“Lana, please don’t move while I check you out.” The rich timbre of his voice seeped into her and had the same effect as if she’d taken a shot of warm brandy. Damn. She’d gotten over him years ago. Or so she thought.
He ran his hands down each arm. “My arms are fine. It’s my knee that’s the problem.”
“Uh-huh. Almost finished.” He seemed to ignore her comment and continued his inspection. She had to admit that his thoroughness was impressive.
As soon as he’d done as much as he could despite the restrictions of her clothes, someone else arrived.
“Hey, Jake, what’s the problem?”
“She has an MOI for a spinal injury. She had an LOC for a few minutes but is AO4 right now. Her left knee is giving her trouble.”
Lana wasn’t sure what he said, but from Jake’s hushed tone, it wasn’t good. Crap. She had a trial in two weeks and needed to be in top form.
His partner squatted in front of her. “Hi, I’m Keith. Jake and I will make sure you get the needed help.”
She appreciated how concerned they both appeared. While Keith arranged the padding on the sled, Jake placed her in a neck collar then waved a leg splint.
“This will keep your knee stable when we take you down.” He gently lifted her leg and secured the wrap around it. She had to admit she was immediately more comfortable with the splint. While Keith slid her sideways onto the padded sled, Jake made sure her head didn’t move.
“I’m going to look for your missing ski while Keith secures you on the sled for transport.”
“The kids said it went over the mountainside, but—”
“I’ll get it.”
She pushed up with her elbows to argue but couldn’t make eye contact with the damned neck brace. “It’s too dangerous.” She’d purchased a lot of skis in her lifetime. One more set wouldn’t kill her. She’d freak if Jake got injured trying to retrieve it for her.
He didn’t answer. “Keith, I’ll be right back.”
His partner nodded and continued to wrap the warm covering around her. He secured the Velcro tabs and pulled them taut. It made her feel like a damned mummy. Thank goodness she wasn’t claustrophobic.
“There’s an ambulance at the bottom waiting for you.” Keith squeezed her shoulder. “You’re going to be fine.”
After what seemed like only minutes, Jake returned, waving her ski. “Got it.”
He shouldn’t have gone to all the trouble. “Thanks.” She never doubted his skill in locating her runaway ski, but knowing him, he’d have skied off a cliff if he’d had to and thought nothing of the risk.
Jake secured both of her skis and her poles to the side of the sled. “Ready?”
She was about to nod when she remembered she couldn’t move her head. “Yes.”
Keith picked up the poles attached to the sled in front and Jake lifted the rope in back. They pushed off. On the way down, only being able to see the sky was disconcerting, but at least they took their time, weaving their way down the steep slope as if they didn’t want to make any sudden moves.
At the bottom, the ambulance was waiting, lights flashing. The paramedics lifted her off the sled and placed her in the back. Once out of the warm cocoon, she appreciated being able to move her arms. A paramedic placed a thick blanket on top of her.
She couldn’t see either Keith or Jake since she was still unable to move her head. “Thank you, guys,” she called loud enough for them to hopefully hear.
“No problem,” Jake shouted from outside the ambulance. The fact he’d returned to his cheery self gave her great solace that she’d be okay.
The doors closed and someone slapped a hand on the back. The trip to the hospital didn’t take long, but she was unable to let go of her anger at herself. She should have been more careful.
When the paramedics brought her into the hospital, they transferred her onto a bed in the waiting area. Too bad she had to lie there doing nothing for over three hours. Grr.
Finally, a doctor showed up and asked her the same questions Jake had asked, most of which seemed useless.
“It’s my knee that hurts.”
The elderly doctor smiled. “I’m worried about your possible concussion.”
She had a headache, but it was from the tension of losing a whole day of freedom. “When can I leave?”
“Just as soon as we do an MRI on your knee.” He then went into a boring discussion about how concussions can cause the brain to swell. “If your headache intensifies or if you are nauseated, call 9-1-1.”
He was scaring her. “Okay.”
Next came the MRI and another two-hour wait. Eventually, a new doctor appeared and introduced himself. “Looks like you’ve just sprained your knee. We’ll fix you up with a splint, but you’ll have to stay off it for a few days. If you ice the area, you’ll be good to go in no time.”
The good news helped boost her spirits. While she checked out, a nurse called a cab for her. The worse part of this whole accident was that she’d have to use crutches to get around. At least she’d already taken the rest of the week off. So much for my fun vacation.
Outside, the cold air perked her up. Her cab arrived, and she eased her way into the backseat. “I need to go to the ski lift.”
The cabbie looked into the rearview mirror. “Seriously?”
“My car’s there.”
“Sure you can drive?”
Her left knee was wrapped, and she’d really only need her right foot to press on the gas. “It’s an automatic.”
He shrugged, started the meter, and dropped her off next to her car. It took some doing getting into her front seat, but once she did, driving wasn’t a problem.
Luckily, she got a parking place in front of her house and hobbled inside. The moment she stepped in to the warm foyer, she was never so happy to be home. The first thing she wanted to do was take a shower. She would have soaked in the tub, but getting in and out might have been tricky.
As she undressed, her thoughts turned to Jake. She’d glimpsed a side of him today that she never expected to see. He was warm, gentle, and competent. From the way he handled everything from getting her skis to making sure she was safely in the sled, Jake had changed from the daredevil kid to a mature man.
Don’t think about him. As soon as he’d removed his gloves to check her out, she’d glanced to his left hand but spotted no ring. That didn’t mean anything these days, but Jake wasn’t the type to settle down. She tamped down the tingles prickling her body.
Move.
Using the stupid crutches, she limped into the bathroom. Getting undressed was awkward, but the reward was worth it. The hot shower was divine. Afterwards, she pulled on an old T-shirt and some worn sweatpants then placed the knee brace back over the pants. The hardwood floors in her house made using crutches tricky, but with care she made her way into the kitchen.
She was about to scrounge for some food when the doorbell rang. While she hadn’t called Selena to tell her about the accident, her best friend would have found out through the grapevine what happened and come running to the rescue. She smiled at the image of her feisty friend.
“Coming.”
She made her way to the door and pulled it open. She nearly tipped backward on her crutches. Whoa. Jake was the last person she expected to see. “Hi.” His tight jeans hugged his slim hips, but the thick jacket made his torso look massive.
He had his hands behind his back as if he were hiding something. Her pulse soared and her stomach fluttered. Even though he wasn’t someone she wanted to date, she was happy to have the company. You are such a liar. “What are you doing here?” An embarrassing amount of cheer seeped into her voice.
“May I come in?”
What was wrong with her? She never forgot her manners. “Sure.” Oh, shit. She couldn’t have been dressed in anything less attractive.
He whipped out a box of pizza. “I thought you might be hungry. If I recall, you liked veggie pizza.”
That was twelve years ago. “How did you remem
ber?”
He shrugged. “Just did.”
“Bring it to the table.” She’d limped to the living room when he stopped her.
“You sit down and let me serve you. You need to rest that leg.” He set the box on the coffee table along with a domino game.
She wasn’t even putting any pressure on her injured leg. What she needed to rest were her armpits. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.” I’m glad he did, though.
“I know, but I wanted to.”
Who was this man? She always thought that when he wasn’t skiing or being a daredevil, he was out on the town. She’d had a brief crush on him in high school, but that was a long time ago. Brief? Try a few years. He’d been self-absorbed back then, trying to get attention with all his wild stunts, and she didn’t want to disturb her safe little life by going out with him.
“I appreciate it.”
He tapped the box. “I also brought a domino game. Thought you might be bored.”
The rush of endorphins caught her off guard. “Are you hitting on me again, Jake Martin?” Say yes. Her ego wanted the sexy man to ask her out even though she would turn him down just like she had the other times. It would do no good to enter into a relationship with someone like him. Uh-oh. “Or is there some relative who was recently tossed in jail that you want me to help?”
His laugh made her body sing, but she swallowed to push aside the temporary thrill.
“I saved you from freezing to death. Can’t a guy check to see if you’re okay?”
She ran her gaze down his length, trying to gauge his level of seriousness. From the way his eyes sparkled, he might be telling the truth. “Sure.”
“Let’s get you comfortable.”
Her naked in bed with Jake defined being comfortable, but she was positive that wasn’t on his mind. “The sofa’s the best place.”
He grabbed a pillow off one of the chairs and placed it on the end of the coffee table. “Let’s prop your leg up. The elevation will help the knee. Have you iced it yet?”
“I will.”
Once she was comfortable, he discarded his jacket and then disappeared into the kitchen. A few cabinet doors banged and some drawers opened and closed. He returned with two plates, some napkins, and a glass of water. “Let’s chow.”
She would have preferred a glass of wine instead of water, but she knew alcohol didn’t mix with pain pills. She greedily dug in. “Oh, my God. This is so good. I’m starving.” She inhaled three pieces.
“If I’d known you had such an appetite, I would have bought two.”
He was kidding, but she appreciated his humor. After she stuffed herself until her stomach hurt, she leaned back. “That hit the spot. Thanks.” She nodded to the game. “You ready to get beaten or what?” Damn. Her voice came out too flirty. They used to play at school during lunch. Too often he won, but she was determined for that not to happen this time.
His eyes widened. “I’d never let a woman win. In fact, I try never to let anyone win.”
If what she’d read in the newspapers was correct, he probably had to build an extension on his home to house all the trophies he’d won for skiing competitions. Jake took out the dominos, placed them facedown, and they each chose their pieces.
“So tell me which sport gives you the biggest thrill?” Perhaps she could distract him from his game.
He blew out a breath. “That’s a tough one. Maybe BASE jumping.”
She shook her head. “Do you have a death wish or something?” She couldn’t imagine jumping off the top of a mountain with little more than a suit that made a person look like a bat.
“Don’t you get a rush when you ski?” He cocked a brow.
“Yes, but it’s relatively safe.” Her knee sent out a twinge. “Today was the first time I’ve been injured.”
He cleared his throat and seemed to work hard at not smiling. “Take the rush you get when you’re on top of the mountain ready to push off and magnify it a hundred fold. That’s what BASE jumping is like. The only thing between you and death is the suit you’re wearing and a small parachute. It’s like being a bird and flying. There is nothing like that thrill.” His eyes shone.
He hadn’t changed. “You live for the excitement and the adrenaline rush, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I imagine winning in the courtroom gets you jacked up, too.”
She laughed. “At times, yes, but my rush is not sensory based but one of fulfillment.” His lips slightly compressed for a moment as if she’d just dissed him. She hadn’t. “We going to play or what?”
The light in his face returned. “You’re on.”
For the next forty-five minutes they played, sometimes joking and sometimes his intensity matched that of a judge. Had there been more players, strategy would have come more into play. In the end, he got rid of his dominos first, and she had to turn over her remaining pieces and count the dots. After she added on what was in her hand, Jake ended up winning.
He jumped up, raised his arms, and danced around. She laughed so hard it caused her head to throb. “Ouch.” She planted her hands on her head.
Jake sobered in a second. “You okay? You want me to take you back to the hospital? Do you feel nauseated?”
This time she merely smiled. “I’m good. Thanks.” The ache subsided as quickly as it had arrived.
For the second time today, someone came to the door. “You want to get that for me?”
“Sure.” He grinned and her heart skipped a beat. Bad Lana.
He opened the door.
“Jake?”
Oh, no. Selena was here.
“Hey, Lana? You’ve got company. I’ll let you two girls chat.”
Damn, just when they were clicking. She lifted her leg off the table and turned around. “Thanks for the dinner and the game.”
He winked. “Anytime.”
After he walked out, she leaned back to assess what had happened. To her surprise, she’d had a lot of fun. He’d been competitive but not aggressively so. The man hadn’t changed much since high school, though. He was still the too-good-looking, cocky guy, though she had to admit he’d softened somewhat. Ever since his dad passed away, his brightness had dimmed and his need to excel had become more intense. Not that she’d followed his career or anything, but the Spirit newspaper often featured him. She wondered if Jake Martin would ever grow up and see his potential.
She inhaled, letting her imagination drift over to him. There probably was a woman out there who would be willing to peel back the onion and expose his wonderful side.
Why not you?
Chapter Two
Selena rushed toward her and sat in the chair opposite her. “Holy mackerel, are you all right? Why didn’t you call me and let me know you fell! I just heard about the accident and came right over.” She scrunched up her nose. “I think my timing wasn’t the best, was it?”
Those were a lot of words in one breath. “You’re good. Some kid ran into me on the slope and I tweaked my knee. I’ll be good in a few days.”
Selena motioned her thumb toward the front door. “What was Mr. Hottie doing here, then?”
She inwardly groaned. Her first mistake after meeting Selena was to give her the 4-1-1 on Jake. Ever since then, her friend had tried to get her to go after the man. No matter how many times she told Selena she wasn’t interested in someone who had little regard for his life, Selena refused to give up. That was probably because Selena was a lot like Jake in that she was always taking chances, be it on a horse, with a gun, or running a business. Only by dogged determination was Selena able to turn a broken-down bed-and-breakfast into a thriving business.
“He was on ski patrol when I fell and helped me down. Jake stopped by to make sure I was okay.”
Her brows rose. “Ooh, and he brought you dinner?” She nodded to the empty carton. “I see you played some dominos, too.”
“Darn. He left his game.”
Her eyes glistened. “All the better. You can return the set to him,
say, on a Saturday night?”
“Selena Easton.”
“What? You are going to see Jake again, right?” She leaned closer. “Tell me everything. Did he really save you?”
She went through the whole scenario in more depth, including the pizza and domino game. “Then you arrived. That’s all.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s not like you interrupted us in bed or anything.” Shit. Why did she say that? While she had seen a good side of Jake, she didn’t need to date anyone right now. “I’m about to go to trial and don’t have time for anyone in my life.”
“I heard what you said, but I can tell your body is responding to him.”
It is not. She didn’t need Selena on her case again. “Don’t start with me about how my life is all work and no play when all you do is work, work, work.” She couldn’t imagine the amount of effort it required to oversee and run a bed-and-breakfast with nine rooms.
Selena lifted her independent chin. “I haven’t found the right man, but that’s probably because I haven’t really been looking. I’m way too busy for that.”
“Same here.”
They’d spent the next hour talking about men and the pros and cons of Jake and a few other eligible men in town when her knee started to throb. “I need to take some more pain pills.”
Selena jumped up. “I’ll refill your water.” She was a good friend. She disappeared into the kitchen and returned a moment later. “Here you go.” She watched Lana down the pill. “Sweetie, I need to get back, but if you need anything at all, call me, all right?”
“Promise.”
Selena hugged her good-bye and pranced out of the house.
To Lana’s surprise, she fell asleep right on the sofa and didn’t budge until morning. Her knee hurt, but not as much as it had last night. After placing an ice pack on it for twenty minutes, she traipsed to her bedroom and got dressed. Wearing a really baggy pair of pants, her wrapped knee wasn’t visible. If she only did one thing today, she wanted to visit Anna Witcolm in jail. The woman’s hearing was coming up soon, and Lana needed to make sure her testimony was rock solid. That was assuming she could convince her co-counsel to let Anna take the stand. The woman never denied murdering her husband, but she did so in self-defense. Anna’s situation was the typical battered woman case, and Lana wanted to make sure she got a fair trial.
Her Colorado Dreams [Spirit, Colorado 1] Page 2