He answered on the second ring. “This is Shannon.”
“Max? Hi, it’s Evie Prentice. Listen, I just heard there’s a multi-car accident on the Thruway. Can you meet—”
“Chad and I just pulled up, looks like another overturned tractor trailer and two…no, three cars. Thanks for the heads-up, though! I appreciate the call. Gotta go.”
Evie’s response to Max died unspoken. She stared at her glowing phone. Of course Chad already knew about it. Of course Chad was already there. Maybe traffic wasn’t her calling. She needed something newsworthy that didn’t involve charging off behind the police and the rescue vehicles. That wasn’t her style.
But what was?
An approaching siren diverted her attention before she could get back to ruminating on the reason her heart was still pounding like a snare drum. She watched a police cruiser pull up in the parking lot. The officers got out and strolled into the pub. Either someone had called to report the crowded conditions or there’d actually been a fight.
And she was already on the scene. She pulled her notebook out of her purse along with her Herald ID and headed for the police car. It wouldn’t make the front page, not with the overturned tractor-trailer, but it might put her one step closer to the career she’d been dreaming about.
Chapter Six
“Explain to me again why you haven’t called him yet.” Bailey panted between words as she jogged beside Evie the next morning in the park.
“Besides the fact that it’s only eight a.m.?” Next to Bailey, Evie struggled to maintain her pace. Her friend was taller than she was, so her strides were a lot longer. Evie relished the challenge, but talking while running made keeping up even more difficult.
“He said call him anytime. That means Any. Time.” Bailey effortlessly slowed to a walk, and Evie downshifted, gulping in cool morning air. She needed some shorter friends to work out with. Between statuesque, brunette Emerson and willowy, redheaded Bailey, Evie looked like a mousy fourth-grader with her shorter legs and compact curves. Running with either one of her best friends always left her exhausted.
Still panting, Evie liberated her water bottle from the pouch at her hip and took a long sip before she was able to speak again. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“This must be serious. You’re never at a loss for words.” Bailey sipped from her own bottle and stopped to stretch her legs for a moment.
“It’s not serious. I mean—” She shivered at the thought of the kiss they’d shared. She’d spend half the night wondering how he’d faired at the accident scene and talking herself out of calling him. Chad’s coverage splashed across the front page of the Saturday edition, complete with Max’s dramatic photo of a flaming car. There was no mention of any EMTs being injured, so she assumed he was fine, but was he really waiting for her call as anxiously as he’d made it seem last night? “We kissed. That was all— Oh, and we talked about maybe double dating, if you feel like seeing Taylor again.”
“You’re already up to double dating?”
“It was just small talk really.” Evie’s fingers itched to pull out her phone and call him. It bothered her that she felt like she needed an excuse.
“I’ll go out with Taylor. He was nice.” Bailey raised a brow. “Do you think you can handle an evening with Tanner?”
“I’m not sure. He makes me…wobbly.”
“That’s a good thing. Easier for him to sweep you off your feet.”
“I don’t want to be swept,” Evie replied, ignoring the memories of his comments at the self-defense class. “I want to keep my feet firmly on the ground, thanks. I don’t like feeling out of control, and he…”
“Makes you want to lose control?”
God, yes. With her back pressed against the chilly bricks of the building and her front pressed against his chest, she’d felt like a kite in the wind and someone had cut the string that anchored her to earth. Tanner Croft made her angry and jealous and hot and jittery and reckless…and none of those things were good. “He’s not really my type.”
“Oh, please.”
“No, I’m serious. You and Taylor—that makes a little more sense. Tanner said he’s very focused and serious. He’s dedicated to his work, and he’s looking to settle down. He’s like the male version of you. I bet you two would be great together. But me and Tanner—”
“Oil and water?”
“Oil and a lit match. Ever since last night, I feel like I touched a live wire, and I don’t like that feeling.”
Bailey sipped her water again. “Then get over it.”
“How do I do that?”
“Hang on tight and wait for the shock to pass.”
“That’s very philosophical, but in reality, if you hang on to something that heats you up like that, all you do is get burned. I don’t want to get burned.”
“Now you sound like me. You’re the adventurous one. Take a chance.”
“And you sound like me. What happened to conservative Bailey who went home early last night and watched a movie with her brother?”
Bailey held out her hand. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll take a chance on Taylor if you take a chance on his brother.”
“I thought you didn’t like Tanner.”
“That was when I thought you didn’t like him.”
“I haven’t actually said I do like him.”
Bailey lifted Evie’s hand by the wrist. “You’re still shaking from last night. You like him.”
“I’m not sure—”
“Call him. Now.”
Evie’s first instinct was to refuse. She wasn’t sure she wanted Bailey or anyone watching her when she spoke to Tanner because it might be embarrassing, but she had to admit, she’d thought of nothing else for almost twelve hours. At least she had her excuse. Bailey wanted to see Taylor again, and a double date would make her less likely to throw herself at him and end up doing something her sensible self would regret later.
“Fine.” She pulled out her phone and searched for his number. It wasn’t under C where she expected it, or TA for Tanner. She glanced at Bailey. Had the slippery snake only pretended to put his number into her phone?
“I can’t believe this…oh…hah.” She found it under The Evil Twin and showed Bailey before hitting dial. “Well, at least he’s honest.”
“That makes one of you,” Bailey muttered.
Evie cut off the call before the phone rang and squinted at her friend. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know Shakespeare?”
“We’ve never met, but I’ve heard of him.”
“Have you heard the lady doth protest too much?”
Evie rolled her eyes. Before she could protest, Bailey plowed on. “Stop pretending he hasn’t gotten under your skin. That’s nothing to be afraid of.”
A million replies whizzed through Evie’s head, but she silenced them all and leveled an exasperated look at Bailey. Honestly, there was plenty to be afraid of, the least of which was losing her heart to someone who might not be serious about her. What she feared most was that it had already happened.
*
Tanner’s cell phone had never gone so long without ringing, and of course, the moment it did, his partner swiped the device from his hand.
“I’ve got to see who you’ve been obsessing over all day,” Quinn said, twisting out of Tanner’s reach and retreating to the far side of the firehouse kitchen where they’d been eating breakfast after a long night on duty. Tanner had another hour before this extra shift ended, and he desperately needed some sleep, but his exhaustion didn’t stop him from chasing his friend across the room.
“Give it back, come on. How old are you?”
The phone continued to play its ringtone, and any minute the call would go to voicemail. Tanner lunged for it, grabbed Quinn’s arm, and wrestled it away from him.
“You’ve checked that phone a hundred times since we got back here. Must be a really important call…”
Tanner shushed him and hit connect.
Despite having Evie on his mind all night, he was actually glad she hadn’t called back until now. He wouldn’t have been able to answer while he was working. “Hello?” He managed to keep his greeting neutral, even as he made a face at his partner.
“Hi. I hope this is a good time to call.”
“It is. I’m at work, but nothing’s going on.”
“I can call back.”
“No, this is okay. How are you?” Lame question. Across the room, Quinn had puckered up and was making kissing noises. Tanner rolled his eyes and turned his back. So juvenile. Hard to believe the guy was his best friend.
“I talked to Bailey, and she said she’s up for a double date, if Taylor is interested.”
“I’ll call him and find out when he’s free.”
“Good. Okay, maybe before that you and I could…get together?”
“Sure.” He’d done it. He’d charmed her. Now he just needed some free time. “Unfortunately I had to pick up a couple of extra shifts. The ambulance corps in Stanton is short-handed because of the flu, so my whole company is on call. How’s Tuesday night? Dinner…? Maybe someplace other than Colette’s?”
“Sure. Call me. Anytime.”
Tanner hung up, still grinning, and Quinn let out a low whistle. “So that was the reporter?”
“Evie.”
“The one who doesn’t like you?”
Tanner smirked. “Apparently she likes me now.”
“Well, if you want to keep it that way, don’t ever cook for her.” Quinn grimaced as he cleared off the remains of the scrambled eggs Tanner had made for them.
“Don’t worry. If I get the chance, I plan to take her out for breakfast.”
“So you’ve already got those kinds of plans? You sure she doesn’t just want to get back at you for flipping her around in karate class?”
Tanner slipped his phone back into his pocket. “She can flip me anyway she wants me. This girl is special.”
“They’re all special with you. For ten days, tops. Then they’re history.”
Tanner shook his head. “No…this is different.”
Quinn stopped his haphazard housekeeping and stared at his partner. “You say that at least once a month.”
“And I always mean it. Look, I’m not saying I met ‘the one,’” He paused to make air quotes around the words. After watching the crash and burn of his brother’s long-term relationship, he’d vowed never to let that happen to him, but there was something between him and Evie, and he was determined to see how far it could go. Maybe it was the need to prove her wrong, or maybe it was those blue eyes of hers that had drawn him directly into her soul. Maybe he was just out of his mind. But whatever it was, he’d never felt it before. “I’m just going to enjoy the challenge.”
Quinn met his gaze for a minute. “Then good luck. I think you’re going to need it.”
Chapter Seven
“Thanks for coming with me today, I know this isn’t your usual type of assignment,” Evie said as she pumped coins into a vending machine in an alcove of one of Lakeside Hospital’s winding corridors. A lemon soda rolled out of its slot and plunked to the bottom of the machine, and she retrieved the can and handed it to Max Shannon.
“I don’t mind. I’m a portrait photographer, so taking pictures of the Women’s Auxiliary officers for the opening of the children’s wing is not too far off from what I do every day.”
Evie bought herself a soda and pressed the icy aluminum can to her cheek before opening it. The lights in the conference room where the dedication ceremony had been held, coupled with the dry heat of the hospital’s environmental system, had wilted her. She couldn’t wait to get outside into the cool spring air, but she still had a couple of interviews to do with members of the Auxiliary Club for the article that would go with Max’s pictures.
“In a couple of weeks I’ll need some photos of the finished treatment rooms and a shot of the ribbon cutting at the grand opening. Will you be able to do those shoots too?”
“I don’t see why not. I’ll check my calendar to be sure. Can you e-mail me the dates and times?”
“Will do. How do you like working for the paper? I guess it’s pretty exciting, working with Chad.”
Max shrugged, his eyes sparkling. “He takes a lot of flack for always being first on the scene, but he’s really not a bad guy.”
Evie’s already warm face heated further. She hadn’t meant to sound petty. She really couldn’t blame Chad for her lack of upward mobility. She’d begun to think she just didn’t have the drive to push her way into a situation and make headline news out of it. “I know he’s not. He’s just everywhere at once. He has sort of a Clark Kent vibe about him, don’t you think? I keep half expecting him to show up one of these days in a cape and tights.”
“Now that would make front-page news.”
Evie laughed and checked her watch. “I’ve got to meet Mrs. Moriarty in five minutes. You don’t need to hang around anymore, though. I think we have all the pictures we need for now.”
Max finished his soda and tossed the can in a nearby bin. “That works for me. I’m meeting my girlfriend down in the ER for dinner.”
“Funny place for a dinner date.”
“Audrey’s a nurse. She’s got half an hour break on Monday nights, so we try to catch a quick bite in the cafeteria. If you get done with your interview and you want to join us…”
She waved him off. “Thanks, but after this, I’m going home. It’s been a long day.” Evie chucked the remains of her own soda and hitched her heavy purse higher on her shoulder. “Thanks again. I’ll e-mail you those dates for the photo shoots.”
Max headed for the elevators, and Evie let out a long sigh. She oriented herself in the direction of the conference room where the president of the Women’s Auxiliary Club would be meeting her and marched off, her mind already wandering back to thoughts of Tanner. He’d called her once more to solidify their plans for tomorrow night and let her know Taylor would be available on Friday for a double date. With two days separating her and that kiss, she finally felt like she’d regained some equilibrium and perspective. It had been a while since she’d experienced a bout of intense lust, but looking back, she realized that was all it was between her and Tanner. Not that she considered that a reason not to see him again, but accepting a chemical reaction as the explanation for her behavior gave her a little peace of mind. She could have some fun with Tanner—a lot of fun—but she didn’t have to worry about him flirting with other women. She’d decided she could keep her heart out of it and just enjoy herself.
Her phone was vibrating by the time she reached the conference room, and she apologized to Mrs. Moriarty before answering it when she saw the caller was Max Shannon. “Hey, Max, what’s up?”
“If you can postpone your interview, you may want to get down here to the ER. There’s a three-alarm house fire in Stanton, a number of injuries, and one of them is an EMT.”
Max hung up before Evie could respond. She gaped at the phone, her pulse racing. Mrs. Moriarty paled. “Are you all right, Miss Prentice? You look upset.”
“No, I’m…I mean, I’m fine. But there’s an emergency. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to postpone our interview. Can I call you tomorrow to reschedule?”
The woman looked only slightly put out, but she managed to retain her composure. “Of course, of course. I hope it’s nothing too serious.”
Evie shoved her phone back into her purse and headed for the door. “I’m sure I’ll find out. Thank you for understanding. You’ll be hearing from me soon.”
Outside the conference room, Evie scanned the nearest directory and raced off in the direction of the ER. Max had no idea she was involved with Tanner, she realized. He’d been giving her a heads-up on a possible front-page story, but her byline was the last thing on her mind as she hurried through the thickly carpeted corridors of the hospital and burst through the connecting doors into the emergency department. Tanner was working tonight, double shifts to help out the nei
ghboring community. She could worry about a story once she was sure he was all right, and if he was, this might be her shot—finally a front-page story. If only she could shake the guilty feeling that her success seemed to hinge on someone else’s misfortune.
* * * *
Despite the chaos swirling around Tanner in the middle of the ER, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. He recognized Audrey Desmond as she raced by him, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Lily Jarvis, the receptionist, her light blue eyes wide with concern. He wanted to move toward her, but he couldn’t seem to make his muscles respond. He could only stare at the gurney on which Quinn lay, unconscious, his neck immobilized by a cervical collar.
Doctors and nurses flooded the narrow space leading to the treatment rooms, several of them stopping at Quinn’s gurney, others flowing past in a river of blue-green scrubs and white coats to attend to the other patients who were backing up like planes on a runway behind him.
“Report?” Someone demanded of him, and his brain kicked back into gear. Everything sped up as though he’d gone from slow motion to fast forward.
“Umm…male, age twenty-seven, approximately a hundred and sixty pounds, head trauma and possible injury to the cervical spine…”
The resident’s name escaped Tanner, but he knew her. She rattled off something to a nurse and an orderly who stood beside her, and seconds later they whisked Quinn away to X-ray. Tanner remained in the middle of the corridor for a moment, suspended in time, before a trembling hand closed over his. He looked into Lily’s eyes, and his breath caught.
Spring River Valley: The Spring Collection (Boxed Set) Page 4