Playing for Keeps (Feeling the Heat Book 6)

by Alison Packard

  Panic, sharp and jabbing like a knife, lodged in Rick’s heart. No. It couldn’t be. Not Amy. Not Danny.

  Not again.

  21

  The night Rick received the call that Jill had been in an accident he’d had no clue about her condition as he’d raced to the hospital, and now, as he drove as fast as he dared on the rain-slicked road, the only thing he knew was that Amy was alive, but unconscious. That, and the fact that Danny had suffered only minor injuries should have given him some measure of comfort, but all he could think about was how he’d rushed into the emergency room on a warm September night only to be told his wife was dead.

  Just like that. She was gone.

  He gripped the steering wheel in frustration as he was forced to stop behind the car in front of him at a red light. Thinking the worst wasn’t productive, but he couldn’t help himself. What if he got to the hospital and discovered that Amy had a massive brain injury and was on life support? What if Danny lost his mother? What if Jade lost her best friend? What if he lost another woman he loved?

  Tears scalded his eyes; he blinked several times to contain them. Sucking in air, he exhaled slowly and forced himself to remain calm. Losing his shit wasn’t an option. He had to be strong for Danny. Although he hadn’t been seriously injured, Danny was probably in shock and scared to death that something bad had happened to his mother. He couldn’t let Danny see that he was frightened too.

  “Damn it all! Hurry up!” he yelled, pounding his fist on the steering wheel as the traffic light remained red while the green arrow lit up for the cars turning left. So much for remaining calm.

  Finally, the light turned green and within ten minutes, he’d parked the SUV in the visitor lot at the hospital and ran at breakneck speed toward the emergency room entrance. When the automatic doors slid open, he hurried inside and searched for Jade among the clusters of people assembled in the spacious waiting area. Slightly winded, he spotted her sitting in the corner with her head bent over her phone. As he moved toward her, she looked up and then vaulted out of her chair to hug him as he halted in front of her.

  “Thanks for calling me,” he said, pulling back and meeting her red-rimmed eyes. “How’s Amy?”

  “I don’t know.” Jade’s voice was shaky as she sank back onto her chair. “All they would tell me is that she was unconscious when the paramedics brought her in.”

  Rick shrugged out of his coat then sat in the chair next to her. “Where’s Danny?”

  “In one of the exam rooms.” She slipped her phone into her purse. “My mom is with him. I was at my parents’ house when I got the call. Danny was shook up and upset, but he was able to give them my name and somehow they found my phone number.”

  “Do you know what happened?” he asked, as he dragged a hand through his hair.

  Jade shook her head. “Amy called Mom to let her know that Danny was safe and that she was on her way to pick him up from your place. I assume the accident occurred on her way back to her apartment, but I’m not sure,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “I can’t believe this is happening. After everything she’s been through, it’s not fair. What if...what if she...” Jade broke off with a muffled sob.

  Rick reached for Jade’s hand and squeezed it. “Don’t go there. Don’t think the worst,” he said, wishing he could follow his own advice. His mind had gone there and nothing short of seeing Amy alive would bring him relief.

  She turned to look at him, her eyes filled with something that looked like guilt. “Amy told me you aren’t seeing each other anymore. I wasn’t thinking clearly when I called you. I’m...”

  “You don’t have to apologize,” he assured her. “I’m glad you called. This isn’t about me. It’s about Amy and Danny, and I need to be here. For both of them. No matter what happens.”

  “Ms. O’Brien?” A nurse called out from the main desk.

  Jade’s eyes widened, her face draining of color as she looked at him. “Will you come with me?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

  Rick nodded, hanging on to his jacket as they stood. Jade preceded him as they headed toward the main desk and when they reached the counter, the nurse, dressed in bright blue scrubs, gave them a weary smile. “I have an update on Ms. Vaughn.”

  “Is she still unconscious?” Jade asked quickly.

  “No. She’s awake, but in a lot of pain. She sustained a clavicle fracture. They’ve taken her to radiology for X-rays to determine how serious it is. If the bones are aligned, she’ll wear a sling for several weeks while it heals.”

  Rick let out a breath, the tension ebbing from his body so quickly his knees almost buckled. Clavicle, or collarbone, injuries were painful, he knew that from his own experience, but they weren’t life threatening.

  “What if the bones aren’t aligned?” Jade asked with a frown.

  “Then surgery may be required.”

  “When can we see her?” Rick asked.

  The nurse consulted her watch. “The doctor wants to admit her overnight, but unfortunately visiting hours ended at eight. However, it’ll be a couple of hours before we can get her into a room in the hospital, so if she’s up for it you can see her before we transport her upstairs,” she said as she picked up a chart. “Have a seat and I’ll let you know when she’s done in radiology.”

  “What about Danny?” Rick asked. “Her son.”

  “He’ll be out shortly. He was lucky, other than a sprained wrist, a few cuts, and a bump on his forehead he’s going to be fine. The doctor will go over aftercare instructions before you take him home. He’ll be sore for several days, but if the instructions are followed properly, the sprain won’t take long to heal.”

  “Thank you,” Jade said with a tremulous smile. “This could have been so much worse.”

  “Don’t I know it,” the nurse said, shaking her head. “Your friend and her son were extremely fortunate.”

  After returning to their seats, Rick leaned back in his chair while Jade exchanged texts with her father. When she was finished, she sighed and shoved the phone into her purse. “Dad said he saw a news report about the accident. They said the woman that hit Amy’s car was drunk and speeding when she ran the red light.” Jade grimaced. “And of course, she’s fine. Barely a scratch on her according to the reporter.”

  Rick snorted in disgust. “Please tell me they arrested her.”

  “They did. And I hope they go for the maximum punishment. She could have killed Amy and Danny.”

  “Rick!”

  Danny’s voice carried across the room. Rick pushed up from his chair as Danny, followed by a woman he assumed was Jade’s mother, headed toward them. Emotion lodged in his throat at the sight of the swollen bump on Danny’s forehead, the Band-Aid on his cheek, and the compression wrap on his right wrist. When he was a few feet away, Danny launched himself toward him and Rick crouched as the boy flung himself into his arms.

  For several seconds he held Danny close, almost near tears himself as Danny sobbed quietly against him. Rubbing Danny’s back, Rick’s chest tightened. He wasn’t sure when it had happened, but somewhere along the way he’d grown to love this boy. With his crazy weather facts, his desire to win every checkers game they ever played, and his fierce loyalty to Amy, Danny had snuck inside his heart. That the boy with no father had chosen him as a surrogate was overwhelming, like nothing he’d ever felt before. He could no more walk away from Danny than he could have walked away from the child he would have had with Jill.

  He couldn’t walk away from Amy either. Tonight, terrified she might not survive the accident, he’d gotten the biggest wake-up call of his life. He’d made it through the worst pain imaginable to reclaim his career and his life, but it didn’t mean a damn thing without someone to share it with. And the two people he wanted to share it with were Amy and Danny. There was no timetable when it came to falling in love. He just hoped he hadn’t figured it out too late.

  Amy stared at the ceiling, grateful for the pain medication the doctor had given her.
It had dulled the intense throbbing in her shoulder and arm, but it hadn’t lessened her concern for her son. The nurse had assured her that Danny wasn’t seriously injured, but until she saw him for herself she wouldn’t be satisfied. As soon as they’d brought her back from the radiology department she’d asked to see him. The nurse, a sympathetic, maternal woman wearing turquoise scrubs, must have seen the fear in her eyes and had agreed to bring Danny in for a short visit before they took her upstairs to her hospital room.

  The last time she’d been in a hospital was the day Danny had been born. Still, it smelled exactly as she remembered it. A mixture of pine and antiseptic. The sounds were the same too. The beeping of machines, the muted chatter of the staff, and the occasional disembodied voice over the PA system. In a way it was comforting and, luckily, she was alive to experience it.

  Although she couldn’t remember the accident, she remembered everything before that. She’d picked Danny up at Rick’s loft and because she didn’t feel like cooking, they’d stopped for pizza and a salad. Over dinner she’d lectured Danny about sneaking out of the youth center and informed him he wouldn’t be able to use his tablet for two weeks. He’d grumbled about his punishment, but she’d shut that down quickly by threatening to increase it to three weeks. At that point he’d gotten the message and hadn’t dared ask to go to the game room at the pizza parlor to play video games.

  The rain began to fall again as she drove toward their neighborhood. Turning on the windshield wipers was the last thing she remembered. After that everything was a blank. The doctor said she’d been unconscious for an hour or so and while it bothered her, maybe it had been a good thing. She’d been in a tremendous amount of pain when she’d woken up; it had to have been worse upon impact. All things considered, she’d been fortunate to escape with only a broken collarbone and a few scrapes and bruises.

  “Mom?”

  Danny’s tremulous voice was the best thing she’d heard since she woke up. Gingerly, she turned her head and managed to flash a weak smile toward her son, who stood next to Jade in front of the privacy curtain the nurse had drawn when she’d left the cubicle. “Hi, honey,” she said, willing herself not to break down and cry. Earlier in the evening she thought Danny had been kidnapped, and when she’d regained consciousness after the accident, she been terrified he’d been seriously injured, or worse. She’d never been so scared, then so relieved in her life. But seeing him now, looking so vulnerable, she had to keep it together. She was the only parent he’d ever known. The thought of losing her had to be frightening for him. “I hear you have a sprained wrist,” she said, glancing at the compression wrap around his wrist and forearm.

  “Yeah.” Danny held up his hand and shuffled toward the bed. “The doctor wrapped it and said when I get home I have to put ice on it and levitate it.”

  Amy wrinkled her brow. “Levitate?”

  “I think he means elevate,” Jade said with smile and moved to stand by Danny. “Mom’s here. She’ll take Danny home with her tonight and make sure he follows the aftercare instructions.”

  “Mom, you have a bruise on your face.” Danny cocked his head, staring at her cheek intently. “Does it hurt?”

  “No.” Amy lifted her hand and gently touched her cheek. “But they gave me some heavy duty drugs so I don’t feel much of anything right now.” She pointed to the knot forming on Danny’s forehead. “What about you? It looks like you’re growing a mini baseball there, kiddo.”

  “It’s only sore if I touch it.” He lifted his hand, pressed his fingers to his forehead, and winced. “I guess I shouldn’t touch it.”

  Jade laughed. “Good idea.” She draped her arm around his shoulder. “I think we should get you home so we can put some ice on your wrist. It’ll help with the swelling.”

  Danny frowned. “But I don’t want Mom to be alone. Can Rick stay with her?”

  “Rick?” Amy’s gaze shifted from Danny to Jade.

  “I called him,” Jade said, not bothering to look the least bit guilty about it. “He got here right away.”

  “And he’s still here?” Amy asked, her heart starting to pound.

  “Yes. And he wants to see you. If you’re up for it.”

  “I—I don’t know.”

  “Mom, he looks real worried,” Danny said. “Kinda like you did when you came to his house to get me tonight. But after you saw I was okay, you didn’t look like that anymore. I think he’ll feel better if you let him come see you.”

  “Danny’s right. He’s been climbing the walls out there.”

  Danny looked up at Jade with a puzzled expression. “He’s not climbing on the walls. He’s sitting on a chair.”

  Amy chuckled, then winced as pain radiated through her shoulder. “Don’t make me laugh, it hurts.”

  “So what do you say?” Jade said with a wry smile. “Will you please put the guy out of his misery?”

  Danny opened his mouth but Jade quickly covered it with her hand. “Figure of speech, Danny,” Jade said dryly.

  “Okay. I’ll see him.”

  Jade nodded her approval. “I’ll send him in,” she said, then her eyes softened. “Don’t worry about Danny. We’ll take good care of him.”

  “I know you will.” Amy’s eyes teared up again. What would she have ever done without Jade and the O’Briens? “You’re family.”

  After Amy assured Danny she’d see him tomorrow, Jade and Danny returned to the waiting room, and Amy tried to reel in her scattered emotions. After walking out of his loft earlier, she hadn’t expected to see Rick again. That he’d come to the hospital as soon as Jade called had to mean something. But what? Was it concern for her and Danny, or something more? She had to be a fool for hoping it meant anything more than that, but when it came to Rick she couldn’t help but hope for the impossible.

  A minute or two passed and every second felt like a year. And what made the waiting worse was that she wasn’t supposed to move. Her left arm was stabilized to prevent any movement and, of course, knowing she couldn’t lift or straighten her arm made keeping it still that much harder. Unlike other broken bones, there was no cast for a collarbone fracture. She’d have to wear a sling and suck it up until it healed on its own. How in the world would she bathe, get dressed, take care of Danny, and work with only one good arm? She’d probably get by at Logan-Johnson, but serving drinks at Stylus was out of the question. Hopefully Brock would understand and grant her a leave of absence for a few months.

  Just then, Rick pushed the privacy curtain aside, stepped into the cubicle and stared at her with such intensity it caused her heart to beat even faster. “How are you feeling?” he asked, skirting the end of the bed.

  “Like I got hit by a car.”

  His mouth quirked with amusement. “I guess I walked right into that one, didn’t I?” he said, then motioned toward the chair near the bed. “Do you mind if I stay until they take you upstairs? I told Danny I’d keep you company. He doesn’t want you to be alone.”

  Like a rock, Amy’s heart dropped to her stomach. Of course. She should have known he was only staying to placate Danny. “That’s thoughtful of you, but it’s getting late and hanging out in the emergency room isn’t all that much fun. Danny doesn’t have to know you didn’t stay.”

  “I’m not staying because of Danny.” He draped his coat on the end of the bed, then lowered himself onto the chair, his tall, muscular frame almost dwarfing it. “I’m here because it’s the only place I want to be.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Flustered by his penetrating gaze, she tamped down the hope that sprung to life inside of her. He was just being nice. It didn’t mean anything. Did it? “But I can’t promise much in the way of scintillating conversation.” She glanced at the table next to her bed where the nurse had placed a plastic pitcher, along with a matching plastic cup. “My mouth is so dry.”

  “Let me pour you some water,” he said, as he shifted on the chair and grabbed the pitcher. She watched him as he poured water into the cup. His thick hair was disheve
led as if he’d been running his fingers through it, and his face was almost as pale as Danny’s. And she wasn’t sure, but his hand looked a bit shaky as he set the pitcher on the table. “Do you need some help?” He looked at her with a concerned expression.

  “No. I think I can manage.” Amy lifted her good arm and took the cup from his outstretched hand. “Thank you.” She lifted the cup to her mouth and was able to take a sip without it dribbling down her chin thanks to the angle of the adjustable bed. She sighed as the cool water slid down her throat. It was probably plain old tap water, but it tasted as good as the expensive sparkling water she served at Stylus. She took several more sips before handing the cup back to him.

  “Another cup?” he asked.

  “Maybe later,” she said, then smiled. “I could get used to being waited on.”

  Rick set the cup on the table. “Are you in a lot of pain?”

  “If I try to move my arm, yes. But if I don’t move it’s not too bad. The pain medication helps a lot.” She grimaced. Getting dressed tomorrow to leave the hospital would not be fun. “I have a feeling tomorrow will be a different story, though.”

  “I’m thankful you have a tomorrow.” Leaning forward, he reached for her hand and twined his fingers with hers. His gaze roamed over her face and the tenderness in his eyes made her heart quicken. “After Jade called me, I tried not to think the worst, but on the drive over here I have to admit, my mind went to an extremely dark place.”

  “Because of Jill’s accident?”

  He nodded. “When Jill left the house to go to the store that night it was the last time I saw her alive. So when Jade called and said you’d been in an accident it took me right back there. Jill and I had an argument right before she left. Not a big one—she was pissed because I’d promised to stop and pick up a gallon of milk. But because I was so focused on my physical therapy, I’d completely forgotten about it. I offered to go back out and get the milk but she grabbed her keys and stormed out of the house without saying a word. We didn’t say goodbye or anything. She just left. And then she never came back.”