by Scott, Laura
Zane bent toward her, and she sucked in a quick breath.
He was going to kiss her.
Jenna didn’t move away. Not this time. Desperate to feel his mouth on hers, she leaned closer, meeting him more than halfway.
His kiss was gentle at first. Then when she fisted her hands in the fabric of his flight suit and yanked him close, he delved deep.
Heavens, the man knew how to kiss. He took his time, kissing her from all angles as if they weren’t sitting in the middle of the lounge at Lifeline. As if there wasn’t anything more important in the entire world but her mouth. As if they had all day to wallow in the heady pleasure.
They didn’t.
He broke off from the kiss, resting his forehead against hers for a moment. “I won’t apologize, Jenna. I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time.”
His words sent a thrill of excitement shimmering through her veins. Now if she could only manage to respond. She licked her lips and tried not to sound as breathless as she felt. “I didn’t ask for an apology.”
“Good.” His green eyes captured hers. “Tonight, after work, would you be willing to have dinner with me? We don’t have to go out, I’ll throw something together at my place.”
The thought of spending more time with Zane was tempting. She was already imagining another amazing kiss. But despite her longing to go with him, she knew she couldn’t. Regret simmered, and she tried not to hate her sister for making her choose between something she wanted to do and something she so didn’t. “I wish I could, Zane. But you know how much I need to go home and talk to my sister. We have to figure out what we are going to do.”
He looked disappointed but took the news well enough. “I understand. I should’ve thought of that. Maybe another time.”
Hope flared, and she nodded. “I’d like that.” She caught his gaze with hers. “Really, Zane, I’d like to spend some time with you.”
“I’m glad.” The dark pupils in his eyes flared, and he pressed his mouth against hers in a silent promise. “That makes two of us.”
When she heard Nate’s footsteps, she pulled away and smoothed a hand over her hair. Too bad she couldn’t control the wild, erratic beat of her heart.
Zane’s gaze clung to hers, and when he smiled, she knew he was offering his silent support. She barely heard Nate as he told them about another potential flight. The intense way Zane looked at her demolished her best intentions of staying away.
Well, that and the scorching heat of his kiss.
They were on their way to having an actual relationship.
The thought should have sent panic racing through her bloodstream, but it didn’t. For the first time ever, anticipation made her giddy. Zane was nice, gentle, funny. She had no idea why he was interested in someone like her, yet there was no denying how much she was attracted to him.
At the end of their shift, Zane insisted on driving her home. Again.
“Have you spoken to Rae at all?” Zane glanced at her as he swung the Lexus onto the interstate.
“No.” She sighed and ran her hand along the soft, buttery leather seat, enjoying the difference from the cracked vinyl on the bus. Not that she had any intention of getting used to such luxury. “She didn’t call me, so I figured I’d wait to speak to her in person.”
“Yeah, I can understand that.” Zane reached over and grasped her hand. “If you need to talk later, give me a call. I’ll drive over.”
He was being unbelievably understanding and supportive. Especially when she knew he didn’t really agree with the way she handled her sister. “You don’t exactly live close by. Besides, this is my problem, not yours.”
“Call me.”
She wouldn’t, but he was sweet to offer. She changed the subject. “Are we still on this weekend for the girls’ basketball camp?”
“Of course.” Zane looked affronted. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
He pulled into her driveway, and when she tugged on her hand to draw away, he tightened his grip.
“See you later, Jenna.” He pulled her close enough to kiss her again. Thoughts of leaving receded to the darkest recesses of her mind.
She was fast becoming addicted to his kisses.
Finally, she found the strength to pull away. She swallowed hard at the way his dimple flashed when he smiled.
“Good night, Jenna.”
“Bye, Zane.” She climbed from his car to find Rae standing there, gaping at her from the doorway. The euphoria from Zane’s kiss instantly dissipated. “Rae, I’d like to talk to you, if you have a minute.”
“Is that the hot doc?” Rae peered after Zane as he drove away. “Wow, I can’t believe you were getting it on with him.”
“I was not getting it on with him. It was a kiss, Rae, that’s all.” She hoped her sister couldn’t tell how flustered she was. This was not a good way to start a discussion about possible pregnancy. Why had Rae chosen that moment come outside? Because her sister had been waiting for her to come home? Dread seeped into every pore.
“Whatever.”
Jenna followed Rae into the kitchen, then sat across the table from her. Where to start? No point dancing around the issue. “Rae, I saw the empty kit in the bathroom upstairs. Are you pregnant?”
Rae’s cheeks turned bright red. “Are you serious? You honestly think I’m pregnant?”
Jenna’s spirits lifted. Maybe the test had been negative. Please God, let the test be negative. “I wasn’t the one who bought the home test kit, Rae. So yes, I’m asking you to be honest with me. Are you pregnant? Because if you are, we have to call UWM and cancel the semester while we can still get some of the tuition money back.”
“Will you stop the obsession with money already?” Rae jumped up from her seat and stomped over to the fridge. “You just can’t stop rubbing it in my face, can you?”
Jenna sighed. Was her sister stalling on purpose? “I’m not obsessed. The money from your tuition will be needed for the baby. Just tell me the truth! Are you pregnant?”
A long silence stretched between them.
“No, Jenna, I’m not.” Rae opened the fridge, pulled out a soft drink, and slammed the door shut. “The kit wasn’t for me, all right? If you must know, it was for Claire.”
The wave of relief was staggering. Her sister wasn’t pregnant. Rae wasn’t pregnant. For a moment, Jenna could barely think. Then she realized Claire was Rae’s best friend. “Um—is Claire—all right?”
“Yeah. Thankfully, she’s not pregnant either.” Rae toyed with the top of her soft drink can. Her sister’s facial expression was full of hurt. “I can’t believe you thought it was me.”
Jenna hesitated, somewhat surprised at Rae’s wounded expression. Should she apologize? “Rae, try to understand. If you were the one who’d found the empty test kit in our bathroom, wouldn’t you naturally assume I was the one who’d used it? Come on, seriously, what was I supposed to think?”
Her sister pursed her lips. “I guess so. Especially now that I’ve seen you with the hot doc. Up until tonight, I would’ve been totally shocked to see a home pregnancy kit in our bathroom. You have no life, Jenna.”
She straightened in her seat. “What do you mean? I have a life. We have a life. I’m either working or spending time with you and your friends at the community center.”
Rae snorted. “That’s not a life. You’re constantly hovering around me, Jen. I love you, but you need to back off. And you should know that I’m smart enough not to get pregnant. Do you think I want a baby at this age? No way. Worry about your own life instead of being obsessed with mine.”
The words smarted more than she wanted to admit. “I’m not obsessed.” If she had known better, Jenna would’ve thought Rae was in cahoots with Zane as her sister was basically repeating what Zane had said some time ago.
“Yeah? Then why are you always willing to believe the worst about me?”
Jenna knew going to the dark side was her knee-jerk reaction, but she tried to explain anyway. “I know you’re sma
rt, Rae, that’s why I want you to go to college.” Jenna twisted the cheap silver watch on her wrist. “Don’t you see? You have an awesome chance, the ability to do whatever you want with your future.”
“And you didn’t have that option, I know.” For once her sister seem to understand. Rae came over to give Jenna a quick hug. “Listen, sis, I plan on living my life. Just make sure you’re living yours, too, okay? Don’t add to my guilt.”
“I wouldn’t. I never wanted you to feel guilty,” Jenna protested.
“Maybe not, but do you think I don’t know how badly you wanted to go to a four-year college?” Rae stepped back and gestured to their clean but badly in need of repairs kitchen. “You think I don’t know what you sacrificed for me after Mom’s death? The money in my college fund would go a long way to fixing up this house and your car.”
“The house is fine, and we don’t need a car.” Jenna had never once thought Rae felt guilty. She smiled, trying to lighten things up. “The only thing that needs fixing is maybe something for dinner. I’m starving.”
“You should’ve gone out to eat with your hot doc. I bet he asked you, didn’t he?”
Jenna stuck her head in the fridge to hide her burning cheeks, trying to focus on searching for something to eat. “I’ll see him again Saturday, don’t worry.”
“Good.” Rae’s tone held satisfaction. “Maybe I’ll have to get to know this guy a little better myself. Any man who can make my sister blush is a guy worth talking to.”
Jenna pulled out a few eggs, determined to ignore Rae’s comment. “Are you hungry, too? I can make both of us an omelet.”
“Sure. I’ll help.” Rae went over to the cupboard to pull out a frying pan. As they worked together in companionable silence, Jenna felt her eyes mist. For the first time in years, she actually felt like Rae’s older sister.
Instead of her mother.
“So, you really think Zane is hot?” Jenna asked
Rae’s enthusiastic nod made her laugh. “Oh yeah. And he likes you, too, I can tell.” Rae frowned. “Listen, Jen, don’t screw this up.”
Jenna’s smile faded as she carefully folded the omelet in the pan. It was good advice from her little sister.
She didn’t want to screw things up with Zane either.
10
Zane managed to switch a few of his shifts so he could fly with Jenna. If Ethan and the others knew why, they’d managed to keep it to themselves.
Jenna was a good paramedic, and he really enjoyed flying with her. Today was Saturday, one week after the girls’ basketball camp. And they’d been out on several flights already.
Now they had another call. Zane gave Jenna the details. “Motor vehicle crash out in Wells-Vernon. Kids were drag racing, and one flipped his car over, more than once.” He glanced at the clock. It wasn’t quite five in the afternoon, still a few hours left of their shift. “We’ve been called to the scene.”
“Let’s go.” Jenna headed straight for the chopper.
All day, Zane had been trying to find a good time to ask her to come to his house after work, but the flight calls had kept them running. He was about to ask during their lunch break, but even that had been interrupted by a call.
Besides, better to wait until the end of the day, just in case she turned him down.
He followed her on board the helicopter. She flashed a warm smile as they donned their helmets, and hope bloomed in his chest as he grew reasonably certain she would not say no. During the past week, while he’d helped out at the girls’ basketball camp, Jenna had given hints of her interest in a number of ways—the lightest touch of a hand on his arm, the odd brush against him when standing courtside. She didn’t seem to mind when he kissed her goodbye in front of the kids.
Even when the group of gawking teens had included her sister, who’d arched him a knowing, satisfied look.
Listening to Reese’s voice over the microphone, he watched Jenna. Her eyes lifted, meeting his. Her smile deepened, and he felt his heart squeezing his chest with another of those insane urges to kiss her.
“Estimated flight time fifteen minutes,” Reese announced.
Jenna had already begun filling out the flight record. Zane forced himself to tear his gaze away in order to keep an eye on the sky outside. In the height of summer, the birds could strike the chopper, causing enough damage to bring the helicopter down. When they neared the scene of the crash, he saw a wide dirt road and an upside-down car surrounded by emergency personnel.
The only place he could see for Reese to land was on the dirt road. In moments, Reese settled the chopper on the ground. Jenna jumped out first, so Zane waited for her to go around to the back of the bird, helping to push the gurney out of the back hatch, before joining her.
With a sense of urgency, they ran, wheeling the gurney between them. Once they’d cleared the chopper blades, they pulled off their helmets. There was a small group of paramedics gathered around a person sprawled on the ground, located a good fifty feet from the upside-down car, in the thick of the high grass of a field. Another group huddled around the car, working to free what looked to be the driver from the wreck. A second car was off to the side. The kid seated on the ground near the second car didn’t appear hurt but looked pale and sick to his stomach.
Following his instincts, Zane headed over to the tall grass where the ejected victim was located. When he realized the patient was a young girl about Rae’s age, he glanced at Jenna, gauging her reaction.
One of the paramedics stood when they approached, waving them away. “There’s nothing you can do, she was dead by the time we found her.” As he spoke, someone else covered the dead girl with a tarp, protecting her from gawkers.
A soft sound of protest emerged from Jenna’s throat.
“Didn’t you try to resuscitate her?” Zane frowned. Younger people always had a better chance of coming back, even when they were down for a prolonged time.
The paramedics exchanged a glance, then shook their heads. “No. We found her face down, her head at an odd angle. We’re pretty certain her neck was broken. By our calculations, she’d been without oxygen to her brain for well over fifteen minutes. We didn’t realize at first there had been two people in the car, so we didn’t find her out here in the brush right away.” His tone held a note of resigned apology.
Zane nodded, knowing they’d used good judgment. It wasn’t their fault they hadn’t found the victim quick enough. Jenna looked troubled, but just then there was a shout from the group surrounding the upside-down vehicle.
“Hey, Doc, over here!”
With Jenna’s help, he spun the gurney around. They wheeled it over to the upside-down car. He noticed the crew had punched out the back window. One of them had crawled in in order to reach the victim.
“We need a hand, the driver is pinned inside, and there isn’t room to get the equipment on him.” The guy inside backed out, then sent Jenna a questioning look. “You’re the smallest one here—would you be willing to help?”
“Of course.” Jenna didn’t hesitate but crawled into the back broken window, squirming her way to the front of the car where the larger paramedic hadn’t been able to go.
Standing back and waiting for Jenna to do the work was much harder than Zane could have imagined. She was more than capable, yet he wanted to be the one inside the vehicle with the patient. Seconds stretched into a long minute. Finally, the scene paramedic sent in a long board and crawled partway inside. Soon afterward, he backed out carrying his end of the board. Jenna eventually followed, holding on to the other end.
Zane hurried over. “He needs to be intubated,” Jenna said breathlessly as they lifted the patient, using the long board, on top of the gurney.
Zane secured the airway as Jenna started two peripheral IVs, then hung two liters of fluid.
“His belly is firm. I think he may be bleeding internally.” Jenna glanced at him, concern furrowing her brow. “His blood pressure is low but hanging in there.”
“We need to m
ove fast.” Zane knew she was right. The guy needed to go to the OR for an exploratory lap to find the bleeder in his belly. “Did he have a seatbelt on?”
“Yes.” The scene paramedic gestured at the car. “I managed to cut him loose.”
Jenna glanced back at the girl lying fifty feet from the car, her thoughts clearly reflected on her face. If the teenage girl had used her seatbelt, the chances were good she’d be alive, too. He silently agreed, but at the moment, they had a live patient that needed their attention.
“Okay, so he may have a liver or spleen laceration causing the bleeding.” Zane grabbed the flight bag and tossed it over his shoulder. “We need to get him to the OR at Trinity as quick as possible.”
Jenna nodded, pushing the gurney over the bumpy dirt road. “Do you want me to give him a unit of blood?”
“Yes, but wait till we get airborne.”
They slid the patient into the back hatch. Inside, they plugged into the communication system and informed Reese they were good to go.
Jenna set up the blood transfusion. Zane kept his eye on the patient’s neurological status. He didn’t want to give too much volume if the patient had suffered a significant head bleed.
To his relief, both pupils reacted to light. Even better, the patient, who was listed as a John Doe because they hadn’t found any ID on him, was spontaneously moving all his extremities. Zane relaxed a little. No need to worry about intracranial bleeding yet.
The patient’s status remained the same during the flight. At least, they were able to hold off any further drops in his blood pressure with additional blood infusions and fluid.
“ETA five minutes.”
His gaze met Jenna’s. Reese had gotten them to Trinity in record time. Zane communicated with the base, informing the trauma team what to expect. He hadn’t requested a hot unload, but the trauma team met them outside the trauma elevators anyway.
“We’re going straight to the OR. We’ll get the lab work there,” the surgeon instructed.
Zane agreed. They moved quickly through the hallway and into the OR. Jenna drew a rainbow of colored lab tubes as soon as they were settled in the OR suite.