Chase Me
Page 14
“You’ve got a son.”
He heard the high-pitched shrill of ambulance sirens coming down the street.
“Great timing,” Eli muttered under his breath. He made swift work of unbuttoning his shirt. He’d managed to keep his upper body out of the rain, but sweat still caused the shirt to stick to his back. He peeled his arms out of the sleeves, then wrapped the damp material around the newborn, placing the baby in the cradle of his mother’s arms.
Eli backed out of the car. He stretched his six-foot-one frame and sighed as the muscles in his back loosened. He’d maintained that crouched position for over a half-hour.
He closed his eyes, relief washing over him like the late summer storm beating down on his bare chest and shoulders. His pants were drenched, but it didn’t matter. He’d helped bring another life into the world. He’d done his job.
Eli raised his head to the heavens and let the warm rain hit his face, opening his eyes to stare at the darkened New Orleans sky.
The ambulance pulled into the alley, its blue and white lights illuminating the bricks of the dilapidated buildings they were sandwiched between. Two paramedics jumped out of the rig, one carrying a bright orange box, the other pushing a gurney.
“Dr. Holmes? I didn’t realize you were the one who’d called this in. Where’s the pregnant woman?”
“She’s not really a woman, and she’s not pregnant anymore, either. She just delivered a baby boy. They’re in the back seat of the car,” Eli informed him, tilting his head toward the decrepit vehicle.
The paramedic with the box opened the car door and went to work.
“How’d you find her?” The other medic asked as she unfolded a sheet of plastic. She quickly spread it over the gurney and tucked in the corners.
It wasn’t until she’d spoken that Elijah realized it was Abby Douglas. The low-slung baseball cap covering her forehead and eyes had prevented him from recognizing one of the first women he’d met when he started at Methodist Memorial. It hadn’t taken long before Eli found himself breathing rapidly over her sweaty, naked body in an empty storage room.
“I was on my way to the little snack shop on the corner when I heard a scream coming from the alley. I found her crouched behind those garbage cans. She was at least six hours into labor.”
“She’s lucky you had a snack attack.” Abby shot him the sly grin that snagged him the first time. She was still pretty hot. He wondered if she was seeing anyone.
The two medics helped the teenager and her baby onto the gurney, covering mother and child loosely with a sheet to shield them from the rain.
Eli leaned against the ambulance’s open door. “I’m going to run home and clean up, then I’ll go down to the hospital.”
“Are you on tonight?” Abby called from deep inside the vehicle. She was hooking up a saline bag to the portable IV stand.
“Nah, but I want to make sure they’re okay.” He motioned his head toward the teen, who stared reverently at her newborn. “Besides, they can always use an extra pair of hands at the hospital since so many still haven’t returned since Hurricane Katrina.”
“Tell me about it. Only about sixty percent of EMS is back.” Abby pulled her cap more snuggly onto her head. “I’ll tell them to expect you in OB recovery. I’m sure they won’t be surprised that Super Doc has struck again.”
Elijah smiled and gave the pretty paramedic a wink, then stepped out of the way as she closed the door.
A loud crack reverberated through the air and the torrential rain poured harder from the dark sky. Eli hardly took notice. With a satisfied smile he watched as the ambulance made its way up the city street.
If you haven’t read it yet, grab your copy of Deliver Me!
Deliver Me
About the Author
A native of south Louisiana, Farrah Rochon officially began her writing career while waiting in between classes in the student lounge at Xavier University of Louisiana. After earning her Bachelors of Science degree and a Masters of Arts from Southeastern Louisiana University, Farrah decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist. She was named Shades of Romance Magazine's Best New Author of 2007. Her debut novel garnered rave reviews, earning Farrah several SORMAG Readers' Choice Awards. I’ll Catch You, the second book in her New York Sabers series for Harlequin Kimani, was a 2012 RITA ® Award finalist. Yours Forever, the third book in her Bayou Dreams series, is a 2015 RITA® Award finalist.
When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading her favorite romance novels or seeing as many Broadway shows as possible. An admitted sports fanatic, Farrah feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons.
Connect with me online:
@FarrahRochon
FarrahRochonAuthor
www.farrahrochon.com