It was hard not to get lost in the intensity of Larem’s gaze when their eyes finally met. Sometimes she wondered if his Kalith DNA gave him the ability to see far more about a person than she could. For sure, he seemed to look straight into the heart of her. Fearing what he might see there, she turned her attention back to Chance.
“Well, I see you and your buddy here are still wearing out the sidewalks.”
“We have enjoyed our walks.” The light in his eyes dimmed a bit.
She asked, “Mind some company? D.J. and Cullen managed to recoup an impressive amount of the money Kincade had stolen, and I’ve been holed up in my office dealing with it. Today I think I’ve earned some time out here in the sunshine before I go there.”
“That is good news, but weren’t you going to get some coffee?” He gave her the ghost of a smile. “We can wait for you.”
“If you’re sure.” Before she’d gone two steps, Chance blocked her way. “It’s okay, boy, I’ll be right back.”
When the dog wouldn’t move, Larem held out the leash. “Why don’t I get it for you. Do you want the same as last time?”
He remembered? Smiling, she nodded but then had second thoughts. “Better make it decaf this time.”
“Afraid you won’t be able to sleep?”
Once again she nodded. Better to let him assume that was the reason. She reached for her wallet.
He waved her off. “My treat.”
While she waited for him to get through the line, she tugged Chance over to a low concrete wall nearby where she could sit down and pet him. She hugged the dog close, taking comfort in his solid warmth. God, what was she going to do? She thought she could stay away from Larem; Lord knows she’d tried. But even without the latest complication, the temptation to seek him out, to make sure he was all right, had been unbearable.
The door of the shop opened again. He was back, carrying two coffees and a bottled water. Larem handed her the coffees and then pulled a shallow bowl out of his jacket pocket and filled it for Chance. She liked that about him, that he cared so much about his furry friend.
After the dog slurped his fill of water, the three of them moved on down the sidewalk. For the first couple of blocks, they concentrated on sipping their coffee and avoiding conversation.
The forced peace couldn’t last. Nothing had changed. She was who she was—a woman with her future all planned out. There was so much she could accomplish here in Seattle given the time and opportunity. Ever since David’s death, she’d hated everything connected to the Others and their secret reign of terror. It still made her sick to think about how many good men like her first love had burned out their lives trying to stanch the flow of crazies across the barrier.
With that idea never far from her thoughts, she’d worked long and hard with her goals in mind: to improve conditions for the Paladins, to make their lives better, to find a way to stop the mental deterioration that ended their lives far too soon. And yet, here she was with her heart aching for a man who should be her enemy.
Sasha had watched Larem talking to the barista inside the coffee shop with his usual quiet dignity. The woman had handed him his change with a smile that was a few degrees too warm to make Sasha happy, not that she could blame her. He was certainly handsome enough, but there was so much more to him than that.
The other problem was that Larem was a man without real ties to this world. Yes, he had friends, but it was obvious that he missed his home. Given the opportunity, she suspected he’d bolt back across the barrier. What had held him here this long? He’d yet to share his story with her.
Which left them where?
Now, walking along beside Larem, she was acutely aware of his every movement. It was as if something inside her was hardwired to respond to him differently than she had to any other man she’d ever met. He moved with a warrior’s grace and wore the same easy self-assurance that Paladins did, as if he were the toughest thing on the block, ready and able to handle whatever life threw at him.
She hoped that was true. She really did.
Larem smiled at her. “You’re thinking awfully hard about something, Sasha. Is everything all right? Devlin’s not driving you crazy, is he?”
“No, Devlin and I’ve actually made real progress on a few things this week. I don’t know where he got such a reputation for being uncooperative.” She grinned. “Of course, it probably helps that I’m the one with the checkbook.”
“That might be part of it, but maybe not. Devlin swears he’s always dealing with idiots and fools. I suspect you confuse him since you don’t often fit in either of those categories.”
“Thanks.” She shot him a sideways look. “I think.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled, confirming he was teasing her. Damn it, why did he have to be so perfect in so many ways? She’d really been hoping that seeing him again would prove to her that the heat they’d generated had been a fluke, or if not, at least that that’s all it had been. Unfortunately, the attraction she felt for him was more than hormones.
So that settled one question but left so many others unanswered. As long as she was walking beside him, she’d never get her head on straight.
She stopped at the next corner. “Well, I’d better leave you here. All that work on my desk won’t finish itself.”
Rather than risk looking at Larem—fearing he’d see the confusion written in her expression—she knelt down to take her leave of Chance. “You take care, big fella. Next time maybe we’ll go to a park and play fetch.”
The big dog’s tail instantly drooped, and he whined before licking her hand. Darn it, did she have to like the dog as much as she did his owner?
“There won’t be a next time.”
She tore her attention from Chance back up to his grim-looking companion, her pulse doing a fifty-yard sprint. “Why? What’s going on? Where are you going?”
Please not back to Kalithia. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
“I’m not going anywhere, but Chance doesn’t belong to me. He’s from the shelter where I volunteer. Now that his injuries are healed, the vet has listed him for adoption. It’s only a matter of time before Chance finds a new home.”
There was no mistaking the pain in Larem’s voice. She put her hand on his sleeve. “Can’t you adopt him?”
“I would if I could, but I don’t have my own place. I live with Lonzo, and the apartment is barely big enough for the two of us. Now that Chance’s leg is getting stronger, he needs a big yard and a family.”
The dog deserved a little happiness in his life, but what about Larem? It was clear he had developed a strong attachment to the dog. So had she, for that matter.
“Listen, I just moved into Laurel’s condo, and I’m rattling around in all that space. Maybe I could keep Chance for you until you have a place of your own. I know it’s not a perfect solution, but at least you’d still be able to see him whenever you wanted to.”
And her, too. Though that could be a problem. Some secrets have a way of revealing themselves. She’d have to tell Larem the truth and soon, but not out here on the street.
Larem studied her for several seconds. “Are you sure? Adopting a dog is a big commitment, and my situation is unstable. Besides, I thought your stay here was only temporary.”
“Not if I can help it. Besides, Chance would really be yours.” She hesitated. “And I’ll have to check with Laurel to make sure it’s all right.”
From the way Larem was looking at Chance, he was definitely wavering. “Let’s do this. You check with Laurel and think about it overnight. I’ll ask Dr. Isaac to take Chance off the list for the next couple of days. If you’re still interested, call me and we’ll make the necessary arrangements.”
He still didn’t look entirely happy, but she knew she really didn’t need the extra time at all. If Laurel was okay with Chance moving in, this time tomorrow she’d have someone to share her new home with.
She patted Chance one more time. “Well, I’ve got calls to make and work to do.
I hope to see you tomorrow. Both of you, that is.”
“We’ll look forward to it.”
Larem nodded good-bye and tugged Chance’s leash, pulling the dog in the opposite direction. Sasha allowed herself to watch Larem as he and Chance made their way back toward the shelter. When Larem stopped abruptly, she quickly turned away, not wanting to be caught staring.
Okay, it was time to get her head back in the game. She really did have more work waiting at the office. Later she’d think about all the implications of seeing Larem and Chance again tomorrow. At least, it had felt good to get out for a while.
Except she was suddenly being crowded. She inched forward, trying to put some room between her and whoever was hovering just over her shoulder. She was already standing on the edge of the sidewalk when someone jostled her, almost causing her to lose her balance. Before she could say something, everything went to hell.
One minute she was waiting for the light to change, her thoughts churning as she tried to make sense of her life, and the next she was flying forward to the tune of squealing tires and honking horns. The pavement came up hard and fast as she instinctively wrapped her arms around her abdomen, leaving her head unprotected. The last thing she remembered was a dog barking and a pair of strong arms muscling her up off the ground.
Larem ignored the crush of people gathering around. Thanks to Chance, they were keeping a respectful distance. Larem cradled Sasha against his chest before setting her down. Yeah, a couple of helpful individuals mumbled something about not moving her, but did they really think he’d leave her sprawled out in the street, giving somebody a second try at killing her?
If he hadn’t given in to looking back at her one last time, he would’ve missed the whole thing. She’d been waiting for the light to change when a man in a dark sweatshirt with the hood cinched down over his face had given her a shove out into traffic before taking off down the street at a dead run.
Chance had led the charge back down the block, barking and clearing the path for Larem. He didn’t need to tell the dog to stay close while he dropped the leash to deal with Sasha’s injuries. Chance gave him room to work and glared at anyone who got too close. Larem left it up to others to call the authorities. He had more important things to do.
He ran his hands up and down Sasha’s arms, chanting softly under his breath. For once he was able to focus his gift, pulling in the healing warmth of the early afternoon sun and blending it with the magic of his ancestors. He found bruises and scrapes but no broken bones. Using the lightest of touches, he threaded his fingers through her hair, searching for the cause of her continued unconsciousness.
She jerked in pain when he came into contact with a large lump on the back of her head. His hand came away slick with blood. He paused to slow the bleeding and reverse the swelling, taking comfort that some of the tension eased in her facial expression. Next, he passed his palm over her chest and on toward her stomach. No bleeding. Her ribs weren’t fractured but badly bruised. He sent another surge of energy to soothe them.
As he concentrated, hurrying to do what he could before the medics arrived and took over, he continued to pour everything he had into healing the damage. The sirens were growing louder. Knowing he had seconds left at best, he made one more pass over her, paying special attention for possible internal injuries.
And found something. His blood ran cold and his skin flushed hot. He checked one last time and then surrendered her care to the medics after pulling Chance back out of the way. At least the dog sensed that the uniformed man and woman were there to help his Sasha.
As the EMTs ran through their protocols, they kept up a steady stream of questions. A police officer had joined the party, jotting down the information Larem provided before moving on to take witness statements.
“Sir, we’re going to transport her to the trauma center now. Is there anyone who should be notified?”
Larem, still reeling, nodded. “She has no family locally. Her father lives in St. Louis. I don’t have his number with me, but I’ll see that he and her personal physician are contacted.”
That last was a stretch of the truth, but would give Laurel a chance to intervene if necessary.
“Does she have any allergies that you know of?”
There were so many things about her he didn’t know, and that was one of them. “I have no idea, but there is one thing the doctors should know.”
The EMT paused, waiting for Larem to finish.
“She’s pregnant.”
Chapter 16
Sasha’s head felt as if someone were using it for bongos. Where was she? She focused her energy on listening for any clues she could pick out over the banging inside her skull.
Judging by the sounds and smells, she was at the hospital, most likely in the emergency room. It made sense considering her last coherent memory was fighting a losing battle against a very big car. Well, it had looked pretty darn big coming straight at her, but she’d been in no real position to judge for sure. How had it happened?
Yeah, she’d been a bit distracted over her encounter with Larem and Chance, but she knew for a fact she hadn’t stepped out in front of that car.
As she tried to clear her mind, other worries rose up to demand attention—one in particular. Her eyes finally opened enough that she could look around to see who could answer her questions.
A familiar figure hovered at the edge of her vision, just inside the curtain that surrounded her bed in the chaotic world of the emergency room. She was hoping for a doctor or even a nurse, anyone other than the man standing there.
“Larem?” she whispered, trying not to jar her head.
He moved closer to the bed and enfolded her hand in his. As soon as their hands connected, the bongos faded to a more bearable level. She sighed in relief, briefly accepting the comfort of his touch.
But she couldn’t relax, not until she knew. “Where’s the doctor?”
“With another patient, but she said she’d stop back to check on you soon. The nurse was also called away, but I’m sure she’s not far.” His accent had grown stronger again; his emotions were running high.
“Who did this to me?”
“We don’t know, but the police are investigating. Witnesses were able to give them a pretty detailed description of the guy who pushed you.” His eyes closed, and he squeezed her hand tighter. “Sasha, I—”
“I’ll be okay.” Or would be once she could talk to the medical staff. “Can you ask the nurse to come back in? It’s important.”
He nodded and walked out. She heard the low rumble of his voice and then the sound of footsteps heading her way. She braced herself to ask some hard questions.
A woman wearing a lab coat walked in. “Ms. Willis, I’m Dr. Brand. I’m glad to see you’re perking up. Give me a minute to check a few things and then we’ll talk.”
She poked and prodded and took readings, her touch gentle but firm. When she was finished, she pulled up a chair and sat down.
“You’re one very lucky lady. According to the police, you took quite a hit. You have a few bruises and abrasions as well as an impressive bump on your head, but none of your injuries are life threatening.
“Your friend Mr. Jones told us about the pregnancy. We confirmed it with a blood test, but so far there are no signs of any problems in that quarter. Of course, you’ll want to follow up with your OB/GYN about the accident as soon as possible.”
Relief mixed with confusion. Thank God the baby was all right, but how in the world had Larem known? She certainly hadn’t told anyone about any of the home pregnancy tests she’d taken over the past couple of days, least of all him. The man had a lot to answer for, but this wasn’t the time or the place.
“When can I go home?”
Dr. Brand smiled. “I always figure it’s a good sign when my patients start asking that question. However, I’d like to admit you overnight to keep an eye on that head wound, since you don’t have any family in Seattle. Unless you have someone who can stay wi
th you, concussions can be tricky. You don’t want to take any unnecessary chances, especially with a pregnancy involved.”
“I’ll stay with her.”
Larem had returned. No surprise there. She’d sensed that he’d remained close by, but then he did have a vested interest in the doctor’s report. The last thing she wanted to do was spend a night in the hospital surrounded by strangers, especially since the accident hadn’t been an accident at all.
“Thanks, Larem, that would be great.” Sort of.
She told herself that she’d accepted Larem’s offer simply because she didn’t have any other close friends here she could ask. The real truth was much simpler: she trusted him to keep her safe.
The doctor may have sensed some of the tension between them, because she glanced at Larem before giving Sasha a considering look. “If you’re sure . . .”
“I’m sure.”
“All right then, I’ll write your discharge orders, but I don’t want you to go home until after all the test results are back. Also, the police are going to want to take your statement before you leave.”
When the doctor disappeared, Larem ventured closer. “I’ve already spoken to the authorities. They were going to stop by soon to see if you were awake. Devlin and Laurel are on their way, as well.”
Sasha leaned back against her pillow and felt the burn of tears. The last thing she wanted was to be grilled by either the police or Devlin Bane, but she supposed there was no avoiding it.
Larem’s gentle touch melted the last of her self-control, unleashing a stream of tears. He immediately perched on the edge of her bed and slowly pulled her into the sanctuary of his arms.
“This really wasn’t an accident, was it? Someone shoved me out in front of that car,” she whispered, trusting Larem to give it to her straight.
He didn’t even hesitate. “No, it wasn’t an accident. Devlin has D.J. monitoring the police investigation, and they’re handling the case as an assault. There’s no indication the driver was involved, but they’re hunting for the guy who ran from the scene.”
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