He sighed but nodded and placed the order. When their drinks came, she concentrated on downing the iced coffee as the guys spoke quietly to each other. A few people came up to say hello. But she knew they were just fishing for information about Brick and the guys. After he’d made that declaration that she was his, it would have gone around the population of Wishingbone quicker than she could blink.
Finally, their food arrived and she had something else to concentrate on.
It tasted a bit funny and she set it down with a grimace, trying to figure out what that taste was.
“Eat your lunch, Duchess,” Brick said to her.
She gave him a stubborn look. He simply gave her one back. She sighed. She supposed she could wash it down with more iced coffee.
“And drink some water.”
Sheesh. When had he been made the food and water police?
But like the good, obedient girl she was, she sucked down some water. Then she started to feel warm. She rubbed at her chest. Why was it hard to breathe?
She swallowed heavily. There was a lump in her throat. An impending sense of doom hit her. Something was wrong.
She itched at her throat and chest. Anxiety filled her. Was it an anxiety attack? But why was she so itchy?
Shit. Shit. Fuck.
Opening her mouth, she clearly heard the wheeze and she felt the struggle to get the air into her lungs.
No. No. No.
She knew her blood pressure was plummeting. Her airways constricting.
Anaphylactic shock.
Her stomach cramped. No. No.
She needed her EpiPen. She tried to grab her handbag, but managed to knock it off the seat where it had been sitting beside her.
“Juliet? You okay?” Brick turned her. Then his face went pale, shock filled his features. “Fuck! What is it? What’s wrong?”
There was more noise. But she couldn’t talk. She could only concentrate on trying to breathe.
“She’s turning red!”
“Her face is swelling!”
She didn’t know who was talking or yelling. Didn’t care. She just wanted to breathe.
Then she found herself being moved. Her legs were in the air. She couldn’t make out what anyone was saying. But someone was shoving up her skirt to get to her thigh.
She didn’t even have it in her to care that her legs were on show to the whole diner, and probably her underwear. There was a sharp prick of the EpiPen being administered.
Thank fuck.
Xavier rushed into the emergency department, ignoring his buzzing phone. He pushed back the curtain, horror filling him as he saw her lying there.
“Juliet!”
There was an oxygen mask covering her mouth. She was also attached to a drip. Her face was swollen, her chest and throat covered in red hives.
Fuck. Anaphylactic shock.
Amanda, the nurse who stood next to her, quickly turned. “Oh good, Doc X. I had you paged because I knew you’d want to know. She was brought in about thirty minutes ago. Doctor Richardson gave her some steroids. She’s still having a bit of trouble breathing.”
Fuck. Fuck.
He managed to nod. “I’ll have her admitted.”
“Are you sure? Doctor Richardson thought she’d be fine under observation for a few hours.”
“She’ll be admitted.” Where he could watch over her himself for the next twenty-four hours. His shift ended in about six hours.
“All right, I’ll get onto that.”
He nodded woodenly, then remembered his manners as she left. “Thanks for paging me.”
Amanda smiled at him. “We all know how much she means to you, Doc X. Oh, apparently, there are a couple of men in the waiting room, upset that they aren’t allowed back here. They claim to be her bodyguards, but Mary-Lee wouldn’t let them in. You know what she’s like about the rules.”
Shit. He knew who had been calling him. “I’ll take care of it, they are her bodyguards. Actually, could you go find the one called Brick and bring him in? It’s a wonder he isn’t tearing the hospital down trying to find her.”
“Apparently, Mary-Lee did threaten to call security on the guy who claimed to be her boyfriend.”
“Ah, yeah, that would be Brick.”
“I’ll go get him then.”
Xavier read her file quickly then checked her vitals. Steady. They were steady. Her oxygen levels could be better, but they weren’t terrible.
Probably admitting her was overkill, but he didn’t care.
He moved towards the side of the bed. Gently, he grabbed her hand, squeezing it. His hand was shaking. He held her hand like it was made of the finest of crystal.
He could have lost her. Closing his eyes, he breathed in deep. She was usually so careful. He’d drilled that into her over and over. How severe her allergy was.
“Oh, sweetheart. What the hell happened?” he asked quietly. Outside this cubicle, he could hear the noise of the ER, but in here, it was like a bubble.
Opening his eyes, he leaned in and gently kissed her forehead. “Jesus.”
“X-xavier?” she asked.
Her eyes didn’t open, and he wasn’t sure if she knew he was actually there or not.
“I’m here, Twink. I’m here. You’re safe. You’re in the emergency department in the hospital. You had an allergic reaction, but you’re going to be just fine. I promise.”
He wouldn’t allow her to be anything else. This fierce need to protect flooded him.
“Nothing will happen to you.”
“Love you, Xavy. Always have.”
His heart skipped. “Love you too, Juliet. I’ll always love you, my sweet girl.”
“Where is she?” a deep voice demanded. He turned. Fuck, Brick would get himself kicked out if he went around yelling like that.
Xavier went quickly to the curtain and drew it open. Brick’s wild gaze met his. “Fuck, Xavier. Is she all right?”
“In here. She’s fine.” He nodded to Amanda, who was watching them curiously. “Thanks, Amanda.”
“Of course, I’ll give you some space.”
Fuck. No doubt she was going to tell to someone about this. There was no mistaking the fear on Brick’s face. And likely on his own too.
Oh, well. They had bigger worries than a bit of gossip.
When he turned back, Brick was leaning over her. His face held a wealth of pain as he gently kissed her forehead and whispered to her. Xavier moved to her other side, taking her other hand.
“How is she?” Brick finally asked him. “Will she really be okay?”
He got it. They could have lost her.
“Her vitals are pretty good. Someone administered the epinephrine?”
Brick nodded. “Soon as I realized what was going on. She was trying to get it out of her bag but couldn’t grab it. I got it out and shot her with it while Sterling called for an ambulance.”
“You did good. She’s had some steroids and she’ll remain on oxygen for a bit until I’m happier with her oxygen levels.”
“You’re sure she’ll be all right?” Brick stared at her, the look on his face one of reverence. Of complete and total love.
“I won’t let her be anything else,” he replied arrogantly.
“I know,” Brick replied, to his surprise. “She fucking scared me. I thought . . . I thought I was going to lose her.”
The man that Xavier bet rarely let anyone see any sort of weakness, or what he likely saw as weakness, cracked.
His head dropped. His shoulders moved up and down. Xavier moved around to the other side of the bed.
“I know how you feel,” he said quietly, placing his hand on the other man’s shoulder as they stood there, side-by-side, looking down at the woman they both loved. “I know.”
They stood in silence for a long moment until Brick discreetly wiped at his eyes and turned away for a moment, taking in a deep breath. Xavier’s hand dropped to his side. “Fuck. I’ve been a fucking marine. I’ve seen shit that gave me nightmares f
or years. I’ve lost people I loved. I’ve been married to someone who betrayed me. I’ve nearly lost everything. And nothing, none of that comes close to the terror of nearly losing her.”
“But you didn’t,” Xavier told him quietly. “You saved her.”
Brick just shook his head for a moment. “It could have gone wrong. I could have been too slow. I didn’t check that she had her EpiPen before we left . . .”
“She always carries it,” Xavier reassured him. “I put two in each of her handbags. And you know they’re scattered throughout the house, right?”
Brick cleared his throat. “Yeah, I just . . . she’s so fucking precious to me.”
“To both of us.”
Brick nodded. “To both of us. I’m glad I have you with me in this, man.”
“We’ll take care of her. Together.”
31
Juliet opened her eyes, gasping in a breath. There was something in her nose irritating her. Along with a beeping noise. And the smell of antiseptic.
It all annoyed her.
Juliet didn’t let herself get annoyed by much. But yeah, it was grating.
She looked around. She was miserable. Exhausted. Her head ached. She felt jittery, like she wanted to climb out of her own skin. She raised her hand to rub at her chest, her heart felt like it was racing.
A small whimper escaped her.
“Juliet? Duchess? Oh, baby. Thank fuck.”
Brick’s face appeared in her vision. He looked terrible. Pale and exhausted. Black marks were under his eyes. Poor guy looked like he needed a good twenty-four hours of sleep.
“What’s wrong?” she croaked.
“Nothing now that you’re awake,” he replied.
Aw. That was sweet. But what was going on? Obviously, she was in the hospital. But why . . .
Then it all came flooding back.
“I didn’t eat any shellfish,” she muttered.
Brick’s face went blank. She watched him curiously. What was he trying to hide?
“Don’t worry about that right now, Duchess.”
Okay, even an idiot had to know that would make her want to know more. And Brick was no idiot. He grimaced. “Fuck. The sheriff is looking into what happened, all right?”
“You think someone tried to hurt me? That they what? Tampered with my food?” It was so hard to think. And something was niggling at her brain. What was it, though?
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“The people who are after Reuben.” Panic flooded her. “I need to call him.”
“Calm down.”
“No, no, I need to talk to him. I need to make sure he’s all right.” She pushed the covers back, trying to get out of bed.
“Duchess, get back in that bed,” he told her in a stern voice.
But she was too far gone to pay attention. “I need to—”
“What’s going on? Juliet, what are you doing? Lie back down.” Xavier appeared on her other side.
“Xavy, I need to go call Reuben.” She reached for his hand. He clasped hold of her hand in his then gently pressed her back into the bed.
“You don’t need to do anything except lie down,” Xavier added firmly.
She was so tired.
“Reuben—”
“Reuben is a big boy who can take care of himself,” Xavier told her. “You’re to stay in bed. Doctor’s orders.”
She gaped up at Xavier. He placed his fingers on her wrist to take her pulse. As though he didn’t have a monitor that could do that.
Brick tucked the blankets around her.
They moved together, almost in sync. After taking her pulse, Xavier picked up a glass of water with a straw while Brick supported her head so she could drink.
“Be easier with her baby bottle,” Brick muttered.
“Yeah, we can use that at home. Someone here might see it.”
“Good point,” Brick said as he eased her back.
Xavier brushed her hair off her face while Brick moved to her feet, massaging them lightly.
Oh, dear Lord. That was heaven.
Tears entered her eyes as they pampered her together.
“You’re so tense, sweetheart,” Xavier crooned. He drew her up then settled in behind her, pulling her back against his chest so he could rub the tension from her shoulders. Brick sat at the end of the bed and continued to rub her feet.
“You scared us, baby girl,” Brick told her in a low voice. “Please don’t do that again.”
“I didn’t like it much either.”
“Poor baby,” Xavier said, kissing the top of her head. “Just relax, we’ll take care of you.”
“She’s still slightly swollen,” Brick said, studying her.
“It should go down over the next few hours.”
“Brick,” she croaked.
“And the redness?” Brick asked.
“The antihistamines will help with that.”
“Xavier,” she pressed.
“Her pulse is good. Blood pressure is still a bit low. Oxygen levels are good.”
“Guys!”
They both stopped talking, their attention moving to her.
“Yeah, Duchess?” Brick asked.
“Reuben . . .”
Brick sighed. “I’ve tried calling him. Still silent.”
“Same,” Xavier added.
“Oh God,” she sobbed.
“Hey, stop. Stop,” Xavier told her firmly.
She gaped up at him as he moved around to sit on the bed facing her. He placed his hands on either side of her face. “If anyone can take care of themselves, it’s Reuben. And he told you he was going silent. Trust him.”
She took in a shuddering breath.
“We don’t know if what happened had anything to do with the people after him,” Brick told her. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense. They’d have to know about your allergy and then watch to get their chance to do something to your food. Then have the means to do it without being seen.”
“Then you think it was an accident?” she asked.
“That you had an allergic reaction to a chicken sandwich?” Brick asked grimly. “I don’t know. We’ll see how competent your sheriff is.”
“Ed is good,” Xavier told him. “He’ll find out what happened. He’s protective of Juliet. Most of the town is, they won’t like that someone tried to harm her.”
Most of the town thought she was insane, they were just too scared to say so because of her brother.
“She doesn’t believe that,” Brick murmured.
“She doesn’t see how much people want to coddle her, watch out for her.”
“We’ll teach her,” Brick said. He sat on the chair across the bed from Xavier before taking her hand in his. A feeling of safety filled her, surrounded by them both.
“What happened exactly?” she asked.
Brick explained everything. And while he was matter-of-fact as he spoke, she could hear the note of fear in his voice.
“I’m all right, Brick.”
“You are now.”
“And you’re going to stay that way,” Xavier added.
Both men nodded at each other again, a look of determination coming over their faces.
A wave of exhaustion overtook her. “I wanna go home.”
“Not happening, Twink,” Xavier told her.
She fluttered her eyelashes at him, giving him her best puppy dog look. She wasn’t above begging. He just raised an eyebrow.
“Does she think that’s going to work?” Brick asked, sounding amused.
Xavier sighed. “Can’t blame her. It would have in the past.”
“Jesus, man, she had you wrapped around her little finger,” Brick said.
She gaped at him. “Did not.”
Xavier snorted. “You did.”
She sniffed. “I feel like I’m being ganged up on.”
Her eyelids were growing heavier and it was hard to concentrate.
“Go to sleep, sweetheart,” Xavier told her.
“I’ll
sleep once I’m home.” In her own bed, surrounded by her own stuff. And the two of them.
“You’re not going home until I give all the clear,” Xavier told her firmly.
“Not unless you want to find yourself over one of our laps,” Brick added.
“Xavier won’t spank me,” she mumbled. By now, her eyes were completely closed, and she was barely clinging to consciousness. She felt the bed depress as someone leaned on it, then lips brushed her ear, sending a shiver through her.
“Wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
Damn.
Double damn.
She woke up feeling groggy and out of it
A groan escaped her as her bladder told her that she couldn’t go back to sleep like she wanted. That she had to get up and go to the toilet unless she wanted to make a hell of a mess.
Not for the first time, she thought that wearing a diaper could make life a lot easier sometimes.
“Twink? You okay?” Xavier asked.
“Gots to go,” she managed to mumble, not caring who heard her. She hadn’t even made sure that she was alone with Xavier.
When a girl had to go, she had to go.
“All right, let’s get you up.” To her surprise, instead of hauling her onto her feet, he lifted her with one arm under her thighs and the other around her back.
Then she was set down on her feet. She swayed and two hands landed on her hips.
“Jesus, you’re out of it, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
“Where’s Daddy?” she muttered.
“Asleep. Do you want me to wake him? Do you need him?”
There was a funny note in Papa’s voice, but she couldn’t figure it out. She leaned her forehead against his chest. “No, let Daddy sleep. Juliet gots to pee.”
He rubbed his hand up and down her back. “Never heard you refer to yourself in the third person.”
“Papa,” she complained. “Pee.”
“Right, sorry. I’m going to help you, okay?”
Well, yeah. Duh. That’s why she was leaning on him. Wasn’t like she could stand on her own. Or figure out how her clothing worked. Stupid clothing.
“Pee.”
“I’m getting your panties down, Twink,” he said, sounding amused.
“What’s I wearing?”
“Your mermaid pajamas,” he replied.
Her Daddies’ Saving Grace Page 32