“Okay,” the paramedic sighed. “Suit yourself.”
Once in the ED, Jason was wheeled into the trauma room, greeted by the doctor and a few nurses. In this small town, any patient with a bullet wound was greeted by a crowd. The paramedics parked the ambulance stretcher next to the one on the trauma room. As members of the staff crowded near to assist transferring their patient from one stretcher to another, Jason sighed as he informed them he could move over on his own. He slid over before they could object.
Before he could say anything else, one of the nurses had her trauma shears in her grasp, cutting the rest of his shirt off the paramedic at the scene had already torn to initially assess the wound. “We need to get to your arm,” she said with too much excitement for Jason’s liking. He glared at the physician, his face tight with anxiousness.
“Where is Mia? I need to see her.”
“I’m Dr. Kline. I know you’re worried about her. She’s having tests done in radiology, so while she’s there, let’s get you taken care of, okay?” His tone was empathetic.
“Is she okay?”
“So far, so good. We’ll know more once her tests are done.” Dr. Kline gently prodded Jason’s arm with a gloved hand. “The bullet is still in there,” he noted. “We’ll need to get an x-ray. Are you in a lot of pain?” Jason shook his head.
“Can we just get this over with? Please?”
Once the x-ray confirmed the bullet was lodged in soft tissue, Dr. Kline injected Lidocaine into the edges of the wound. Once the Lidocaine took effect, he worked to extract the bullet from Jason’s upper arm and then added a few sutures to close the wound. “You’ll be sore for a bit but no permanent damage. Lucky.”
Once the nurse finished dressing the wound, Jason was finally able to see Mia. She had just returned from radiology after x-rays and a CT-scan. He sat next to her, gently ran a finger down her cheek, the need to touch her overwhelming. “I’m here, baby. You’re safe.”
At the sound of Jason’s voice, Mia’s eyes fluttered open. It took a minute for her to focus on his face but then she smiled with recognition. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He leaned down and softly kissed her lips as he grasped her hand into his. “How do you feel?” Jason had seen her damaged car but still didn’t know if she had been injured from that wreck or if Grimes had hurt her. His eyes lingered on the darkening bruises forming on her neck where Grimes’ hands had been.
“Sore,” she answered, wincing as she tried to move into a more comfortable position on the stretcher. “I think I heard them say nothing’s broken.” Mia’s head throbbed and she had difficulty recalling the events that had landed her to be in the ED as a patient. “I don’t really remember much,” she admitted.
“The doc says you have a concussion. You’re gonna get a lot of rest the next few days,” Jason informed her.
When Mia awoke again, she recognized the bedroom of the cottage. She didn't recall leaving the hospital. Her memory about the entire prior day was pretty fuzzy.
“How are you feeling?” Suddenly Jason was at his side. He smiled at her, his dark eyes full of concern.
“I’ll make it.” She slowly sat up and felt the room spin.
“They gave you meds in the ER. And your head---you were out of it when you were released.” As he explained, Mia noticed the bulky bandage on his upper arm.
“What happened to your arm?” Mia asked with alarm.
Jason offered a smile that usually melted through Mia. “Bullet, no big deal. Didn’t hit anything important.” He leaned down and dropped a kiss on her lips. “Nothing to worry about.” He sat on the bed next to her. “Do you need anything?”
“A bullet?!”
“I’m fine,” Jason re-iterated. “You can see for yourself later. But right now, you need to rest.”
Yawning, Mia settled back into the pillow. “I think I’ll sleep a little more.” She was asleep before Jason had finished tucking the blankets around her.
After a few more hours sleep and a light meal, Jason had recounted yesterday’s events. As a physician, Mia knew that patients with concussions sometimes couldn’t recall events that occurred just before and after the injury. But she was stunned as Jason told the tale, she felt as though she was listening to the plot of a movie. What she did recall was their argument over the photos.
“I shouldn’t have stormed out of here like I did,” Jason started. “I shouldn’t have left you.” If anything had happened to Mia, he would have never forgiven himself.
Mia closed her eyes and opened them again. She had known this conversation would happen but hadn’t looked forward to it. “I didn’t sleep with him, Jay,” she whispered. “I was just so confused…I know what it looked like from those photos.”
“I believe you.” Jason grimaced at the memory of what the photos had captured. “Are you still confused about us?” Jason asked. “Because I’m not. I love you.” His blue eyes seemed to pierce through her with emotion.
She shook her head, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes. “I’m not confused, Jay. I love you. I should have never come here. I was running from you and I shouldn’t have.” Jason didn’t respond, just got up and hauled Mia up against his chest, encircling her waist with his arms.
“Come back to Boston with me, Mia. Quit the job here. We can figure out how to start over together.”
She smiled against his chest. “I got fired,” she told him.
“What?” Jason pulled her away from him so he could see her face.
“The job here didn’t work out. Tyler fired me.” Mia laughed. “I don’t care anymore.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll pay off the lease here and go home.” Jason sighed and grimaced again. “Of course, officially, I am still on administrative leave with the police department. I’m not sure I have a job to go back to.”
***
Two days later, Jason met Lt. Ross at the police station to give his official statement. It didn’t take long. It didn’t take long and once Jason finished speaking, Ross clicked off the tape recorder and put down his pen. He slid a piece of paper across the metal table to Jason. It was the paper work from the district attorney that stated all charges had been officially dropped against Jason.
“So, you’re free to go back to Boston,” Ross told him.
He paused, not getting up. “I want to see him,” Jason said.
“Grimes?” Ross asked. “Are you sure?” Jason nodded. “Five minutes,” Ross told him. “That’s it.”
***
Jason entered the cell, eyeing Grimes who sat on the bare mattress in the center of the cell. He gripped a Bible in his hands. Grimes gave no indication that he noticed Jason in the space with him. “You pled guilty,” Jason stated. “Why?” He stood, waiting to hear an answer to his question.
Grimes’ head snapped up so he could look his former partner in the eyes. “Do you think I’m gonna confess my sins to you?” he sneered.
Jason hadn’t thought Grimes was going to give him any explanation. He sighed, wondering why he had sought out this visit. “You were like a brother,” Jason said. “I don’t understand why you hated me so much.”
Grimes shot to his feet and moved in close to Jason. Hatred oozed from him. “Your father killed my sister,” he spat. “Since he’s dead, I decided you were the next best thing. I hated every minute I spent with you, pretending to be your loyal partner. You should have died, Howard. You were supposed to pay for the sins of your father.” Without a word, Jason shook his head and turned away from Grimes, motioning for the guard to let him out of the cell.
Mia had boxed up her few belongings while Jason was gone. She had called her landlord and arranged for returning the keys. She had signed a contract for a month –to-month lease of the cottage; her security deposit would be the final month’s rent.
Jason was back sooner than Mia thought he would be. He had returned in his BMW. She met him at the door. “Hi.” She greeted him with a kiss. “How did it go?”
He paused befor
e answering. After processing the exchange between him and Grimes, Jason decided he had his closure. He was ready to move on. “I didn’t get any real answers, but that’s okay. I’m ready to get out of here.”
“Me too. I’m packed. We can drive back to Boston when you’re ready.”
Without a word, Jason walked past Mia, into the bedroom. She heard him rummage around in the bedroom and he returned to her in less than a minute. “We can’t go back to Boston yet,” Jason told her.
She was confused. “Why?”
“Before you lost the baby, I had a trip all arranged for us to go to Honolulu. I was planning on asking you to marry me on the beach.” Jason paused, to gage Mia’s reaction. She stayed silent, her eyes fixated on Jason’s face, listening intently to his words. “After everything that’s happened, I don’t want to go back to Boston until you marry me. I don’t want to wait any longer.” Mia’s eyes widened as she watched Jason pull a small box from his jeans with his left hand. He flipped it open and held it before her, displaying a ring. A platinum setting held a large, round three carat brilliant sparkling diamond. “Will you marry me, Mia?” Her eyes started to mist as she stared at the beautiful ring and then at Jason’s face. She couldn’t imagine being without him ever again. Before Mia could respond, Jason said, “I want you and I want our children.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I love you so much.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Jason gently pulled her away after returning the kiss.
He gave her a wolfish grin and slipped the ring on her finger. It was the first time in months that he had no doubts about his relationship with Mia. Jason knew they were going to be okay. He gazed at her for several moments before speaking. “It was my grandmother’s.”
“It’s perfect,” Mia told him. “Beautiful.”
“Just like you,” he whispered into her hair as Jason’s mouth met hers. He gave her a long, intimate kiss before picking her up, careful not to hug her into his side. He carried her into the bedroom and deposited her onto the bed. In less than a minute, Jason had Mia undressed and his clothes had been thrown onto the floor.
“Are you sure you’re up to this?” Mia asked, really not wanting him to stop.
“Oh, yes I certainly am.”
His lips wandered down her throat and to her perfect breasts. Mia could barely catch her breath as Jason’s mouth and tongue caressed her breasts and nipples. She moaned underneath him, feeling his erection press between her thighs. She shifted, encouraging him to move into her. Jason picked up his head for a moment, a smile on his face. “Patience, baby,” he told her as his mouth moved down to her stomach, hip and settled between her thighs. She moaned louder, as she raised her hips to meet his tongue.
“Jay,” Mia moaned her voice low and husky, “I can’t wait. Please.”
His mouth moved to her thigh and then up to her breasts again. “Always so impatient, baby,” he murmured as he positioned himself between her legs and slowly thrust forward. He stopped when just the tip of his erection was in her. She moved her pelvis upwards to meet him and he sank deeper into her. “Fuck,” Jason whispered, starting to lose his control. He sighed with pleasure. “You feel so God damn good.” He started to thrust faster and Mia became lost in the sensation. Her muscles tensed in anticipation of her release. Her hands were on Jason’s waist, her nails sinking into his hips, encouraging his pace. She gave a long moan as she felt her orgasm start. Jason felt her tighten around him and felt his own release overtake him. “Oh, Mia…so good…” He gave one more thrust and his whole body shuddered as he emptied into her. “I love you,” he whispered as he moved off her, and off to the side. She rolled over to her side to face him, giving him a soft kiss.
“I love you, too.” She gave him a wide smile as she glanced down at the ring he had placed on her finger. “That was amazing,” Mia told him.
“Even if it wasn’t, that was totally worth it. But I’m fine.” Jason kissed her. “I can’t wait until we’re married.”
“Me too.” She smiled up at him and then rested her head on his chest.
“I think we should get married in Florida,” Jason told her. “I know you’re not close to your family, but if you don’t include them, I think you’ll regret it in the future.”
That had caught Mia’s attention. She lifted her head and gazed back up at Jason. Mia could see regret in his blue eyes, regret she was sure was from the strained relationship he had shared with his mother. He would never have the opportunity to make things right with her.
“It doesn’t matter to me.” Mia had never had fantasies about a big church wedding with hundreds of guests. “I just want to get married as soon as we can. As long as Kate is there.”
“So we’ll fly to Florida and get married on the beach. Your parents and sister can be our witnesses. And when we go back to Boston, you’ll be my wife.” Jason smiled down at her. “God, I love you.” He kissed her again.
XVII.
They landed in Sarasota, Florida the next afternoon. Jason had reserved the same suite overlooking the beach they had shared when they had last been in Florida for Mia’s sister’s wedding. As Mia unpacked her things, she had mixed feelings about contacting her family. They had never been particularly close and Jill, her younger sister, had always been the daughter her parents preferred. Mia had always felt she had been an inconvenience to her parents. They had even been unhappy with her choice to become a doctor. They were concerned they would be saddled with the bills for medical school. Mia had been sure she had paid for and taken loans out for her entire schooling. She pushed her thoughts away and wandered out to the expansive deck overlooking the Gulf of Mexico where Jason was finishing a conversation on his cell.
“That was Captain Saunders,” he told her when he was done. “I’m all set to go back to work in a few weeks, once the doctor clears me. Internal affairs finished their investigation.”
“That’s great.” Mia smiled up at Jason, thinking the estimation of just a few weeks was a little low---with his injuries she figured he wouldn’t be back to work for at least a month. He didn’t look pleased with the news. “Do you want to go back?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess. I’m not looking forward to breaking in a new partner.”
“I don’t have anything to get married in,” Mia told him, changing the conversation. She hated to see him look so forlorn. She knew he was thinking about Grimes.
“Yeah, I figured. So you’ll take the credit card and go get everything you need.” He kissed her and pulled her to him. “Like some sexy lingerie,” he suggested with a sexy grin.
Mia spent the next day shopping. She went alone although Jason had suggested shopping with her mother and sister. She hadn’t yet called her parents. They didn’t even know she was in town. She had called Kate and would have loved to shop for the wedding gown with her. But because of her job, Kate wouldn’t be able to fly in until the day before the wedding and she’d have to fly back to Boston the morning after.
It took several stores, but Mia finally found the dress. She hadn’t been searching for a traditional wedding gown. She had spotted her choice in a boutique shop located in St. Armand’s Circle. It was a simple sleeveless ivory silk gown that hit just above Mia’s knees. The only decoration was a two inch band of sequins and pearls around the waist. The dress hugged Mia’s curves, accentuating her full breasts, small waist and shapely legs. She knew Jason would love it. She was able to find a pair of ivory lace and sequined three inch pumps. The last store she visited, Mia was able to find lingerie and a lacey bra and panties to go underneath her dress. She was sure Jason would be a happy man on his wedding night.
“Get everything you needed?” Jason asked from the balcony, hearing the door to the suite open.
“Think so,” Mia answered as she brought her shopping bags into the bedroom to put her purchases away.
“Have you called your parents yet?”
“Haven’t had the chance,” Mia called out. Once she had out ever
ything away, she meandered out to the balcony. Jason was relaxing shirtless in one of the chaise loungers, sipping a beer. He looked happy and at ease. His face no longer held tension. The relaxation of this trip was agreeing with him. She gave him a kiss.
“You need to call them,” he softly told her before kissing her again. “I talked to the wedding coordinator here while you were shopping. Everything is all set for Thursday afternoon.” Their wedding was two days away.
Mia had stepped out of the shower and put on the fluffy robe that hung in the lavish bathroom. She wandered out to the balcony with her cell phone. She knew she had to call her parents. Jason had gone down to the beach. Mia had promised to join him after the calls. She dialed and rang several times. Relief swept through Mia as she was about to hang up. And then her mother answered. Shit. “Hi mom. I’m in town.”
“Sarasota?” her mother asked with surprise. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes.” Mia smiled. She was here for her wedding. “Jason and I are getting married on Thursday in a small ceremony. I was hoping you and Dad could be there.”
At first, her mother was silent. And then the judging questions. “Do you think that’s a good idea? After he was arrested?” She always made Mia second guess her decisions---but not this one.
She let out a sigh. Why couldn’t her mother just be happy for her? “He is innocent, mom. All charges were dropped. And I love him.”
“Well, it’s your life,” her mother sighed. “Tell me when and where. What about your sister? She’s really big now, due in a few weeks. Probably won’t stay long at the wedding.”
“Of course she’s invited.”
“We didn’t receive any invitations,” her mother pointed out. She always probed and questioned; this is how she had pushed Mia away years ago, never exhibiting support for her daughter.
“I know.” Mia took in a breath. She hated conversing with her mother. “We just decided. And like I said, it’s going to be very small. Just you and Dad, if you come, and Jill and her husband.”
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