by Cindy Stark
As she headed toward the exit, she stopped and shifted directions, curiosity getting the best of her. She took the stairs to the second floor and made her way to the surgical wing. One of the nurses smiled in recognition as she approached the desk.
“Hi Sally.” She leaned against the counter. “I wanted to check on a patient admitted last night. Paige Pederson?”
Sally nodded. “She’s doing okay. Surgery went well, and she’s hanging in there. The doctors are waiting to see if she’ll regain feeling in her leg.”
She sighed and nodded. Injuries like Paige’s could be tricky. “Glad surgery went well. How’s she this morning? Is she up for visitors?”
“I think so. You’re friends?”
“We share a mutual friend, and I was at the scene and came in on the ambulance with her. I’d like to check on her if that’s okay.”
“Sure. Keep it short.”
“Will do.” Krystal smiled and headed to the room number Sally had given her. She wasn’t sure what compelled her to visit Paige. Maybe it was just a need to know she’d be okay. It certainly wasn’t Paige’s fault Krystal’s life was such a mess. That all rested on her shoulders.
Maybe some on Josh’s, too.
Krystal peeked into Paige’s room, the soft beep of monitors filling the otherwise silent space. Her eyes were closed, her breaths even if not deep, and she appeared to be in a light sleep. The nurses would have her medicated.
She stepped quietly inside and slowly approached the bed. A white bandage covered the cuts on her head, and the blanket hid the leg injuries she’d sustained. Several bruises had emerged on her cheeks and arms, leaving her looking battered and no doubt very sore. Pain meds would help.
After that type of surgery, Paige could expect plenty of therapy, assuming she’d regain use of her leg, and she’d need time to heal. She’d need Josh now more than ever, and Krystal had no doubt Josh was the kind of man who’d stick by her.
With a heavy heart, Krystal glanced at the monitors, ensuring everything was as it should be. With time, Paige would hopefully be fine. That’s all they could ask.
She turned to leave, not wanting to wake her. She’d try to come back later to check in. Or maybe not. Maybe Paige wouldn’t want to see her.
“Wait.”
Although Paige’s voice was soft, it startled Krystal. She turned. “So sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay. You can stay. I was just dozing. These drugs make me kind of sleepy.”
Krystal walked back to her side, suddenly very unsure of her decision to visit. “How are you doing? Are you comfortable?”
Paige gave her a half-laugh. “As comfortable as I can be after being hit by a Mack truck.”
Krystal appreciated her attempt to retain some of her humor despite her circumstances. “It was actually a small pickup, but I suppose at this point that doesn’t really matter.”
“No.” She slowly shook her head, a soft smile on her face. “Not really.”
Awkwardness drew in around them. “Well, I won’t stay. You should rest. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“Josh said you saved me.”
Paige’s words stole her composure and kept her feet in place. “I was lucky to be close enough to help. Just doing my job.”
She struggled to focus on Krystal. “Don’t make it seem like it was nothing. It meant everything to me. Thank you.”
Emotion tugged at her. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I was there.”
“Me, too. They’re not sure I’ll walk again. Did you know?”
The fear and anxiety in Paige’s eyes brought tears to her own. “You have to think positive thoughts. There’s no medical reason the swelling won’t subside in a few days and you’ll regain feeling.”
Paige sighed, but the look of worry didn’t disappear from her face.
Krystal took her hand. “You’re going to be okay. You have Josh to lean on. And your brother. So many people to love and help you.”
A sad smile crossed her lips. “Yeah. There’s something I need to ask you, Krystal.”
She stiffened, wondering where the conversation was headed. Paige wasn’t going to bring up her mistake with Josh. He wouldn’t have told her. Not with Paige in this state.
“Do you love Josh?”
Sweet sugared Jesus. How on earth would she handle this? “I…loved Josh…at one point. Yes, I loved him very much.” Damn it all that she still did.
“But not now?”
“I…” She swallowed, not knowing what to say. “No. He’s in love with you now.” She forced a smile to her lips.
A knowing expression tilted Paige’s bruised mouth. “I didn’t ask who he was in love with. I already know the answer to that question. I asked about you.”
A slick coating of unease claimed her, and she took a step backward. “I’m sorry, Paige. I’m sure Josh has told you of our history. I’m not really comfortable discussing him with you. Just know that I have no intention of interfering in your relationship, and you’re getting a really great guy.”
“Wow. Now I get it.” She actually laughed, as sad and pitiful as it was, leaving Krystal in an uneasy state of curiosity.
“Get what?”
“What he meant when he said you were stubborn.” She lifted a bandaged hand and gently touched a large bruise on her face. “Hurts.” She softly snorted and then tried to sit up.
Krystal helped her as best she could, fluffing the pillow behind her.
“Thanks.” She placed a hand on Krystal’s forearm before she could move away. “I know we don’t know each other, and maybe we should consider fixing that, but I need to tell you something.”
She wished she hadn’t decided to visit, to enter Josh’s territory, even though her motives had been good. “Okay.”
Paige moistened her lips. “First, you can’t get mad. Except I know I would be pissed. But I want you to promise you’ll listen to everything I have to say before you do.”
“All right.” She couldn’t begin to guess where this conversation might lead.
“Josh and I are not dating. We’re friends, but we’re not in love.”
Krystal stared. Then blinked a few times, trying to decide if somehow this was all really a dream.
“It’s a ruse we concocted to help us achieve our goals. Josh agreed to help get my brother to see reason where my personal life is concerned if, in return, I’d play the part of his girlfriend.”
She inhaled and let it slide out of her, trying to process the full ramifications of Paige’s confession. “I see.” Though she really didn’t.
“He’s still in love with you, Krystal. So much that it hurts to see you all of the time.”
She snorted. “I doubt that.”
“Don’t.” Her eyes filled with sincerity. “He’s always been in love with you. I don’t think anything will change that. But, being a guy, and we all know how smart they can be at times, he thought his life would be easier if you left. You know, out of sight, out of mind. He said you didn’t want to live here anyway, and if you left, he might have peace. So, this was his solution, and I’m sorry to say I was a part of it. When I first agreed, I hadn’t met you, and it was easy to assume you were a cold-hearted bitch. I can see otherwise now. I can also see that you are still very much in love with the man.”
Air escaped her lungs as everything that had transpired over the past few weeks coalesced. Josh hadn’t cheated on his girlfriend, and she had not stolen another woman’s man. Though that didn’t excuse her behavior because she’d believed she had at the time.
Oh hell.
But Josh had deceived her. In the worst way.
“What are you going to do?” Paige asked after a moment.
“I don’t know.” She really had no clue.
A worried look fell over Paige’s face. “I need to tell him that I’ve told you.”
“Uh-huh.” She nodded and turned, a distant, foggy feeling overwhelming her. “I believe I need a few moments t
o collect my thoughts.”
“Thank you for stopping by,” Paige called after her.
That stopped her for a second, and she paused in the doorway. “I’ll check on you again. Remember positive thoughts, and do everything they tell you, okay?”
“Thank you, Krystal. For everything. Please be kind to Josh. He really does love you.”
Krystal managed a smile for the broken woman.
She held her composure until she found herself alone in the elevator. “Son of a bitching bastard.” How could he lie like that? Make her believe he had a girlfriend and try to run her out of town?
Her anger burned away whatever tears she might have held in reserve. Paige had said he loved her, but this wasn’t how a person treated someone he loved.
No. No way in hell.
He was about to hear exactly that from her.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Josh led the way to the outside basketball court at the back end of the emergency services building with Cam trailing behind bouncing a ball. He’d finally let his partner convince him the day was too gorgeous to spend the whole time inside cleaning the station. They were well into April, and despite the few vicious storms they’d had, it appeared spring was here to stay.
They’d already made a run to the hospital earlier to check on Paige, and Andy would head in that direction at any moment. They hadn’t had an emergency call in hours, and Krystal wouldn’t return any of his calls or respond to his texts. He needed to do something, or he’d go insane.
He’d barely made his first basket, when the sound of screeching tires drew his and Cam’s attention. Krystal parked her car near where they were and climbed out, slamming the door behind her.
“Uh-oh,” Cam said. “Not sure what you did, but someone is seriously pissed.”
Josh stood rooted. By the look on her face, he knew he should run or at least find something to shield himself, but he was so damn glad to see her that he couldn’t move.
She marched up to him, virtual steam rising from her heels. She lifted her hand, but he caught her slap before she made contact. “You lying son-of-a-bitch.”
Ah, shit. “Who told you?” There were only a couple of people who knew about his and Paige’s ruse.
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you tried to run me out of town. I thought you were a decent, upstanding guy who was worthy of my love, only to find out—”
“Your love?” He choked on the words, his own ire growing to match hers. “You couldn’t give a shit less about me, about my heart and how you trampled all over it and left it lying in the dirt.”
His words cut her short, stole the color from her cheeks.
“I’ll just be inside,” he heard Cam say from what sounded like miles away.
“I could lie to you all I want, and it shouldn’t matter because you couldn’t care less about me.” He stared down at her, trying to keep his pulse under control.
She held his gaze for a moment, fire sparking in her eyes. Then she broke. Anger faded from her face and her bottom lip trembled. “I might be pregnant.”
Fuck. “What?” He’d heard her, but…damn. “You’d told me you weren’t.”
“I don’t know for sure. I haven’t taken a test,” she rambled, looking more than a little lost. “I was going to today, but stopped to check on Paige first, and then…”
Pregnant? He couldn’t stop looking at her, studying every beautiful thing about her, wondering if she carried his child.
She blinked a few times, and he realized her eyes were wet with tears. “Anyway, I thought you should know. That and I hate you for lying to me.” She turned and hurried toward her car.
Oh, hell no. She wasn’t getting away again.
“Krystal,” he called and sprinted toward her. He caught her a few steps before she reached the door. He grabbed her shoulder and turned her, surprised to find tears streaming down her face.
“Shit,” he whispered and pulled her into his arms. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart.”
“I don’t want to be pregnant,” she sobbed against his shirt.
“I know.” He stroked her hair. “But one way or the other, this will be okay. I promise.”
She clung to him and his heart melted. Jesus, he’d missed her. Missed the feel of her in his arms, right where he always knew she was meant to be.
Hell. A father? He might be a father?
Part of him was thrilled with the idea of creating a child with Krystal. But the other part left him fearful. He sure as hell didn’t want to tie Krystal down with a baby she didn’t want. That would only spell disaster.
She met his gaze, her eyes wet with tears. “What if I am? What if I find I don’t want to keep it? Then what?”
Fear invaded his heart, stealing his breath. One mistake could cost him everything. The woman he loved. His unborn child. He didn’t have it in him to ask whether she meant she might want to abort or just give it up for adoption. He could raise it on his own, but he’d be a father with a devastated heart.
He pushed out his thoughts and focused on Krystal. Whatever happened, he loved this woman beyond comprehension, and she needed him to be strong.
He slipped a hand from around her and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Cam? I need some personal time. Will you let Andy know when he returns? If there’s an emergency, call and I’ll come. Otherwise, I have stuff I need to take care of.”
“Sure, man. Whatever you need.”
Josh clicked off the phone, surprised Cam hadn’t given him a rash of shit over taking off with Krystal.
“Let me take you home,” he said to Krystal, leaning back to look at her face.
She shook her head. “I don’t want to go home. Don’t want to see Chloe just yet. She’s going to ask about the baby, and I don’t know what to tell her.”
He nodded. “Fine. Then I’m taking you to my place.”
When she didn’t argue, he wrapped an arm around her and walked her to the passenger side of his truck. “We’ll come back for your car later.”
Neither of them spoke as he drove the few short blocks to his home. He parked in front, wondering what she thought of the white ranch house with a charcoal roof. He’d spent countless hours updating the structure, including the new white siding he and Levi had put on the previous year. But now wasn’t the time to ask her.
She climbed out of the truck before he could open her door, but he caught her hand and held it as they walked up the sidewalk to the front steps.
He opened the door and let her step inside before he followed behind. Bright sun peeked through the windows, but the house seemed strikingly somber.
“Krystal?”
She turned at the sound of his voice. Her tears had subsided, but she glanced around as though she wasn’t quite sure what had brought her to this point.
“You have a beautiful home.”
Relief flooded him at the sound of her conversational words. “Thanks. Bought it last year. Been trying to fix it up.” He approached her, taking her by the shoulders, but still leaving a respectable amount of distance between them.
“I’ve always liked this part of town.” She gave him a small smile, but he couldn’t help but feel as though she wondered if she’d been handed a death sentence.
“Whatever you need, Krystal. I’m here for you.”
“I know,” she whispered as a genuine smile tilted her lips. “You’ve always been there for me. If I have to be pregnant, I’m glad it’s yours.”
Have to be pregnant? He drew his brows together. “Look. I know this isn’t what you want, and who knows, maybe you’re just late, but Krystal, either way, I don’t want to lose you again.” He slipped his hands around her waist and drew her close as though his actions would solidify his words.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Krystal’s insides were road rash, battered, bruised and hurting like hell. She wasn’t sure which way was up at the moment.
But Josh held her so tenderly, so possessively, and she couldn’t stop h
er heart from reacting. A deep shiver of love and need rocked her when he’d told her he didn’t want to lose her again. He’d always been the man for her. Deep down, she knew that.
Could she be the woman he needed and loved?
She lifted a hand to his cheek. The warmth of his skin radiated through her, leaving her restless. She drew her fingers over the rasp of his jaw, letting the friction between them ripple through her.
She’d missed him so desperately. More than she cared to admit.
But here they were, both free to love, nothing but clothes separating them. She needed him. God, how she needed him.
She lifted her thumb and closed her eyes as she drew it across his bottom lip. He bit her thumb, holding her between his teeth. A sharp point of desire shot through her as his tongue played against her sensitive pad.
She opened her eyes, caught his expression and knew she was lost.
“Josh,” she whispered. “Please love me.”
He released her thumb and captured her mouth with a passion that drew fire from her soul. Her skin tingled everywhere as he buried his fingers deep within her hair, tilting her head, commanding their kiss.
She let him. Let the power he’d always held over her steal her away from reality. She tugged at the button on his jeans, popping it open before she pushed the hem of his t-shirt up his stomach. He grabbed the edge, pulling the shirt over his head, giving her access to his bare chest.
She sighed as she flattened her hands on his abs, drawing her fingers over the contours. The familiar feel of him stirred powerful memories, bringing back the first time they’d made love, other times when he’d stolen every rational thought as she’d found her release.
She wanted that again. Wanted that now.
He lifted her cotton shirt, tugging it off her, leaving her black bra and the swells of her breasts open to his view. “Look at me. I want to watch you while I touch you.”
She inhaled a sharp breath as she focused on his eyes. Her insides tightened with need and anticipation, his eyes boring straight into her soul.
He placed his hands around her rib cage and slowly worked his way upward. She had no idea how many times they’d made love in the past, but this time was different. Raw, edgy, and with whatever the hell was going on between them, she knew this moment would be significant. It would either make them or break them.
