“Yes.”
He walked to the rear of the vehicle. The entire back end was smashed nearly to the now-missing back window.
“This doesn’t look promising,” he said. “They really nailed the back end of this car. Hope the clients you’re working for have a lot of money.”
“I’ve got insurance,” she said and attempted a smile.
“Ever read the fine print? I don’t think it’ll cover gunshots; maybe the other damage.”
“I’m not worried. Blake won’t care.”
“Blake? As in Baxter? I thought you were working another case?” he asked, as he pried the trunk open.
“That’s right, another case, I never said another client.”
He pulled her oversized bag from the trunk, placed it on the ground and gathered all the loose papers into a pile. As he did so, he noticed the names Darnell and Tami.
“You’re not reading my files are you?” She’d limped to the back side of the vehicle and stood, all fiery four and a half feet of her. He grinned at the sight.
“Sorry, tried not to, but I have to admit, I caught a couple words.”
“And you will tell no one what you’ve seen.”
He stuffed the papers into the large bag, looked into the trunk one last time and caught the shimmer of metal—her gun. He reached into the back of the trunk and picked up her Sig P238. He looked it over. It looked as if it had weathered the beating, but it would need to be taken apart and checked to make sure. He placed it into her bag.
“Geeze, you’ll do anything to get out of dinner with me,” he said.
She laughed, and then cringed as she drew her good arm around her ribs.
“Sorry about that. We need to get you to a doctor.”
“Can you triage me well enough to get us back to Seattle? I’d rather see one there. Besides, that way you don’t need to stick around, you can drop me off.
“You’re joking, right? There’s no way in hell I’m going to leave you at the Emergency door of a hospital like a drive-up coffee stop. Let’s get you into the jet and let me take a good look at you in the light.”
Chapter Nine
“Take a seat right here. Let me see what I have to work with in the way of first aid supplies,” Gage said. He helped her into one of the buttery leather captain’s chairs in the main salon.
He returned with a first aid kit hung around one arm and a carefully balanced pile of items, including a couple bags of ice on top. He dropped everything into the chair beside her.
“Here put this over your cheek,” he said as he handed her one of the ice bags. “First thing we need to do is get this shirt off you, so I can get a look at your arm, shoulder, and ribs.” He pulled a pair of scissors from the first aid bag.
“Just one minute,” River said. She pulled the ice away from her face and glared at Gage. “I can pull my shirt over my head.”
“And pull your ribcage at the same time. It’s not like you’re going to wear this again, it’s soaked in blood, and then there’s this.” He put two fingers through the holes near the shoulder. “I admit this isn’t the way I pictured getting you naked.”
“And what makes you think you’ll ever have a chance to get me naked?” She stared at him as her eyebrows furrowed.
He chuckled and tugged at the bottom of her pullover.
“Blast it all. This is my brand new charmeuse pullover.”
He unceremoniously cut his way up the entire length. As he pulled the two pieces away from one another, he had to consciously keep from reacting. The entire side of her ribcage was already turning shades of red and purple. But that wasn’t the reason for his reaction. Her hot pink bra veed low between her perfect breasts, the vee held together by a delicate release. His fingers nearly reached to unhook it. Come on man, get a grip, he thought to himself. After all, this wasn’t the first time he’d triaged a woman, but it was the first time a woman affected him this way.
“How does it look?” River eyed him. “Before you answer, I’m talking about my ribcage, not my bra.”
“Ummm.” He attempted to stall, trying to get the log-sized, sandpaper-covered-thing called his tongue to function. He grabbed one of the bottles of water he’d brought and slugged back a gulp. He put it on the table beside him, opened the other bottle and handed it to River. He swallowed. “I’d say fifty-fifty you cracked one, but you sure as hell bruised the daylights out of them. Either way, it’s gonna be a painful night.”
He grabbed the scissors again and sliced through both sleeves, paying extra attention to the one covered in blood.
“Ouch,” River said.
“I’m trying to be careful, but it’s already started to stick to your wound. I’m going to have to clean you up.” He stood up. “There’s a single bunk in the rear salon. I think it would be better if you lay down.”
“Bet you say that to all the girls.” River stood up and immediately began to sway.
“Crap, don’t—” He caught her before she hit the floor and landed on her shoulder.
****
River had the sensation of floating on water, riding gentle waves, her mind in a green haze. The first sound that registered was a beeping. She tried to reach for her nightstand to hit the snooze button for just ten more minutes. But as she reached out, a searing pain shot up her arm.
“Good, you’re awake. You had me worried.”
Was that Gage’s voice? River wondered, still not fully conscious of her surroundings. Why on Earth would he be in her bedroom?
“River. Come on now, nap’s over,” Gage said.
She turned her head in the direction of his voice. She opened her eyes a slit.
“Hey there, sunshine. Good to see those baby blues again.” His thumb lightly stroked her hair back from her cheek.
He was in her room. Wait, this wasn’t her room. She pushed her hands into the bed and attempted to raise herself into a sitting position.
“Ouch!” She couldn’t decide which hurt worse, the pain vibrating through her ribcage, or shooting up her arm.
“Here, let me help you.” Gage picked up the pillows from the end of her bed, helped her lean forward and laid her gingerly against the pillows. His lips brushed her hair.
“How’d I get here? The last thing I remember was giving you a hard time about your so-called triage.”
“Hey, now. The doc said I did a great job.” Gage flashed her a killer smile. “You don’t recall dropping to the floor of the plane?”
She slowly shook her head.
“You didn’t actually hit the floor. I caught you just in time. Patched you up, flew back to Seattle, and got you here, into the hospital.”
“How’s our patient?” asked the doctor as she swept into the room.
“She just woke up, doc. And I get the feeling she’s not a morning person.” Gage chuckled.
“We’ll cut her some slack, due to the night she had, and because it’s not even dawn yet,” the chipper doctor said. “You were one lucky woman, Ms. Nightingale—”
“River, please,” River said.
“Okay then, River. You’re very lucky that your shooter had poor aim and that your partner has such good knowledge of medical triage. The bullet passed through your upper arm. A half inch higher, it would have hit your shoulder. A hair closer and it would’ve gone straight through your humerus. All in all, you had the best outcome. You need to take it easy and don’t pull on your sutures for the next couple weeks. Translation—no heavy lifting. You did a real number on your ribs. Much to my surprise, you didn’t crack or break them. I’m going to warn you, they will be sore for a few weeks. Be sure to ice your cheeks every few hours for the next day. Ice will help with the swelling and bruising.”
“Thank you. When can I go home?” River asked.
“I planned
to keep you until at least tonight, just to make sure. However, Gage here has offered to stay with you until tomorrow. I’m holding him responsible for your care.” The doctor smiled at Gage and River.
“But, I don’t—” River started.
“Yes, you do. You’re fortunate you didn’t break any bones, or ribs; even so, your body experienced extreme trauma. I’ll send you home with something for the pain. No driving while you take these pills, and you’re absolutely not to get behind the wheel for the next three days, with or without the pills. Your discharge papers and meds will be here in the next hour or so. Please, for your own well-being, take it easy for at least a few days. You’ll heal quicker.”
River narrowed her eyes and shifted her gaze in Gage’s direction.
“You’re welcome. And by the way, you scared the living shit out of me. So do me a favor and follow the doctor’s directions.”
Taken aback by his sincere concern, her anger deflated.
“I haven’t said thank you. Thanks for taking care of me and getting me to the hospital. I’m sorry I’ve inconvenienced you. I’m sure you had better things to do than hang out at a hospital.”
He shook his head and scolded her. “What’d you think I would do, drop-kick you to the curb? You have so little faith in me, or is it the male gender as a whole?”
“I guess my experience with your gender over the years has jaded me. I never used to be this way. I love my dad, and can always count on my Uncle Mike. If I really think about it, they are the only two males who’ve been trustworthy. So, I’ve learned to fend for myself.”
“Sorry to mess up your standing rule, but I’ll be damned if I’ll leave you alone. You need someone to look after you, doctor’s orders. Besides, I’ve grown kind of fond of you.” His face remained serious.
“What about your cases, your work?”
“Already solved. I told my captain I’m working the case with you.”
“I’m a P.I. remember? Cops and P.I.s don’t usually play well together.”
“Maybe so, but this time we will. I’ll get you home and settled. Then I want to hear all about what you were working on and who was shooting at you.”
Shay, Cassie, and Maile burst into River’s apartment as Gage gently lowered River down on the sofa.
“River, how are you feeling?” Maile asked.
Shay nudged her shoulder into Cassie, and the two smiled at each other.
“Looks like she’s in good hands,” Shay giggled.
“Funny, very funny,” River said.
“Nice to meet you in person, Gage,” Maile said.
River looked from her three friends to Gage and back.
“We tried to call you late last night when Maile realized you still weren’t home. Gage explained what happened,” Shay said.
“I’ll be fine. Thanks for stopping by,” River said.
“I just bet you will. I’d be fine too, with a nurse like that.” Cassie waggled her eyebrows.
“Don’t you women have an agency to open?” River asked.
“Hint taken,” Shay said.
“Call us, if you need us,” Maile said, as they left the apartment.
“They seem like great friends,” Gage said.
“The best,” River said.
River’s phone rang. She tried to reach out to pick it up from the coffee table and cringed.
Gage shook his head in disgust as he picked up the phone and handed it her.
Blake Baxter’s name displayed.
“Morning, Blake,” she said.
“We have a problem. I walked into the house last night and overheard Ellis and Garnet arguing. Seems Garnet told him about our sister, and Ellis was none too happy. He wants her to leave it alone. Asked her why she would be willing to lose half of her inheritance to a perfect stranger.”
“Ellis sounds like a real gem. Let me give this some thought and I’ll get back to you later today.” Gage frowned at her. “For now, let’s keep this between you and me.” She disconnected her call and looked Gage squarely in the face. “If the offer is still on the table, I could use your help.”
“On two conditions. First, we get some breakfast: I’m starved, and I know you haven’t eaten since yesterday.”
“And the second?”
“You’re going to start at the beginning and tell me the whole sordid story.”
Chapter Ten
“So you instructed Garnet to keep this between the three of you, and she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Love will make you do stupid things,” Gage said.
“If it really is about love, don’t you find it strange Ellis’s primary concern is over her inheritance?”
“What are you getting at?”
“Obviously I’m talking about the money.”
“Hold on. You think Ellis is in this for the money and he really doesn’t love Garnet?”
“From the way I see it, the pieces are fitting together. He’s been with her through the entire ordeal of her parents’ murder. He’s pushing to move into her home. The scumbag proposed to her in her office, for crying out loud.”
Gage lifted River’s legs up from the sofa and scooted under them, lowering them across his lap. This seemed natural to him. Looking after River felt like a primal need. He felt at home with her, comfortable, as though she’d been a part of his life forever. Shit, is this what love feels like? He wondered, and shook his head in an effort to refocus his thoughts.
“What do you think?” River asked.
“About what?”
“Were you even listening to me?”
“Sorry…tell me what you said.”
She puffed out a breath and gave him a stern look. He could see the wheels moving in her head, trying to decide whether to start an argument or repeat what she’d said.
“I asked if you could borrow your friend’s plane again.”
“And go where?” Now he really was confused.
“Back to Cellar Glen. I’ll give Mrs. Darnell a call, tell her my plan and see if I can get her to agree on flying back here with you to speak with her grandkids.”
“And just when do you plan on us doing this?” Gage asked.
“The day after tomorrow.”
“You can’t fly then.”
“I don’t plan to. I’ll be putting together the rest of my op.”
“First of all, the doctor said no driving for the next three days. It sounds to me like you intend on driving somewhere.”
“I do. I’m going to nail the bastard who killed Wade and Trudy Baxter.”
“Now I see where you’re going with this. You believe Ellis killed the Baxters and had you followed to Cellar Glen.”
“Yes, I believe Ellis cleared the way to Garnet’s inheritance when he killed—or had someone kill—her parents. Now he finds out there’s a half-sister. Based on my character analysis of him, he will try to find her. Even better, if given the opportunity, he’ll stop the one person who might know the sister’s identity.”
“But Ellis doesn’t know that you know who Tami is.”
“No, he doesn’t. He does know that I went to Cellar Glen to visit their grandmother. By any chance, is there anyone you know who could get to Mrs. Darnell as soon as possible and keep an eye on her until she can be picked up?”
“Today is your lucky day.” He winked at River. “He won’t do it for free.”
“I didn’t expect he would. Blake will cover the expense. Just get him out there now.”
“Let me go make a call,” Gage said.
“While you do that, I’ll call Mrs. Darnell.”
After his call, Gage went back into the living room carrying a cup of tea and handed it to River.
“Thank you,” she said with a look of surprise. “What did your
friend say?”
“He’s on his way over right now. He’ll be knocking on her door in fifteen minutes, to introduce himself. Did you fill Mrs. Darnell in?”
“I did. There’s a slight change. Tami’s mother explained everything to Tami. She happened to be visiting Mrs. Darnell when I phoned. Tami wants to come along, too.”
He thought the plan through and must have frowned while doing so.
“Problem?” she asked.
“Not at all. Just want to keep the players straight. By the way, I’m staying right here in Seattle. I’ll be your driver and my friend can fly out and pick up Mrs. Darnell.”
“I need to phone Blake and set up a meeting place in a couple hours. Would you mind being my chauffeur?”
“I would be honored, under one condition.”
“Geeze, again with the conditions. Have you always been this way?”
“Actually no…not until the day when a sassy, pixie-like, vixen strutted into my office and challenged me at every turn.”
She wrinkled her forehead and tilted her head from one side to the other. “Is there a compliment somewhere in there?” River asked.
She looked up at him, her enchanting blue eyes filled with uncertainty. He couldn’t help himself. He took the cup from her and set it on the coffee table. He bent toward her, and touched her lips with his. River’s lips were even softer than the first time. She reached up with her uninjured arm and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer to her. Tenderly he placed one hand on the unbruised side of her face and deepened the kiss. The taste of River Nightingale was intoxicating. He slid his hand down to her chin and cupped it. The thought of hurting her tugged at him, and summoning all his will-power he pulled back. River’s eyes fluttered open.
“I think I like your condition.”
“That had nothing to do with my condition—that was pure need,” Gage whispered, his lips mere inches from hers. He closed the distance again with a soft, quick kiss and then he stood up.
P.I. I Love You (Miss Demeanor Suspense Series Book 1) Page 6