“I’m glad you find my predicament amusing,” he grumbled, glaring at her. “I’m done laying in this bed like an invalid.”
Ashley removed her hand from her mouth, and waved a finger at him. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Oh, I don’t think anyone would think of you as an invalid.” Her voice was laced with suppressed laughter. “You might want to reconsider getting out of bed with your hospital gown untied, though. You’re going to give the nurses heart palpitations if they see you wandering around with your backside exposed.”
Vin cursed under his breath. The damn get-up he was wearing opened in the back. He’d realized that the other day, but in his haste to get to his sack of clothes, he’d forgotten. He might as well parade around in nothing at all. Annoyance tore through him. He should simply rip the blasted garment completely off, but then he’d set off those horrid alarms again.
For a second, he simply stood there. In order to climb back in bed, he’d have to turn his back to Ashley. She hadn’t moved, still looking at him with a smile on her face. Had he seen her smile before? She’d always been so serious, and even angry when she’d spoken into her cell phone or when talking to the nurses and doctors.
Slowly, the corners of his mouth raised in a lazy smile of his own. If she was unabashed by his predicament, why shouldn’t he be?
“If you’d like to gawk at me, suit yourself. Whether I get back in bed or fetch my clothes and get dressed, you’re gonna get an eye-full unless you do the ladylike thing and turn around.”
Her brows rose at his words. “Get dressed? Are you crazy? You had major surgery a couple of days ago. You can’t get dressed. What do you think you’re going to do? Walk out of here?”
Vin took a step forward to alleviate the tug on his chest from the lines that were stuck to it. He’d torn them away once already, which had brought several nurses to his room, threatening to restrain him by tying him to his bed if he didn’t leave those things alone. He raised his hand and pointed at the watch around Miss Ashley’s neck. Moira Lockhart’s watch.
“That’s exactly what I intend to do. You can take me to Miss Lockhart’s establishment and let me go back to where I came from. I’m done being held prisoner here. I thought the future might have something to offer, but perhaps I was wrong. I’m not sure the ways of this time suit me. You’ve all gone loco.”
Miss Ashley took several steps toward him until only the bed was between them. Vin kept his gaze on her. While she’d caught his eye when his mind hadn’t been sharp, he now looked through clear eyes. His opinion of her was still the same.
She was the prettiest girl he’d seen in a long time. Completely different than any woman he’d been acquainted with before, except perhaps Amber. There hadn’t been sparks flying when he’d looked at Amber, however. Something drew him to this woman, and unless he completely misread what was in front of him, Miss Ashley was having the same reaction to him.
Vin mentally shook his head. He had no business thinking about women at the moment. He was a man without a home, without roots, and with an uncertain future. If he returned home to his time, he was a dead man. He wouldn’t survive another attempt on his life by Jack’s men. If Jack found out that he was alive, he would send more than one man after him a second time. Coming to the future had saved his life, but what kind of life lay ahead for him in this strange new world?
Anger took hold in him again. Hatred toward the man responsible for his current state kept him on edge and restless. Revenge had been on his mind during the countless hours he’d lain in bed, which conflicted with other thoughts. Did he really want to go back? The Kincaid name was not something to be proud of in his time. Here, he could make a fresh start. At least he had some time to think about it from what that woman, Moira Lockhart, had told him several days ago.
Miss Ashley glared at him. “You’re recovering from major surgery. I don’t think you’re in any condition to be out of bed, much less go back in time, where you’re sure to die without the proper medical care.”
Vin’s eyes narrowed. “I told you already. I’m done being held prisoner.”
He tensed when a sharp pain seared his insides. He grimaced and clutched his hand over his wounds. Taking in a quick breath, he added, “And I’m sure you’re getting tired of being locked away here with me, too. Don’t let me keep you if you’ve got somewhere else to be.”
She scoffed. “I can’t leave you here. I promised Amber and Scott . . . and Moira Lockhart, that I’d make sure you stay out of trouble. She left you in my care, remember? If she’s not back by the time the doctors say you’re okay to leave the hospital, I’ll take you to her place, just as she said.”
“I’m getting mighty impatient, lying in this bed all day. If Miss Lockhart wanted me to stay at her place, I’d rather do that and have some peace and quiet, rather than remain here and be treated like an invalid.”
Miss Ashley glared at him, holding her stance. “You’re not ready to be released from the hospital. Why do you have to be so stubborn?”
Vin raked his hand through his hair. “This isn’t a hospital. It’s a prison.”
“I know it might feel that way, but better to grin and bear it for a few more days and get well than to be dead.” Her features softened slightly. “I can’t imagine how you’re feeling, but I can say with absolute certainty that you won’t get far if you decide to storm out of here.”
The pulse pounded at his temples. She was right, but it didn’t mean he had to like it. “I ain’t used to doing nothing. This place is going to drive me crazy.”
Miss Ashley scoffed. “You think you have problems? I’m going to get fired from my job, a job I really need, if I don’t get home soon, but I made a promise to help you adjust to all the changes.”
Vin paused. He narrowed his gaze on her again, but some emotion triggered to life at her words. She didn’t want to be here any more than he, but she felt obligated to keep her word. Of course it stood to reason that Miss Ashley had to work in order to support herself. What did unwed women do in this time? Unmarried ladies didn’t have too many choices where he was from.
“Where’s home?”
She stared, as if taken aback at the question. Her head shook slightly, and she blinked, then let out some sound that conveyed her displeasure. “In the middle of nowhere in California.”
By the tone of her voice, home didn’t sound like a happy place. At least they had that much in common. Miss Ashley had gone out of her way to stay at his side for days. Maybe he could be of some help to her in return. Vin smiled.
“I’ve always had it in mind to see California.”
Miss Ashley’s brows rose. She stared at him as if he were daft. Then she smiled, too, and a mischievous gleam sparkled in her eyes.
“How do feel about flying, Vin Kincaid?”
Chapter 7
Ashley faced Vin, who’d apparently been rendered speechless. His eyes narrowed on her, as if he hadn’t understood what she’d said. Even after he’d been exposed to modern medical equipment in the hospital, the idea of flying seemed a bit too much.
She smiled to conceal the flutter in her heart. Even in a ridiculous hospital gown, this guy projected something wild and purely masculine, and no matter how much she’d ignored her instant attraction to Vin, it was a hopeless effort. There was something so different and appealing about him that other guys lacked.
Without a doubt, Vin Kincaid had led a hard life. Ashley hadn’t asked him about his past for fear of being overheard, but what little he’d revealed had made it clear that nothing had come easy for him. Not only had he come from over a century ago, when living conditions were not what they were now, but he’d been an orphan, to boot, and had grown up on a cattle ranch and been expected to do hard labor since he was ten. When she’d asked if he had any family, he’d almost sneered and shook his head.
A life like that was unimaginable these days. No wonder he looked so fierce. He could intimidate anyone with a simple glance, but when she’d caught him lookin
g at her on several occasions, something about that stare had made her melt inside. She was used to rude comments from men. It came with the territory of working in a diner frequented by truckers and bikers, but the way Vin had checked her out was completely different.
Despite everything, underneath that fierce masculine shell was a kind and patient man. How else would he have put up with all the unfamiliar sights and sounds, and having to depend on others for his most basic needs, when he most certainly was used to doing everything for himself? Right now, he was a lost soul, and as much as she’d pushed the feeling aside, she was drawn to him.
The fact that he was drop-dead gorgeous was beside the point, or so she’d told herself over the last few days. She wasn’t interested in men at the moment, and each time Zeke had called her, she’d been reminded of the reason. She hadn’t taken any of his calls. At some point she’d have to talk to him, but not here at the hospital, or in front of Vin. She had more pressing problems at the moment than getting into an argument with her boyfriend over the phone. Her ex-boyfriend, even if he didn’t know it, yet.
Moira had stopped at the hospital with a bag of clothes the morning after her surprising phone call. She’d also brought some documentation for Vin, then had ushered Ashley aside to talk to her out of his presence.
“In a pinch, these documents will get him by for now.”
“How did you get these?” Ashley had stared at the fake ID and social security card, then back at Moira. She’d completely forgotten that Vin had absolutely no documentation to prove his identity in this time.
Moira had smiled conspiratorially. “When you’re responsible for bringing people from the past to the future, it’s important to have someone who’s handy with creating fake documents. I bring him business, and he doesn’t ask questions. Hopefully you won’t need them.”
“What am I supposed to do with Vin?” Ashley had whispered, leaning toward Moira.
She really hadn’t thought this thing through properly when she’d offered to watch out for him. After seeing Vin Kincaid, she’d suddenly become unsure of herself. She’d never been flustered around men, but Vin definitely made her heart pitter-patter in ways she’d never experienced.
“I thought Vin was supposed to go with you to your place when he gets out of the hospital, but last night in your phone call you said you had to leave for New York. How am I supposed to deal with all this?”
“I’m sorry, but my mother is very sick. I don’t have a choice but to go and take care of her.” Moira had laughed softly. “Because of her, I came to Heartsbridge in the first place. If I hadn’t run away from my life in New York, I never would have known that I would be in the business of sending people through time to find their hearts’ match.”
“Hearts’ match?” Ashley had frowned.
Moira had lifted the watch that dangled from a blue ribbon around her neck and glanced at it before meeting Ashley’s gaze. “Yes. That’s what the watch does. It selects people to get a chance at true love, if you will, in another time than their own.”
Amber had explained some of it to Ashley already, but she hadn’t quite put it in those terms. All she’d said was that the watch somehow chose to send people through time.
“Vin is here to find true love?” Ashley had blurted.
Some odd sensation had crept through her at the idea. He wouldn’t have any problem attracting women. With his bad boy looks and attitude, he was like a piece of meat attracting flies on a hot summer day. Ashley had nearly laughed. If she hadn’t sworn off men for a while, it would have been easy to be interested, too.
Moira had nodded in response to her question. “That’s how the watch works, but it’s up to him. He can choose to go home as long as the hands on the watch are moving. If they slow, he needs to be at the diner, in the back room. That’s the only place time travel will work. Once the watch hands stop, it’ll be too late. He’ll have to remain in the time he’s in when they do.”
“I could certainly use a watch like that to work for me,” Ashley had mumbled. “It sure does sound romantic, the notion of finding love across time.” It had been that way for Gabe and Morgan, and also for Amber and Scott, even though they were both from the present.
“You never know.” Moira had patted her arm. “The right person can come along when you least expect it.”
Ashley had scoffed. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve been looking too hard for years, I suppose. After what happened the other day at Scott and Amber’s wedding, I think I’m taking a break in the love department for a while.”
Moira had smiled, then handed her a bag containing jeans, a few t-shirts, and other clothes that would transform Vin Kincaid into a modern man – at least on the outside. Ashley’s eyes had widened when Moira had removed the watch from around her neck and held it out to her.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” she’d stammered.
“I was hoping you’d do me and Vin a favor, Ashley.” Moira had looked almost apologetic. “I know this is a lot to ask, but I don’t have anyone else to turn to while I’m gone, and you now know about everything.” She paused, drew in a deep breath, then continued. “I’m trusting you with this watch. I don’t know how long I’ll be in New York, but if the hands slow while I’m gone, he’s going to need to make a decision. When Vin is ready to leave the hospital, take him to my place by the diner. You can both stay there, and no one will bother you. I’ve closed it down in my absence. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Ashley had stared at Moira, then at the watch. She’d definitely not signed up for this, but what other options were there? Vin definitely couldn’t be left alone, until he learned more about the future. And now she had her boss breathing down her neck, threatening to fire her if she didn’t get home soon.
“Flying?”
Ashley blinked at Vin’s skeptical question. He still stood in front of her on the other side of the hospital bed, an IV line dangling from his arm and connected to an IV bag, along with several heart monitor leads. Was she really considering taking him on an airplane to California? Moira would be furious. The idea was crazy.
She raised her chin and smiled at the confused look on his face. There were no other options. If Moira wasn’t here to look after Vin, he had to go with her to California. She couldn’t afford to lose her job, and her boss had run out of patience.
“Flying is the quickest way to get from Texas to California. I can talk my boss into giving me a few more days, but even if they release you in the next day or so, it would take at least two days to drive, but only a few hours to fly.”
“People fly in the future?”
Clearly, he wasn’t paying attention to anything she’d said, only that they were flying. He probably thought she was pulling his leg, or that she was about to sprout wings and carry him away in her talons.
“Yes, in airplanes. It’s perfectly safe, probably safer than driving. If you’re serious about coming with me to California, you’re going to have to fly.”
He continued to scrutinize her with a look that made her heart beat faster, then finally shook his head and chuckled.
“All right. I’ll do anything to get out of this hospital.”
Ashley laughed. “I don’t think Moira’s going to like this idea. We’ll have to watch the hands on this timepiece closely. If they slow down, we’ll have to get to Heartsbridge as soon as possible so you can go back to where you came from.” She smiled.
Vin’s lips curved in a grin. Ashley’s throat closed off in reaction to the look in his eyes as he stared at her.
“Maybe I ain’t fixin’ to go back to where I came from.”
“After this ride, you want me to get into a contraption that’s going to fly?”
Vin clutched at his abdomen as he stepped out of the cab, his eyes glazed over. The fifteen-minute car ride from the hospital to the airport might have been too much for him to handle. No doubt he was in pain, but his panicked expression was also partly due to too much sensory information all at on
ce.
Ashley grabbed for his arm to steady him as he straightened and looked around. She tugged to make him step away from the cab as it sped away from the curb. A mixture of disbelief and incomprehension defined his features.
Taxicabs all around dropped off passengers in a hurry to get to their flights. Cars honked, tires screeched nearby as someone pulled away from the curb and cut off an approaching car, and the roar of an airplane engine as it took flight created an atmosphere of chaos. A mother rushed past carrying a screaming infant in one arm while pulling a large suitcase behind her.
The color of Vin’s face wasn’t encouraging. His normally tanned complexion had turned a ghostly white. He hadn’t looked this bad the first time she’d seen him after his surgery.
Over the course of the last few days, he’d looked a lot better in the hospital than he did now. It had taken almost a day before he’d no longer looked at the bed as if it was going to eat him whenever she’d suggested adjusting the mattress setting. He’d never completely relaxed whenever the nurse checked his IVs or helped him to the bathroom.
He’d taken it all in stride on the outside, but it had been difficult to read what was going on in his head. No doubt he was filled with confusion and mistrust of all the modern things around him that he’d never seen before. If the ride in the cab was too much for him, how was he going to react to flying in an airplane?
“This was your idea, remember? You didn’t want to stay in the hospital until Moira returned, despite the doctor’s advice.”
“I couldn’t tolerate staying in that place another day.”
Vin glared at her as she led him away from the cab and around people rushing to get inside the airport to their terminals. Ashley raised her eyes to meet his annoyed look. The smile faltered on her face. She still had her arm wrapped around his, although it didn’t seem like he needed her support anymore. His muscles were rigid, as if he couldn’t tolerate her holding onto him. Maybe he was simply mad that he needed her help but refused to admit it.
Timeless Hero (Timeless Hearts Book 12) Page 6
