Hearts On Fire: Park City Firefighter Romance
Page 10
He thought about their hike just a week before, how carefree Arwen had been, how she’d told him to kiss her, how it had felt when his mouth had claimed hers. And the two kisses since then. They had been amazing. And the way it had felt to hold her in his arms when they’d danced together. She was a special woman—intelligent, kind, persistent.
If she got out of there… No. When she got out of there, he would take her dancing again and he would kiss her senseless. Holding back when he’d known perfectly well that he was falling for her had been crazy. Did he really want to be single and alone the rest of his life? Of course not. He would have to take a chance eventually. And Arwen was the one he wanted to take a chance with. He knew that now. He just hoped it wasn’t too late to tell her.
Ben hung up the phone. From hearing his side of the conversation, Arwen couldn’t tell if much progress had been made, although he did seem to be relatively calm.
“They’re going to bring us something to eat,” he said. “They’ll call when they’re ready to deliver it.”
Maybe they would use the delivery of the food as a way to breach the room. She hoped so. She’d kept a close eye on Ben and his knife, hoping for an opportunity to attempt an escape, but with the couch blocking the door, she wouldn’t have time to shove it out of the way and open the door without him stopping her.
When Tyler found out that someone would be taking food to Arwen and her captor, he jogged over to the Incident Commander and offered to deliver it. The man didn’t even consider it and flatly turned him down.
He had known that would be the likely answer, but he was desperate to get to Arwen. His only hope was that they had a plan to breach the room and take the suspect down. Without harming Arwen.
“If you give yourself up,” Arwen said to Ben as he sat on the edge of the desk, “I’ll ask them to go easy on you.”
He glared at her. “Why do you think you have all the answers? Why do you think you can solve all the problems?”
“I don’t think that. I just want this to end with no one getting hurt.”
He shook his head. “You know that’s not going to happen.”
“What do you mean?”
“Someone’s going to get hurt.”
Her heart stopped beating for a moment before going into a gallop. “No one needs to get hurt, Ben. Put the knife down, move the couch out of the way, and we can walk out of here together. Unharmed.”
His gaze bounced around the room. “I don’t want to go to prison. I can’t. I won’t.”
His agitation was palpable, and Arwen feared he would snap at any moment.
“Maybe you won’t have to, Ben. Let’s leave together. Give yourself up.”
His head shook from side to side. “No. No, that won’t work. I need to leave. I need them to let me go.”
There was no way that would happen, but Arwen decided to play along. “That’s a good idea. We can go outside. I’ll go with you. We can get in your car together and after we drive away you can drop me off somewhere.”
A spark of hope glimmered in Ben’s eyes. “You would do that for me?”
She felt bad that she was giving him hope where there was none, but she had to consider her own safety. “Of course.”
The phone rang.
“That’s probably them telling you the food’s on the way,” she said. “You can tell them we’re coming out.”
He licked his lips. “Okay.”
Triumph blasted through her. But only a measure. They still had to get out of the office and she still had to get away unharmed. She also hoped Ben wouldn’t get hurt.
She listened to him tell Officer Barnes that they were going to come out, but that they were to leave him alone. She imagined Barnes agreeing to his demand, and a moment later Ben hung up the phone.
“What did he say?” Arwen asked.
Ben smiled. “He said he wouldn’t stop me, but I know he’s lying.”
Hope began slipping away. “You don’t know that.”
“I do know that.” His smile grew. “But they won’t do anything if they know I’ll cut your throat if they try.”
Terror soaked her to the bone. “You don’t need to do that, Ben. Please.”
“Stand up.”
On unsteady legs, she stood, her gaze going to the knife. She imagined it sliding across her tender throat, the sharp edge neatly slicing her skin as her blood poured out.
Dizziness swept over her and she grabbed the edge of the couch to keep from toppling over.
“Do you want to get out of here or not?” Ben asked.
“Please, Ben. Please let me go.”
He laughed. “I can’t let you go. You’re my only bargaining chip.”
“You’re not really going to hurt me, are you?” She looked at him with pleading in her eyes.
“I don’t want to.”
That was something at least.
After regaining her equilibrium, she took a step back so he could push the couch away from the door. Once he’d done that, he stood behind her and wrapped his left arm around her shoulders before using his right hand to press the knife against her throat. The blade was cold against her skin and she feared if she moved that the sharp blade would slice her.
“Open the door,” Ben said.
She was paralyzed with fear. “Please don’t cut me, Ben,” she gasped out.
“Then do what I say.” His voice was laced with anger.
When she didn’t move, he lifted the knife from her throat. Arwen exhaled in relief. He didn’t mean it. He wouldn’t hurt her. Then, to her horror, she watched as he slid the blade of the knife across the back of the couch, leaving a gaping wound in the leather. It seemed to Arwen that he’d barely applied any pressure at all. The knife was razor-sharp.
Had he sharpened it before coming?
The knife was back at her throat. “Open the door.” His voice was just above a whisper.
Heart hammering against her ribs, Arwen imagined the vicious edge of the knife opening up her throat in the same way it had opened up the leather on the couch.
She couldn’t breathe.
“Open the door!”
Holding her body as still as possible, she reached for the knob, but her hands were slick with sweat and the dizziness was back. Wiping her shaking hands on her slacks, she forced herself to breath, inhaling shallowly to keep her throat from pressing against the blade.
Again, she reached for the knob, this time managing to twist it far enough to disengage the latch. She began pulling it open.
“Slowly,” Ben said.
She did as instructed and a moment later they stepped into the hallway. It was empty. As one they turned in the direction that would lead them to the reception area and the front door. Arwen assumed everyone was outside, and when they reached the reception area, she saw multiple emergency vehicles through the glass doors.
“We’re almost there,” Ben murmured.
His grip on her shoulders tightened, and when she felt a stinging sensation on her throat, she was certain the knife had penetrated her skin.
“You’re cutting me, Ben.”
He grunted a reply and loosened the pressure of the knife on her throat, but it was still uncomfortably close.
They stood at the closed door. Freedom was so close. Were snipers pointing guns at them right now?
Chapter Sixteen
“They’re coming out,” someone shouted.
Tyler’s gaze was already riveted to the front door, and when he saw Arwen on the other side, the knife pressed to her throat and a trail of blood running down her neck, it took everything in him to stay where he was.
The man behind Arwen was taller than she was, but he used her body as an effective shield. Tyler knew multiple guns were pointed their way, and he was terrified that they would open fire and hit Arwen by mistake.
Arwen pushed the glass door open and the pair stepped outside.
“Put your guns down,” the man yelled. “Do it or I’ll slit her throat.”
<
br /> Tyler’s mind screamed that he should intervene, but he knew that would be a grave mistake. His heart ached, and it was from more than the pounding.
“She’ll be okay, bro,” Jake said beside him. “They’ll protect her.”
Tyler had complete faith in Park City PD, but that didn’t stop his mind from frantically going through all the scenarios that could possibly happen.
They’d made it outside, but Arwen had trouble focusing on any one person. Instead, her focus was on the knife against her throat. With just a tiny flick of Ben’s wrist her life would drain right out of her. She wasn’t ready to die. She was only twenty-eight. She had so much life left to live.
An image of Tyler filled her mind. She wanted to be with him. In the short time she’d known him her attraction to him had grown so powerful. She only wished he felt the same way about her. If only she had the chance to explore a relationship with him… If she survived this she would do everything within her power to see if there was anything between them, to see if there could be a future for them.
“Put your guns down,” Ben yelled. “Do it or I’ll slit her throat.”
Please, please, please. Do what he says. I don’t want to die.
From where she stood it looked like the police were doing what Ben asked, but Ben’s grip on her was as strong as ever.
“Move left,” he said into her ear. “Toward the parking lot.”
She began shuffling to her left and Ben stayed right behind her. They moved slowly, so very slowly.
“Faster,” he said.
Arwen slid her left leg to the left, then her right leg. Again and again they shuffled along, both of them in sync as they moved, and both of them completely focused on the people around them.
Seconds later Arwen’s left foot caught on something that protruded from the wall and she lost her balance. Instinctively throwing her arms out in front of her, she screamed in terror, certain the knife would plunge into her throat. At the same time Ben tripped over the object as well, his left arm still tight around her. But his right hand flew out to break his fall, and the knife clattered harmlessly to the ground.
Tyler watched as the man fell on top of Arwen, but he also saw the knife fall to the ground. As one, the police surged forward. The first officers to reach them yanked the man off of Arwen and pinned him to the ground. That was all Tyler had to see before he hurtled forward, frantic to reach Arwen.
When he reached her several officers were helping her up. Though he wanted to drag her into his arms, he first looked her over and saw a cut across her throat. Besides that, she appeared unharmed, although he could see she was in shock.
“Let’s get you to the ambulance,” one of the officers said.
“I’ll take her,” Tyler said as he stepped forward. She had yet to see him, but at the sound of his voice, she looked up and their eyes met.
“Tyler?” she said, her voice unbelieving.
“I’m here.” Then he scooped her into his arms and cradled her against his chest. “I’m here,” he murmured into her hair.
Arwen wasn’t sure if she was dreaming. Was she still in her office with Ben, the knife hanging over her as a threat? Had she fallen asleep and dreamed that Tyler had come to save her? She couldn’t believe he was actually here, that this nightmare was truly over. That Tyler of all people was holding her in his arms.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
The warmth of his body and the strength of his arms enveloped her and she felt so safe and so secure. If it was a dream, she never wanted to wake up. She lay her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne. This felt so real, so wonderfully, amazingly real.
“I’m going to take you to the ambulance, okay?”
“Okay,” she murmured, willing herself to stay in this dream. It felt like he was moving now, but she let her body relax, savoring the sense of safety she felt.
“I’m gonna put you on the gurney now.”
He was setting her down, but she didn’t want to be set down. Being in his arms had felt so good, and now she was waking up from her dream whether she wanted to or not, but she was too exhausted to fight it.
“Look at me, Arwen,” he said.
Forcing her eyes open, she saw he was still there. Maybe this wasn’t a dream. Could it really be over? And what was Tyler doing there?
“You’re safe now,” he said, his gaze steady on her. “It’s all over.”
Having her there, under his protection, it was the best feeling in the world. She was safe and he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Confusion shone from her eyes, but he would help her through this.
He and Jake slid the gurney into the back of the ambulance, then Tyler shut the doors behind them after they’d both climbed in.
“Let me take a look at your neck, okay?”
He wiped away the blood, but it kept coming, so he pressed clean gauze to the wound.
“She’ll need stitches,” he said to Jake, who started an IV of saline solution.
Tyler met Arwen’s gaze. Her blue eyes were wide and frightened, but when he smiled at her with reassurance she seemed to relax.
“I’ll take good care of you,” he said. “You’re going to be fine.”
Her lips lifted slightly, and seeing the trust in her eyes did crazy things to his heart.
Once Tyler had stopped the bleeding and stabilized her, Jake climbed out of the ambulance so he could drive while Tyler stayed with her.
“How is it that you’re here?” she asked as the confusion in her eyes began to clear.
“I was on duty, and Medic 1 got the call to be on hand for a hostage situation.” He remembered how he’d felt when he’d realized she was the one being held hostage—terrified, frantic, desperate to do something. “You have no idea how relieved I am that you’re okay.”
It was all making sense now, but she still couldn’t believe Tyler was the one who was there at that moment. Grateful beyond words that he was, when he held her hand she began to relax. Then she remembered her promise to herself that if she survived she would do all that she could to see if there was anything between them, to see if there could be a future for them.
But she was so wrung out, so emotionally exhausted, all she wanted was to curl up in his arms and have him tell her that everything was going to be okay. Still, she didn’t want to waste this chance to set things right.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come to the gym the last two nights,” she said.
He softly chuckled. “That’s okay. You worked out in the mornings, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s all good.”
He was still stuck on her workout routine. He wasn’t getting it at all. She wanted more than to see him at the gym. She wanted him to kiss her over and over.
“Tyler…”
“Shhh. Rest now.”
Then he kissed her forehead with so much tenderness that tears filled her eyes.
When they reached the hospital, Tyler and Jake wheeled her into the Emergency Room. Tyler wasn’t with her while the nurse got her settled, but once the nurse left, Tyler came to her.
She looked up at him and saw something in his eyes. He cared about her. She knew it.
“I can’t stay,” he said. “But the moment I finish my shift Sunday morning, I’m coming to see you, okay? I’ll take you to breakfast.”
“Okay.”
She gave him her address, then heard someone calling her name.
“Arwen?” Paisley said as she rushed into the room and to her side. “Are you okay?”
Tyler looked at Paisley, then smiled at Arwen. “Paisley will stay with you, but I’ll see you on Sunday morning.”
Peace settled over her like a warm blanket, and she nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”
He gazed at her without speaking, then he smiled before turning and walking away.
Paisley grinned at her. “I think he likes you, chica.”
Arwen laughed. “Maybe.”
When she heard that, joy blossomed inside her. “Really?”
Paisley nodded. “Oh yeah. The man was on the verge of going in there himself to rescue you.”
Ecstatic to hear that, happiness flooded her.
The doctor came a few minutes later and stitched up the cut in her throat, which wasn’t too deep, and a short time later a detective came to see her. She told him exactly what had happened.
“You handled the situation very well, Arwen,” he said. “You should be proud of yourself.”
Pride was one thing she wasn’t feeling. Relief, yes. But sorrow too. Ben had a long road in front of him and he had made things harder for himself by choosing to do what he’d done. “Thanks.”
After the detective left and she’d been cleared to leave, Paisley offered to drive her home, but she felt well enough to stop by the clinic to pick up her car. It was late afternoon by the time Paisley pulled into the clinic parking lot.
“What are you going to do now?” Paisley asked. “Will you come back to the clinic?”
“Of course. What happened was horrible, but it’s not going to stop me from doing what I love.”
Paisley smiled in relief. “Good.” She parked next to Arwen’s car. “Now, go home and rest and I’ll come see you tomorrow.”
Grateful for her friend, Arwen gave her a hug before getting into her own car and driving home.
Tyler went on a number of other calls during his shift, but whenever he wasn’t busy, his mind went to Arwen. All he could think about was seeing her on Sunday morning.
Chapter Seventeen
Arwen had a relaxing Saturday and enjoyed spending time with her girlfriends, but when she woke up Sunday morning she was eager to get up and get going. Tyler would be taking her to breakfast and she could hardly wait to see him. The look in his eyes when he’d left her at the hospital had stayed with her and she wanted to discover if there was something there.