by Alexa Aston
Until she touched her mouth to his—and suddenly it got a whole lot better.
Wynn made her work for it. He wasn’t going to give in to her easily. She nipped at his lips playfully and then glided her tongue along them, trying to tempt him to open to her. When he didn’t, she pushed her fingers into his hair and rained kisses along his jaw. Against his temples. Softly bit his earlobe.
By the time she kissed her way back to his mouth, he couldn’t hide his arousal. Still, he was determined to keep from making love to her.
If he could hold out.
Finally, he gave in to her kiss, leaning back in the chair and taking her with him, opening to her. Their tongues mated in a dance that started slowly and heated up. Wynn kept one arm wrapped around Scarlett to steady her as his hand rested against her waist. He fought temptation and kept it still, though he longed to slide it to her breast.
They kissed for more than an hour, sometimes lazily and others with growing passion. He didn’t think he’d ever kissed anyone that long. It was immensely satisfying. He felt closer to her than he had anyone. Ever. Scarlett had a gift for peeling away his layers and discarding them until nothing lay between them.
His phone rang. Wynn froze. Few people had his number. The amount of calls he received was minimal. Del and Cady always texted first to see if it was a good time to call. He associated a phone ringing with bad news ever since his parents died in the car crash.
Sitting up, he lifted Scarlett from him. “I need to get this.”
An annoyed look crossed her face. “Really?” she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice. She marched to the rail and leaned on it, facing away from him, staring out at the water.
He lifted his suit jacket and slid the ringing cell from it. Even though the number was unfamiliar, he answered it, a sick feeling in his stomach.
“Hello?”
“Is this Wynn Gallagher?” an anxious voice asked. It sounded vaguely familiar but he couldn’t place the speaker.
“Yes,” he said tersely.
“This is Erica Chang, Scarlett’s assistant at Lymon McGraw.” She paused. “I was hoping she might still be with you.”
“She is,” he admitted, realizing their afternoon of playing hooky together had come to an end.
“Thank God!” Erica exclaimed. “Rhett’s been seriously injured and is in surgery at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica. Cassie is frantic and wants Scarlett there. No one’s been able to reach her.”
Wynn knew how deep the bond ran between Scarlett and Rhett and how devastating this news would be to her. “I’ll take her there now, Erica.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Gallagher. I’ll text Mr. DeLauria that we’ve found Scarlett and that she’s on her way. He can send you info on what floor to go to.”
“All right.”
Wynn ended the call and looked up. Scarlett had turned, her back leaning against the rail, her arms crossed in front of her, a defiant look on her face.
“So much for turning my phone off and trying to enjoy a little time away from the office,” she said lightly. “I usually appreciate Erica’s efficiency but not today.”
He crossed the deck and placed his hands firmly on her shoulders. “We need to go,” he said quietly.
“Why? Can’t Lymon McGraw operate for a few hours without me? I’ve given my heart and soul to that firm for almost a decade. They’ve sucked me drier than a vampire would any victim. I pulled off a miracle today at Rylon Pictures. The least I can do for myself is take an afternoon off and enjoy sitting in the sunshine with a man whose company I enjoy.” She frowned. “Even if he did stop kissing me to answer his stupid phone. It’s your fault they tracked me down and I have to go fix whatever work emergency has come up.”
Wynn’s fingers tightened on her. “Scarlett, it’s not about work,” he said gently. “Rhett’s been hurt. We need to get to the hospital. Now.”
CHAPTER 13
Scarlett went numb, squeezing her eyes closed. All she could think of was how much she loved Rhett. How he was the glue that held their family and friends together. The man that everyone depended upon in a crisis.
“What . . . happened?” she asked, feeling faint. She was glad that Wynn had a hold of her.
“Erica said he’s been seriously injured and is in surgery. Cassie is frantic. She needs you.”
Opening her eyes, Scarlett took a moment to let the rush of nerves pass through her. She swallowed. “I’m okay. Where do I need to go?”
Wynn’s green eyes flashed in anger. “We’re going,” he said firmly. “I’ll drive.”
He released her and stepped back, watching carefully. Scarlett willed herself to be strong and leaned around him, picking up her jacket and slipping into it and then sliding on her heels. They returned inside the house and she picked up her purse from the counter where she’d left it. Wynn took her hand and led her to the garage, opening the door to the Range Rover and making sure she was settled before shutting it.
Climbing behind the wheel, he turned, his hand cupping her face. “He’s going to be all right.”
“We don’t even know what’s happened,” she snapped.
His thumb stroked her cheek. “Rhett’s in an outstanding facility. He’s strong, both physically and mentally. And he’s got the support of family and friends. He will be okay.”
She nodded dully. Wynn’s hand fell away and he started the car. Once he’d turned onto the PCH, he took her hand. Scarlett drew comfort from his touch.
Inside, she was cursing herself. Angry that she’d turned off her phone and had been out of touch. It wasn’t like her to be so careless or carefree but being with Wynn made her feel as if she might be able to be a different person. A better one. One with the same focus and yet rearranging her priorities.
She glanced at his profile, thinking how much she wanted this man. How they’d only known each other a short time and yet how important he’d become to her. She’d have to put everything between them on hold, though. Rhett was the one who was the most important. She would do everything in her power to see him back to normal. Whatever his new normal might be. Scarlett hated not having any further information. Not knowing why he was in surgery. A car accident? A heart attack? A thousand scenarios crossed her mind and she fought against all of them.
Wynn’s cell chimed. He released her hand and took it from his pocket. He passed the phone to her. Scarlett saw it told them what floor to go to when they arrived at the hospital.
“Is this from Erica?” she asked.
“No. Probably Dash. Erica said he’d be the one to let us know where to head.”
It dawned on her that she didn’t even know the hospital’s name. “Where are we going?”
“UCLA Santa Monica.”
“Good.” From Wynn’s place, the medical facility was probably a half-hour away, even less as traffic started to pick up.
They pulled into the parking lot and Scarlett threw open her door as Wynn put the car into park.
“Wait,” he told her. “Pull yourself together. More than likely, there’ll be paparazzi hanging around outside. You don’t want to show any emotion. Project confidence.”
Scarlett pulled down the visor and looked into the mirror. Her hair looked tousled from their make-out session on the deck. She dug inside her purse and retrieved a coated elastic band and a clip. Smoothing her hair back, she twisted it into a ponytail and then wound it around several times, attaching the clip. She applied a fresh coat of lipstick and tossed the tube back inside her purse.
Taking a calming breath, she released it. “I’m ready.”
Wynn escorted her toward the main entrance, his fingers entwined with hers. She drew strength from him, thankful he’d accompanied her to the hospital.
As he predicted, the vultures gathered outside. A few recognized her and began snapping photos, calling out questions.
“How’s Rhett, Scarlett?”
“Is Rhett gonna live, Scarlett?”
“Why are you with Wynn Gallaghe
r?”
She wanted to scream at them to leave her alone but followed Wynn’s advice and kept her face blank. Until a question caused her to halt in her tracks.
“Do you know the shooter, Scarlett?”
She turned and stared at the wiry man who’d shouted at her. Seeing he had her attention, he continued with a barrage of questions, constantly clicking his camera. “Did you know they brought the shooter here? How many times did he shoot Rhett? Is Cassie pregnant? Will she lose the baby? What happens if Rhett dies?”
Wynn leaned close and said in her ear, “Walk. Now.”
He tugged on her and Scarlett found herself led away, entering the lobby and heading toward a bank of elevators. Wynn pushed the up button and a door opened immediately. He escorted her inside.
Scarlett began trembling as the doors closed. “He’s been shot?” she asked, her voice breaking. “Who would do such a thing?”
“We don’t know anything yet,” he said, his hand tightening around hers. “You know how the paps like to provoke a reaction.”
The door opened and they exited. That familiar smell of antiseptic hit her nostrils as they walked down a long, quiet corridor.
Turning the corner, Scarlett caught sight of Dash DeLauria hovering over a water fountain, his head bowed as he gripped the sides. She called his name and he looked toward her, his face ravaged by grief and tears. His shirt was stained with blood. Rhett’s blood.
Scarlett broke away from Wynn and raced toward him, throwing herself into his arms. They clung to one another for a moment and then Dash pulled away.
“What happened?” she asked softly.
He turned toward the water fountain and twisted the handle, first drinking and then splashing cold water on his face, drying it with his sleeve. By now, Wynn had arrived and stood by her side. The two men nodded at one another.
“We’d taken the kids to the aquarium and Pier Burger. You know how they all love going to the pier.”
Scarlett recalled Rhett telling her earlier in the week that he and Dash had plans to take their children to the Santa Monica Aquarium for a last outing before their private school started next week.
“We’d had a great time, especially with the hermit crabs and sea urchins in the touch tank area. We went back to the van and loaded everyone up. Went up the ramp at Ocean and Colorado and were waiting to pull out when someone rammed into us from behind. We checked to see that all the kids were okay and then Rhett got out of the car to see how the other driver was. I heard a loud voice and glanced back and saw a woman shrieking at him.”
Dash ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. “I opened my door and as I got out, I heard her yell something about if only Rhett would’ve answered her letters, things would be different. He would’ve loved her and left Cassie for her. Then she raised her arm and two loud pops sounded.”
Scarlett grasped his elbow, trying to comfort him.
He shuddered. “The rest is a blur. The kids were screaming. Rhett was on the ground, bleeding. The woman was waving the gun around and mumbling. Some security guy ran toward her and she fired a wild shot at him before turning the gun on herself. She went down and I called 911. Went to Rhett.” Dash choked up, a sob bubbling up. “Pressed against the wound in his knee. There was so much blood. People came running from everywhere. Someone pushed me aside. Said he was a paramedic and he’d handle it. Told me to go back to the kids.”
She stroked his arm. “You did everything you could, Dash.” She paused. “Erica said Rhett’s in surgery.”
He nodded. “The . . . stalker . . . she also shot him in the head. It was a mess.”
Wynn’s hand gripped her shoulder. All Scarlett could think was how serious the damage must be. Would Rhett be in a coma? Lose his vision?
What if Rhett died?
She couldn’t think about that now.
“Where is everyone?” she asked.
Dash sighed. “Knox and London came and took the kids to their house. You know how nurturing she is and Knox is a big old teddy bear. The kids love them. They couldn’t be in better hands.” He gestured down the hall. “Everyone else is in a waiting room.”
“Let’s go,” she prodded.
Dash led the way. Wynn trailed after them. They entered the small room and tears sprang to Scarlett’s eyes the moment she saw Cassie and Carreen holding hands. Scarlett rushed over to them and the three embraced, no words necessary.
“What do we know?”
Cassie wiped away tears and said, “Not much of anything. That’s what has me so upset.”
“I’m so sorry, Cassie,” Scarlett said. “This hospital has been recognized as one of the best orthopedic facilities in the nation. If anyone can put Rhett back together, it’ll be these doctors.”
“That’s what a doctor in the ER told us before they took him,” Carreen said. “It’s just the wait now that we have to get through.” Her sister took a seat and reached for her husband’s hand. Bob took hold of it.
Scarlett glanced around and saw that Sydney was also present and had come to stand next to Dash, her arms wrapped around his waist. Keely and Mac hovered nearby and she went to briefly speak to them.
“I’m so glad they found you,” Keely said. “We were worried when no one could reach you.”
Guilt flooded through Scarlett at having been out of touch. She glanced toward the door, where Wynn stood. He gestured that he was leaving and she quickly went to him.
“You’re in good hands now. Your family and friends are here. I’m going to take off.”
She grabbed his wrist, feeling like it was a lifeline she must hold on to in order to survive what lay ahead. “Do you have to go?”
He gave her a long look. “No.”
“Then stay. Please. I want you here.”
Scarlett not only wanted Wynn to remain. She needed him to stay. Needed his warmth and strength. His dependability. Other than Rhett, she’d never depended on any man. Too many, including her father, had let her down over the years. With this crisis, though, she realized how vulnerable she was. Leaning on Wynn wasn’t just an option.
It was what her heart told her to do.
CHAPTER 14
Scarlett led Wynn over to Carreen and Bob since Wynn hadn’t meet Bob. She doubted Bob would even know who Wynn was, even though he had to be one of the most famous faces on the planet. Bob and Carreen rarely went to a movie, preferring to be homebodies who gardened and played board games.
“Bob, this is Wynn Gallagher.”
Bob stood and shook Wynn’s hand. Carreen offered him a weak smile.
“I’ve only met Rhett recently but he’s been a role model for me my entire career,” Wynn said. “I’m sorry this happened. It’s great he has so many family members and friends here to support him.”
Carreen nodded and turned away. Bob slipped back into his seat and put an arm around her.
Scarlett motioned for Wynn to sit next to Carreen as she took the seat to his right, placing her next to Cassie.
“How are you holding up?” Scarlett asked her sister-in-law.
“I’m in limbo,” Cassie confessed. “Until I hear how Rhett is, I can’t think about anything.”
At that moment, a man and woman wearing scrubs entered the small waiting room. The male said, “Mrs. Corrigan?”
“I’m here.” She stood shakily and Scarlett did the same, worried that Cassie might faint.
“If you’d liked to step into the hallway, we can—”
“Everyone here is family,” Cassie interrupted. “Whatever you have to say, please tell us all.”
Scarlett slipped her hand around Cassie’s and braced for whatever news these doctors revealed.
“I’m Dr. Ramon Pendales, a trauma specialist. I served as an army doctor in the Middle East and am very familiar with ballistic trauma sustained from weapons.” He looked to the woman, who wore her blond hair pulled back from her face and had bright blue eyes. “This is Dr. Lucinda Grady. She’s head of our orthopedic team. We perf
ormed the surgery on Mr. Corrigan.”
Dr. Grady said, “The first thing you need to know is your husband came through surgery beautifully and is in recovery now.”
Scarlett squeezed Cassie’s hand.
“He’s in outstanding physical shape,” Dr. Grady noted. “That will help not only in the healing process but with the physical therapy he undergoes. Let us walk you through the injuries he sustained and what the surgery involved and then see if you have any questions.”
“Thank you,” Cassie said, her voice quivering.
“First, civilian handgun bullets don’t travel at near the velocity of military grade,” Dr. Pendales said. “That’s a good thing. The bullet that struck Mr. Corrigan’s knee didn’t fragment. It did tumble, though, as his knee absorbed the energy of the projectile. That did some stretching and tearing of the soft tissue surrounding the knee.”
“The bullet also did some secondary damage,” Dr. Grady continued. “It shattered bone. Making sure we found and removed all of those bone fragments and splinters is what took so long. Your husband’s vital signs remained stable and strong throughout surgery, which is very good.”
“We reviewed film and a CT scan before the surgery, using it to evaluate for bone fractures, soft tissue, and nerve injury,” Dr. Pendales told them. “The top of his patella—the kneecap—sustained the most bone damage. We debrided it and—”
“What’s that?” Cassie asked. “In English, please.”
Dr. Pendales smiled. “In this case, debridement involved removing damaged tissue to improve the healing of the healthy tissue that remained. We also repaired some slight nerve damage. Knees can be tricky. A person’s knee joint is the most important weight-bearing joint in the entire body. It’s composed of bone, soft tissue, muscles, ligaments, and cartilages. Needless to say, getting shot in the knee is incredibly painful. Mr. Corrigan will be on painkillers to numb the pain for the next twenty-four hours. Rehab will also be tough.”
