Lucky Like Us

by Jennifer Ryan

  “It’s not fair sending that little angel in here. I can’t say no to her.”

  “Neither can I,” Caleb admitted about his daughter. “I wanted to send the three boys in to attack you. I think in your condition, they could take you.”

  “You’re probably right. Fine, I’m up. I’ll hit the shower and go to the hospital. Call off your wives. I swear, I don’t need one of my own with your two harassing me all the time. Can’t you all leave me alone for a little while?”

  “Looks to me like when we leave you alone you self-destruct. What’s with the bottle of whiskey? It’s not like you to drown away your sorrows.” Sam wasn’t acting like himself and it worried Jack. He nodded to Caleb to give Sam and him time alone together.

  “Nothing is with the bottle. I got carried away. I’ve had a hard couple weeks, and now that I have some time off, I thought I’d let loose.”

  “Let loose,” Jack said sarcastically. “You locked yourself in a room and drank yourself into oblivion—alone. Your family came to help you get through this rough time, and you’ve either ignored us or snapped at us. I think maybe you’re right about Elizabeth; you should stay away from her. She’s turning you into a drunk and an asshole. I’d rather you go back to being irritable. You’ll be cleared to work on Tuesday, get back to what you do best and forget about her. Tyler can finish the case. You’re better off without her.”

  Sam grabbed Jack by the front of his shirt, held firmly, and got in his face. “Forget about her. Hell no. I can’t forget about her. She’s almost died twice because of me, and you want me to go back to work and forget what happened. You think I’m better off without her. Look at me. I’m still half drunk from last night because I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s my every thought and . . . shit.”

  He was falling for her. She consumed his life. The only time he’d been happy since the shooting was when she woke up and they’d talked. Like an old friend to him already, he’d told her more about his life than he’d ever told another person. He released Jack, shoving him away, and tried to breathe, taking in deep gulps of air.

  “Exactly. Now, get your sorry ass down to the hospital. Have dinner with her family and spend some time with her. Talk to her like before, let her know you’re there for her. It’ll do you some good too. Oh, and lay off the sauce,” Jack ordered.

  Sam dropped back onto the bed and put his face in his hands. Jack might think it funny, but it just hit him right between the eyes what the rest of the family already knew. He was falling for Elizabeth, and falling hard. Maybe they could build something good together. Then again, they had to get past everything happening now. Jack knew what it was like to fall in love when you were in the middle of a hurricane. He must have experienced the same when he met, fell in love with, and married Jenna. Their lives had been in such chaos, but they found each other, and eventually worked their way through the turmoil together. Maybe he and Elizabeth could do the same. God, he hoped so.

  “Shit.” Somehow she’d worked her way past his head and into his heart without him ever seeing her coming. He glanced at Jack’s knowing smile.

  “You already said that. Get cleaned up and say goodbye to the family. The kids will miss you. Summer and Caleb will be happy to be away from you for a while.” Jack slapped Sam on the back. “It’s not that bad. You’ll live.”

  “Not without her. She’s got to wake up and be all right. I couldn’t take it if she . . .” He left the sentence unfinished because he couldn’t speak his worst fear. That he’d never get the chance to see if there could really be something between them.

  “You know what I find interesting? The only time she woke up and talked to anyone, it was for you. Go see her. Make her wake up. I have a feeling she’ll do it for you.”

  Sam stood and headed for the bathroom, anxious to get to the hospital now. Maybe Jack was right and she’d wake up for him again. Then maybe she’d finally get out of the hospital, and he could take her on a proper date. Holding hands in the hospital when she was half unconscious didn’t count.

  He wanted more, a hell of a lot more.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  * * *

  Sunday, 6:00 P.M.

  SAM MANAGED TO get himself cleaned up, say goodbye to his family, and make it to the hospital in time for dinner with the Hamilton family. Gathered in Elizabeth’s room when he arrived, he didn’t even glance at them; his eyes went right to Elizabeth, the ventilator still doing its job keeping her alive. Her dark hair was pulled back by a white headband. No doubt her mother’s way of taking care of her.

  “Hello, Sam. It’s so nice you could join us. We were about to eat. Come. Sit down, and we’ll fill you in on Elizabeth’s condition.” Rachel led Sam by the arm toward the table.

  “Hi, everyone.” Sam took in the family sitting at the small table set up in the room. The second bed had been removed to make room for their dinner. He thought it amazing anyone could set a table with linens, silver, and crystal in ICU. But these were the Hamiltons and he imagined they could make just about anything happen.

  Each place setting had a covered plate. Gerard’s, one of the finest restaurants in the city, had delivered dinner. A box from Decadence, Elizabeth’s store, sat on the other table.

  Sam took the empty seat facing Elizabeth and tried not to stare at her. It didn’t work. He couldn’t help but watch her, hoping she’d wake up, move her hand, something.

  The Judge cleared his throat and gave him a knowing look across the table. “Sorry, sir. How is she?”

  “Better. They’re weaning her off the ventilator. It’s only helping her now. She’s doing most the work. They’ll try to take her off of it completely sometime tonight. It’s the best we can hope for right now.”

  Sam understood the waning hope in the Judge’s tone. Every second Elizabeth lay silent made it more and more difficult to believe she’d wake up and be fine.

  “I hope you’re hungry. Gerard’s makes the best prime rib dinner with all the fixings,” the Judge went on, trying to sound jovial.

  “Thank you for inviting me.” Sam’s stomach wanted to rebel at the sight and smell of food, but he’d get through dinner and hope for time alone with Elizabeth.

  Rachel removed the covers from all the plates. Prime rib dinner with all the fixings included mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon and caramelized onions, and sautéed mushrooms. Once he got a look at and smelled the food, he decided he was hungry after all. He grabbed a roll from the basket on the table, buttered it, and tried to make nice with Elizabeth’s brothers. “How’s it going, Patrick? Daniel?”

  “Just fine, Sam. Any news on the person who did this to our sister?” Patrick asked hopefully.

  “Nothing definitive. The best information we have came from Elizabeth. She gave us a very good description of the man. We’ve narrowed our suspects considerably. I’ll be back on duty by Tuesday, and I’ll help Agent Reed until we catch this guy.”

  “I know you guys are doing your best and giving everything you have to the case, but don’t you have any idea who did this?” Daniel was still fuming about his sister, but he’d mellowed considerably since the last time they crossed paths.

  “That’s been the problem all along. The guy is a ghost. No one has ever seen him, except Elizabeth.”

  A few feet away, Elizabeth lay still. She looked like a shell, no life or glow to her, like she wasn’t really in her own body.

  “She mentioned she might have seen him somewhere before, but I imagine with the social obligations and other benefits she and your family attend, the number of people she meets and runs into is enormous. Not to mention the horde of people who storm her shop each day.”

  “Her business is very popular.” Rachel beamed. “She meets all kinds of people at work and at the other social events she attends. I’d imagine trying to sort out who might have been at one of those places and attacked you both would be difficult for her to remember precisely,” Rachel said discouraged.

  Sam nodded and continued t
o eat with the family. Their conversation centered on their work and their lives, while Sam sat mechanically eating. Whenever they asked him a question, or for his opinion, he gave it, but never took his eyes off Elizabeth, waiting for any sign she was coming back from the black oblivion. Rachel served desert, a rich chocolate cake. He didn’t remember eating it, or the fact he’d managed to down two cups of coffee on top of it. He couldn’t remember half of what he’d talked with her family about either. He was too busy watching her.

  “Sam,” Daniel bellowed.

  “What?” Sam jerked around. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  “Did you accept the assignment to protect Elizabeth when she’s released and can go home? I gave you a hard time, but I think you’re the best man for the job. Hell, if all you have to do is watch her, you’re getting a lot of practice tonight.”

  Daniel laughed at his expense, and Sam glared back at him, despite the truth in Daniel’s observation.

  “Yes. I’ll be the one assigned to her if that’s what she still wants when she wakes up.”

  “She will.” The Judge said it like he had no doubt. “More importantly, her mother and I want you with her.” He winked at Rachel.

  It might be nice to see his daughter date a man for more than a few weeks. Sam wasn’t like the other men who tried to get in Elizabeth’s good graces. Sam didn’t want anything from her or them. He was his own man. He hadn’t asked John once who he might know in the upper ranks of the FBI, or to put in a good word for him with so and so. A straight shooter, he didn’t want anything he didn’t earn himself, and the Judge liked him for it all the better.

  Sam hoped she would want him to protect her. The conversation around him started up again between the guys and their parents. The dream he’d had that day came back to him. He remembered waking up to find Lily by his bed with Elizabeth screaming his name ringing in his ears. He heard her sharp piercing cry now, calling out to him. A single tear trailed down the side of her face, and another, and by the time the third one ran down, he realized he wasn’t seeing things. She was crying.

  In the next second, all hell broke loose. She moved so quickly no one had time to stop her from grabbing at the breathing tube. She thrashed in the bed trying to get the tube out, but the tape and strap were secure. Buzzers and alarms went off like slots in a casino. Sam jumped up from his seat and made it to the bed before anyone else had a chance to get to her. He leaned over her face, whispering in her ear.

  “Sweetheart. Stop. Stop. You’re okay.” Grabbing both her hands, she finally focused on him. Wide blue eyes filled with fear stared up at him. “They’ll take it out. Stop.” She gripped his hands, her nails digging into his skin, and kept her eyes locked on his. “The doctor’s coming. They’ll take it out. Are you okay?”

  She shook her head no, but relaxed. She never took her gaze from his, or let go. At that point, he was her lifeline. He made her feel safe. He was real, and after being in the black ooze, she needed a buoy to keep her afloat, she held on to him.

  “Ellie Girl. I’m so happy you’ve come back to us. You missed dinner. We had it right here in your room. Sam joined us, of course.” Her father’s happiness at seeing her awake filled his every word. She couldn’t turn away from Sam. She held on with everything she had.

  “Your Mom went to get the doctor. Hold on for a minute, Ellie Girl.”

  “Hey, Busy Bee. We’re so happy you woke up. Don’t worry, you’ll be home in a few days. I bet you’d like that. The Muffin Man misses you. I think he hates me.” She caught his weak smile out of the corner of her eye.

  She wanted the tube down her throat out.

  “Everything at the shop is fine, Lizzy. I’ve been checking in as often as I can. Amy and the rest of the staff are keeping everything the way you like it. We had one of your triple chocolate cakes tonight. It was really good.”

  Elizabeth was happy to hear all of them talking to her, but she couldn’t shake the need to keep the connection with Sam. He kept her afloat when the black wanted to come back and pull her down. She didn’t want to go there ever again. She willed herself to stay with Sam, with them all. The tube made her feel like she was choking. She tried to make a grab for it again, but Sam stayed her hands and held on to her tight.

  “Stop. Don’t pull at it. You’ll hurt yourself. They’ll take it out. Relax.” Sam was thankful to see she had so much strength. He kept a good grip on her hands to keep her from grabbing the tube. Once the adrenaline wore off, she’d be weak as a newborn baby.

  Doctor Watts hurried into the room and came right to Elizabeth. “Please give us a few minutes alone. It looks like she’s fighting mad to get the tube out. Let us get her settled again, and you can spend some time with her.”

  “Sweetheart, I’m going to let go of you. Don’t pull at the tube. Let the doctor take it out. Okay?” She blinked at him once. “Okay, sweetheart. We’ll be right outside the door. We’ll come back in a minute.” He let go of her hands and gently wiped away the tears from her cheeks. She started to panic again, and he laid a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll be right back. You can’t talk to me until they take the tube out. I’ll be back. Okay?”

  She blinked once for him and let him go. She needed to talk to him, and the sooner the tube was out, the sooner she could speak. The doctor worked quickly. Uncomfortable, to say the least, and once it was out she tried to say something, but her voice came out scratchy and her throat hurt.

  “It’ll take some time for your voice to come back.” He held a glass of water by her head and helped put the straw in her mouth. She drank deeply. “Slow down. You don’t want to make yourself sick. How are you feeling?”

  “Like I’m neck deep in the sand. It’s hard to move. I feel like there’s a weight on me, and there’s a fog in my head. My heartbeat echoes ten times louder in my ears, and I have the worst headache.”

  “I’ll give you some meds for that.”

  “No more drugs. I’ve had enough. I want to go home,” she said, knowing sitting up was beyond her strength. Getting up and walking, out of the question.

  “It’ll be some time before that happens.” She turned her head away while he listened to her heart and lungs. She’d been through a lot and in the hospital for a long time. She wanted to get her life back on track. Forget all this ever happened. Like that was possible. “You’ll be home before you know it,” he assured her.

  “Can they come back in now?”

  “Sure. I’ll check on you in a little while. If you want more medication, let us know.”

  Blessedly alone for a few moments, she tried to compose herself. She didn’t have a lot of energy, but she needed to talk to Sam. She’d have to get through the time with her family, and hope she had a moment alone with him.

  Her mother came in crying, followed by her father. He exhaled with relief and reached for her hand. “There’s my Ellie Girl. You look much better. How are you feeling?”

  “Tired, but fine.” Her voice croaked like a frog, but at least she got the word out.

  “That’s good. The doctor told us you’re not supposed to talk too much. You need to let your throat heal. They quickly gave you the antidote for the drugs you were given. There’s no permanent damage. You needed time to recover. I told your mother you’d wake up for Sunday dinner. You wouldn’t disappoint your dad, now would you? Not that you ever could.” He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. Her gaze went to the bruises on her arm, but she didn’t say anything.

  Her mother leaned over and hugged her, trying her best not to hurt her. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her mother and held on, trying to keep from breaking down. She wanted them to believe she was okay, even though she was a mess on the inside. She’d let herself go when she was alone. Her brothers came in, but she held fast to her mother. After giving her a big kiss on the head, her mother let go. She listened to her brothers tell her about her shop and everything she’d missed over the past two weeks in their lives. Her mother cleaned up the dining table, having eve
rything wheeled out on a cart, including the empty box from her shop. She tried to keep track of the conversation, but she struggled to focus.

  “I’m tired. I think I’ll go to sleep now.” She couldn’t hold on much longer. The emotions raged inside her and wanted to come out. Turning into a sobbing ball of fear and pain was not an option in front of them.

  Sam hadn’t come back like he promised. She needed to talk to him, and he’d left. Her family reluctantly said goodbye and promised to return in the morning. She didn’t want them returning in the morning. She wanted to go home and sleep in her own bed, hide in her own house.

  When the goodbyes and hugs were over, and she was alone in her room, she lowered the bed, rolled onto her side, and curled up. The bruises on her arm reminded her of what happened and fear washed over her again. Shaking, she put her arms over her head and sobbed. It all came up from inside and poured out in her tears.

  Sam walked in quietly and found her curled up in bed crying her heart out. The wracking sobs tore his heart to shreds. He moved the IV lines and wires connected to her monitors and lay down on the bed behind her, pulling her to his chest. Wrapping his arm around her, he held her while she cried.

  The second Sam entered her room, she felt him. Gently, he pulled her to him. The feel of his strong body pressed to her back, so reassuring, so warm and solid, she simply gave in and let the rest of the tears come out. He’d hold her until she regained some semblance of herself and strength. Right now, it was heaven to feel his arms around her and know she was safe, if only for a little while. She could let the tears fall and feel the fear with him. Her family would have been concerned, but Sam would understand.

  He whispered to her, telling her she’d be all right, and she’d get through this. He told her to let it out, let it go, and held her close.

  All the tears spent, the fear subsided. She didn’t mind Sam being in bed with her, but after all the sobbing ended came the embarrassment.