by CJ Andrews
After repositioning a few wayward curls and reapplying my lip gloss, I pushed open the door to return to the bar. The sight of Nico leaning against the wall, waiting, sent a shot of adrenaline through me.
He stepped forward to meet me, a guarded look on his usually confident face. “Hey, beautiful.”
I pressed my palm against his solid chest, forcing him to move back. It took a great deal of restraint to ignore my body’s reaction to the brief contact. “What are you doing here, Nico?”
A hint of mischief sparkled in his dark eyes, and he leaned toward my ear. “My father owns this place. Remember?”
His rough jaw brushed against my cheek, making me shiver. He had to know the effect he had on me.
I rubbed my chest, trying to ease the nervous feeling of being alone with him again. “I meant here—outside the ladies’ room, here. But why are you here at all? Weren’t you supposed to be at Elevations tonight?”
He lifted a single shoulder and glanced toward the dining room. “There wasn’t a reason for me to be there.” He returned his attention to me, desperation in his eyes.
Kristi was right—he wanted to spend tonight with me. That realization pulled at my tattered heart, but I wouldn’t give in. Not this time. “You’re supposed to be avoiding me. Did you forget?”
Another woman entered the hallway from the dining room, slowing as she approached the ladies’ room.
Nico took my wrists and pulled me away from the door while apologizing for being in her way. He led me a few steps to a small alcove at the end of the hall.
“I’m trying.” He gripped the back of his neck. “Christ, Danni, I wish I could just walk away from you. But I can’t.”
“Who’s your date, Nico?” The words erupted out of me. “Not that it matters to me who you go out with.” I picked at an imaginary piece of lint on my dress and tried to appear disinterested.
A knowing chuckle escaped him as he inched closer to me. His eyes locked on mine like a magnet, pulling me in. “You’re so cute when you’re jealous. Her name is Raffiella. Her father is the guest chef at Lorena’s.”
“Your father’s friend?” I tried to sound nonchalant, prove him wrong.
He nodded. “She wanted to come with him. See the US. I’m keeping her company since she doesn’t know anyone.”
I’m sure you are.
Nico lifted his hand, hesitated, then brushed a curl from my face. His fingers skimmed the side of my neck as he lowered his hand to my shoulder. The feather-light stroke of his thumb beneath my jaw soothed me. My eyes fell closed as my head tipped to the side, instinctively opening myself to him. A sweet sigh slid through my parted lips.
“God, Danni, you’re so beautiful.”
“Don’t.” My weak command was barely audible. I stepped away from his touch, bumping into the wall behind me. It limited my retreat but offered much-needed support to my trembling legs. I forced my eyes open and looked at his face. “Please stop.”
Nico shoved his hands through his hair and took a few deep breaths, his gaze intently focused on me. He pushed his hands deep into his pockets and seemed to regain his self-control. “I’m sorry. For this and for stepping out of line on Monday. I swear, neither will happen again.”
I drew in a slow, shuddered breath. “That’s right, because we aren’t going to be hanging out together anymore, or putting ourselves in situations like this where things get out of hand so quickly.” I motioned between us and struggled to hold myself together. “It’s obvious we can’t be just friends.”
There was nothing more to say. My good-bye speech to Nico on Monday had been difficult enough. I didn’t have the strength to go through it again, especially not tonight. I needed to focus on Will and me, on making every moment perfect.
“Will should be here by now. I need to go.”
I moved to push past Nico, but he blocked my path. “Danni, please don’t run off on me again. I keep screwing up. I know that. But dammit, I’m—I’m trying.”
The pain in his gentle voice nearly broke my heart. I lowered my head, averted my eyes. “I have to go.”
He hesitated then turned sideways, allowing me to leave.
I hurried back to the bar, disappointed that Will wasn’t there yet. At least my very expensive glass of Madeira sat waiting for me.
“Thanks, Drew.”
He was busy flirting with the girls at the other end of the bar again but waved to acknowledge me. I climbed on my bar stool and gripped the stem of my glass, holding it to my lips. Why did I order this? It was a reminder of a perfect moment with Nico, but there wasn’t a place in my life for him.
What’s keeping Will? I’d sent several text massages throughout the day and left a voicemail on the ride here, but I hadn’t heard back from him. I looked at the time on my phone. Our reservation was thirty minutes ago.
The early edition of the news played on the television behind the bar. The sound had been muted, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what the meteorologist on the screen was talking about. She stood by the weather map, pointing to details about today’s big storm, while viewers’ snowy pictures flashed in the lower corner.
The news cut to a special report, a live feed of a traffic mess on the freeway. Wow. Hope those poor suckers don’t have dinner reservations.
The image on the screen changed again, cutting to a closer view of the accident that caused the road to be closed down.
I heard the crash before I realized the glass had slipped from my hand. Wine spilled across the bar like blood as my heart ripped open. A shrill noise filled my ears. I struggled to pull air into my lungs.
My vision blurred, but I could still see the image on the screen. It would be burned into my mind forever. A jackknifed tractor-trailer. The green Challenger wedged under the body of it.
Will’s car.
Will’s car draped in a blue tarp where emergency crews had cut it open. The news station was kind enough to blur out the license plate, but the stripe pattern on Will’s car was distinctive, easy to recognize.
God, that noise. Make it stop!
Someone touched me, draped an arm across my back.
“Shh . . . Danni, what’s wrong?” Nico’s voice. “Hey, look at m—oh, shit. Drew, turn the TV off.”
“No problem. Let me finish mixing this dri—”
“Now. Turn the fucking set off now.” Nico moved, stretching across the bar. He reached behind it and grabbed a remote.
The screen went blank. The image in my mind remained.
Nico’s arms engulfed me. He pulled me to his chest. “Shh . . . I’m here, Danni.”
His fingers brushed across my lips, and the raspy noise finally ceased. God, had it been coming from me?
“There you go. That’s better.”
I sucked in a few ragged breaths, my body trembling. Silence filled the icy room. Lifting my head, I looked past Nico’s pale face. All of the restaurant’s guests were staring at me. Concern and confusion marked their faces.
“We need to get you out of here.” Nico’s soothing tone again.
I grabbed his wrists and tried to focus enough to look into his eyes. A gentle nod was the only response I could manage.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Reality
I groaned, trying to wake up. Trying to think. Valentine’s Day, that’s right. Where’s Will?
His strong arms tightened around me, pulled me closer.
“You’re here.” I smiled, snuggling into his solid chest. “I was worried.” I drew in a deep breath. The crisp, fresh scent wasn’t Will’s usual woodsy cologne. “Hmmm . . . you smell so good.” The steady beat of his heart vibrated against my cheek, the soothing rhythm threatening to lull me back to sleep. “I love you.”
He tensed but didn’t respond.
“What happened?” My voice sounded weak, distant. “Why were you so late?”
“Shh . . .” Warm lips pressed gently against the top of my head.
The soothing tone of Will’s muffled voice sounded
familiar, but something was off. It was too deep. A faint buzz filled my aching head. Nothing made sense.
“Will?” I took another deep breath and struggled to open my eyes. The blurry room wasn’t familiar. It appeared to be an office. “Where—”
The door opened, and a man wearing a black chef’s coat walked in. I’d seen him before. Somewhere. He approached cautiously, speaking in a whisper. “She awake?”
“Just. She seems pretty confused.” His hands moved along my arms. “They sending someone over?”
A light tap sounded on the doorframe. Kendra’s ex-husband entered, dressed in his police uniform. A grim expression replaced his usual bright smile.
“Nate?”
“Hey, sweetie.” He crossed the room to squat in front of me. “How you doing?”
Nate looked past me and extended his hand. “Officer Kearsley.”
Why is Nate introducing himself to Will?
“Nico Giardano.” He removed one of the strong hands from my back, stretching around me to shake Nate’s hand. “This is my father, Angelo. He owns Giardano’s.”
“Nico?” I lifted my head to look behind me at Nico’s somber face.
“I’m here.” He hugged me tighter and placed a kiss on my temple.
“No. You promised you’d stay away.” I squirmed in his lap, struggling to get free. “Why are you here? Why am I here?”
“It’s okay, Danni. Just relax.” Nate took my hand. He flashed a glance at Nico. “Do you remember what happened?”
I shook my head. “Where’s Will? I need to get out of here before he—”
“You were sitting at the bar, waiting for him. Do you remember that? And the news was playing on the TV?”
I nodded, pressing a palm to my pulsing temple.
Nate continued asking questions about what I’d seen on the special report. He spoke in a calm voice, but I’d never felt more on edge than I did right now. He explained details about the accident they’d showed on TV—how the storm had created dangerous travel conditions, and some of the roadways had iced up. A tractor-trailer had jackknifed on the freeway, colliding with a car.
“Sweetie, the car involved in the accident was Will’s. He was hurt pretty bad, and he’s at Memorial Hospital. I’m gonna take you there. Okay?”
My chest heaved with painful sobs as the images from the news returned to me. Will’s car, covered with a tarp, wedged under the truck. “H-how bad?”
No one answered.
The pounding in my chest echoed in my ears. I tried to shout. Nothing came out.
The three men talked amongst themselves, discussing my options as though I weren’t in the room. Nate planned to take me to the hospital and get me settled in the waiting area. Kendra would meet me there as soon as she could.
“I’m staying with her.” Nico tightened his hold on me.
Angelo hesitated, watching us, then moved closer. He rested his hand on Nico’s shoulder, studying his face. “I think it’s best if you let her go, son.”
His tone and expression seemed to imply more than just his words.
Nico’s body tensed around me. “But, Papa, she—”
Angelo raised a hand to silence him. “I may be old, but I’m not blind.” He took a deep breath, shoving a hand through his graying hair. “Think about what you are doing, Nico. Think about where you have been. I know you want to help, but she has friends and family who will do that. She needs to focus on her husband, and only him.” He tipped his hand, motioning between Nico and me. “This is not right, but you already know that.”
Nico lowered his head to rest heavily on my shoulder. “I know.” The rapid beat of his heart pulsed through me as I leaned against him. His chest heaved with a shaky breath. “I’ve tried, but—I know.” He released his tight hold and lifted me from his lap, setting me next to him on the leather couch. He brushed my hair from my face, his eyes searching mine. “Nate, I think it’s best if you take care of Danni from here.”
Angelo’s fingers flexed on Nico’s shoulder. He gave a slight nod, his expression filled with empathy.
Nico stood to face me. He leaned forward, gripping my arms, his eyes cast downward. “I’m here if you need me, Danni. All you have to do is ask.”
He glanced at his father then gave Nate a pat on the back before walking out of the office.
How many times had I asked Nico to leave me alone? I should be relieved to see him go. Instead, the knot in my stomach grew tighter. Wrapped in his arms, I’d felt safe.
Nate led me down a small hallway and past the kitchen. Guests in the main dining room froze, their forks midair, and watched in silence as we walked through.
He drove me to the hospital in his police cruiser then escorted me inside, straight to the surgical intensive care unit on the fifth floor. A short, round woman in purple scrubs greeted us. Her badge identified her as Patrice, RN.
“I’m here to see my husband.” My trembling voice broke on the last word.
Nate took control of the conversation, speaking on my behalf. I squeezed his arm to thank him and tried to follow their conversation, but I couldn’t stay focused. Besides, blocking everything out meant I could pretend this wasn’t real.
“Danni?” Nate placed a hand on my shoulder. “This is Patrice. She’s gonna be Will’s nurse.”
I held my hand out, a robotic reaction. “Where is he? I want to see my husband.”
“I’m so sorry about your husband, Mrs. DeLaney.” She led Nate and me to a small office behind the nurses’ station and tried to make me comfortable. “Your husband was rushed into surgery, but Dr. Asher is coming up from the ER to speak to you. He’ll answer all of your questions.”
A firm rap on the open door startled me.
A man with gray hair, wearing blue scrubs and a white lab coat, entered the room. He sat on the stool across from me, flipping open the chart he’d carried in. Dr. Asher introduced himself then droned on about Will’s injuries—head trauma, ruptured spleen, lacerated liver, obstructed airway—using a long list of medical terms I didn’t understand.
“William is with our top trauma surgeons. They’re seeing to the most critical of his injuries, but his prognosis is questionable.” He placed the chart on his lap. “Do you have any question you’d like to ask me?”
I grabbed the box of tissues Patrice offered and mopped the endless stream of tears from my face. I struggled to breathe through a bout of gasps but finally managed to find my voice. “He’s . . . he’s going to be okay, though. Right?”
“Ma’am, your husband suffered a lot of injuries. He has multiple fractures in his face, collarbone, arm, and ribs, and he has a lot of bruising. There’s some swelling and bleeding in his brain, and we need to remove a piece of his skull to relieve the pressure until that swelling goes down. Dr. Cooper is working on him, doing everything he can to save him. But you have to understand your husband suffered life-threatening injuries, and his condition is critical. It’s going to take some time until we can expect any significant improvement.”
He paused for a moment then looked at a note on the front of Will’s chart. “If you have any other questions, you can let one of the nurses know. They’ll get in touch with me or Dr. Cooper, and we’ll be glad to sit down with you to go over them.”
He wished me well then spoke quietly to Patrice before leaving.
Nate sat on the chair beside me, rubbing my back. “Kendra texted to let me know she can’t get the car up the hill by our . . . her house, so I’m going to stay here with you.”
As much as I wanted someone to lean on, it wasn’t right to keep him from his work. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine till Kendra gets here. I should probably call Jen anyway to let her know what’s happening.”
Nate rubbed his brow. “Danni, I don’t think I should leave you alone.”
“I’ll take good care of her till her friend gets here.” Patrice rolled Dr. Asher’s stool toward the corner.
Nate hesitated. He pulled me in for a long hug. �
�You call if you need me. Okay? And I’ll stop back in a little bit to check on you.”
Patrice placed her hand on my wrist. “I think we have your husband’s room ready for him. Why don’t I take you there? You might be more comfortable than in the crowded waiting room.”
I pressed my lips together and fought back another round of tears. “Thank you.” I struggled, choking out the words.
“Come on.” She held my arm with one hand and slipped the other around me, supporting me as she guided me down the hall.
A standard hospital bed filled most of the room. Will’s room. It still didn’t seem possible. Monitors, gauges, and strange equipment covered the wall behind the bed. A single chair and small table sat next to it. I sank into the chair, pulling my coat down around me.
“This is a lot to take in.” Patrice stooped in front of me. “He’s in good hands, honey. Dr. Cooper is the best neurosurgeon in the region.” Sorrow filled her pale green eyes.
I nodded and looked away, afraid of what she wasn’t telling me.
The soles of her shoes squeaked against the linoleum, the sound fading as she left the room.
I let my head fall back against the chair and closed my eyes, waiting to wake up from this nightmare. Minutes passed, marked by the constant beep of monitors from the hall.
“Mrs. DeLaney?” Patrice’s compassionate voice pulled me from my trance. She crossed the room, stopping beside me, and rubbed a gentle hand across my back. “How are you doing?” She placed a small bottle of water and a pack of shortbread cookies on the table beside me. “Thought you might need a little snack after your nap.”
I tried forcing a smile, but it wouldn’t come. My jaw quivered. “Do you know how he is? When I’ll be able to see him?”
“I’m sure he’ll be a while, but I can try to get a message to one of the technicians. They may be able to ask the doctor a few questions.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“It might take a little time though. Why don’t you go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat? You need to keep up your strength.” She paused, maybe expecting a response. “You have a cell phone?”