn’t breathe was something Nikki had never forgotten, and tonight’s incident had brought back the horror.