by Mari Carr
“Help me or get out of my way, Liam! I’m not leaving until he’s safe.” While Jade and her boss constantly yelled and screamed and cursed at each other, Liam knew she loved Bruce like he was family. She wouldn’t leave his side until he was well clear of the burning vehicle.
“Slide over. Let me get a grip on him.” Bruce was no small man, but between the two of them, they managed to drag him out of the driver’s seat seconds before the fire spread from under the hood, flames engulfing the dashboard and the mangled steering wheel.
Time wasn’t on their side. They grasped Bruce under his arms, straining to pull the man across the road, away from the danger, the imminent explosion. They’d just reached the other side when Liam heard a series of loud pops.
He laid Bruce on the ground, then grabbed Jade’s head and pushed her low as well. “Get down!”
Together they covered Bruce’s body with theirs as the blaze reached the gas tank. A deafening boom followed by an intense wall of heat hit Liam like a freight train. Jade trembled beneath him as he sought to shelter her. For several moments, neither of them moved as huge, leaping flames traveled along the trunk of the tree, consuming it. A sharp crack pierced the night as one of the large, lower branches gave way and fell.
While the fire continued to burn, the flaring plumes of orange and yellow grew smaller. Like the powerful outburst experienced when starter fluid is thrown on a lit campfire, the blaze died down once its fuel burned out.
Jade was the first to rise. Her face was white as a sheet and tear-stained. Liam realized exactly how terrified she’d been. He could relate. His hands were shaking and his heart was pounding so hard it felt as if it would burst right out of his chest. He reached over to cup her face.
“You okay?”
She nodded, though her eyes were wide. Liam briefly wondered if she was going into shock. Then, in typical Jade fashion, she powered through the fear more quickly than he was going to be able to. She glanced down at Bruce, placing her fingers against her boss’s carotid artery, checking his pulse. Liam looked for injuries, but the air bag appeared to have done its job. Apart from a wicked red mark on his right cheek and what was definitely going to be a black eye, Liam couldn’t see any cuts or scratches that looked too serious. His main concern was the fact the man was still unconscious.
“Bruce.” Jade lightly shook the man’s shoulders. “Bruce. Wake up. Can you hear me?”
Bruce moaned, his eyelids fluttering a bit before they closed once more.
A siren sounded in the distance. Jade looked toward the road.
“I called 911 as soon as I came upon the accident,” he explained.
Jade smiled. “Good thinking. The second I saw Bruce’s car, I hopped off my bike and ran to him. Never occurred to me to phone anyone.”
Her admission bothered Liam. While it wasn’t unusual for Jade to leap in to situations—breaking up fights at the bar, answering fire alarms and the like—she never remembered to ask for help, even if she needed it.
Jade glanced at the burning vehicle. “Fuck.”
Liam looked over his shoulder to see what had upset her. “Oh damn, kiddo. I’m sorry.” The tree branch that had broken during the fire had fallen onto her motorcycle, doing more than its fair share of damage. Fortunately for him, only a few smaller limbs had reached his pickup truck. While the paint was probably scratched, his vehicle was still drive-able. The same wasn’t true for Jade’s bike.
Jade blew out a long, annoyed breath, but she didn’t complain. Instead, she gazed down at Bruce again. “It’s okay. The motorcycle can be fixed. If that’s the worst thing that happens tonight…” Her words faded away, her voice breaking.
She was clearly worried about Bruce.
“He’ll be okay, Jade.”
She nodded, blinking back tears, refusing to let them fall.
“Did you see the accident?” Liam asked.
Jade shook her head. “No. Bruce left about a half hour before us, remember?” She shuddered lightly and Liam knew she was thinking about how close her boss had come to losing his life. That was the one thought that kept beating a steady rhythm in his mind, but the name of the victim was different for him.
Jade could have died.
A police car parked near them, Sawyer stepping out. The sheriff studied the burning vehicle for only a second as he ran toward them.
Jade rose quickly as her father approached, calling out her name. “Jade!”
“I’m fine, Dad.” Her calmly spoken reassurance was belied by her actions. Though she wasn’t usually overly affectionate, Liam watched as she accepted her father’s strong embrace, clinging to him, sniffling against his shirt.
“What happened?” Sawyer asked, looking at Liam, refusing to release Jade.
“Bruce was in an accident. We’re not sure what caused it. Jade got here first, then I happened along.”
Jade took a small step back, looking up at her dad’s face. “We pulled him out. Then a few minutes later, it caught fire and exploded.”
Liam narrowed his eyes at Jade’s false interpretation of events. She didn’t bother to look his way. Instead, she kept her eyes steadfastly directed at her father.
“Jesus,” Sawyer muttered, pulling Jade back into his arms. “You could have been hurt.”
She could have been killed. Liam didn’t speak the thought aloud. Her father was shaken up enough.
Another siren and more flashing lights approached. The ambulance stopped next to Sawyer’s patrol car and soon, three EMTs surrounded Bruce as the firefighters arrived with the tanker, working to douse the flames that had already started to wane. It would have burned out on its own, but given the lack of rain and dry summer they’d had, Liam knew they were smart to douse the area with water in order to prevent a potential flare-up or brushfire.
Sawyer looked at Jade’s mangled motorcycle. “I’ll call Rex and have him come pick up your bike. He can take it back to the shop.”
“Thanks,” Jade answered distractedly. Her attention was on the EMTs who had put Bruce on a gurney and were loading him into the rescue squad.
Liam placed a hand on her shoulder. “Come on, kiddo. I’ll give you a lift to the hospital. We can wait to see what the doctor says and then I’ll take you home.”
She looked at Liam appreciatively. “Really? You sure you don’t mind?”
He shook his head. There was no way he was letting her out of his sight for a while. He was still too shaken up by all the what ifs. There were a lot of uneasy feelings churning in his gut. Until he figured out how to deal with them, he was sticking to her like glue.
“Thanks, Liam.” Sawyer slapped him on the shoulder. “I really need to hang out here a little longer to record the scene, then write my report. I’ll stop by Circle H some time tomorrow to get a statement from you.”
Liam nodded. “That’s fine.”
Sawyer reached for Jade again and she stepped into his arms. “I really am okay, Dad.” Her voice sounded exasperated, though Liam didn’t think she minded her father’s hug as much as she pretended.
Sawyer placed a kiss to the top of her head. “Yeah. I know. Humor me.”
They held on to each other for a few more seconds before pulling apart. “I’ll stop by your cabin tomorrow to check on you. And you might want to tidy up a bit because you know your mom, grandma and all the aunts will be around to make sure you’re okay.”
She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Do you have to tell them about this?”
Sawyer chuckled. “I won’t have to say a word. There are at least half a dozen people here, all ready to share the tale. I guarantee you there won’t be a single person in Compton Pass who won’t know all the details about this accident by midday tomorrow.”
Jade sighed. “Shit.”
Sawyer walked toward the wrecked car as Liam grasped Jade’s hand and led her to his pickup. They rode to the hospital in silence, both of them coming down hard from the adrenaline rush provoked by their brush with near-death.
Liam was assaulted by the memory of the night the state patrolman had knocked on the door to Celia’s parents’ house. He’d driven over to see them after Mrs. Woods called to ask if Celia had been in touch with him. She was late getting back from Denver and wasn’t answering her phone. Liam had been the one to answer the door when they saw the police car pull into the driveway. He’d listened calmly as the policeman explained about the accident, told them how there was nothing Celia could have done, how she hadn’t suffered.
The same numbness Liam had felt that night settled in. He couldn’t go through that again. He wouldn’t. Suddenly the game he’d been playing with Jade felt foolish. Wrong.
They sat in the hospital waiting room for nearly an hour, neither of them speaking, before the doctor appeared.
Jade rose as he approached. “Is Bruce okay?”
The doctor nodded. “He’ll be fine, but we’re keeping him here to run a few more tests. He listed you as his next of kin.” Bruce was a confirmed bachelor with no wife, no kids and no relatives—his parents long since dead and his only estranged sister living somewhere on the East Coast. Dr. Henderson understood Jade was as close as he was going to get to family, so he’d likely gotten Bruce’s permission to share information with her.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Dr. Henderson shrugged. “Several things. The one that concerns me the most right now is his blood pressure. It’s sky-high, and we’re working on bringing it down. He’s also got a blockage in his heart that may require a stent, and his ulcer is back.”
“He’s had one before?”
The doctor gave her a weary smile. “Bruce had a nasty ulcer a few years ago. I treated it, suggested he alter his diet. I don’t think I have to tell you he’s pretty set in his ways and not generally open to change.”
Jade released a loud ha. “He’s stubborn as a mule. Stupid, infuriating asshole. I told him it was something serious a week ago.”
Liam lightly laid his hand on the small of Jade’s back, hoping to calm her down. Her fear had initially turned to worry, but now annoyance and frustration were kicking in. “He was really out of it after the accident, Doc. Ulcers don’t do that, do they?”
Dr. Henderson rubbed the back of his neck. “No. That was due to the high blood pressure. I can only assume he lost consciousness while he was driving. He’s lucky you were both there and able to get him help so quickly.”
“Can I see him?” Jade asked.
“He’s asleep right now. I’d suggest that you go on home and get some rest, Jade, then come back in the morning. If he responds well to the medication we’ve put him on, he may be able to leave the hospital as early as the day after tomorrow.”
The doctor’s words clearly went a long way toward setting Jade’s mind at ease. “Thanks.” Exhaustion was written on her face, in her posture. Time for bed.
Liam led Jade back to his truck. She was silent for most of the trip. In fact, Liam suspected she’d fallen asleep for a few minutes. Unfortunately, she woke up too soon.
“You missed the turn off to Compass Ranch.”
Liam didn’t respond. He’d driven by it on purpose. He’d had no intention of taking her to her house.
“Liam? Are you awake? Are you paying attention?”
“I know where we’re going, Jade.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Turn around.”
“No.”
Jade released a loud, frustrated breath. “Look, in case you forgot the rules, I’m supposed to come find you. I’m tired and not in the mood. Now take me home.”
“There was more than one ground rule.”
Jade scowled. “I haven’t slept with anyone else.”
He grinned. She was being purposely obtuse. “Try again.”
“You’re not seriously planning to punish me for saving someone’s life.”
That wasn’t his plan, but he couldn’t let go of the fact she’d put her own life at serious risk tonight. His head was pounding, his chest tight, the tension building. Every man had a breaking point, and whether Jade realized it or not, he’d hit his.
He’d promised her a summer fling and he intended to follow through on that. But he wasn’t in this for the short-term. He never had been. And while he hadn’t clued Jade in to his true intentions yet, the ache in his gut that had been there all evening as he considered how close he’d come to losing her, told him he was probably about to botch things up.
It didn’t matter. His mother warned him his need to control things beyond his power was going to come back to bite him in the ass. Looked like that day had arrived.
He turned down the dirt road that led to his ranch, not bothering to reply to Jade.
In typical fashion, her temper flared hot and fast. “Goddammit, Liam Harrison. You turn this fucking truck around and drive me to Compass Ranch or so help me, I’ll kick your ass.”
Liam had learned a long time ago that the quickest way to get under Jade’s skin was to ignore her when she was in the midst of a temper tantrum. For some reason, her anger pleased him. It matched his own right now, put them on equal ground. His blood was boiling.
Liam was furious.
At her. Bruce. Life. Fate. All of it.
Once he reached the house, he turned off the truck.
Jade turned to face him. “I’m not getting out.”
He grinned. “Of course you are.”
She glared at him, daggers flying. “If you’re trying to piss me off, you’re doing a great job.”
Liam climbed out, walking around the hood until he was at her door. Jade sat with her arms crossed, staring toward the house with a look on her face that promised she would make him pay if he touched her.
Liam loved a good dare. He opened the door and reached for her seat belt. She tried to shove his arm away, but he unbuckled her, then grasped her waist, tugging her out of the vehicle easily.
Jade exploded with fury, kicking and punching him in her attempts to break free. She put up a good fight, but Liam didn’t release her until she was on her feet, standing next to the passenger door. Then he pushed her against it, caging her in.
She pushed, shoved, tried dodging under his arms, but Liam managed to keep her trapped. Finally, she stilled, her breathing labored, her face flushed.
“What do you want?” she asked, offering as much of a surrender as he’d likely get from her tonight.
Too fucking much. Liam should have taken her home. Spent the night trying to get his raging emotions under control.
It was too late for common sense now. Instead, he let all the irrational fears that had consumed him for the past couple of hours surface. “I told you to get away from that car. You could have been killed.”
Jade frowned. “I couldn’t leave Bruce there.”
“I know that, Jade. Believe me, I fucking get it. It still doesn’t help.”
“What do you want me to say? I’m sorry? Because I’m not.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want an apology.” His gaze drifted lower. Her breathing was rapid, causing her chest to rise and fall, drawing his attention to her breasts. Before he could consider his actions, he lifted his hand, cupped her plump flesh and squeezed. Hard.
Jade’s head fell back and a soft moan escaped.
Liam’s weak grip on his emotions slipped. He took a step away from her, grasping her hand and pulling her toward his house. Jade struggled briefly, obviously surprised by his quick moves.
“Liam, wait.”
“No.”
Jade dug in her heels as they reached the front porch, but Liam wouldn’t be denied. Not now. Not ever.
Turning, he hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her into the house. He glanced up the stairs that would take them to his bedroom, then decided that was too far away. He stepped into the living room instead, not stopping until they reached the couch where he set her down.
Jade bounced back up instantly, but Liam pushed her onto the cushions, keeping her in place with a strong hand on her shoulder.
&
nbsp; “Holy fuck. Do you have some sort of death wish or what?” Jade’s fury returned in spades.
He knelt in front of her, moving his hands to her legs. Parting them, he kept a firm grip on her upper thighs.
“I almost lost you tonight.” They were the only words he could think to say, the same painful thought that had permeated his consciousness until nothing else remained.
“Wrong. You never had me.”
She didn’t understand. Couldn’t grasp the terror he’d felt when he’d seen her standing beside that burning car. Somehow he’d have to make her comprehend.
“Fearless,” he said.
“What?”
“Your safe word. It’s Fearless. If you get scared or the pain is too much and you want me to stop, say that word and I will. But, please, Jade, don’t use it lightly.” He studied her face, watching as she processed it all. “Say it. Let me hear you say it.”
“Fearless,” she whispered.
That softly spoken word was all he needed. It set Liam free. Rising, he pulled her up, claiming her spot on the couch. Before she could react to his fast movements, he tugged her facedown over his lap.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jade tried to push away, but Liam pressed her head lower, so close to the floor her hair touched the hardwood.
He lifted his hand and brought it down roughly against her ass. While the jeans muted the blow, the shock of his spanking caused Jade to still. She didn’t say the safe word or fight him, so he took it as permission to continue. He slapped her half a dozen times more, building the intensity as he struck the same spot over and over.
Jade remained motionless through only the first couple smacks, then she began to struggle. At first, Liam thought she was trying to escape his blows.
“Jade?”
She shook her head, remaining silent, and soon it became obvious she was moving toward his hand, trying to add even more fuel to the fire. She latched on to his lower leg for support, her grip tight as a vise.
She wanted more. So did he.
He lifted her, directed her to her feet, despite Jade’s protestations.
“Take off your pants,” he commanded.
