The power we have is a part of us…
Reid closed his eyes and clung to Thane’s remembered words. Energy sparked like a livewire inside of him. A golden light filled his vision and opened into a tunnel. He held Jenny’s hand tighter and willed them to soar. Minutes, seconds, feet, inches unfolded in slow motion. Yes! He’d done it. Power now awakened kicked in like second nature. He materialized with Jenny on the side of road. He turned her over and she heaved.
Lauren stood over them. Her eyes popped wide with something he’d never wanted to see when she looked at him. Fear.
Chapter 14
Lauren paced in front of an empty row of blue vinyl seats in the hospital waiting area. Standing at the top of the incline, horror had seized her heart. All she could do was watch Reid and the girl tumble away. She’d prayed for a miracle. Then he’d appeared on the road holding the girl. How had they gotten there so fast? Shock. That was it. She’d zoned out and didn’t see him climbing up. See? A simple, reasonable explanation.
The slide and flip of turning pages snagged her attention. An impeccably dressed blond-haired man in a blue suit and tie sat in the corner reading a magazine. His snowy white dress shirt stood out against his tanned skin.
Slide, flick. Slide, flick. The sound of the pages seemed magnified times ten. He couldn’t read that fast.
She closed her eyes, trying to think of something else to block it out. A vision of Reid, glowing on the side of the road, appeared. Dirt, pollen, some chemical he’d picked up while saving the girl? A good explanation existed for that, too. Right?
The soles of heavy shoes thudded on the tile flooring. Reid came down the hall. Mud stained his clothing and boots. His gaze bore into hers.
Tears welled and she blinked. Who cared what happened? Run to him. Let him hold and kiss her until the questions didn’t matter. But her feet remained stuck in place.
“Lauren.” Reid swallowed hard as he took her hand. “I know you’re probably freaked out, but let me explain.”
Finally. He’d clarify the situation, and she could put her overactive imagination to rest.
Dried blood stained his ripped sleeve.
“Are you okay? Did you have to get a lot of stitches?” She lifted the fabric. She saw only smooth, unmarred skin underneath. “But you were hurt.”
“I’m fine.”
No. She’d heard the EMTs say he needed stitches. They’d also mentioned a possible fractured rib, too. That’s why they’d taken him away in the ambulance.
Reid’s gaze held hers as if imploring her to understand. What was he going to tell her? “Ms. Blake, Mr. Montgomery.” A thin, balding man in a law enforcement uniform approached. “I’m Deputy Halstad. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get your statements about Jenny Landon’s accident.”
They sat down. As Lauren and Reid recounted what happened, Reid’s thigh touched hers. She battled with the urges to lean into him or move away. He was going to tell her something terrible.
“That should do it.” The deputy looked over his notes. “I just need an address and phone number where I can contact you in the next few days if I have questions.”
Reid tensed.
That’s right. He wouldn’t have an address, at least not here. She laid a hand on his thigh and forced a polite smile. “One eighteen Hollows Road.”
“Is that where I can reach both of you?” The deputy’s gaze moved between her and Reid.
Slide, flick, slide, flick.
Her heart beat in time with the turning pages. “Yes.” She gave Halstad her phone number.
They all stood. The deputy turned to Reid. “That was a tough save. The rescue squad said if you hadn’t gotten Ms. Landon out before the car slid, she probably wouldn’t have made it.”
Reid gave Halstad a nod. “I just did what needed to be done. How’s Jenny doing? Is her family on the way?”
“She’s headed to surgery to take care of a fractured leg. Her mom’s flying in.” Deputy Halstad smiled. “The drugs they gave Jenny kicked in while I was talking to her. She kept saying an angel saved her.”
The deputy left.
Was Reid an angel? As heavenly as it was in his arms, she wouldn’t call it an angelic experience. An image of Reid widening her thighs with his shoulders, intent on giving her pleasure, flashed in. Her face heated. Another vision of him appearing on the road with Jenny replaced it. Who had she spent the past few days with? Why did she sense that finding out would break her heart?
He grabbed her hand. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”