Love Me Again (Pinecone Valley Book 1)

by Cindy Stark

  The guy was hot, no doubt, but the sizzle was more in his looks than the way he affected her. Still, she wasn’t about to give up. Josh was the only man she’d been with. It was about time to wash him from her system.

  “Whoa,” he said with a laugh when he finally broke their kiss. “Slow down.”

  “I don’t want to slow down.” She wanted to escape the memory of a man who’d haunted her for far too long.

  Intelligent, sexy eyes gazed back at her. “On the rebound?”

  She snorted. “If you call four years apart a rebound.”

  “Doesn’t matter to me. Just wanted to know what I’m getting myself into.” He studied her face, his eyes lingering on her lips.

  She stared back, capturing his gaze and holding it. “Damn it. Damn him all to hell.” She pushed until he stepped back. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what the hell I’m thinking. What the hell I’m doing. I couldn’t seriously have been about to sleep with another man in an effort to remove him from my mind. I mean, I’m sure sex with you would be good.”

  “Amazing.” He grinned.

  “Amazing,” she repeated. “But he’d still be there taunting me. And why am I saying this to you?”

  “Two shots of whiskey?” He teased her with a look that made her laugh.

  “You are so right.”

  “Are you sure you’ve changed your mind? What happens in Sonny’s could stay here.”

  She slid her gaze over him, enjoying the sparkle in his eyes and the way his Henley clung to his chest. “I’m sure there are a million women out there who’d call me crazy for turning you down, but I am.” She released a string of curses in her mind, but had the good sense not to say them aloud. Her mother would be so pleased.

  From the corner of her eye, Krystal caught sight of someone rushing toward the stage. She and her handsome stranger both turned as a red-haired, older woman gestured at the band who stopped playing.

  A look of concern crossed the lead singer’s face as she spoke to him, and he glanced out over the crowd. “Sorry, folks. This fine lady here says there’s been a car accident out front. She thinks the gal who was hit might have come from this bar. Are any of you missing one of your friends?”

  No one stepped up.

  The older woman nodded. “Okay. I’ll keep looking.” She headed toward the door.

  “I’m a nurse. I should go.” Krystal put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Thank you for the…er, dance.”

  She hurried to follow a group of patrons heading out of the bar, eager to watch the action. Cold air slapped her, bringing her a sharp sense of reality. Spring might have come, but the evenings still carried a bite. She should have thought to grab her coat on the way out, but the bitter wind helped to sober her.

  A crowd of people had gathered near the street corner. The offending vehicle, a small, white pickup sat at an odd angle in the road. A short teenager with bad skin paced around the perimeter, muttering apologies as he shoved his hands through his auburn hair. “She came out of nowhere.”

  Some people watched him, but most focused on the victim.

  “Please let me through.” Krystal pushed at their bodies. “I’m a nurse.”

  When the crowd parted, she gasped. “No.”

  Josh’s girlfriend lay sprawled on the ground, blood coming from lacerations on her head and a larger gash on her leg where the first layer of skin had been peeled back. A balding man with a large belly crouched next to her. He had his fingers on her wrist as he studied her face.

  “I’m a nurse,” she repeated to him. “I can help.”

  A look of relief brought color back to his face, and he stood. “Thank God. All I’ve had is limited first aid training. She’s all yours.”

  Krystal nodded and dropped to her knees, the cold cement smarting against her bare skin. She took Paige’s wrist, looking for a pulse as she watched her chest for signs of breath. “Paige? Can you hear me?”

  She didn’t answer.

  Her pulse was weak, but still there, and her chest rose slowly with shallow breaths. “How long ago did you call for an ambulance?” She asked the crowd.

  “Maybe seven, eight minutes,” a man answered.

  The EMTs could be there in ten. Maybe a little longer. But that could be the difference between life and death with the amount of blood flowing from Paige’s leg. Krystal had to apply pressure to try to stop the flow.

  She needed a sterile compress, but without one available, she’d have to improvise with what she had. She unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it from her shoulders. Frosty air nipped at her bare skin. She didn’t miss the few gasps from the crowd, but she didn’t have time to worry about that as she quickly wrapped the cotton around Krystal’s leg. She made it as tight as she could. Still, blood soaked through before she had it tied around her.

  “Can someone give me a coat to warm her? Something else to prop up her leg to help stop the bleeding.” Krystal glanced at the crowd around her, and a man tossed her a warm, wool coat.

  The young guy who’d hit Paige dropped to the ground next to her. “Rest her leg on mine.”

  As she gently lifted Paige’s leg, another coat settled on Krystal’s shoulders, and she looked up to see the man she’d danced with inside Sonny’s.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He nodded and stepped back.

  “Maybe we should move her off the cold pavement,” a young woman said.

  “Never move an accident victim. Could cause more damage,” Krystal said as she used her hands to apply extra pressure to Paige’s wound.

  “They’re coming,” the woman said as faint sirens pierced the air.

  “Thank God,” Krystal whispered. “Could everyone stand back and give them room?”

  The crowd cleared a path, and a few moments later, the ambulance rushed to a stop near the teenager’s pickup truck. Krystal prayed Josh wouldn’t be one of the techs responding to the accident.

  He wasn’t. Relief for Josh filled her as Kent, the oldest tech on Josh’s team and Jacob, a younger, married guy approached.

  Krystal began reciting the first aid she’d given to the familiar EMTs as she backed out of the way.

  “Christ.” Kent said as he knelt next to her. “It’s Paige. Andy’s sister.”

  “Ah, shit,” Jacob answered. “I’ll grab the board.”

  More sirens crashed through the night as the EMTs made short work of loading Paige into the ambulance. Her vitals were stable, but Krystal knew she’d need to go straight into surgery as soon as she arrived.

  Two deputy sheriff vehicles crowded the rest of the street.

  “You coming with us?” Kent asked as the deputies headed toward the group of onlookers.

  “Yes.” She wasn’t sure how she could help, but she’d call Josh to let him know, and she’d be there for him. It might kill her to be his friend, but she couldn’t let him suffer alone while he waited. They might not have a future together, but they had a past, and she still cared deeply for him.

  Kent sat in back with her and Paige while Jacob radioed ahead. He’d also asked dispatch to notify Paige’s brother, but no one mentioned calling Josh. So she’d do it herself.

  She pulled her cell from her purse and dialed the number she’d longed to call far too many times. When Josh’s voice came on the line, it churned emotion inside her.

  “Hi, it’s Krystal.” She paused, not knowing how to continue. “I’m calling about Paige. She’s been in an accident. You should head to UMC right now.”

  “What?” Just as he responded, she heard a large amount of commotion rise from wherever he was. “Jesus, no. We’re on our way.”

  The line went dead, and her heart died a little, too. If she’d had any notions that he might still harbor feelings for her, his reaction to Paige’s accident dispelled all of them.

  He obviously loved her.

  * * *

  Krystal waited for Josh at the desk inside the emergency room. Five minutes after the medical center staff rushed Paige int
o surgery, her brother and Josh raced through the door.

  “Where is she?” Josh asked, breathless.

  “Surgery. They couldn’t wait. She has significant damage to her left femur and femoral artery. If they don’t repair it right away, she could bleed out.”

  “Oh, my God.” Andy Pederson put a hand on the counter to steady himself as the color drained from his face. “Will she be okay?”

  Krystal met his worried gaze. “She has the best doctors available. They will do everything they can to help her.”

  “That’s not very reassuring,” Josh said.

  “I’m sorry. If I knew more, I’d tell you.”

  Andy pounded a fist on the granite counter, an imposing hulk of a man. “What the hell happened to her? She was supposed to get more beer and come back. What the fuck was she doing all the way in town?” He nearly yelled his last words.

  Josh put a hand on his shoulder. “Keep it together, Andy. Don’t panic until you know the facts. I’m sure she’ll be okay. The medical staff is excellent.” He glanced at Krystal, begging for backup.

  “They are,” she added. “Why don’t we head to the waiting room? That’s where the docs will come when they have news. I can get us all coffee while we wait.” She sure as hell could use it.

  Two cups of coffee for each of them and two hours later, an older surgeon with graying hair entered the waiting room. He nodded to Krystal.

  “She’s made it through surgery, and with time, she should make a complete recovery,” he said to Andy and Josh. “Family members can come with me.”

  Andy stood and followed the doctor, while Josh remained behind with her.

  She had to admire how strong Josh had been for Andy, a solid rock while Paige’s brother had worried. “That’s good news.” She tried to keep the tone of her voice positive. She really didn’t want any harm to come to Paige.

  Josh nodded, staring pensively at the ground. “Very good news.”

  She reached over and placed a hand on his. “I’m so sorry. I hated to call and drop a bomb, but I knew you’d need to be here.”

  He frowned for a moment and then acknowledged her words with a jerk of his head. The moment grew awkward as he studied her, his gaze stopping on her coat. “What are you wearing?”

  She glanced down at the forgotten oversized man’s coat she’d closed around her. The top button had come undone, showing off her bra. She looked like someone who might have naughty lingerie hidden beneath. “It’s not mine. It’s from some guy I danced with at Sonny’s.” She paused as she realized what she’d just confessed.

  Josh’s gaze jumped to hers. “Some guy from Sonny’s Pub?” He said it as though her actions sorely disappointed him.

  “It’s not like that.”

  He snorted. “Really? ‘Cause it looks like you’re not wearing anything underneath.”

  She frowned. “I am. I was.”

  “Like I said.” He lifted an accusing brow.

  “Sweet sugared son of a bitch.” Annoyance fired inside her. After all she’d done tonight. “You can kiss my ass, Josh Vansant. I took off my shirt to wrap it around your girlfriend’s leg to save her life. So, you know what? Fuck you.”

  Her words must have shocked him more than she’d expected because the only response she received was a surprised look on his face. Good. Let him stew on that for a while.

  She turned and headed toward the E.R. reception. She’d find a ride home, or she’d find a quiet room to crash where no one would bother her. Screw Josh.

  The sight of Chloe hovering near the front desk, looking like a very lost person, was a balm to her spirit.

  “Oh, thank God. There you are love.” Chloe erased the distance between them and hugged her.

  “I’m so glad you’re here.” She couldn’t be more thrilled. “You have perfect timing.”

  “Of course. I knew you’d need a ride after playing hero.” She tucked her hand around Krystal’s elbow and directed her toward the front doors. “It was simply amazing to watch you work. In that sexy bra of yours, no less.”

  Krystal couldn’t hold back her laugh. Her roommate could always cheer her up. “Have you been out here this entire time?”

  Chloe shrugged. “More or less. I napped in the waiting room for a spell and chatted up a friendly old fellow. I just sent one of your nurse buddies to look for you, and here you are.” She lifted a hand to push open the door.

  “Krystal!” Josh called out from behind.

  Krystal glanced over her shoulder to see him hurrying after her. Their gazes connected, and then she turned abruptly and tugged Chloe out the door into a stiff early spring breeze. “I’ll be so glad when this cold spell is over, won’t you?”

  Chloe met her gaze as a half-smile cocked her lips. “Possibly so. But will it ever really be over?”

  Krystal caught her cryptic message. “It already is. So over.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  By the time Krystal woke the next morning, she had three missed calls and ten texts from Josh asking her to call him. “Screw you, Josh,” she said as she tossed her phone on the bed. No doubt guilt had eaten a hole straight through his heart by now, and she wasn’t about to ease it for him. He’d been a complete jerk to her the previous evening, and she wasn’t certain how much time would have to pass before she could forgive him.

  “Good morning, love,” Chloe said when Krystal dragged her sleepy butt into the kitchen.

  “If you say so.”

  Chloe chuckled. “True. It is more like afternoon. Sleep well?”

  Krystal frowned. “I need coffee.”

  “I saved some for you.” She nodded toward the pot.

  “Thank God.” She poured herself a cup, her uneasy stomach forcing her to forego toast or cereal for the time being. She dropped into a chair at the table, expecting to have a quiet moment to peruse the paper. Instead, she found Chloe studying her with a discerning gaze.

  “What?” Krystal asked in an accusing tone.

  “Well, you’re not hung over. Two shots wouldn’t do that.”

  “What’s your point?”

  Chloe added a spoonful of sugar to a cup of tea and stirred. “If you’d gotten snockered like we’d planned, I’d expect this kind of behavior from you. But now I’m thinking it’s best we didn’t.”

  Krystal leveled an annoyed gaze at her. “My ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend nearly died last night, and I had to help save her.”

  “True.” She sipped at her tea. “And I would leave it at that, but there’s also you sleeping so late which you never do, and you being a bit lurgy. For days. Not just after last night. All of these things lead me to believe something is up.”

  “You want to tell me what the hell you’re talking about ‘cause my head hurts too bad to figure you out. Lurgy? Really?”

  Chloe pinned her with a serious gaze. “Krystal, are you up the duff?”

  “Up the…what?”

  She leaned closer. “You know, preggers?”

  “No.” She spat the word without thinking. She was not pregnant. “Why would you ask such a thing?”

  “I believe I just outlined the reasons.” Chloe paused for a moment as though wondering if she should continue. “Are you sure, love? You’re not acting like yourself. Though I don’t know who would have knocked you up because you haven’t been seeing anyone. Except…you did say Josh was here the other day.”

  Krystal closed her eyes and focused on breathing. In. Out. In. Out.

  “Krystal, love? Did you shag Josh when he was here?” she asked with a whisper.

  She met her roommate’s gaze. “No, not here.”

  A hushed silence fell between them.

  “Somewhere else?”

  Krystal tucked her lips in and slowly nodded.

  A smile broke over Chloe’s face. “Oh, my. This is delicious.”

  She shook her head as emotion clouded behind her eyes.

  Chloe immediately caught on and reached over to take her hand. “Oh, no, love. What’s wrong?”


  “He has a girlfriend.” Her throat tried to close over her next words, but she forced them out. “And I haven’t started yet.”

  “Oh, lordy. I knew it.” She scooted her chair closer and wrapped an arm around Krystal. “How late?”

  “Three days.”

  She frowned, but nodded. “Could be that you’re not, but there’s only one way to find out. You need to take a test.”

  “I’ve thought about it, but I’m scared of the results.” Terrified might be a more appropriate word. “Plus, I really think I’m going to start. Any second now.” Though her physical symptoms had abandoned her.

  “Yes, well, hiding won’t change the outcome. If you are, you’ll deal with it, and if you’re not, then you can get on with your life.” Her sisterly smile bolstered Krystal. “You need to know.”

  “I know.” She sniffed. Chloe was right. She couldn’t hide from this any longer. The stress of not knowing would kill her. “I’m going to get dressed and head into the pharmacy. Shit. I hope I don’t run into anyone I know.”

  “I could purchase it for you, love.” She lifted her brows.

  “No. I’ll do it. I need to own my actions. Besides, I need to stop at work for a minute and check my schedule for next week.”

  Chloe patted her hand and stood. “Okay. You’ll let me know, right?”

  Krystal nodded. “Thank you for being here for me.”

  “Of course, love.” She glanced over her shoulder as she took her cup to the sink. “Are you sure I can’t whip up a spot of something for you to eat?”

  Krystal put a hand over her stomach and shook her head.

  “Could just be nerves, you know? All the wondering and such.”

  “I know.” She prayed that’s all it was.

  * * *

  Krystal stopped at the medical center first. As she headed inside, she couldn’t help but feel damn grateful she didn’t have to work a shift today. She seriously needed a day to rest. She checked the schedule and took a moment to visit with one of the day nurses about the patients they currently had occupying their rooms. Even though she was dead tired, she missed the action.