She narrowed her eyes, still breathing like a lunatic. No one lives next door.
I just moved in a few days ago.
Well, if that was true, he was gone every night, which made him exactly the kind of man she did not need right now.
Listen, is there someone I can call for you? Because Im not any good at this.
I havent seen you, she said stubbornly. Oh, God. Goddammit. The pain came hard and all-consuming, and nothing like menstrual pains, damn her damn doctor whod said they would be. Did I die? she demanded, gripping the front of his jacket and fisting it tight. Are you my frigging angel of death, Mr. Badass Biker Dude? Because first of all, the irony? Sucks. And second, Im not ready to go. I have a baby coming and Im all it has. Well, me and Lizzy, but shes bailed me out of every mess Ive ever gotten myself into, so its my turn to finally stand up and do this right. Do you hear me? Im not going. I refuse.
He got to his feet and pulled her to hers, slow and steady, carefully holding on to her. He had dark hair, dark eyes, darker stubble on a strong jaw, and a deep frown that left a groove in the center of his forehead.
He was no happier about this than she was.
You didnt die, he said. Youre very alive, as evidenced by your pain.
Okay, good point. Fine. Im alive. And kicking, she warned him, huffing for breath, using him to steady herself in spite of her misgivings, because she was shaking all over. And you should know, I really can kick your ass, especially if youre here trying to loot the empty condos. My sister makes me do Tae Bo, and I can kick you to Timbuktu.
You didnt die, he said. Youre very alive, as evidenced by your pain.
Okay, good point. Fine. Im alive. And kicking, she warned him, huffing for breath, using him to steady herself in spite of her misgivings, because she was shaking all over. And you should know, I really can kick your ass, especially if youre here trying to loot the empty condos. My sister makes me do Tae Bo, and I can kick you to Timbuktu.
Tae Bo is an exercise regime, not self-defense, and I came because I heard you scream. He sounded as if a woman screaming wasnt all that uncommon in his world. Tell me your name, he said, a quiet demand.
I didnt scream. But then another contraction hit and she gasped, and dammit, screamed a little. When itd passed, she was left panting. Okay, maybe I did.
He was completely supporting her now, and when she could, she forced herself to loosen the death grip she had on him, but he kept his on her. Im going to pick you up now, Jane Doe.
Ha. And, no.
Can you walk?
Also no.
He held out his leather-clad arms. With a sigh, she closed her eyes. Youre a badass. Your kind is why Im in this mess. I gave you all up.
Would it make you feel better to know Im hardly ever badass anymore? Just sometimes on the weekend? He added a smile.
She didnt return it.
Im kidding, he said. And Im sorry to tell you, but we have to get you out, regardless of what you think of me.
I weigh two tons.
I dont know, he said as he scooped her up. One ton, maybe. Definitely not two.
Her gaze flew up to his. His dark eyes gave nothing away. He was sporting at least two days of growth on his lean jaw. He wasnt smiling, wasnt looking particularly kind or gentle at all, which actually was a good thing. If hed been either, she might have fallen completely apart. As it was, she really did have to keep it together in case she still had to kick his ass.
With her in his arms, he stepped out of the garage, his boots sloshing through water. As her eyes adjusted to the daylight, she gasped.
The storm hadnt let up, and the street was flooding. Her savior was standing nearly knee-deep in water. Ohmigod.
He was leaning over her, trying to protect her from the rain and wind as he walked. Its going to be okay.
How?
He didnt answer, probably because he was saving his energy for carrying her. She blinked through the rain into his face. He was thirtyish, she guessed, maybe even younger. He had a scar slashing through his left brow, and another on the outside of his eye.
Savior, or scary ax murderer? How do you know its going to be okay? she demanded. Tell me.
I dont. I just dont want you to panic and have that baby right now.
Oh. She let out a low laugh, shocking herself that she even could. Youre not supposed to tell me that part.
Why not?
Because its too honest. People dont like too honest.
I do.
Yeah, well, I guess I do, too-Hell. Oh, hell, she whimpered, and tried to curl in a ball as another contraction hit her with the same velocity as a freight train. Oh, God. I am not going to have this baby right here, right now, not by myself! As she twisted and writhed in his arms, she let the pain take her. She had no choice, it came in heavy, unrelenting waves.
Vaguely, from somewhere far outside her world of pain, she heard Hunter swear roughly, and then she lost herself for a moment. When she came out of it, he was stroking her hair from her face and murmuring, Keep breathing, thats it.
She opened her eyes. She was in the backseat of a vehicle and her stranger was buckling her in. The storm- She gulped for air. Well float away.
Dont worry, its a Hummer, he said. Its a friends. Im repairing it for him. My Harley was out of the question.
I want my sister.
Where is she?
At the hospital, shes a nurse.
Okay, Jane Doe, lets go.
She gripped his big, warm hand in hers before he could move away. Dont worry? Was that another empty platitude so that I wouldnt panic and have this baby on you?
A very slight smile tweaked the corner of his wide, firm mouth. You shouldnt ask a question that you dont want the answer to.
Oh, God. She closed her eyes and bit back the need to lose it. I dont want you to deliver this baby.
Baby, that makes two of us.
You know what? She shook her head. Im just not going to do this. Im not going to be in labor. Mind over matter, and all that crap. Okay?
Works for me.
Its nothing personal. I just dont want another man near my parts, not ever again-
He laughed, then sucked it up when she glared at him. Im not kidding, she warned him. If shed had the strength, shed have grabbed him by the shirt again and snarled right up into his face. Youre not going anywhere near my-
Agreed, he said quickly. Do you want to call your sister, tell her Ive got you and that were coming?
Yes. My cell phone died, and shes probably worried- She took the cell phone he offered, but she couldnt get service. Then another contraction hit and hit hard, making her drop the phone. Oh, God, oh, God
Hunter squeezed her hands and stayed with her, right with her, looking completely unnerved but not leaving her.
Something tugged inside her at that and it wasnt the baby. You dont have to do this, she whispered miserably. Id probably be running hard and fast if I were you.
No, you wouldnt. And I wont, either. And that- he offered her a very small, very short smile, but it was a real one -wasnt an empty platitude.
She had no idea why she suddenly felt like crying, but she blinked it back. Cece.
What?
My name is Cece.
He smiled, and it was a stunner. Well, then, Cece. Lets get you the hell out of here.
THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS nearly killed Lizzy. They were stopped by a police unit in a boat and had to talk their way past the enforced evacuation. Then they helped a family of four get across Third. And another after that.
When they finally made it to Ceces condo, it was nearly dark. Itd taken all damn day to get there, and the place was empty. Lizzy knew this because she ran through the rooms until Jason caught her hand. Solemn and exhausted, he pulled her to him. Shes not here, Lizzy.
Right. Which meant that Cece had gotten out, and was somewhere safe. Which also meant that she had proof that Cece no longer needed her anymore, and Lizzy could finally have her own life, guilt-free.
Exceptexcept maybe shed really been free all this time and simply using Cece as an excuse, when it hadnt been Cece holding her back at all.
But her own fear.
Tugging free of Jason, she took the stairs to the second level and looked in Ceces bedroom for the third time. The bed was unmade, her cell phone plugged in to a charger on the nightstand, not charging because there was no electricity.
Jason came into the room behind her, quiet, a solid, comforting presence. What are you thinking?
Im thinking that maybe shes at the hospital, or my place.
Jason pulled out his cell phone. Shit.
Wet?
Wet?
Wet and fried.
She whipped out hers. Wet, too, but somehow miraculously, still working. Of course she hadnt gone for a full-body dunk like Jason had. She called her house, but the landlines were still down. She called the hospital but the lines were busy. She tried Mikes cell, but her neighbor didnt pick up. Then she got Cristina, and found out that the E.R. was still turning people away. She tried the San Luis Obispo hospital next, but Cece wasnt listed as being there, so she shut the phone and shivered.
Jasons hands settled on her arms. This isnt over. You just need some sleep-
Where is she?
Evacuated, at a shelter, is my guess, he said.
Yeah. Which means shes alone and afraid. Cold and wet- She broke off because her voice cracked, horrifying her.
Ah, baby. He turned her to face him and stroked a hand over her hair. Youre so tired.
She was. So damn tired. And cold. She set her head down on his shoulder, just for a minute, because surely nothing really bad could happen while she was resting against his broad shoulder.
You need out of your clothes, he said, running his hands up and down her spine.
She knew this. She was a nurse. She knew they both needed to be dry, needed, also, fuel for their bodies, and rest, if only for a few minutes.
Jason pulled off her rain poncho, then the sweatshirt beneath, leaving her in just the T-shirt hed given her, which clung to her like shed just competed at a wet T-shirt frat party. He crouched down to untie her soaked shoes, lifting each foot to pull them off, along with her socks while she stood there and shivered.
With the power still out, he said. Theres no hot water. No dryer. Well spread the clothes out and rest while they dry.
Ive seen the movies. She looked down at the top of his head. Youre going to strip me, then give me a line about hypothermia and use it to get me into bed.