He nodded and she could see the fatigue pulling at him. She thought he’d gone back to sleep when he raised his lids again. “What’s the damage?”
She gave him a small smile. “They said you were lucky. They got the bullet out and it didn’t hit anything major. There is some tissue damage though.” She felt her smile falter and swallowed hard against the threatening tears. “They’ve got you on pain meds—you’ll need them for the next week.”
He closed his eyes and nodded. His lips moved and Emma bent down to hear him whisper, “You need to pay up on those million kisses.”
Emma squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears back. She pressed her lips to his forehead. When she stood straight again his breathing had deepened and she knew he was asleep.
Brad fought to push away the gauzy threads that wanted to pull him back into the void of drugged sleep. He felt a hand at his brow and knew it wasn’t Emmaline. He forced his eyes open to find his mother leaning over him. She smiled when she saw he was awake but he could see the worry in her eyes.
“Hey there, handsome. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been shot.”
With that, Trish Gallagher’s eyes flooded. Maddy rushed to her side and slid an arm around her mother’s waist.
Brad struggled to think past the pain. “Mom, I’m sorry. I feel fine. Bad joke.”
Trish shook her head. “No, it’s not that. It’s just that now I know you’ll be okay. Really, I held it together all evening and now I’m crying.”
Brad tried to shift to sit up higher in the bed but it brought a stab of pain so he decided lying still was a better idea. He glanced around the room. “Where’s Emmaline? What time is it?”
“It’s about nine in the evening,” Maddy told him. “Emma stepped out to use the bathroom and get a bowl of soup from the cafeteria. She should be back soon. Jenny just left. She needed to get home to nurse Brandon.”
Trish dabbed her eyes with a tissue and said, “Logan was here earlier. He said he’ll come in tomorrow with a deck of cards to win back the shirt he lost to you in poker.”
The energy it took to stay awake was fading but Brad struggled to stay conscious. He wanted to see Emmaline, he needed to see her, but he could feel his mind fading and couldn’t prevent himself from slipping under.
When next Brad opened his eyes he saw his mother and sister were gone. The room was darkened and Emma sat curled in the chair close beside his bed, a small pillow under her head, and a hospital blanket pulled up to her chin as she slept. The pain in his shoulder let him know the meds were wearing off, but his mind felt clearer.
He lay with his gaze on Emma, knowing the confrontation with Marla could have had a much more tragic ending. But he had survived and Emma was unhurt. Now he needed to get out of the hospital and back on his feet.
Brad let his mind drift. The dull fire in his shoulder was uncomfortable, but he didn’t want more drugs that would make him groggy. Marla and Van Horn would both face prosecution. Marla was the ringleader and he would delve deeper to see if others were connected to the shady business. The development company could bear some scrutiny as well, he’d see if they had done or encouraged any of the illegal activities. His department would handle anything that came up, but he didn’t want to be out of the loop. And once all of that was settled he and Emmaline would talk. The last few days had been so chaotic but he couldn’t believe she might still think they didn’t belong together. She had to see how right they were. They had shared an amazing night, a night that had only confirmed for Brad that he and Emma would be spending the rest of their lives together.
She made a soft sound and shifted in the chair, and he saw her eyes flutter open. She lay quietly watching him. “How long have you been awake?”
“Not long. You stayed with me.”
She nodded, eyes shadowed in the dim light. “Yes.”
He reached out a hand and Brad saw her hesitate, then reach for his. “Are you okay?” he asked.
When she didn’t answer he rubbed a thumb across her knuckles, searching her face. “Emmaline.”
“You almost died.”
Her bleak expression worried him. “But I didn’t. Marla is in jail, and so is Van Horn. Except for a few loose ends, it’s over.”
“Yeah. It’s over.” Her fingers tightened around his, then released them. She adjusted her pillow and closed her eyes. Brad lay on his side to watch her for several long moments, wondering what was going on in her head.
Hours later, he woke to find the hospital room bright with early morning light and the chair where Emma had slept empty, the blanket folded neatly in her place. When he recalled how subdued she’d been the night before he felt an urgent need to see her. The sense that something was wrong had him sitting up to swing his legs over the side of the bed.
“Getting ready to bust out of this joint?”
He looked up to see Logan leaning against the doorframe. “Got that right.” He pointed to a cabinet. “Be a pal and get me my clothes from in there.”
Logan complied, then pushed aside the blanket to sit in the chair as Brad reached for his jeans. “Doc clear you?”
“Nope.”
“Right, so you’re checking yourself out. What’s your hurry?”
Brad pulled off the hospital gown and picked up his shirt. “I need to talk with Emmaline. Something’s going on with her.”
Logan studied his face, then nodded. “I get that.” He drummed his fingers on his knees restlessly.
Brad eyed his friend who rarely gave into wasted motion. “What’s going on with you? You ready to make a bust?”
Logan shook his head. “No. I need to leave town, but I’ll be back. The guys we’re looking at are into more than drug smuggling. I’ve got intel that they’re bringing in girls from south of the border.”
“Human trafficking.”
“Yeah, human trafficking.” He paused. “But like I said, I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. A month at the most. Have your guys keep an eye out, but we’re putting it all together for a big takedown. I just don’t have all the evidence I need yet.”
“Got it.” Brad rose to his feet, glad he felt fairly steady.
“Need a lift?”
“No, Madison’s on her way.”
Logan gave a short laugh. “Blondie’s okay with you checking yourself out of here? That doesn’t sound like her.”
“Yeah, she’s not too excited about it. But I told her it was either her or you. Sorry, man, but she doesn’t trust you.”
Logan looked out the window. “Yeah, I know. But she’s going to have to adjust her thinking because when I’m done with this investigation, she and I are going to have it out.”
“Good luck with that.”
“Thanks, I’ll need it.”
Logan left and Brad sat in the chair to wait for his sister, impatient with the delay. He couldn’t shake the troubling thought that something was wrong with Emma and he was growing more and more anxious to see her.
Emma sat on her porch, staring through the trees at the rippling waters of the lake. The past three weeks had changed her life in ways she never would have imagined. When she’d first met Brad all she’d seen was the cop. While that was an integral part of who he was, now she could acknowledge to herself that when she looked at him, she saw the only man she would ever love. And he’d nearly lost his life because of her. Marla Banks had seen Emma as a threat, both personal and professional, and Brad, forever the white knight, had endangered himself to protect her. His family, even the town, would be devastated if he died and that had nearly happened. Intellectually she knew Marla was responsible for her own behavior, but Emma couldn’t help feeling he’d been nearly killed because of her. She wondered how often his need to protect had him stepping into danger.
That instant when she’d first seen blood spreading down his shirt flashed across her mind. Oh God. Emma pushed to her feet and ran down the porch steps. She needed a distraction. She would go see the damage from the fire. The in
surance settlement for the garage had only come recently and now she would have to start the entire process over again. The path to the boathouse led her to the sodden ruins. Kayaks had melted and fiberglass canoes burned; life jackets were a charred mess. The pungent odor of smoke stung her nostrils. She tried not to let her spirits dip further. This latest fiasco might push back her opening date by a couple of weeks but she would still open for the summer season.
She turned to trudge back up the hill toward her cabin, but stopped when she spied Frank Singleton heading in her direction. She sighed. She really, really didn’t want to talk to Frank Singleton.
As usual, his florid face was flushed from exertion, but at least today he’d had the sense to put on a straw hat. He bobbed his head. “Ms. Kincaid.”
Emma eyed him balefully. “Singleton.”
“Heard about what happened yesterday. That Marla Banks sure had the lot of us fooled, didn’t she?” He bent his head as if to share a confidence. “I couldn’t believe when I heard she shot Chief Gallagher. Imagine her doing that.”
“I don’t have to imagine it, I was there. I have things to do. Good day, Mr. Singleton.”
When she made to pass him, Singleton held up a hand. Emma caught the flash of anger in his expression and she raised her brows. “Something wrong, Frank?”
“You could say that.” He glanced around. “Why don’t we go up to your cabin, maybe sit at your kitchen table and talk like civilized folks?”
“I’m not interested in having a talk with you, civilized or otherwise.” When Emma walked past him, Singleton turned and accompanied her, trying to keep pace.
“We need to talk about our new offer. There’s more that you should know that might help you make up your mind.” When Emma turned to study his face, he continued, puffing a bit. “Did you know your boyfriend and Marla Banks had a thing going?” He looked at her slyly. “That was before he met you, of course.”
Tiredly, Emma rubbed a hand to her forehead. “Oh really? And she shot him because he dumped her?” They had reached her cabin and Emma wasn’t about to invite him in, so she motioned for Singleton to sit in one of the porch chairs. She leaned against the rail where aspen leaves filtered the afternoon sun.
“Well, no, I expect she shot him because he could end up in possession of this property instead of her.” Singleton shifted his bulk more comfortably into his seat.
Emma stared at him. “That’s crazy. I own this property, and I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m not selling it. To anyone,” she added pointedly. “Brad’s never offered to buy it or acted remotely concerned.”
Singleton gave her a shrewd look. “Maybe he had another plan. Seems like he developed an interest in you real quick.”
It gave her an uncomfortable feeling to talk about Brad with Singleton; it made her feel disloyal. “That’s none of your business.”
“Probably not. But you should give it some consideration. He ask you to marry him?”
At Emma’s stony expression he spread his hands wide in front of him. “By marrying you Police Chief Gallagher would have a lot of influence over what happens to this property.”
“That’s absurd. He doesn’t want this property.” Emma wanted to get up and run into the cabin just so she could slam the door in Singleton’s face.
“Maybe it is. But did you know the Gallagher family owns quite a bit of land around this lake? The chief’s daddy was a real mover and shaker in his day. In fact, he served as mayor for a number of years. They are the second largest landowners behind only the now-disgraced Mayor Banks.” Singleton dug out his handkerchief and lifted his hat to dry his forehead. “In fact,” he went on, “only a few months back Gallagher bought the piece of land between your property and his house.”
Emma straightened, anger clenching her fists. “You don’t know Brad. The man has integrity that is unshakable. Maybe that’s something you can’t understand. Now that Marla has been arrested all you want is to swoop in and make the deal for the developer; and get yourself a big, fat commission.”
Singleton shook his head as if disappointed in his prize pupil. “You need to take off the blinders,” he told her. “Nobody is that honorable. He dumped Banks the minute you came on the scene.” Emma didn’t like the smarmy look in his eyes. “Seems like he decided you were a better bet than the mayor. Now he’s asked you to marry him, and if you do, he’ll be in a position to pressure you into selling it to a developer.”
Emma didn’t want to consider what Singleton said but the seed of doubt had been planted. Why had Brad seemed attracted so quickly? And he had asked her to marry him. She shook her head in denial. He’d been bleeding from a gunshot wound and without a doubt wouldn’t even remembered asking her. She just didn’t know what to believe.
Singleton stood, pushing himself up with his hands against his knees. “You think about what I’ve said. Great Mountain isn’t going anywhere. We stand behind our latest offer.” He descended the steps, where he paused. “Makes me wonder if Gallagher would be interested in marriage if this place weren’t here to sweeten the deal.”
She sat on the porch steps, her head on her upraised knees, the sound of Singleton’s car fading down the highway. She lifted her head to stare with unseeing eyes, her mind running over everything Singleton had said. She knew he was playing on her insecurities, but dammit, Brad had put moves on her almost immediately. No guy had ever acted as though she were somehow irresistible, like his life couldn’t be complete without her. The idea that Brad, outrageously handsome and the backbone of his community, could fall so hard and so fast, seemed unreal. Standing back from it Emma realized that maybe it was just too fantastic.
Another niggling thought burrowed its way to the surface. Had Brad had an affair with Marla? The thought made her stomach knot because she sensed it was true. There was something about the familiarity in Marla’s behavior around Brad that she now realized meant a shared intimacy.
God, she couldn’t stand it. She was doubting herself and doubting Brad and all because that bastard Singleton had spread his poisonous ideas around like dirt in a grave. Emma crossed the porch to go into the cabin, then stopped when another vehicle turn onto her road. Maddy’s little Subaru pulled into the parking area, and Emma could see Brad in the passenger seat. She walked out to meet them.
Maddy opened her door while Brad was still dealing with his seat belt. When he finally pushed open the door to get out, Emma saw he wore a sling with a strap around his neck and another around his waist to immobilize his shoulder.
“What are you doing out of the hospital?” she exclaimed as she approached the car.
“Maybe you can do something with my stubborn brother, Emma,” Maddy said, glaring at Brad. “He checked himself out of the hospital against doctor’s orders and refuses to take pain meds.”
Emma raised her eyebrows at Brad.
“They make me sleepy. I’ll take one tonight.” His eyes searched hers and Emma could sense his concern.
“I need to get to the café, so I’m dumping him here,” Maddy said.
Brad leaned down to kiss his sister’s cheek. “Thanks, Madeline. I’ll see you later.”
Maddy gave her brother a hug, careful not to jar his shoulder. “I love you, you jerk.”
After she drove off, Emma gave Brad a quizzical look. He shook his head. “She’s mad at me. I got shot and worried her. Those are two things not allowed in the Madeline Rule Book.” He studied Emma, expression thoughtful. “Will you let me come in? I wouldn’t mind sitting down.”
Emma led the way to her cabin. He sat at the table while she paced around the kitchen. “You should take your pain meds. Do you want something to eat? Some coffee or tea?” She’d start to babble in a minute but couldn’t make herself shut up.
“I don’t want anything right now. What’s going on, Emmaline?”
She grabbed a dish towel and twisted it in her hands, gaze intent on Brad. At his expectant look, she blurted out, “You nearly died because of me.”
“Because of you? I’m not following.”
Emma felt as if a giant weight were pressed down on her shoulders. “You nearly died because you were trying to keep me safe. How can you be so calm about it?”
He shook his head. “I was shot because Marla Banks pulled the trigger when I tried to disarm her.”
“Yeah, but that would never have happened if I’d just sold to Marla or the developer.”
“Emmaline, you’re not making sense. I would have ended up arresting Marla at some point, regardless of your role in the whole thing. She’d likely have gone nuts then and tried to shoot me.”
“How can you be so nonchalant about it?” Emma felt she had to speak very carefully so he would understand.
“I’m not nonchalant. In fact, I take my life very seriously.” He paused, “Emmaline, sit down.”
She tossed the towel onto the counter and took the seat opposite him.
“Sweetheart, my job will occasionally put me in danger.” He gave her a crooked grin. “I’ll admit that since you’ve been on the scene it’s been a bit more exciting than usual. But you were only the catalyst; Marla’s schemes would have caught up to her regardless.”
She guessed he was right. Marla Banks had been involved in illegal activities that would have come to light eventually. She eyed the man sitting across from her. “You’re looking pale again. You should go to bed.”
He quirked a brow. “If you promise to lie down with me. I could get used to that.”
Suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, Emma closed her eyes, then lowered her forehead against her folded hands on the table. Not looking at Brad, she asked him, “Did you have an affair with Marla?”
There was a long pause, then Brad spoke, his voice gruff. “Emmaline, look at me.”
When she lifted her head Brad’s expression was grim. “Marla and I had a thing for a while. It’s over. It’s been over.”
A Need to Protect Page 18