A Doctor's Trust (Lifeline Air Rescue Book 4)
Page 15
On the way to the jewelers, he called Eve. “Hello?” His sister’s tone was hesitant.
“It’s Zane.” He cleared his throat, unsure what to say next. Then he blurted, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Eve sounded confused.
“For not being there for you after you ran away.”
“You were.” Her tone lacked conviction. “At least, you were in your own way,” she amended.
Shame burned in his chest. “No excuses. I didn’t know what to do or what to say. I know now that I behaved like a moron. Heaven knows, I didn’t mean to shut you out. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“It’s okay. Why are you calling me now?” Eve spoke in a low tone to someone in the background, and he wondered if she was at work. His sister had gone on to finish high school, then in college she specialized in sign language and worked at a school for the deaf. Although, it was late for her to be at school, unless she was teaching an evening class. “Zane? Did something happen?”
“Yeah. I’m in love.” Saying the words out loud made them all the more real. But he wasn’t scared, not anymore. “Her name is Jenna Reed. I think you’ll like her.”
“I’m happy for you.” She sounded completely sincere. “Just promise me she’s nothing like Lynette.”
He had to laugh. “No, Jenna is nothing like Lynette.”
“Good. I have to go, the kids are getting restless. We can talk later, when you have time.”
“Call me anytime you want to talk, Eve.” He may not have always been there for his sister in the past, but that would change from here on. “I love you. I think you’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever known.” Except maybe for Jenna.
“Wow, Zane.” Eve gave a choked laugh. “I love you, too.”
JENNA ARRIVED at Zane’s condo before he did. She parked her rusty Jetta among the Lexuses and BMWs with a grimace. Like the car, she and Rae didn’t really belong there. For a moment, a hard lump lodged in her throat. Because she really wanted to belong. To Zane. She didn’t care about his world of money, frankly she would feel more comfortable in a place less expensive than this. But she wanted to belong to him.
Zane had been wonderful during their flight, picking up the documentation that was normally her responsibility just so she could provide comfort to their patient. Maybe she had misjudged him before. Could they meet halfway between Pluto and planet Earth?
She wasn’t sure.
Lost in thought, Jenna walked inside the condo with her bag of drugstore purchases. She was due to pick up her sister from work in less than an hour. One thing about having another set of wheels, they’d certainly spent more money on gas driving back and forth between Barclay Park and The Hill.
Zane walked into the kitchen five minutes later carrying a large box of take-out pizza. “Hi, honey, I’m home.”
She grinned at his light attempt at humor. “Hi, yourself. The pizza smells amazing.”
“Before we eat, do you have a minute to talk?” His tone turned serious, and her stomach clenched with apprehension.
“Of course.” She wiped her damp palms down the sides of her flight suit. “In the living room?”
He nodded.
Bracing herself for the worst, she entered the living room and sat on the sofa. Zane crossed over to the patio doors, opening them to let in the cool summer breeze, then turned back to her.
She expected him to take a seat beside her, but he knelt on the floor at her feet. She didn’t notice the box he held in his hand until he opened it. The sparkle of a large diamond made her gasp.
“Jenna, I love you. Will you please marry me?”
Stunned speechless, she could only gape at him. He loved her? He wanted to marry her? Her cell phone rang, and she recognized the tone she programmed for her sister’s number. Strange. Rae was supposed to be at work.
“I’m sorry, but this is Rae.” She pulled out the phone to answer it, and Zane’s gaze flared with annoyance.
Her heart sank. She loved Zane, but he still harbored a deep resentment of the time she spent with her sister. She pushed the talk button on her phone. “Rae, can I call you back in a few minutes?”
“Jenna! I’m outside the condo, and Nelson is here. I broke up with him, but he won’t leave me alone!”
“I’ll be right there.” Jenna shot to her feet. “Rae is in trouble. Her boyfriend is outside, and she’s scared.”
“What?” Zane jumped up and shoved the ring back into his pocket. His annoyed expression turned dark and serious.
A high-pitched scream echoed through the open patio doors.
ZANE BROKE INTO A RUN, Jenna hot on his heels as he flew outside.
Two figures struggled along the grassy bank in front of his condo. Red-hot fury blinded him. Zane grabbed the boy by the back of his collar and wrenched him away from Rae. “Get your hands off her, jerk!”
He was surprised when Nelson abruptly let go. Jenna wrapped a protective arm around Rae. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Rae’s tone was strong, but Zane could tell she was shaken up. “He wouldn’t leave when I told him I didn’t want to see him anymore.”
“Listen. When the lady says no, she means no!” Zane gave Nelson a little shake, then shoved him in the direction of the street. “Get lost, and don’t let me see your face here again.”
Nelson hunched his shoulders and stumbled back toward his car. The teen glanced furtively back at Rae but didn’t say anything. Zane glared at him, making sure he got into his car and drove away.
“I thought you were still at work?” Jenna looked at her sister in shock. “What happened?”
“He offered me a ride home, and because I wanted to talk to him, I took it.” Rae rubbed her hands along her arm. “I didn’t realize he’d overreact just because I told him it was over. Honestly, I didn’t think he really cared that much about me.”
“It’s okay.” Jenna gave her a hug. “Guess what, I got our car fixed. From now on, you won’t have to look for ride.”
“You did?” Rae responded with an exuberant hug. “Thank you so much. How much do I owe you?”
“Three hundred. And you’re welcome.” Jenna gave a wry grin. “It was Zane’s idea.”
“Thanks, Zane.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets, felt the velvet softness of the ring box. When he’d heard Rae scream, his heart had lodged in his throat. Rae was just as much a part of his life as Jenna was.
They were already almost a family. Marrying Jenna would make it official. If she was willing to have him.
The three of them walked back inside the condo. Rae helped herself to pizza, then disappeared into her room. Although the moment was gone, and the timing was all wrong, Zane wanted an answer to his question.
“Jenna, I know we were interrupted, but have you thought about what I asked you?”
“Yes, I have.” Jenna’s eyes were big and sad. “I’m sorry, Zane, but I can’t marry you.”
Hurt pierced the center of his heart at her refusal. He’d never formally asked a woman to marry him. Getting engaged to Lynnette had mostly been her idea, albeit one he’d gone along with. She’d even picked out her own ring.
Was that it? He pulled the box from his pocket and looked at it. “If you don’t like the ring, we’ll pick a different one. You can choose whatever you like.”
“No, it’s not that. The ring is beautiful.” Now Jenna’s gorgeous eyes were filling with tears. “I’m sorry, Zane, but a relationship between us would never work. I’ll find a new place for us to live as soon as possible.”
“Don’t leave.” How had he managed to screw this up so badly? “Please, Jenna, let’s talk about this.”
“I’m sorry,” she repeated. “I can’t.”
Feeling helpless, he couldn’t think of a way to stop her as she walked away.
THE NEXT MORNING, after a long, sleepless night, Jenna stumbled from the guest room to find Rae seated at the kitchen table. “Hey, sis.”
“You look awful.”
“Gee, thanks.” She made her way to the coffee machine. “Has Nelson called you?”
“Only about ten times.” Rae grimaced. “Don’t worry, I turned my phone off, refusing to take his calls.”
Jenna brought her coffee mug over and slid into the seat across from her sister. She eyed her over the rim of her mug. “Tell me the truth, Rae. Did you go out with Nelson because you liked him? Or as a way to get away from me?”
Rae ducked her head with a guilty look. “Both, I guess. He annoyed me sometimes, but then, you’d start harassing me. Telling me where to go and what to do, and sometimes I just needed to get away.”
“I see.” Jenna felt sick. “I drove you away.”
“Not really.” Rae looked up with a sheepish smile. “I’m here, aren’t I? And I know you love me.”
“I do.” Jenna swallowed hard. “I’ll try to lighten up, okay? I know you’re practically a college student now.”
“It’s all good.” Rae grinned. “Speaking of college, guess what? I picked up our mail from home yesterday.” Rae waved a crumpled letter at her. “There’s an orientation at UWM for accepted students and their parents, two weeks from Friday.”
“Really?” Jenna brightened and took the letter from Rae. “Sounds great. I’ll take time off work so we can go.”
“Do you think I could tag along, too?” Zane’s voice came from the doorway.
She snapped her head up, looking at him in surprise. She hadn’t heard him come in. “Um—yeah. Sure. If you want to.”
“Thank you.” Zane’s polite tone made Rae frown. Rae glanced at Jenna, then at Zane, then stood.
“I have some errands to run, I’m taking the car if that’s okay, Jenna? I’ll see you both later.” She disappeared before Jenna could stop her.
An awkward silence fell. Jenna smoothed the letter on the table, trying to think of something to say.
“I spoke with Eve yesterday.” Zane strode to the coffeepot and helped himself to a cup. “She’s forgiven me for not being there for her after she ran away.”
“You talked to her about that? I’m so glad.” She couldn’t help being impressed that he’d finally realized what he done.
“She’s forgiven me for the mistakes I made, so maybe you could, too.” Zane turned and propped his lean hips against the counter.
She hesitated. “Forgive you for what?”
“For pulling away from you emotionally and for the little bit of resentment I felt toward Rae.” He stared down at his feet for a moment, then met her gaze. “I love you, Jenna. I realized yesterday that I would’ve taken that idiot apart with my bare hands if he’d hurt Rae. I understand your perspective a little better now. I’ll work at this parenting thing, I promise.”
“Oh, Zane.” She stood and crossed over to him. “I’ll forgive you if you’ll forgive me. You’re right, I was trying too hard to control Rae. She just admitted she dated Nelson as a way to get away from me. It appears I have a lot to learn myself.”
Zane pulled her into his arms. “We can learn together.”
She leaned up to kiss him. Hot, desperate need flared, and he yanked her closer as if he wanted to absorb her into his skin. She reveled in the sensation.
“Zane.” His name was little more than a sigh. He buried his hands in her hair, tipping her head for better access to her throat. The stroke of his tongue against her skin made her shiver.
“Marry me.” He spoke between hot kisses planted along her jaw on the way to her lips. “I love you. I want a life with you. I want everything you’re willing to give me.”
“Yes, Zane, I’ll marry you.” Her dreams were right there for the taking. Her heart already belonged to Zane. He was giving her the chance to be a part of the family. “Just remember, I’m a package deal. Rae is my responsibility, at least until she graduates from college.”
“Rae will always be a part of your life, Jenna. Even after college. Just like Eve is part of mine.” He grinned. “My sister is anxious to meet you.”
The walls around her heart tumbled down. “I can’t wait to meet her, too.”
“I want to share everything with you, Jenna. The fun times and the not so fun times and everything in between.”
She laughed when he kissed her again. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his strong shoulder, her heart content. “I take it this is the fun part?”
“Yep.” Zane cradled her close, then pulled back just enough to take the diamond engagement ring out of the box and slip it on her finger. “I want you to trust in the love I have for you, Jenna. I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of our lives.”
She believed him.
DEAR READER
Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews on my Lifeline Air Rescue series! As most of you know, I’m a nurse by day and an author by night, and critical care nursing is my area of expertise. I’m thrilled you’ve enjoyed these stories as much as I’ve loved writing them!
If you liked the Lifeline Air Rescue books, I hope you give some of my other series a try. I have a six-book Crystal Lake series and will soon have all six books in my McNally Family series up for sale as well.
I love hearing from my readers, so please drop me a note through my website at www.laurascottbooks.com. You can also find me twitter via @laurascottbooks or through Facebook via this link - https://www.facebook.com/LauraScottBooks.
Lastly, I offer a free Crystal Lake Novella, Starting Over that is exclusive to my newsletter subscribers. Starting Over is not available for sale on any retail outlet.
Yours in faith,
Laura Scott
P.S. If you haven’t tried my Crystal Lake series, I’ve included the first chapter of A Soldier’s Promise to check out for your reading pleasure.
A SOLDIER’S PROMISE
Chapter One
“Hey, Jules, we have two trauma patients on the way, ETA less than five minutes.”
ER nurse Julie Crain stifled a groan. She’d just returned from taking her previous patient down to the morgue, and she was emotionally drained from dealing with his grieving family. She forced her exhaustion aside. “Okay, what’s the story?” she asked, glancing up at Merry Haines, the ER charge nurse at Hope County Hospital.
“A two-vehicle crash, T-bone on the driver’s side. From what I hear, the drunk driver who ran a red light and caused the crash wasn’t hurt, but the guy in the SUV and his young daughter are being brought in.”
Julie caught her breath as her heart thumped painfully in her chest. Oh no. Not a young child. She couldn’t handle an injured child. She closed her eyes and prayed.
Please God, keep the little girl safe. And her father, too.
“I hope they lock up the drunk driver and throw away the key,” Merry muttered.
She understood where Merry was coming from. Working in the ER, they’d both seen more than their fair share of alcohol- or drug-related injuries and deaths.
Dr. Gabe Allen came into the room in time to catch the last part of their conversation. “The driver was Tommy Hinkle,” he said with a dark scowl. “So yeah, I think that scenario is highly likely.”
Not a tourist then, but one of their own. Tommy Hinkle was the Crystal Lake troublemaker, picking up where his father had left off. At nineteen, he wasn’t even legal to drink at all, much less drink and drive.
Tommy would end up in jail this time for sure. Just like his father. The only good thing was that his mother, Annie
Hinkle, was still recovering in a Madison rehab center from a terrible car crash and wasn’t here to see her son behind bars.
Before she could check over their supplies, the doors from the ambulance bay burst open, and a bevy of paramedics wheeled in two gurneys.
Julie was relieved to be in position to take the first patient, which happened to be the father.
“Thirty-year-old Derek Ryerson, suffered loss of consciousness at the scene,” the paramedic announced. “We placed two eighteen-gauge PIVs and gave a liter of fluid so far. His vitals remained stable throughout transfer.”
She quickly connected the heart monitor leads to his chest, reassured by the steady beat of his heart. She leaned over to perform a neurological assessment, noting an abrasion on the side of Derek Ryerson’s left temple that was easily seen, considering his military-short dark hair. Concerned about a possible head injury, she carefully lifted his eyelids and peered at his pupils. She flashed her penlight, grateful to note they were both equal and reactive.
She continued her assessment, listening to his heart and his lungs. The right side of his lungs didn’t sound as clear as his left side, and there was an angry red band across his chest from where the seatbelt had held him in place, likely preventing additional and more serious injuries. When she brushed a hand over the right side of his ribcage, he let out a low groan.
Bruised or broken ribs? Or something worse? She glanced up again at the heart monitor, but his vitals continued to be stable.
Before she could call over to Dr. Allen, a large hand reached out to grab her wrist. She gasped, her gaze clashing with his as he stared at her intently. His hard, blue, uncompromising gaze caused a spurt of fear.
“My daughter. Lexi,” he said hoarsely. His pain-glazed eyes bored into hers, and his grip on her wrist tightened painfully. “Where’s Lexi?”
The flash of fear faded when she realized he was concerned about his daughter. She glanced over to where Merry and Gabe were examining the young girl. “Don’t worry. Lexi is right here in the gurney beside you. My name is Julie, and I’m your nurse. Merry and Dr. Allen are taking good care of your daughter.”