“We met a couple of weeks ago…at a friend’s party,” Alex said as she kept her eyes on Frank and grinned wryly.
Frank gazed back at Alex as if they were the only two people in the room. “Yep. We met at a party.”
With the harsh lights in the ER, Alex noticed Frank’s eyes to be a light hazel, almost amber color. She had never seen eyes that color, and they were hypnotizing. Out of self-preservation, she had to find something to do, something to get her away from Frank. The ER gods were looking down on her when two paramedics rushed through the doors with an older gentleman being resuscitated on the gurney.
As they called out his vitals and presentation, Alex pointed and yelled out, “Take him to three!” She quickly followed and forgot about Frank and her sexiness. One of the things she loved most about this job was when a patient came in with a life-threatening emergency, every thought fled her mind except what the patient needed. It was almost a Zen-like state she got in where treatment became a well-choreographed dance. Every person in the room had a job to do, and if someone wasn’t on their game, it could make the difference between life and death. Alex promised herself if death was the outcome, it wouldn’t be because she wasn’t focused.
Once they got the patient stabilized and knew he would live to see another day, Alex peeled off her gloves and gown and put them in the bin. She returned to the nurses’ station and noticed Frank was now gone. She felt a strange sense of loss but quickly shrugged it off. She logged on to the computer and completed her notes. She was just finishing up when Jenny sat next to her and logged on. Jenny turned in her chair and seemed to study Alex. She smiled and turned back to the computer but could feel Jenny continuing to stare.
She faced Jenny with a questioning look. “Anything I can help you with?”
Jenny squinted at Alex. “Are you and Frank seeing each other?”
Alex wondered why Jenny would ask that. Did she feel the electricity that Alex felt hum between her and Frank? Alex thought she played it cool, but maybe not cool enough. She hadn’t been at the hospital long enough to know anyone well and felt unsure of what to say. Maybe she should keep it simple since hospitals were known to be hotbeds for rumors. “No.”
The look of relief that washed over Jenny’s face might have made Alex laugh if it hadn’t made her jealous instead. Jenny was a cute young woman. She also had an exuberant personality, like she was always up for a good time. If they didn’t work together, Alex might have considered hooking up, but the obvious interest Jenny showed in Frank almost made her feel like she didn’t even want to get involved on any level. Alex wasn’t normally a jealous woman, and she didn’t like this new personality trait.
“I’m so glad to hear that. She’s so hot and sexy and can really fill out her uniform. Do you think she likes me? Maybe she’ll ask me out.”
Alex had a flashback to junior high and wondered how old this girl was. If Jenny said Frank was dreamy, she might have to smack her. She mentally rolled her eyes. “I don’t know, Jenny. Like I said, we just met the one time a couple of weeks ago, so I hardly know her.”
“Well, I see her in here occasionally, but today was the first time she talked to me.”
Alex thought she might throw up a little at the wistful look on Jenny’s face. Thankfully, it was the end of her shift. She smacked her hand on Jenny’s knee, maybe a little too hard, as a look of surprise flashed over Jenny’s face. “You know what? You should totally ask her out.” Alex stood. “I’ll see you later.”
Alex raced to the locker room, grabbed her keys and purse, and slammed her locker shut. The fact that young Jenny got to her had her frustrated beyond belief. Why should she care if Jenny and Frank got together? She didn’t have any hold over Frank. Hell, she barely knew her. Alex exhaled a deep breath and hit the call button on her phone as she exited the ER. “Hey, it’s me. Is Aiden up for some company?” Alex listened, then burst out laughing. “Well, it’s the little monkey I really want to see, but I guess you can hang out with us. I’ll be there soon.” As Alex unlocked her car, she already felt her day brighten.
Chapter Three
Frank often found herself thinking of Alex, and it pissed her off. Why couldn’t she keep a woman who obviously wanted nothing to do with her out of her head? They hadn’t seen each other since their run-in at the ER a couple of weeks ago, and it should have been a case of “out of sight, out of mind,” but Frank kept thinking of Alex, wondering what she was doing and who she was doing it with. While on duty, Frank was focused on the job and her safety, but at home, all bets were off. The nurse in the ER? Jamie? No, Jenny. She showed interest. Maybe she should ask her out. No, that wouldn’t do. Jenny was hot and sexy, but Frank hadn’t felt any of the attraction with her that she felt with Alex. And she certainly wasn’t desperate enough to try to force something that clearly wasn’t there.
A call came over the radio asking for backup during a vehicle search. Frank called in her location and headed to the call. She pulled up behind the cruiser and flipped on her lights before exiting her car. Officer Jake Robbins, former college football linebacker, towered over a disheveled-looking man sitting on the curb.
“What do we have, Robbins?”
“Hey, Sarge. I pulled this guy over for an illegal lane change and he appeared suspicious. I thought I smelled something and asked him to exit the vehicle. After searching him, I found a pipe and some crystal meth. Do you want to search the vehicle or keep an eye on him?”
Frank looked over to the suspect, who was rocking back and forth and looking more than a little jittery. “You go ahead, Robbins. I’ll keep an eye on him.”
After a few minutes, Frank noticed the suspect getting more agitated. He kept looking from the car to Frank. She was on full alert now, and her pulse increased after his eyes widened when Robbins called out he found something. In a split second, the guy got on his feet and bolted.
Shit! “Robbins!” Frank took off in a sprint after the suspect. Despite the fact he was handcuffed, the guy was fast, and Frank had a tough time catching up. She heard Robbins right behind her as she dove at the suspect and tackled him to the hard pavement. Robbins’s football instincts must have kicked in because she felt the six-foot-three, two-hundred-and-thirty-pound man of solid muscle land on top of her, pinning her against the suspect. She felt and heard a pop in her ribs, and her breath rushed out of her lungs. “Get off me,” Frank said breathlessly.
Robbins got up and pulled Frank off the suspect before putting his knee into his back, preventing him from going anywhere. “You stupid motherfucker! You thought you could get away from us?” Robbins was breathing hard and his chest heaving from the chase and probably adrenaline. Frank would give anything to be able to take in a deep breath, but the excruciating pain made it impossible. She fought hard to catch her breath, but she just couldn’t.
“Robbins, call for backup and an ambulance.” Her shallow gasps seemed to get his attention.
“Holy shit, Sarge! Are you okay? What’s wrong? Just hold still and I’ll get on the radio.” He called in as Frank had requested and seemed to be torn between whether to keep the suspect pinned down or attend to Frank.
“Stay with him, Robbins. I’m okay. Just got the breath knocked out of me. You must have been one hell of a linebacker if you tackled like that.”
The teasing had the desired effect, and Robbins gave her a brief smile. He returned his focus to the suspect, where it remained until backup arrived in less than two minutes. A few minutes later, the ambulance arrived and the paramedics attended to Frank. After getting her vitals, they hooked her up to oxygen, loaded her in the back, and headed to County ER. Frank winced as she felt the needle penetrate a vein in her hand when the paramedic hooked up her IV.
Frank tried to relax by shutting her eyes. She knew her breathing would worsen if she began to panic, but the inability to take deep, calming breaths scared her. The sound of the sirens and the paramedic talking to the ER did nothing to help settle Frank. She tried to block out the noise
and was grateful when they pulled into the ambulance bay and the whining of the siren finally ceased. A new flurry of noise started when the paramedics unloaded the gurney and raced her through the sliding doors. It seemed all at once, medical personnel went to work as the lead paramedic updated them on Frank’s status. A familiar face came into her view, and she was relieved and excited.
Alex smiled gently and brushed her fingers through Frank’s hair. “Don’t you think this is a little extreme as an excuse to see me, Sarge?”
Frank lifted the oxygen mask away from her mouth. “I had to do something to get you to notice me.”
Alex readjusted the mask back over Frank’s mouth. “Keep the mask on and try to relax. We’ll take great care of you.” Alex leaned down and spoke into Frank’s ear. “By the way, I already noticed you.”
For the first time since the accident, Frank started to relax. She closed her eyes as the nurses and doctor went to work on her. She remained alert enough to hear and understand what was going on. She felt the icy cold stethoscope move over her bare chest. She wasn’t sure when she was stripped of her uniform top or vest, but figured it must have happened in the ambulance. She groggily wondered where her clothes and equipment were. Who had her service weapon? Her duty belt? She had to trust the other sergeant on duty was in possession of them and keeping them safe.
“Lungs are clear and equal bilaterally.”
“Let’s get a portable chest x-ray.”
Frank opened her eyes to seek out the comfort she needed. She saw Alex looking down on her with caring eyes.
“It doesn’t sound like you punctured a lung, so that’s really good news. We’re going to x-ray your chest and make sure nothing else is wrong. You’re doing great, Sarge. Just hang in there, and we’ll get you some pain meds right after the x-rays.”
Frank nodded and closed her eyes again. She felt at peace knowing Alex was looking out for her. A while later, the doctor came and talked to her. Once the pain meds had been administered through her IV, Frank relaxed as the pain lessened. She was relieved to discover her only injury was a cracked rib, which time would heal. He gave her a prescription for pain and anti-inflammatory medications, instructed her in breathing exercises to prevent further complications such as pneumonia, and told her she would be off work for a week, but then could only be on desk duty until the rib was healed. The doctor left the exam room as Alex strode back in.
Frank smiled as Alex approached. It made her feel better to know that Alex was helping take care of her. Maybe they could be friends after all. Frank didn’t think she was imagining the look of concern on Alex’s face when she was brought into the ER. Alex must care a little, right? Frank’s cautious nature prevented her from reading too much into it. She reminded herself that Alex was a nurse and it was her job to take care of the sick or injured. On the other hand, Alex’s gentle touches and concerned eyes seemed more personal.
“Well, Frank, looks like you got lucky with just one broken rib. I talked to the brick wall that took you down.” Alex laughed at Frank when she scrunched up her nose. “Officer Robbins is outside waiting for you. He told me what happened, how you became sandwiched between him and the suspect.”
Now that the pain meds were in full effect, Frank found it a little easier to breathe and talk. “Yeah, Robbins is a former linebacker, and it showed today. Makes me glad I took up basketball.”
Alex removed the IV needle and covered the puncture wound with a Band-Aid. Frank blushed as Alex helped her back into her uniform shirt. She hated that Alex saw her so helpless, but there wasn’t really anything she could do about it. She avoided looking at Alex as she buttoned her shirt. Alex handed her a bag that contained her vest and duty belt and accompanied her to the waiting room.
“Officer Robbins went to get his car, and he’s already been instructed to take you straight home.” Alex pinned her with a mock glare. “Don’t even think about going back to work.”
Frank saluted. “Roger that, ma’am.”
Alex placed her hand on Frank’s arm and her face softened. “You try to stay out of trouble, Frank.”
Frank felt empty and the ache in her chest returned as she watched Alex tend to her next patient.
Chapter Four
Alex sat in her car wondering what she was doing. She looked out the window at an early century Craftsman bungalow that had attractive wood siding, large picture windows, and a generous front porch. She could imagine herself sitting on the porch swing that hung to the right of the front door, drinking a cup of coffee, and waving to the early morning joggers.
She shouldn’t be there. After Frank had been discharged yesterday, Alex was charting in the computer, and before she realized what she was doing, she was entering Frank’s address and phone number into her cell. When her shift ended, she stopped by the grocery store, then went home and made chicken soup in the slow cooker. Initially, it was meant only for her. She could have a bowl of it for dinner and put the rest of it in the freezer to have later. But as the night went on and images of Frank lying in the emergency room with pain-clouded eyes invaded her thoughts, the more she realized she made this soup not for herself, but for Frank.
She spent the whole morning trying to talk herself out of delivering the soup to Frank. Now that she was no longer a patient, she shouldn’t be of any concern to Alex. But the other voice inside her head kept telling her it would be a nice gesture and Frank would most likely appreciate it. She must be awfully sore this morning, and standing in the kitchen preparing a meal would probably make her more uncomfortable. Before the first voice could speak up again, Alex grabbed the container of soup, a box of crackers, and a loaf of French bread and headed out the door.
So there she sat in her car, continuing to look at Frank’s house, continuing to wonder what she was doing there. Alex saw Frank walk gingerly in front of the window and noticed the pain etched in her striking face as she grabbed her side. Without another thought, she gathered the food, climbed up the three steps to the front porch, and knocked on the solid oak door. A series of loud, deep barks followed, obviously meant to scare away anyone who dared step foot on the porch.
Alex heard Frank command the dog to sit and the barking ceased.
“Who is it?”
“Frank, it’s Alex.”
She heard the chain unlatch and the door opened while Frank restrained the dog by the collar. The dog that was barking was now wagging her tail. Frank’s head tilted to the side, and a slow smile crept across her lips. Alex had never seen anything so fucking sexy in her life. Frank’s deep voice brought Alex out of her stupor. “What are you doing here?”
Alex held up the bag. “Um, I brought you soup.” I brought you soup? That’s the best you can come up with? Jesus!
Frank tilted her head to the other side and had a near mirror image of her dog’s actions, looking at her curiously. “You brought me soup? Why?”
Alex shuffled her feet, again questioning her motives. Frank asked, so she had to answer. “I wanted to check on you, see how you’re feeling.”
Frank quirked an eyebrow. “You make house calls, Nurse Taylor?”
The low timbre in Frank’s voice made Alex stammer. “N-no, not usually. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have bothered you.” Alex turned to go when she felt a restraining hand on her arm.
“Please forgive my rude manners and come in.” Frank stepped to the side and allowed Alex to enter.
Alex stopped inside the entryway as Frank closed the door. She quickly observed the living room to the right that had dark oak exposed beams that matched the dark hardwood floors. There was a brown leather couch that sat in front of the large window she spied Frank in just a moment ago. Two leather Mission-style recliners flanked either end of the couch, and an oak coffee table sat in front of the couch. The walls were painted a warm sage green, and both the baseboards and crown molding were off-white. There was a large flat screen television that hung above the fireplace, and the entire room was warm and inviting. A pressure against her le
g brought Alex back to attention. She looked down to the dog that sat at her side and leaned into her leg. The dog looked up at her with a sweet doggy smile.
“Alex, this vicious guard dog is Bella.”
Alex felt herself relax and dropped her hand in front of Bella’s face for her to sniff. When her hand was lovingly and thoroughly licked, she laughed and petted Bella’s head. “She’s so gorgeous.” The black and white dog wagged her tail and seemed to appreciate the attention bestowed upon her. Alex looked to Frank. “You have a really beautiful home.”
Frank looked around and smiled. “Thanks. So, you brought soup?”
Alex held up the bag. “French bread and crackers too.”
Frank smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Alex wondered if it was from her pain or how they’d left things at Jordan and Kirsten’s pool party.
“The kitchen’s this way. Follow me.”
Alex followed Frank into the spacious kitchen and admired the modern look. She also admired how Frank’s shirt rode up her back when she reached up into the cabinet for bowls. Alex caught a brief glimpse of a tattoo scrawled across her lower back. Her fingers ached with the need to trace the design. Frank turned and caught her staring at her backside. Alex felt the heat infuse her body, could feel her face burn, and knew she was busted. She cleared her throat and busied herself with slicing the bread. She caught Frank’s grin as she poured the container of soup into a pot and turned on the stove.
Frank opened the refrigerator door, then looked at Alex. “Can I get you anything to drink? I have water, regular and diet soda, or juice.”
Alex thought she could really go for something a little stronger, that it might help her relax a little. “Do you have any beer?”
She saw the dark cloud that fell on Frank’s face before she answered. “I don’t keep any alcohol in the house. Sorry.”
Alex didn’t know why she asked since she had to work later and couldn’t have a beer anyway. She just thought about how it would help calm her nerves. She should have requested something Frank offered, and she was mentally kicking herself in the ass. “I’ll just have water.”
Courageous Love Page 3