by Scott, Laura
She filled out the paper requisition and sent the blood to the lab while the trauma team went to work. His job was finished, but Zane stood for a minute, watching. Handing over a patient’s care and not following through himself was the hardest part of being a flight doctor.
Jenna came over to stand silently beside him. The simple brush of her shoulder against his arm made him feel better.
“We better get back,” he murmured. “It’s after six, but if another call comes in, we need to respond.”
“I know.” Her voice was soft. He suspected she was still thinking of the girl who hadn’t made it. He wanted to take her hand in his, but they needed their hands free to push the gurney. They left the OR and returned to the elevator, which would take them straight up to the rooftop landing pad.
“She wouldn’t have had much of a life with a complete cervical spine fracture.” Zane shrugged. “Either way, I know it’s hard to watch someone so young.”
“It’s difficult to watch teenagers act so stupid, knowing very well there isn’t anything you can do to change it except to keep preaching at them, of course.” Her voice trailed off. “And to keep praying.”
There was no way to know if she was talking about all kids or specifically Rae, but he understood her frustration. And her concern. As the elevator reached the roof, he cleared his throat and reached over to cover her hands with his. “Jenna, would you be willing to come over to my house for dinner after work tonight?”
Her eyes widened, and she looked at him for a moment before she smiled. “Yes. I’d like that.”
Elation swelled in his chest. He searched her gaze for any sign of doubt but couldn’t find any. He took her agreement as a positive sign. He hadn’t thought about much else other than kissing her again.
Go slow, Taylor, he cautioned himself. Jenna wasn’t the sort of woman to take a relationship lightly. For a moment, he felt a flash of panic. How well did he really know Jenna anyway? Would she change into a different person over time, the way Lynette had?
Seated in the chopper, he studied her profile. No, he couldn’t imagine Jenna wasn’t exactly what she appeared to be. If he was honest, he’d admit that Lynette had shown signs of being money hungry and controlling even before their engagement. Signs he’d stupidly ignored.
Jenna was nothing like Lynette. At least, not from the financial aspect of things. Jenna wasn’t obsessed with the appearance of having money. Quite the opposite. She’d taken the bus rather than using his car. If she couldn’t afford to get her car fixed, she wouldn’t go into debt to make it happen. And she’d refused his offer to help her out, more than once.
She worked hard, juggling two jobs to make enough to set money aside for her sister’s college education. He couldn’t imagine Lynette doing anything remotely similar. And if Jenna was controlling, at least where it concerned her sister, her intent was only to protect, not as part of a power struggle.
He settled back in his seat, realizing with a start that he was already far more emotionally involved with Jenna than he’d ever been with Lynette.
RAE HAD ENCOURAGED her to live her own life, but Jenna still couldn’t ignore the tiny flare of doubt that hovered over her head as Zane drove them to his place.
The death of the young girl at the drag-racing scene had really bothered her. Zane was right. Even if they had found her sooner, she’d be paralyzed from the neck down with a possible anoxic brain injury from the lack of oxygen to her brain. How horrible the girl’s family must feel. But seeing the crash scene had reinforced one truth. Life was too short. Rae had finished high school and was well on her way to attending college. Maybe she could relax a little. Do something for herself.
She liked Zane very much.
Far more than she should.
Swallowing hard, she glanced over at him. His large capable hands rested casually on the steering wheel. He was a doctor, smarter than she could ever be, but for some obscure reason, he seemed to like spending time with her. She fought a grin. Maybe it was lonely up there on Pluto.
He swung by a pizza place to pick up dinner, then continued on to his condo. Battling a wave of apprehension, she followed him inside. Not that she didn’t trust him not to hurt her, but more so because the interior of his home would be nothing like hers.
“Have a seat.” He set the pizza box on the table and gestured to a kitchen chair. “I’m sure you’re as hungry as I am. We didn’t have time to finish our lunch.”
They’d only eaten about half of their meal when they’d gotten a call. Jenna recalled how they had both looked at each other and burst out laughing, remembering their previous conversation in the park a few weeks back.
Jenna relaxed, enjoying the tasty pizza. Afterward, Zane ushered her into the living room.
“Would you like to watch a movie?”
“Sure.”
He powered up the TV and searched a movie station for a recent flick neither one of them had seen before. She curled next to him on the sofa. Jenna hadn’t seen very many movies, so whatever he’d picked was fine with her. This one was filled with action and looked pretty good.
Until Zane wrapped an arm around her and tugged her close.
With her head nestled in the crook of his shoulder, she soon found herself losing all interest in the movie.
The only light in the room was from the television, and she was thankful the darkness helped hide her blush. She breathed in his woodsy scent, wishing for something she didn’t dare name. It was so nice being here with him that she found herself wishing she never had to leave.
His fingers played with her hair, and it took a few minutes to realize he’d unraveled her braid. His hands dove into her hair until the long strands were spread out over her back.
“I get why you wear it back at work, but I love when it’s down.” His voice was low, husky, and made her tingle. She nuzzled his neck, unable to think of an appropriate response.
Then slowly, very deliberately, he tipped her head up to kiss her.
“Zane.” His name was nothing more than a whisper, right before his mouth captured hers.
All rational thought vanished. Her brain became overwhelmed by pure sensation. His kiss made all her worries, all her responsibilities, disappear.
Jenna finally broke away from the kiss, gasping for air. Zane didn’t stop, though, pressing his mouth against the curve of her jaw, trailing little kisses down the side of her neck. She shivered. She’d never felt so connected to a man like this before. She’d never made time for dating—her focus had always been on work and protecting Rae.
Zane groaned, and she forced herself to pull away. No matter how much she enjoyed being with him, they couldn’t do this. They couldn’t take it to the next level. “I can’t,” she whispered.
His green gaze searched hers, and she wondered if he’d grow angry. He didn’t. Instead, he cupped her face with his hand, brushing his thumb against the silky softness of her cheek. “Okay. I understand. I don’t want to rush you into something you’re not ready for.”
“I—thank you.” She turned to stare at the television screen. “Um, I think we missed half the movie.”
He let out a low, husky laugh. “It’s okay. I’ll start it again.”
She hesitated. “Maybe I should just head home.”
“It’s early, Jenna. When was the last time you watched a whole movie?”
“Years,” she admitted. Mostly because movies were a frivolous expense. Any extra money she had for fun things she offered to Rae.
“Okay, then. Let’s just cuddle up close here and watch the movie.”
She felt humbled and honored that he so easily respected her wishes. Slowly she relaxed against him. The movie was good, but the long day finally caught up to her. At some point, her eyes drifted closed.
When she awoke, the early morning light confused her. When she realized they’d both fallen asleep, she rolled off the sofa, hitting the floor with a thud.
Shaky, she stood and looked down at Zane. He was sti
ll asleep. Breathing a sigh of relief, she tiptoed out of the living room.
In the kitchen, she tried not to panic as she searched for her cell phone. Finding it, she quickly dialed her sister’s number. What must Rae think of the way she stayed out all night? Good heavens, she wasn’t setting a very good example for her sister, now was she?
The other end of the line rang endlessly in her ear, then switched over to voicemail. With a trembling finger, Jenna ended the call. Was Rae sleeping so soundly she couldn’t hear her phone? True, it was early, barely five thirty in the morning. Jenna hit the redial, hoping this time Rae would pick up.
She didn’t. Jenna waited another minute, then desperately pushed the redial one more time. After three rings, her sister answered with a slightly slurred, “Hel-lo?”
“Rae, where are you?” Jenna’s fingers tightened so hard on the phone she feared it would snap. There were voices in the background, so clearly her sister wasn’t alone. “What’s going on? Have you been drinking?”
“Lighten up, sis. I’m not drunk, just tired. We were up all night.” Rae giggled, the sound grating along Jenna’s nerves. “Now if you don’t mind, we’re gonna try to sleep for a few hours.”
“Where are you? You stayed out all night?” Jenna paced the length of Zane’s kitchen, wishing she could beam herself to her sister’s side to see what Rae was really up to. Rae had actually stayed out all night without Jenna’s knowledge. Because she hadn’t been home.
And she wasn’t convinced Rae and her friends hadn’t been drinking.
“I’m at Claire’s. We’re having a party. I left you a message.” Rae laughed again at something one of her friends was saying in the background. “See you later, Jen.” Rae instantly disconnected.
Jenna stared at her phone in dismay and sank onto one of Zane’s kitchen chairs. She’d barely recognized Rae’s voice. No way could it be that Rae was simply tired. There was something else going on. If not drinking, then drugs.
Her chest tightened painfully. No. She didn’t want to believe it. But the slurred voice replayed back in her ear.
Rae was slipping away. She’d lose her sister before Rae took her first college class.
This was all her fault.
“Jenna? What’s wrong?” A rumpled, sleepy Zane stood in the doorway, eyeing her warily.
“I have to go. Now. I’m sorry.” She held back burning tears. Her selfish desire to spend some time with Zane had resulted in horrible consequences.
He crossed the room and grasped her arms, concern furrowing his brow. “Rae? Did something happen?”
“She stayed out all night. I think she’s been drinking.” Jenna pulled away so harshly she smacked her hip into the side of the table. As close as they’d been last night, now she wanted nothing more than to get away from him. “I need to get home. If you won’t take me, I’ll call for a rideshare.”
Zane’s expression was grim. “I’ll take you.”
She wished she had left the house before he woke up. Better to take a rideshare than to drive all the way back to Barclay Park with him. Resentment tasted bitter on her tongue. Yet, she shouldn’t be angry with Zane. This was all her fault. The blame didn’t lie elsewhere.
They climbed into Zane’s Lexus, and she stared straight ahead as he left the condo parking lot.
“Remember, she’s eighteen now,” Zane pointed out.
Jenna narrowed her gaze. “So what? The legal drinking age is twenty-one.”
He sighed. “I know, but she’s bound to test her limits here and there. What do you think is going to happen when she’s in college?”
“If you think I’m going to stand back and let her do this to herself, you’re mistaken.”
“Jenna . . .”
“No. This isn’t open for discussion.”
The rest of the ride home was painfully silent. When he pulled into her driveway, she anticipated he’d try to follow, so she opened the door, then turned to him.
“It’s over, Zane. This isn’t going to work. I can’t see you anymore.”
“You’re overreacting because of your sister. Come on, Jenna, don’t shut me out. I understand you’re upset.”
She laughed, but it was a harsh sound. “No, you don’t understand me at all. Because I am not overreacting. Our mother was an addict. First it was booze, then she turned to drugs. Do you know what that was like for us living with her constantly being drunk or high? The strange men we’d find partying with her? She died of an overdose, either accidental or on purpose, we still don’t know.”
Jenna saw the shocked expression in his eyes and knew she finally got through to him.
“I’m the one who found her body, sprawled in the center of the kitchen floor, with a syringe still sticking out of her arm. There is no way in the world I will allow Rae to make the same mistakes. I am going to find my sister, and then I am not going to let her out of my sight. Goodbye, Zane.” She jumped out of the car and slammed the door for added emphasis.
“I’ll call you,” Zane shouted as she turned and strode into the house. She ignored him.
Inside, she brushed away the hot tears sliding down her cheeks. It wouldn’t matter if Zane called or not. She would not see him again.
What sort of person would she be if she sacrificed her sister’s future for her own selfish reasons?
11
Zane strode into the Lifeline hangar fifteen minutes early for his shift, intent on finding Jenna and talking some sense into her. It had been almost a week since he’d seen her, and since then, she’d refused to take his calls. He’d even tried Rae, who’d sounded subdued when she’d informed him Jenna was not available, as if knowing she was the cause of dissension between them.
He’d gone over their argument several times, always with a sense of shame. He couldn’t blame Jenna for being upset, not after learning the truth about her mother. The image of a young Jenna finding her mother dead on the kitchen floor with a needle hanging out of her arm persisted in haunting him. A mother should protect her children, not expose them to terror. How Jenna had managed to turn out so stable and responsible was beyond him.
Maybe focusing her attention on her younger sister had helped Jenna cope with the loss. He could certainly understand why she’d become so overprotective, but it was well past time for Jenna to realize she had a life of her own.
Ivan, Kate, and Samantha were seated in the debriefing room. Guess he wasn’t the only one who’d arrived early today. Except for Jenna. He stopped, then frowned. Wait a minute, he didn’t remember Ivan being on the schedule.
“Good morning, Zane.” Kate raised a brow at his scowl. “What’s the matter?”
“I was expecting to see Jenna.” They had an electronic schedule now, so he quickly picked up his phone and peered at it. His gut twisted as his suspicions were confirmed. Jenna’s name was no longer there, only Ivan’s name was displayed on the screen.
“Jenna needed the day off, so I switched with her.” Ivan looked confused. “Why? Is something wrong?”
Yes. Everything was wrong. He needed to see Jenna, to convince her that falling asleep at his house was not being irresponsible like her mother. Not even close. He wanted to make her understand that she deserved a little fun and relaxation, too. She couldn’t keep living her life around Rae. Didn’t Jenna see how they could work together to keep Rae from going too far off the teenage cliff? Why wouldn’t she talk to him? Give him a chance? “No. Nothing is wrong.”
Ivan looked skeptical and exchanged a knowing glance with Kate, but Zane didn’t care. Tomorrow was Saturday, and he was sure he’d find Jenna at the community center. Surely, she’d have calmed down enough to talk to him face-to-face. At least, he hoped so.
Because a future without Jenna was too bleak to contemplate.
THE COMMUNITY CENTER was packed with boys he recognized from the basketball camp. They were running similar drills to the ones he’d taught them. At first he was pleased that they’d taken the initiative to follow his instructions, but when
he saw the refs, realization dawned.
Jenna had rescheduled the boys’ basketball camp without him.
Her actions shouldn’t have hurt, but they did. Damien caught sight of him, and a wide grin spread over the boy’s features. Damien nudged his friend, and pretty soon they’d all abandoned their drill, crossing the court to meet Zane.
“Looking good, guys,” Zane called out.
“Thanks. We heard you couldn’t come tonight,” Damien said.
“Change in plans.” Zane wasn’t going to rat Jenna out. “I’m here now.”
Jenna noticed the boys had come over to greet him. A myriad of emotions crossed her features: confusion, wariness, resolve. He crossed over to join her at the foul line. She didn’t say anything, her features schooled into a professional mask.
“Hi.” He was determined to keep this casual. “Turns out, I didn’t have to work, so I thought you might need a hand.”
“No problem.” Her tone was polite, but the look of reproach told a different story. She clearly didn’t want him there, and what’s more, she didn’t seem to want to talk to him either.
Zane didn’t know which was worse, staying and causing Jenna more distress or leaving and abandoning the kids.
The boys didn’t deserve to be pawns in the middle of his personal problems, so he forced a grin as he turned back to the boys. “Nice job, but how about you run those drills again, this time showing me what you really have?”
“Yeah!” With renewed energy, the guys ran back out onto the court where Jenna’s EMT friend Miguel, along with some other guy Zane didn’t know, were refereeing.
“Damien has been cleared to play?” He glanced at her with a questioning look.
“Yes, of course. He’s on medication. I’m keeping a close eye on him.” Her tongue remained polite, yet distant as if they haven’t spent a wonderful evening wrapped in each other’s arms, albeit innocently enough. No, this was the tone she used often enough with other people, especially with those she didn’t know very well.
