Emily hadn’t queried why they weren’t calling her family. Maybe she thought she had none. Which was actually pretty accurate.
“Yes, please,” she said after a moment. She felt bad about taking up the nurse’s time. But she was lost and alone.
Everything was gone.
Emily dialed the number and asked for Kent. “Yes. It’s for Caley Ryan.” She rattled off a number and hung up. “He’s in a meeting.”
Disappointment flooded her. But she couldn’t expect instant results. What would Issy do when he called and couldn’t get hold of her? He’d get mad then worried. She felt so terrible. What was she going to do? Her laptop was gone, although at least everything was saved to the cloud. But everything she had of Dave was gone. All her stuff.
She let out a small sob.
“There, there, honey. Everything will be all right.”
She nodded, trying to give Emily a small smile. But she wasn’t sure she believed that. Not at all.
* * *
The door to her room opened. She glanced over, wondering if the policeman who’d just visited was back with more questions. She’d explained what had happened, then suffered through a scolding about entering a burning building, before he’d given her a sympathetic smile and left.
She seemed to be getting a lot of those smiles lately.
But it was Emily returning and she had a phone pressed to her ear. She smiled at Caley.
“Here she is. I’ll have to hold the phone up to her ear as her hands are bandaged. No, she’ll be all right as long as she takes care. Right.”
Emily pulled the phone away from her ear.
“Is it Archer?” she asked eagerly.
“No, honey, it’s Mr. Jensen. Very intense and demanding young man he is too.” Her smile told Caley that she wasn’t upset by his manner.
She held the phone up to Caley’s ear. “Hello?”
“Hello, Caley?” a masculine voice said warmly. “This is Kent Jensen. How are you?”
“I’ve been better.”
“I heard, sweetheart. Are you in any pain? Are they looking after you all right?”
“Yes, everyone here has been nice. I think I’m on the good painkillers.” It was a bit strange to be speaking to a stranger about this, but he seemed nice.
“Good. Sweetheart, I’ve tried to call Doc and Zander, but their comms are down at the moment. Not sure if Doc told you but Zander is kind of paranoid. We’re going to keep trying, but it might be easier for me to send someone to get Doc and I’ll come to you. How does that sound?”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Actually, it is.” His voice was firmer this time. “Doc is going to lose his mind when he finds out you’re injured and in the hospital. Someone needs to be there to take care of you until he can.”
She coughed. He didn’t say anything, waiting for her to finish. “I…I really want Doc.”
“I know, sweetheart. I’ll do my best to get him there as quickly as I can.”
“Can you…do you know Archer?”
“Doc’s brother? Sure, I know him. Do you want me to call him?”
“My phone is gone. I can’t remember his number. We left a message with his assistant, but he hasn’t called back yet.”
Because he’s too busy. You shouldn’t bother him.
“I think we have his personal number on file.”
“Oh, you know, actually, maybe don’t bother—”
“Caley, I’m going to interrupt you. Sorry, sweetheart. But I need to tell you that it’s not a bother. And that we need someone with you asap. Considering I’m far closer than Archer, I’m still coming even if he does as well. All right?”
She let out a small sob. “All right.”
“And I’m going to send someone to find Doc. I need to send someone expendable in case Zander decides to kill them.”
“W-what?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Kent replied cheerfully. “I’ll be there in a few hours. Just rest.”
24
“I have blueberry or banana.”
Kent Jensen was not a guy who took no for an answer. Nor was he a guy who was afraid of going after what he wanted. That was clear.
He was tall and broad. Handsome. Although not as handsome as Doc or Archer. He’d arrived last night, just before visiting hours were over, but he’d managed to charm the new nurse into letting him stay longer.
He’d booked a hotel room close by and when he’d left, he’d promised to be back early with some breakfast.
He was a man of his word too.
“I’m really not hungry.”
“I thought a muffin would be nice and soft on your throat. Now, I’m kind of partial to blueberry myself, but don’t let that sway you in your choice.”
It also seemed that Kent Jensen had a problem with listening.
He placed both muffins on the tray that rested next to the bed. It contained her untouched breakfast. He lifted the lid and wrinkled his nose at the food underneath. “Don’t blame you for not touching that stuff, sweetheart. My Abby would turn up her nose at it too. Now, Abby is fond of blueberry as well.”
“Abby is your wife?”
“Ahh, well, I haven’t asked her yet. But I plan to.” He grinned, warmth filling his face as he talked about his girlfriend. “She wanted to come as well, but I thought that might be too overwhelming for you. Doc said you’ve been living by yourself for a while.”
“Umm, yes.” Archer said that most of the men who lived at Sanctuary were Daddy Doms. Did that mean Kent was?
Sympathy filled his face. “I know you must be overwhelmed, sweetheart. I’ve sent someone to get Doc. Archer should be here soon. When I spoke to him yesterday, he was catching the first flight he could get on. He sounded pretty upset. When he gets here, I’m going to go out and check what’s going on with your cabin, all right?”
“You don’t have to—”
He gave her a stern look and she pressed her lips together. They were dry and chapped. She wished she had lip balm. She wished she could ask Kent to see if he could find Bumbly and her snuggly. She remembered rescuing them from the fire. But she wasn’t sure where they had gone, and she’d been too embarrassed to ask anyone.
“Now, which muffin are you going to eat?” He glanced down at her hands. “Did someone offer to help you eat?”
“Oh yes. But I’m really not hungry.” Eating was the last thing she felt like doing.
“The nurses told me you haven’t eaten since you were admitted. If you want to get out of here, sweetheart, you need to build up some strength.”
“I can’t.”
He sighed. “All right, but Doc is going to be seriously mad when he gets here and finds out that you haven’t been eating. I just want you to know that I’m going to absolutely throw you under the bus.”
She gaped at him then she saw the humor in his eyes. “You wouldn’t.”
“You kidding? I so would. I’m petrified of Doc’s temper.”
“That makes two of us,” someone said from the doorway.
“Archer,” she said on a hiccupping sob. She gasped in a breath that started of a coughing fit.
Hell of a welcome.
Shit. Fuck.
Terror had been his constant companion since he’d received that call from Kent Jensen late yesterday afternoon.
Caley was injured. A fire. In the hospital.
Alone.
She looked so lost and ill. Her face was pale. There were dark smudges under her eyes. She seemed small and helpless.
And he didn’t like it. In fact, he fucking hated it.
“Caley, love.” He dove forward, helping her sit up so he could lightly pat her back. He glanced over as Kent handed him a glass of water. When she stopped coughing, he eased her back and held the glass up to her lips.
“Easy, poppet. Small sips. That’s it.”
She sat back and put the glass back. Kent gave him a curious look. But he didn’t have time to decipher that. He ran his
gaze over Caley, noting her oxygen levels and heartbeat on the monitors.
“How are you feeling, love?”
“I’m all right,” she said.
Uh-huh, sure she was.
He ran his fingers through her hair. “Don’t lie to me.”
She stared up at him then her shoulders slumped. “I’ve been better.”
“Has the doctor been in yet today?”
She shook her head.
“All right, I’ll have a chat with him about your care. Your hands got burned in the fire? Are you in pain?”
“No, I’m on some good painkillers, I think.”
He bet. Poor darling. “Were you in the house at the time? What happened?” He’d been frantic since receiving the call from Kent. He’d basically just headed to the airport with the clothes on his back, arranging a ticket on his way. He’d arrived too late last night to visit. He’d wanted to be here earlier, but Susan had called with some questions about shifting patients around.
“I don’t know. I left to go speak to Dave. To where I scattered his ashes further up the mountain, at this spot he used to like.”
He nodded.
“When I started back down, I could smell the smoke then as I grew closer, I could see that the cabin was on fire.”
“So you weren’t near it? How did you burn your hands?” This didn’t make sense.
She glanced at him quickly then away. “Umm.”
“Caley,” he said warningly. He knew a guilty look when he saw one.
She flicked her gaze up to him then over to Kent. “I’d rather not tell you.”
Oh no. That was not going to happen.
“Caley, you’re going to tell me. Right. Now.”
“Will this come under patient-doctor confidentiality?” she asked, sounding desperate.
He stood there, arms crossed over his chest, his best Dom look on his face. “You’re not my patient, poppet. So if you’re asking me whether I’m going to keep this secret from Issy the answer is no. And you should know that even if I did agree to that, Issy would get it out of you anyway.”
“Issy?” Kent said with some amusement. “I’ll remember that. Also, I wouldn’t agree to keep that a secret.”
“Thank you for coming,” Archer told him, reaching across to shake the other man’s hand. “I appreciate it.”
Kent nodded. “I’ve got someone tracking down Doc and Zander. Unfortunately, they seem to have moved location.”
Archer frowned. “Moved? Without telling you where they were going?”
“Well, it was likely Doc didn’t know where they were going.”
“Doesn’t Zander work for you?”
Kent looked somewhat exasperated. “Zander does what he wants when he wants and somehow, I still pay him.” He shook his head. “But he’s the best at what he does so I give him a lot of leeway. But I am worried about Doc.”
“You think something has happened to him?” Caley asked, looking worried.
Archer sent Kent a look. He better not upset her.
Kent gazed at him rather coolly. “Doc will be fine physically, sweetheart. But he’s going to be in an extremely foul mood. Especially as it seems Zander either has his phone and has turned it off, or he’s got a jammer that is suppressing any signals. He’ll be doubly mad when he finds out what you’ve been through.”
There was something on Kent’s face. A warning. Archer felt himself flushing. He knew Kent was wondering why Archer was so protective of Caley. But she was his brother’s girl. He was allowed to be. Right?
“Tell me what happened, Caley.” Archer turned back to her.
“Okay,” she whispered. “When I got down to the cabin, I saw that the back was all on fire. I thought that maybe I could go through the front and get…” she looked over at Kent, “Bumbly.”
She spoke so quietly, that he could barely hear her.
“Fuck. Please don’t tell me you went back into a burning cabin to get a stuffed toy.”
“I…I…”
“Jesus, Caley, what were you thinking? You could have killed yourself! Over a damn stuffed toy! Shit! Of all the—”
“Archer!” Kent said sharply, interrupting him.
He glared over at the other man who nodded at Caley. Who was staring up at him with wide eyes, tears dripping down her face.
“Oh, poppet, I’m sorry.” He hadn’t meant to upset her. It’s just…he could have lost her! She could have died.
She could have died and he wouldn’t have told her how he felt about her.
No, you can’t lay that on her now. She’s vulnerable. Hurting.
“Dave gave me Bumbly,” she said. “I know it was stupid. I thought maybe I could get my laptop, but my office is at the back of the cabin. So I…I…grabbed Bumbly and my snuggly and I went out the bedroom window. I burned my hands on the front door. I didn’t realize it would be so hot. I’m sorry, I know it was stupid.”
Her gaze dropped to her lap and her shoulders shook.
“Way to go,” Kent whispered, glaring at him. He reached up to pat her shoulder.
“I got this,” Archer told him with a scowl. He sat on the bed, facing Caley. “Look at me. Look at me.” He raised her face up with his hand on her chin. “I’m sorry.”
Her face was filled with misery. “What for?”
“For getting angry at you. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“It was stupid to go back in for a toy and a snuggly. It’s just that Dave gave them to me and now I don’t have anything of his. My train set…” She sobbed.
Oh God, he was such an asshole. Remorse filled him. He was supposed to be better than this. He didn’t lose his temper. He was always rational. Calm.
Except when it came to those he cared about most. Isaac. Caley.
“I get it, poppet. It’s something I never, ever want you to do again but I know why you did it. And I’m sorry I got so mad.”
“You never get mad.”
“I do. When someone I care about a lot is in danger or risks themselves or I’m worried about them. But I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. Forgive me?”
She gave him a small smile. “Of course.”
He leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Thank you, love. You’re far more forgiving than I would have been.” He drew back. “I’m guessing your cell phone was in the cabin and that’s why you didn’t call me straight away?”
She nodded. “I didn’t know your number by heart or Issy’s. So the nurse called your offices and your assistant took a message and said she’d get you to call back. Then we called JSI and Kent called back.”
“I was in a meeting.” Kent shot him a look. “What’s your excuse for not calling back?”
He felt frozen. Cold. “I never got the message.” It could have been a mistake on his assistant’s behalf. But he would most definitely be questioning her.
“Thank you for coming,” Caley said. “I’m sorry to pull you away from your work. I know you must be busy. I wouldn’t have called you but I…”
Her voice cracked and so did his heart.
“Love, what did I tell you about calling me?”
Those hazel eyes stared up at him. “That I can do it for anything.”
“And I will always come if you need me. Always. Don’t worry about my work. That’s my concern. Not yours. Your only worry should be getting better, understand?”
“But what am I going to do? I have nothing, Archer.”
He wiped away her tears. “That’s not true. You have Issy. You have me. And we’re not going anywhere, understand? You’re not alone, Caley.”
He pressed another kiss to her forehead. His attention was pulled from her as Kent stood. Shit. He’d forgotten the other man was even there.
“Could I speak to you for a moment, Archer?” Jensen asked. It was broached as a question, but he heard the command in it.
“Sure. Be back in a minute, love.”
“Caley, I’m going to head up to your cabin. You say you rescue
d Bumbly and a snuggly? Have you got them? Did anyone give them to you?” Kent asked her.
Caley’s face went bright red.
“It’s all right, love. Kent is a Daddy Dom. He has a Little of his own.”
“I don’t know where they are,” she told Kent.
“Would you like me to find them for you?” Kent asked gently.
“I…I…yes please.”
“I’ll see if I can find out whether anyone knows how your cabin caught on fire and where they went. All right?”
She nodded then Archer followed him into the corridor. Jensen turned on him, his gaze assessing.
“She’s Doc’s girl, yes?”
He stiffened. “Yes, she is. But I care about her.”
Jensen studied him for a moment. “Oh, I think you more than care for her.”
Archer scowled.
“You love her, don’t you?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Kent grunted. “Does Doc know?”
“No,” he told him. “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell him.”
Kent nodded. “Are you gonna tell him?”
His shoulders slumped. “I don’t know. It will make everything…complicated.”
Kent snorted. “That it will. You know, when you walked in the door her whole face lit up. Haven’t seen her with Doc, but I assume she does the same with him?”
“She does. They’re good for each other. I’m not here to get between them.”
“That’s good. Doubt Doc would allow that anyway. Didn’t think he’d ever find someone who could, uhh, appreciate his uniqueness.”
Archer had to grin at that. “Caley’s special.”
Kent patted his shoulder. “You’re prepared to take care of her, give her what she needs until Doc can be tracked down?”
“I can take care of Caley.”
Kent nodded. “She’s fragile at the moment. She needs some careful handling.”
“I’m a psychiatrist, I think I can handle it.”
“Yeah, I don’t really think the doctor part is in charge right now. You’re acting on emotion.”
“Look, I know I shouldn’t have gotten mad just now, but she walked into a damned burning building.”
“I get it. And when she’s feeling better, I’m sure Doc will tan her hide. But right now, that’s not what she needs.”
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