by Syndi Powell
They settled at a small table near the large picture window that looked out into the woods behind the inn. Snow still fell furiously, wind lashing it against the windows. But inside the inn, with a fire crackling in the fireplace, it felt warm and cozy.
Andie took her first bite of cake and gasped. “This is really good.”
“You sound surprised.”
“When you said that you were into baking cakes, I figured you used a mix, but this...” She took another bite, closing her eyes as the flavors of chocolate and a hint of cinnamon hit her tongue. “Amazing.”
He smiled broadly. “Thank you for the compliment, but you helped.”
As she looked into his bright blue eyes, she remembered the almost kiss between them. She’d never wanted anything more at that moment. Would have done anything to receive it from Beckett. And yet now that the moment had passed, she wondered if it would happen again. Would he ever kiss her? And why did she long for it so badly? She returned to the cake and let the rich dessert fulfill her rather than Beckett’s kiss.
Once the cake was eaten and the guests returned to their activities, Andie volunteered to wash dishes, but Irena waved away the offer. “You have done enough providing this cake. Thank you.”
Andie pointed to Beckett. “He’s the one you should thank.”
“I’ve never had such a moist cake that tempted me more.” Irena patted Beckett on the arm as he gathered the dirty plates and forks. “You can bake for us anytime.”
Beckett gave a quick nod, seemingly embarrassed by the innkeeper’s praise.
After the dining room had been put back to rights, Andie yawned. The endeavors of the day had caught up with her, and the large bed upstairs seemed to call out to her. She stifled another yawn that came on the heels of the first. “I think I’m ready to turn in for the evening.”
Beckett nodded. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
“That’s not necessary. It’s not that far.”
“It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.” He put her hand at his elbow and escorted her out of the dining room and to the stairs.
She wondered if this meant he’d try to kiss her before she retired for the evening. She wanted him to. Side by side with Phoebe between them, they walked up the grand staircase to the second floor to Andie’s room. She put the key in the lock and turned to look at Beckett. The air around them seemed to spark, and she found herself powerless to turn away. Long seconds passed as they gazed at each other, but neither made a move.
Phoebe nudged Andie’s leg, and she reached down to pat her. “Well, good night, then.”
“Sleep tight.”
She nodded and put her hand on the doorknob, but she didn’t open the door. Should she make the first move? Should she press her lips against his? And yet, remembering how he’d rejected her offer for drinks on the first night they’d met, she couldn’t do it. Couldn’t let herself be subject to another rebuff from Beckett. Finally, she opened the door.
“Andie.”
She turned at the sound of his voice. He stepped forward and swiftly kissed her cheek near the corner of her mouth. Then he walked to his own room, Phoebe trailing after him.
Andie pressed her fingers to where his kiss had landed, smiling.
CHAPTER EIGHT
ANDIE OPENED HER EYES, wondering what it was that had woken her from the sweetest dream. Silence greeted her, and she sat up in bed, straining to figure out what she’d heard.
Whimpering. Was it Phoebe? Had she been hurt? She threw the blankets off herself and strode to the door that joined her room with Beckett’s and pressed her ear to hear better.
“No. No. Please don’t.”
Beckett seemed to be begging. She tried the doorknob, but it was locked. She turned on the light by the front door and searched to see if there was a key that would open the lock. Finding none, she returned to the door and knocked on it. “Beckett, wake up. It’s me.”
No answer. She tried the door again. It would swing open into Beckett’s room, so maybe if she put her shoulder against it and pushed... She tried it, but it didn’t open. Maybe if she pushed harder. Still locked tight.
The cries from Beckett’s room grew louder, and she knew that she had to get into that room no matter what. She backed away from the door and took a run at it, slamming herself against the solid oak. Still shut. All right. One more try, and then she’d get the innkeeper for the key. She took a run at the door, slamming herself against it. It gave way, and she tumbled into the room, falling on the floor and landing on her right wrist.
She scrambled to her feet and ran to the bed where Beckett twisted in the blankets, Phoebe next to him, pawing at his arm. Andie put her left hand on his shoulder since her right hand throbbed in pain. “Beckett, wake up.”
He roared at her touch and sat up in bed, backing up against the headboard, blinking but not really seeing. He seemed to be trapped in his dream world. She turned on the light beside the bed and approached him again, dropping the volume of her voice. “You’re okay, Beckett. It’s safe.”
He blinked rapidly at her. “Andie?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
He looked around the room as if trying to remember where he was, then he focused on her. “I’m okay.” His gaze dropped to the throbbing wrist she cradled in her hand. “But you’re hurt.”
“It’s fine.”
“How did it happen?”
She nodded toward the open door between their rooms. “I had to break down the door to get to you.”
He held out his hand, and she put her right hand in his. He explored her wrist with his fingers and shook his head as she winced at the pain. “I think it’s sprained, but it might be broken. We need to get you to a doctor.”
“I’m fine.” The last thing she needed was to try to find a doctor in the middle of a snowstorm. She’d be careful with it for a few days, and things would be fine.
“Make a fist, then.”
She tried to curl her fingers in, yet the pain made her cry out loud.
“That’s it. I’m taking you to the emergency room.” He swung his bare legs over the side of the bed, and she found herself staring at how strong they looked, rippling with sinews yet covered in scarred skin. He glanced down to where she was looking. “You need to get dressed, and I do too.”
She brought her eyes back up to meet his, then she nodded. Returning to her room, she tried to dress herself with one hand which took her a long time. Maybe Beckett was right, and she needed to see a doctor.
Once she was dressed, she walked back into Beckett’s room. He hung up the phone just as he spotted her. “The nearest hospital is about ten miles away. Good thing I have snow tires and GPS to get us there. Ready?”
She nodded, amazed at how much he’d changed in just a few minutes. He’d been whimpering like a helpless child during his nightmare, and now he had taken charge of the situation. She followed him out of his room and paused as he locked the door behind them. The inn was quiet with sleeping guests, so they moved quietly down the stairs and into the foyer where Beckett turned to pull Andie’s coat tighter around her. “Okay, stay here and I’ll bring the truck around. The steps are likely to be icy, so be careful when you go outside.”
She nodded as he handed her Phoebe’s leash. He left them in the foyer and disappeared into the snowy darkness outside. Andie put her good hand on Phoebe’s neck and gave the dog a reassuring massage. “It’s going to be okay.”
And she knew it would be with Beckett in charge. He would get them safely to the emergency room. Would get her the care she needed. Would stay by her side even as the thought of broken bones made her stomach flip. She had started the night trying to save Beckett, but it looked as if he’d turned the tables on her and was striving to help her.
Beckett pulled up in front of the inn and exited the truck to hold on to Andie’s elbow as she walked down the
front steps. He gave a whistle to Phoebe, who jumped into the open vehicle, then he lifted Andie in his arms to place her carefully in the truck. She turned to say something to him, but he slammed the door shut and ran around the truck to get in on the driver’s side.
Once they left the inn’s driveway, the voice of the GPS started to dictate their route. Beckett had turned off the radio, so the only noise in the truck besides the GPS was their breathing and Phoebe’s panting. It might have made her nervous before, but knowing that Beckett was at the wheel on these icy roads gave her comfort. He wouldn’t let anything happen to them.
The drive took more than a half hour on the icy roads, but Andie sighed in relief at the sight of the neon light announcing the entrance to the emergency room. Beckett pulled the truck to the entrance and was opening her door and lifting her out before she had a chance to remove her seat belt. He set her on her feet and nodded toward the automatic doors. “Go ahead and get signed in. I’ll park the truck and be right there.”
Then he was gone again. Despite the demons that haunted his sleep, Beckett was good in a crisis. More than good. He seemed to find a solution for every setback. She’d still be at the inn wondering if she should see a doctor if he hadn’t assessed the situation and determined their course. And yet, she knew he would deny all of that. He would somehow make this all his fault rather than seeing that he was saving the day.
She went into the emergency room and checked in with the nurse at the reception desk. She looked up at Andie with a look of wariness in her eyes. “It’s going to be a while, sweetie. We had a six-car pileup on the highway, so the victims have trauma priority. Sorry.”
Andie nodded and cradled her hurt wrist in her hand as she found an empty chair to sit in and wait for her turn. The automatic doors of the ER opened, and Beckett strode in with Phoebe at his side, scanning faces until he found hers. He approached her and took the seat next to hers. “There’s a wait because of a highway accident,” she told him.
Beckett gave a short nod then stood to pick a couple of magazines off one of the empty chairs. “Here. Reading material.”
She took a current events magazine and placed it on her lap, not really interested in the stories it contained. What she wanted to learn was what had made Beckett whimper in his dreams. She turned to look at him. “What were you dreaming about?”
He glanced at her, but returned his attention to the magazine. “Nothing.”
“No one cries out from a dream where nothing happens.”
“I didn’t cry out.”
She raised one eyebrow at this bald-faced lie, surprised that his pants hadn’t become engulfed in flames after two lies in a row. “I know what I heard.” He ignored her, keeping his nose buried in the magazine. “Fine. I’ll guess what it was about.”
“Please don’t.”
She bit her lip and gave a sigh. “I think you were dreaming about being in the Miss Michigan beauty pageant, and your batons wouldn’t ignite for the talent portion.”
No response. Not even a flicker of amusement or annoyance. So she figured she’d have to go even more outrageous. “Or maybe you dreamed that you had joined the circus as a clown, but your large frame wouldn’t fit into the car with the other clowns. You had to stick one long leg out the window while the car zoomed around the big top.”
He placed the magazine in his lap. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it won’t work.”
“Maybe you dreamed that you were giving a speech in Congress to get more funding for research on the effects of bubble gum stuck in hair, but discovered that you were naked in front of all the senators.”
“Andie...”
“You were painting a room at the house you’re renovating, but didn’t have any paintbrushes so you used your fingers.” He shook his head. “Your toes?”
“It was nothing like that.”
“So tell me.” He looked at her for a long moment, and she figured he wasn’t going to answer. She put a hand on his arm. “Please. We’ve got a long wait, and I need some conversation.”
He let out a long breath and reached down to give Phoebe a reassuring pat. Whether it was reassuring for the dog or for himself, Andie wasn’t sure. “A good friend of mine died, and I was trying to save him, but I couldn’t.”
“In Iraq?”
He didn’t look at her. Didn’t nod or say a word. Seemed to be lost in his nightmare once again. He just kept patting Phoebe.
She looked at his jeans. “Is that where you got the scars on your legs?”
He blinked rapidly and said, “Yes. Our truck got hit by an IED. The front of the vehicle exploded in flames, and I was caught in the driver’s seat. Couldn’t get out until Ruggirello pulled me away from the truck.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore, okay? Find something else to amuse yourself.”
He stood and left the waiting room, taking Phoebe with him. He might not have shared much with her, but still she felt like she’d made some inroads with him.
He returned after a while with two paper cups of coffee, handing one to her before returning to the seat next to hers. She thanked him and blew on the liquid before taking a sip. The brew was thick as mud and had a burnt aftertaste. She held the cup, but didn’t drink any more.
Beckett smiled and finished his cup of coffee. “This is gourmet compared to some I’ve had.”
Andie offered him her cup back. “Go ahead. I don’t think I can drink it.”
He took the cup from her and poured it into his own. They sat in silence, watching as other patients were called into the examination rooms. A television in the corner of the room played a movie punctuated by commercial breaks. Andie picked up the magazine. They were going to be here awhile.
* * *
A NURSE FINALLY called Andie’s name. He and Andie had been waiting for more than two hours. Beckett stood and helped Andie to her feet, then trailed after her toward the nurse who looked down at Phoebe. “You can’t bring the dog into the examination room.”
“She’s my therapy dog.”
The nurse blocked his entrance. “I can see that, but she’s still not allowed back there.”
Beckett looked at Andie. “I guess I’ll wait for you at the chairs.” He paused, noting her pale color. “Unless you need me.”
She shook her head. “I’ll be okay. I’ll find you once they figure out what’s wrong with my wrist.”
Beckett gave a nod and then watched as Andie disappeared into the labyrinth of curtained rooms. He gave a whistle to the dog, who followed him back to the seat he’d abandoned a moment ago. Phoebe sat in front of him, looking at him with eyes that seemed to turn down at the corners. He reached over and scratched the top of her head. “You need a walk? Me too.”
The crisp air outside kept him awake as he walked Phoebe around the grounds of the hospital. He thought of Andie getting her wrist wrapped in a cast. Probably meant she wouldn’t be able to work on the window while it healed. The thought saddened him. While he didn’t like how she kept trying to intrude into his personal life, he still enjoyed the time they spent together.
It wasn’t the intrusion so much that annoyed him. It was because he feared what she might do if she found out the truth about him. If she knew what had happened in Iraq and forced him into retirement from the army, would she still want to be his friend? And there was always the possibility that their friendship would blur the lines into something more. Hadn’t he almost kissed her earlier? He’d been so tempted to, even as he placed a kiss on her cheek, rather than on her sweet lips as he’d wanted.
Phoebe glanced back at him as if asking what he was thinking. He squatted beside the dog and petted her, resting his forehead against her. “I think that Andie could be dangerous for us.”
She wasn’t a dangerous person by any means, but she could cause problems for him. Especially for h
is bachelorhood. Since his ex-wife had left him, he hadn’t thought of any woman in a romantic sense. Or any sense, if he was being honest. And here Andie was, looking at him with those big brown eyes. He wasn’t sure how long he could resist her.
And resist her, he must.
Because he couldn’t be in a relationship again. Hadn’t tonight proven that point? The nightmares had caused her to get hurt. To break her bones. She could end up with worse if she stayed connected to him. Despite his own growing attraction for her, it would be better to end whatever this was before it became too complicated. Too involved.
Phoebe tugged on the leash, so he stood and continued to follow her around the perimeter of the hospital and returned to the warmth of the waiting room. He sat where they’d been sitting earlier so he could get a good view of Andie once she was released.
The warmth of the room made him drowsy, but he forced himself to stay awake. He couldn’t and definitely wouldn’t fall asleep here and risk another nightmare. Not with so many people around him. The guilt of Andie, let alone someone else, getting injured while trying to wake him still pricked at his conscience. He should make it up to her.
It was almost dawn by the time Andie came into the waiting room and searched for him. He held up his hand, then stood and gave a soft whistle to Phoebe who had been snoring from underneath his chair. He approached Andie, who held up her wrist, which was now encased in a pink cast. He wrinkled his nose. “Pink?”
She gave a shrug and ran a hand along the cast. “It’s my favorite color.”
He helped her put her coat on, since she struggled with the cast, then he held her elbow as they walked out of the ER. “I’ll go get the car. You stay here.”
“No, I want to walk.”