“No.” She grabbed his arm and swung him around to give him a fierce shake. “It took a lot of courage to face everyone in there and don’t you dare believe otherwise.”
His gaze searched hers. A ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. “Thanks to you.”
Fighting to keep her tone even in hopes her personal pain didn’t show, she said, “All part of the job. That’s why you asked me to come over…right?”
Her heart betrayed her mind with that last word’s hopeful inflection—hope that he’d deny that was the only reason he asked her over to meet his family. But falling in love with him was her problem, not his; she had no right complicating things. He had enough to deal with right now without her adding her own emotional landmines.
So, before he could answer and break her heart any further, she said, “Listen, you need to go back. I’d say you’re all more than due for a long talk.”
Charlie stared at his house across the street. “I know.” But he didn’t move.
“And you don’t need me there anymore. You’ll do just fine on your own.”
He looked at her with surprise. “You’re leaving?”
Funny he should use those exact two words. A lump formed in her throat, but before she could reply, she heard a shout from across the street.
She and Charlie turned to see Sugar dash across the yard toward them, right into the street. The horrifying squeal of tires on pavement registered seconds before a truck broadsided the Great Dane and sent her rolling in the street.
With a hoarse cry, Charlie ran toward the now motionless dog. Dana followed to kneel alongside him, grateful for the veterinary classes she’d taken the past two years after changing careers, but afraid it wouldn’t be enough. She glanced at Charlie to see tears in his eyes.
He kept repeating, “Let her be okay, let her be okay.”
Dana silently prayed with him. The driver of the truck and Charlie’s family crowded around while she ran her hands over Sugar. A moment later her shoulders sagged with relief. “She’s still alive. Let’s get her to the vet.”
“What do I do?” Charlie demanded. “Can I pick her up?”
She nodded. “Easy, though, try not to move her any more than you have to.”
As Charlie carried her toward his truck in the driveway, the others followed. “Someone get my keys,” he ordered roughly. His mom and dad hurried to the house.
“I’m so sorry,” the driver of the truck said. “I tried to stop, but it was too late.”
“She jumped the back gate,” Tara said in a hushed tone. “She’s never done that before.”
Kurt Russell rushed back with the keys; Jackie carried a blanket. Climbing into the bed of the truck with Charlie and Sugar, Dana told Tara to call ahead to the vet. She gently tucked the blanket around Sugar as Kurt backed out of the driveway.
About a block from Wilde’s Veterinary Clinic, the Great Dane stirred and tried to lift her head. Her eyes were glazed over from pain and anxiety, and her whimpers tore at Dana’s heart. Charlie leaned close, talking to her and managing to keep her fairly still. He sounded calm, but Dana could tell by the pinched lines around his mouth that he was worried. She reached over to squeeze his hand and he looked up.
“I can’t loose her. I know she’s just a dog, but…” He choked up.
Dana hugged him, leaning her forehead against his cheek as hot tears burned her eyes. “I know,” she whispered, because she’d fallen in love with Sugar, too.
Rick Wilde met them outside the clinic. He quickly gave the dog a shot for pain and to sedate her before directing Charlie to carry her inside. Rick cast Dana a look over his shoulder as he started to examine Sugar. “My assistant is in Madison, can you help me?”
A jolt of nervousness hit Dana, but she didn’t hesitate. “Of course.”
“How fast was the truck going?”
“Speed limit’s twenty-five,” Charlie said quickly. “I don’t think he was going too fast, and he slammed on the brakes just before he hit her, but she rolled a few times and only regained consciousness just before we arrived.”
Rick nodded as Dana helped him set up for X-rays, anticipating much of his direction before he even asked. All the while, she quietly kept Charlie and Kurt informed of what they were doing and why. Kurt looked a little lost, but with his EMT training, Charlie seemed to follow the conversation with relative ease. When the X-rays were ready, she reviewed them with Rick and it didn’t take long for her hope to flare.
Rick turned to Charlie. “Her front right leg is broken and will need a splint, but I don’t see any internal injuries. I think she’ll be fine once the leg heals, which will take about six to eight weeks.”
Dana saw Charlie grip the stainless steel examining table for support. Kurt thumped his back and Charlie looked up with a shaky smile.
“I want to keep her overnight for observation,” Rick added. “And I’ll have you keep her on some pain meds for awhile so she can recover faster.”
“Whatever needs to be done.”
“Well, this is the second of her nine lives in less than a year,” Rick said, “so, she better slow down. You’ll have to keep her quiet.”
“We’re going to work on that. Believe me,” Charlie said.
Kurt headed for the door. “I’m going to call home—I know they’re worried.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“She’s going to be out for a little while so I can set her leg, so if you need to do anything…?”
Charlie shook his head and stroked Sugar’s head. “I’m not leaving.”
Dana helped Rick with the rest of Sugar’s treatment, but found her attention more focused on Charlie. Because of their strong physical attraction, she’d fooled herself into believing that him needing her was the same as him wanting her. But after last night, after they’d been so close and then he just left after she agreed to help with his family, she’d realized it wasn’t. Worse, the emotion in his expression now reinforced that fact.
She wanted him to look at her with that same intensity. The love she saw this man capable of humbled her.
He looked up. Dana experienced a jolt of hope, but quickly reminded herself what she read on his face was for Sugar.
“I’m finished here,” Rick said, drawing her attention back to him. “Can I talk to you for a moment, Dana?”
She cast a quick glance at Charlie before following Rick to the office where he’d first interviewed her.
“I met with my last candidate yesterday morning,” Rick informed her after they’d sat. “I was looking for more surgical experience, and he has some, but I didn’t feel the same connection as when I spoke with you. And then today, after watching you with Sugar and Charlie, well, needless to say, I’m impressed. I’d like to offer you the job.”
Dana should’ve felt a thrill of elation since this was her main reason for coming to Redemption, but she’d made her decision in the early dawn hours. Charlie no longer needed her, and this time she wasn’t stupid enough to hang around for the painful aftermath—especially when he found someone else to give all that love to.
Finally, she’d learned something from her past mistakes.
She gave Rick an apologetic half-smile. “You have no idea how much I appreciate the offer, but I’ve decided to return to Minnesota. I’d planned to call you before I left.”
“Oh.” He picked up a pen on his desk, tapped it a few times, and laid it back down. “Can I change your mind? I can offer a little more than what we discussed, but not much.”
“This isn’t a ploy for more money,” she assured him. “There are personal issues involved that I’d rather not discuss.”
“Of course, I understand.” He sighed as he pushed to his feet. “Good luck in Minnesota, then.”
“Thank you.” Dana shook the hand he offered, wishing with all her heart she could’ve accepted the job. “Mind if I use your phone to call Allie for a ride?”
“Go ahead.” He waved toward his desk and headed for the door, but not before Da
na saw a flash of interest in his hazel eyes. It was quickly followed by resignation.
“Hey Rick.”
He paused in the doorway, and she noticed again how good-looking he was in jeans, a dark gray tee shirt, and his white medical smock. Yeah, with his dark hair and Allie’s auburn locks, they’d make a great couple. Going with her gut, Dana said, “Don’t give up on her just yet.”
Surprise registered in Rick’s expression, and then he smiled and thumped the doorjamb with his palm twice in acknowledgement before striding back toward the exam room.
Chapter 10
Charlie looked up as his mom and Tara and Wes filed in through one door, and Dana through the other. Conflicting emotions assailed him. After all that’d happened, he was grateful for family support, but now that he knew Sugar was going to be okay, he desperately wanted to talk to Dana alone.
After a few minutes the room became too loud and Rick ordered everyone into the waiting room except Dana. While Rick transferred Sugar to a kennel for the next twenty-four hours, Charlie went to stand by Dana.
“I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done—and I’m not only talking about Sugar.”
She smiled, but other than a quick glance through her lashes, she didn’t look at him. “I was happy to help.”
“Once Rick settles Sugar in, Dad can ride with everyone else, and I’ll drive you home.”
“Thanks, but I called Allie and she’s already on her way over.”
“Oh.” Disappointment hit hard. “I was hoping we could talk.”
Now she did look at him, but the distant expression in her eyes sent a splinter of dread through him.
“You need to take care of your family first, Charlie. That’s what’s important now.”
She was important. He opened his mouth to tell her, but Allie popped through the doorway before he could form the words. She glanced around as she came over to give him a quick, tight hug.
“I’m glad to hear Sugar is okay. Dana about gave me a heart attack when she called. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine.” Or he would be once he figured out what was going on with Dana.
“Hi, Allie,” Rick said from across the room.
Allie gave him a quick look and a short, “Hey.” She turned back to Charlie. “Let me know if you need anything, okay?”
“I will, thanks.”
“Ready?” she asked Dana.
Charlie frowned as they left. He hadn’t expected Dana to run out so quick. He turned and caught a look of confusion on Rick’s face that mirrored his own feelings.
Rick turned away and Charlie followed him into the kennel area by Sugar. He stared at the dog that meant more to him than he’d ever expected. What would he have done if she’d been hurt worse than a broken leg? He knew she was sedated, but it was so strange to see his usually active dog so still.
“You sure she’s going to be okay?”
Rick clapped him on the shoulder. “I can’t promise you one hundred percent, but I think she’ll be fine. And she proved she was a fighter when she was a pup.”
Charlie nodded. He’d never forget the miracle moment her small body had come back to life in his hands.
“There’s nothing you can do here, so you might as well go home,” Rick said. “I’ll keep her quiet tonight and have her ready for you to take home by noon tomorrow.”
Charlie started for the door. “I’d like to check on her later.”
“Sure, Lucas and I’ll be home, so just come knock on the back door.”
“Will do.”
Charlie made his way toward the waiting room and his family, but paused in the hall, remembering the looks on their faces as glass shattered against the wall. But as usual, Dana was right. He needed to do this. He stepped into the room, and took a deep breath when they fell silent.
“I know you all had plans for today,” he said quietly. “But I would really like it if we could go back to the house to talk.”
His mom came up and hugged him. “Of course. We should’ve done it a long time ago.”
They spent the afternoon talking, crying some, and even laughing. Charlie wasn’t naïve enough to believe everything would suddenly be perfect, but he had a solid start on the healing process. It felt great, though exhausting.
After Tara and Wes went home, Charlie sat out in the garage on his Harley, helmet in hand, remembering how Dana had stubbornly refused to get out of his way. How she’d chased after him and forced him to face the ugly truth. She had said that as a psychologist she became too emotionally involved with people, but that was exactly what made her so amazing.
From the moment he met her, she’d been a force to be reckoned with. Whether she was smiling or laughing, pissed off about his ignorant comments about her career, or insisting he do the one thing he’d put off for too many years, he was thankful for her appearance in his life. Now he just had to find a way to keep her in his future.
He strapped his helmet on and fired up the bike. He had two things to do tonight and figured he’d start with the easy one—checking on Sugar.
The second one scared the hell out of him enough that he wanted to wait until morning. He’d never told a woman he loved her before. But Dana had shown him the importance of not putting off the important things.
Life was for the living, and he was going to live it, damn it.
***
Charlie hung his helmet on the back of the bike and ran his hand through his hair as he approached Allie’s front porch. Allie opened the door before he rang the bell, concern clouding her features.
He brushed past before she could speak. “I need to see Dana.”
“What’s going on?” Allie followed him into the kitchen and then around to the living room. “Is Sugar okay?”
“Sugar’s fine. Where is she?”
“Dana’s—”
He heard footsteps on the stairs, then Dana’s voice. “Allie, that’s everything. Quit pouting and come say goodbye.”
Goodbye? Charlie strode back to the foyer and met Dana at the base of the stairs. The stairs he’d almost made love to her on. Her eyes widened when she saw him, and she paused on the last step, suitcase in hand.
“What are you doing here?”
“Where you going?” Charlie demanded.
She glanced at Allie, then stared at his chest. “Back to Minnesota.”
“But what about the job? You haven’t even—”
“Rick offered me the job earlier. I turned him down.”
She took the last step, but he refused to move. “We need to talk.”
Allie stepped around Charlie to give Dana a hug. “I’ll leave you two alone. Drive safely.”
Charlie watched Allie walk through the kitchen to the backyard before turning back to Dana. “You can’t leave.”
Her lips thinned and she shouldered past him. He followed her out to the door of her car, irritated at her refusal to listen to him.
“Go talk to your family, Charlie.”
“That’s done already—now I want to talk to you.”
She gave a short sarcastic laugh as she tossed her suitcase in the back seat and slammed the door. “Fourteen years of silence and suddenly you want to talk to everyone.”
Charlie sucked in a breath. “That’s low.”
She yanked open the driver’s side door, only to pause with it between them. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”
“Why are you leaving, Dana.”
She met his gaze, and for a second he saw something that made his heart soar. In the next moment, she looked skyward while blinking furiously. “Because I can’t do this again.”
“Do what?”
“I can’t get involved with you only to have you realize later on that you no longer need me.” Her voice shook the same as the hand she raised when he stepped closer. “Don’t.”
“But I do need you,” he implored. “I meant it when I said you make me feel like no one ever has.”
She wiped her eyes and gave a laugh that he
ld no humor. “Yeah, I’m an expert at that. But I’m sick of people needing me, Charlie. I want to be wanted—I need to be wanted. Is that so much to ask?”
“You think I don’t want you?” God, he ached with the desire to pull her into his arms right now and never let her go. “How can you even say that after the other night?”
“I think you’re mistaking gratitude and physical attraction for deeper feelings.”
She couldn’t be more wrong. He was grateful to her, but not so much that he’d mistake it for love. And yet, a tiny niggle of doubt crept in, feeding on the insecurities that he was just learning to face. She’d been right about everything else. Was she right about this too?
Dana sighed and stepped around her door to place her hands on his chest as her sad, bright gaze met his. “And if you weren’t, you wouldn’t have hesitated just now.”
He swallowed hard, fighting the rising uncertainty.
“You’re a great guy, but you’ve got a lot to deal with right now. You need to concentrate on yourself for a little while before you’re ready to start a relationship. It’s not fair to you, and certainly not to me.”
He grasped her waist when she rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth to his. Her lips were firm and cool, and the kiss felt like goodbye. Anger sliced through him at the injustice of this ending before they’d even had a chance to begin.
His fingers tightened to pull her closer, but she pushed against his chest and smiled up at him. “Get a shrink and don’t stop talking.”
“Dana…”
She slipped from his grasp and into the driver’s seat to pull her door closed. As she backed out, she rolled down the window. “Tell Allie I’ll call her.”
Then Charlie watched his future drive away.
***
It took him a month of talking, thinking, and straightening out his life before he knew with utter certainty that Dana had been wrong. It took him another week to convince Allie of it, and a few hours of brainstorming for them to come up with a plausible reason to get Dana back to town.
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