“Mark volunteered to take Becca and me to the hospital daycare’s Christmas party.”
“Do you have your Christmas cookies? You told me you have a great recipe for shortbread.”
Jules felt the heat from her reddening cheeks. Embarrassed by how easily she blushed made her blush deepen.
She startled when Val answered for her. Val stood in the entranceway to the living room, carrying Becca on her hip. “The cookies are made and ready to go. Why don’t we take Becca upstairs and get the two of you ready?”
“Are we going to a party?” Becca asked as they started up the stairs.
“Yes, sweetheart, and I think there may be a surprise visitor at the party.”
“Dane? Is Dane coming?”
“No, Dane’s not coming. Mark is taking you and Mommy.”
“Oh, okay.” Her disappointment was made clear to everyone, especially Dane.
Mark shifted on his feet, uncomfortable under the watchful eyes of the two men before him. After a few moments, the awkward silence became unbearable.
“It’s just a party for the kids,” he blurted out. “They’ll have some treats, and then Santa will drop by and give them a present. I’ll have them home in a few hours.”
“Define a few,” Dane’s voice was low and threatening.
“It’s over by six. We’ll be back here no later than six-thirty. Is that okay with you?”
“Is what okay with them?” Jules asked as she descended the stairs.
Mark’s head shot up to see her. Instant relief crossed his face. “They wanted to know when you’d be returning home.”
“Are you planning to house sit while we’re out?”
“Just having a friendly conversation,” Dane answered, his gaze still fixed on the man in front of him. The man who would be spending the next few hours with his daughter and enjoying her delight in being at a party, having treats, and seeing Santa. At that moment he hated Mark Blackwell with every fiber in his being.
“We’re ready,” Val announced as she descended the stairs with Becca holding her hand.
Becca smiled broadly, proud of the pretty Christmas party dress her mother had purchased for her. It was a sparkly green princess dress, perfect for a four almost-five-year-old who believed in fairy tales and fairy princesses. Flopsy wore a sparkly green bow tie around his neck.
“You’re beautiful,” Dane gushed. His gaze took in Jules. “Both of you are stunning.”
Jules wore a green dress, too. Not glittering like Becca’s, but a deep Christmas green that hugged her curves in all of the right places—a dress similar to the one she wore when she first appeared in his life. When she asked him to play a game, and he agreed.
“We should be going.” Mark’s announcement pierced the bubble around them.
“Yes. We should leave, too. Val? Do you have everything?”
“My bag’s in the kitchen. Give me a second.”
“Will you help Becca with her coat, Dane?”
“Sure.” Dane took the coat off the coat rack and crouched to help the little girl with her coat. “You’re going to be the prettiest princess there. I hope you have lots of fun.”
She nodded her head and smiled.
Dane took their coats from the rack, handing Bate’s his then putting on his.
“Val!”
“Coming,” she called out as she made her way from the kitchen. “Have a wonderful time,” she said as she kissed Jules’ cheek. “And you, little missy, you have fun, too.”
Dane helped Val with her coat.
Bates opened the front door. “Let’s go.”
Dane held out his hand to Mark. “Goodnight, Doctor.”
“Goodnight.”
“Lucky. Home.” Dane exited the house with his dog at his side.
He opened the rear door of the SUV and nodded for the dog to jump in. He followed, leaving Bates to look after Val. Once they were all settled in the vehicle, before the winter’s chill had left the interior of the SUV, a colder voice broke through the silence.
“Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Dane leaned his head against the headrest and closed his eyes. He should be the one taking his daughter to see Santa, not some stranger. It tore at his insides, knowing that she didn’t realize that Dane was her father and that she could ask him to take her places and he would because that was what fathers were supposed to do.
Lucky’s paw pressed against Dane’s thigh. He whimpered as his nose pushed into the back of Dane’s hand, the cold, wet nose warning him of an imminent seizure.
Dane cursed as he gazed down at his dog. “Now?”
Dane unbuckled his seat belt and spread out along the seat. One leg bent at the knee, with his foot flat on the floor while the other leg stretched out with the sole of his boot pressed against the door. Once settled, Lucky jumped onto him, laying on his torso, his head resting under Dane’s chin.
“You okay, Boss?”
“Keep your eyes on the road, Bates. Get us home.”
Dane regained consciousness in the back seat of the SUV, immediately aware of the eighty-five-pound weight on his chest that was licking his face.
“Good boy,” he murmured, his hand rubbing the top of Lucky’s head.
“You okay?” Bates’ gruff voice reminded him that he wasn’t alone.
“Feel like a truck hit me. Again.”
“You were out for a long time, Boss. Val’s come out a couple of times to check on you. We were going to head out to the hospital if you hadn’t come to in a few minutes. You sure you’re okay?”
“Just let me get inside the house.” He groaned as he tried to move under his dog’s weight. “Off!” Lucky didn’t move except to secure his position on top of his master. “Off,” Dane repeated.
“Want me to pull him off you?” Bates offered as he reached back for the dog’s collar.
Lucky shifted his weight on Dane, moving closer to the back of the seat. He warned Bates off with a low growl.
“Shit. He won’t let me near you. The dog’s never done that before.”
Dane, too tired to wrestle with his dog, relaxed beneath him. “Give him a minute. Let him settle down.” His large hand stroked the dog’s head. “Good boy. Good—”
He was out again. Bates had never seen this happen before. It had always been one seizure, and then Dane was conscious and tired, but able to get to his feet and carry on. Something was wrong.
He reached for his cellphone and pressed the dial button.
“Bates?”
“Get to the car now. I’m taking Boss to the hospital.” He looked at his watch. “One minute then I’m leaving without you.”
“I’m on my way.”
Val arrived at the SUV with seconds to spare. Bates stood by the front passenger door, waiting for her.
“I could have opened the door myself.”
“Don’t argue.”
Val slid onto her seat, looking at Dane unconscious on the back seat. She heard the slam of her door, and then Bates took his place behind the steering wheel. In seconds they exited the garage and sped down the laneway to the main road.
“What happened?” Val asked, feeling it was now safe to talk to Bates.
“He came to then went out again. The damned dog knew it. Wouldn’t let me pull him off Boss.”
“That’s not like Lucky.”
“It’s not like Boss either. He doesn’t have seizures back to back. Something’s wrong. Very wrong.”
The sound of Lucky whimpering, while he lay on top of Dane’s body, brought tears to Val’s eyes.
“We can’t lose him, Bates. Not now.”
Bates glanced at her. “There’s never a good time to lose him.”
Bates arrived at the hospital in record speed, pulling up to the Emergency entrance with his horn blaring
, demanding immediate attention.
Val got out of the car and opened the rear passenger door. “Lucky, come here, boy.”
The dog refused to move, answering Val with a sharp bark. For the first time, Val witnessed the hair on the dog’s back rise, and she feared him.
“Here, boy. Off!”
Her commands were unheeded.
Bates opened the other rear door, and the dog barked at him, this time more threatening.
“You have to get the dog off him,” an attendant ordered Bates.
“Don’t you think I know that?”
Bates reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out his gun.
“Don’t you dare!” Val screamed.
“I have to. There’s no other choice.”
“Wait!” Val reached into her coat pocket for her cell phone. She pressed the call button.
“We haven’t got time!” Bates yelled out.
Val looked across the rear seat. Her eyes locked with Bates, demanding that he listen to her. “Boss will never forgive you if you shoot his dog. We have to try. Jules. Where are you? It’s Dane. We’re at the Emergency entrance. Bring Becca. We need her. Hurry!”
“What is it?” Mark whispered in her ear. “You’ve turned white as a sheet.”
“It’s Dane. Val needs us in Emergency.” Jules didn’t wait for Mark to speak. Hurriedly, she scooped up Becca and carried her out of the daycare.
Mark rushed after her. “Wait! What about her presents?”
“Deal with it!”
The visual of two redheads dressed in beautiful green dresses was a sight to behold. People stopped and stared as Jules raced down the corridor to the Emergency Department with Becca in her arms.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?”
“Dane needs us.”
“Is he sleeping?”
“I don’t know, sweetie.”
“He’ll be okay. Lucky will keep him safe.”
Various scenarios raced through Jules’ mind as she ran with Becca. Was Dane shot? Did he lie to her, and his life was in danger? Was he in an accident? Was it a seizure? Jules hugged Becca tighter. They arrived at the entrance and witnessed the commotion occurring outside. Flashing colored lights lit up the pavement, and a crowd of people gathered around a black SUV.
Jules pushed her way through the crowd while holding onto Becca. “Let me through. I’m a doctor.”
“Jules!”
“Aunt Val! What happened?”
“It’s Dane. He’s having seizures. Lucky won’t let us help. We can’t get near him.”
“What can I do?”
“Not you. Becca. The dog adores her. Maybe she can coax him out of the car. Get him to move off Dane. We have to try or else—”
Jules heard the dog barking. His threatening bark terrified her.
“I don’t know.”
“They’re going to shoot him if we don’t get him out of there. Becca’s our only chance. We have to try. Have Becca call the dog. See if he’ll come to her. That’s all I’m asking.”
“She’s not going near him.”
“She doesn’t have to. Have her call Lucky. Please.”
“Becca? Will you call Lucky? He won’t leave Dane, and we need him to. Can you call him and see if he comes to you?”
Becca smiled. “Lucky’s my friend. He found Flopsy. He found me.”
“That’s right, sweetheart. Call him for Mommy.”
Jules approached the SUV, wary of what Becca might see.
“Call him, Becca.”
“Lucky!” she called out sweetly. “Lucky, come!”
The dog answered with a whimper.
“Lucky!”
Jules edged closer to the door.
Becca called out once more, “Come, Lucky.”
Bates stood ready. His gun aimed at the dog. One wrong move and Bates would be forced to shoot him.
“His tail’s wagging. He sees me, Mommy.”
“Don’t go any closer,” Bates warned.
“This isn’t working. Someone shoot the dog!” A voice yelled out from the crowd.
Jules inched closer to the SUV while Becca strained to get closer to Lucky, reaching for him.
“Down, Mommy. Put me down!”
Jules glanced at Bates.
He shook his head, “I can’t let you get any closer.”
“It’s not safe, Becca. Call Lucky. Please.”
“Lucky. Don’t be scared.”
The dog whined.
“Off, Lucky. Off!”
The dog turned his head to Dane and licked his face then jumped to the floor of the vehicle.
“Come, Lucky!”
The dog bounded out of the SUV toward Jules.
“Sit.”
Lucky sat at Jules’ feet.
“Good boy, Lucky. Let me down, Mommy. Lucky needs a hug.”
Jules hesitated.
“Mommy!”
Jules relented, setting her daughter on her feet.
Immediately, the little girl’s arms wrapped around his neck. “Good boy, Lucky. Don’t be scared. Your daddy’s going to be fine.”
“How is he, Doctor?”
Dr. Burns glanced up from Dane’s bedside. She recognized Jules from Dane’s description of her when he came out of his coma after his accident five years ago.
“You’re Red, aren’t you?” She got to her feet.
“Jules Montgomery. I’m the new head of Pediatrics.” She offered the doctor a cup of coffee. “I thought you might want one. And yes, I’m Red.”
Dr. Burns took the cup of coffee and smiled appreciatively. “Perfect timing. Thank you.” She motioned to an empty chair in the room. “Why don’t you pull up a chair and we can have a chat.”
Jules was happy to have the invitation. She brought the chair to Dane’s bedside and sat next to the doctor.
“We’ve managed to stop the seizures for now. I’ll be damned if I know what’s brought this on. He’s never had non-stop seizures.”
Jules noticed the labels on the IV bags hooked up to Dane. “You’re inducing a coma?”
“To calm his brain. We’re monitoring his brain activity for now. I’m waiting for the results from his scans.”
“What do you think caused it?”
“I don’t want to hazard a guess. But, to be honest, I’d like there to be something, something that we can treat and stop the seizures altogether. Boss needs to get back to living his life the way he is meant to do. This living in limbo isn’t him. It’s not the Boss I know.”
“You call him Boss, too.”
Doc Burns smiled. “Force of habit. We all called him that. Still do. He saved our lives countless times.”
“Do you mind telling me about him?”
“Not at all. What would you like to know?”
“Did he enjoy killing?”
“You get right to the point, don’t you?”
“My parents died at the hands of a gunman, so you can understand why I ask the question.”
“I’m sorry about that.” Doc took a sip of her coffee. “So you know that he was in Special Elite.”
“Yes. I know he was a sniper and holds a record for kills. And when he left the Navy, he took on jobs for the government to kill bad people. That’s what he called them.”
“He didn’t enjoy killing. Boss excelled at firing a gun and hitting his target, and that ability allowed him to protect the good and kill the bad. That’s how he looked at it.”
“Didn’t it bother him?”
“Not that any of us could tell. He always remained cool-headed and kept his optimism. He greeted every morning with a smile. I can’t say the same about Bates.”
“What happened to him?”
“Nothing happened to him in the physical sens
e. He was one of the lucky ones—never got hit, no scars except for the one Boss gave him during a training exercise. Boss nicked Bates with his knife when he wasn’t paying attention. Bates—” Doc hesitated, looking for the right words to describe the man who meant the world to her. “He saw first hand what evil the bad could do. Like many of our soldiers, he was deeply affected by what he experienced. He brought it home with him and found it difficult to fit in. That’s one of the reasons why Boss took him under his wing and hired Bates to work with him. Boss keeps Bates centered, and Bates keeps Boss safe, or as safe as he can. That damned dog is Boss’s new protector.”
“He’s quite the dog. My daughter adores him.”
Doc looked at Dane and then back at Jules. “Don’t you mean yours and Dane’s? He told me about Becca shortly after he found out he was a dad.”
“Sharing DNA doesn’t make him a father.”
Doc choked, almost spilling her coffee. “What do you have against the man? Look at him! I realize he doesn’t have the most handsome mug in the world, but that smile and those eyes, when they’re open, can charm the pants off any warm-blooded female.”
“Sex appeal—”
“I haven’t finished. He has the kindest heart of any man I know. And he’s loyal, as loyal as his dog. Once you have his trust, he’d do anything for you. And I mean anything.”
“I know that.”
“Then what do you have against him?”
“What if he’s not as perfect as I remember him?”
Doc leaned back in her chair. “How perfect was he?”
“Toe-curling perfect.”
“Damn.”
A cacophony of voices filled his pounding head. Dane rolled his head in his pillow, trying to find some escape from the noise. If they’d only shut up so that the pain in his head could ease.
“Welcome back, pretty boy. You’ve got visitors.”
He knew that smart-ass tone, and he recognized the scent of her perfume. In all the years he’d known her neither had changed. Dane would never admit it to anyone, but waking in the presence of Doc Burns reassured him that he was going to live another day.
One eye opened.
“That’s good. Now open the other.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
Boss Page 10