Annie still didn’t know how to put into words how unsettled she still felt. She’d returned to the hospital an hour before her shift ended—she and Jillian had been on staggered shifts that morning—and busied herself in Izzie’s room when Wanda gave her a look and told her to take all her breaks at once. Wanda, at least, knew something had happened.
Izzie had taken one look at her and started talking about Reggie Henedy. She’d thought he had been what had upset her so much. That…meeting with Reggie had happened hours ago.
It really had been a horrifically long day today.
“I’m heading out in an hour. It’s been a long day. I’ll get your dinner tray before I do.” Normally, dietary services handled that task, but it was as good an excuse as any for her to take a moment to herself.
Today had not been anything at all like an ordinary day.
“Then bring me some damned pudding, will you? Chocolate. None of that so-called rice stuff Martha likes to put on the trays. There has to be some of that pudding Nik ordered somewhere.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Good. And Ann? Try not to freak out too much because of that guy. He didn’t seem that bad. Just a little confused. Like all the rest of us.” She glanced toward the windowsill. There were flowers and balloons—some from people Izzie didn’t even know—everywhere on the window frame and the area surrounding it. “We both know how it sucks in the days after our fathers do something to change the whole world. I don’t know why it should be all that much easier for a man his age.”
“We were children when our fathers did…what they did. He’s a grown man. We had no one really to help us. Except Jake.” She’d been thirteen. Jake would have been around twenty-seven or twenty-eight when her father had been arrested. But Jake had been there. For her.
She’d never forget that.
Worry for him had her stomach clenching tightly. Anything could have happened to him. Anything. She still saw Delancey McKellen in her mind right now. The fear in her eyes.
Anything could be happening to Jake right now. Someone in the TSP was dangerous. A criminal. Who knew what would happen next? How much a part of her family Jake was wasn’t lost on her. Fear was starting to eat at her. For all of them—Delancey, Jake…Turner.
He was right in the public eye. And she’d heard Daniel and Elliot discussing just that. Turner was putting himself there—on purpose. To draw attention in his direction, while Elliot and Daniel worked in another.
He’d done it willingly.
The fear for Jake was in Izzie’s eyes, too. She kept asking for her phone—wanting to text him herself. Annie wouldn’t let her have it. Not yet.
The lack of response would drive Izzie crazy.
Her friend was like that. When she got worried about something, she became almost obsessive. Until she had all answers she sought.
“I have to go, Iz. Behave. Don’t give Angie and the others any trouble. If you behave, the chocolate pudding will magically appear.”
“I feel like one of the boys, being bribed with a pudding cup and cartoons.”
“As long as you don’t act like one of the boys in a time-out, I’ll get you two cups.”
“Go. You don’t want to be late clocking out. Who’s on tonight?”
“Hmmm. Jacobson’s taking Lacy’s shift tonight. She wasn’t feeling well. She showed up, obviously, but Allen was here and ordered her home; he’s going to work a double, I think. Nik’s here somewhere, but she was asleep in the breakroom at eleven this morning. She’s green around the gills. I wouldn’t be surprised if Allen doesn’t send her home, as well.”
“Still not taking anything?”
“No. Fighting with all she can.” Nikkie Jean had been on heavy antiemetics as a teenager stricken with ovarian cancer. She was determined not to take them with her miracle pregnancy. Annie didn’t necessarily know if that was a good idea, but she respected Nikkie Jean’s choices. “And she says Allen, Caine, and Rafe are conspiring against her.”
“No doubt. I think Caine actually likes Dr. Jacobson.”
“Crazy, right? Considering Allen was ready to storm in there and rescue Nikkie Jean with his bare hands that day. Nikkie Jean and you. He does seem to have a habit of doing that. Being there when you need rescued. Doesn’t he?”
He did. It wasn’t the first time Allen—he would always be Allen to her after carrying an almost-gone Izzie from danger—had risked himself to save Izzie.
There was the entire story of how they’d ridden out the tornado together. It was already the stuff of hospital legend.
But Izzie refused to talk about that.
Sometimes, her best friends were the most exasperating people on the planet. She just thanked God she still had them to be annoyed with. It had come so close.
Annie was having a hard time forgetting that. She’d be seeing a blood-covered Izzie in her dreams for a long, long time, no doubt.
Annie was thinking of that as she walked down toward the intake desk. She’d clock out, then get out of the hospital for a while. Spend the time with her boys that she so desperately needed.
They just had to get through. Izzie would get back on her feet, Nikkie Jean would settle in with her handsome dragon, Annie would find a place for herself and the boys, and everything would even out again. Life would go on.
That was all she had to do.
Get through.
She was three yards away from the time clock when he walked in.
Annie stopped walking and almost fumbled the bag in her hands—in a way she hadn’t since her first week in the ER. The man seriously had the power to disconcert her just by his mere presence.
“Turner!”
He turned to her, and that’s when she saw the damage.
Annie took quick steps toward him, putting the bag down on the counter in front of Wanda. “What happened now?”
It had only been four hours since she’d seen him at Mel’s.
“I rescued him,” another man said to her. Annie shot him a quick look. He was around her age, slightly taller and heavier than Turner, but with the same brown hair and blue eyes. He smiled at her, a look of appreciation in those eyes. It wasn’t hard to figure out who he was. He had to be a Barratt. “I’m Tucker…his younger, richer, better-looking—”
“And much more modest?” Annie inserted. His grin widened. But there was real concern in his eyes when he looked at Turner.
Annie liked him immediately. Just like she had the Indiana-Jones look-alike at Mel’s.
Were all Barratt men larger-than-life like this? If so, it was no wonder most of them were listed in the Garlic as Texas’s most eligible bachelors.
Only Houghton and Clay were exempt now.
Her friend Bailey, an officer with the TSP, was now engaged to that cousin of Turner’s. The Garlic had been going nuts about the two of them since the storm.
“Younger brother. Also known as the pain in the ass. Hey, Annie, honey…” Turner pulled her attention right back to him.
“Turner, who did this to you?” She helped him into a wheelchair. He didn’t protest or insist he could walk. No, he sank into the chair almost gratefully. “What happened?”
Annie forced herself not to act like an idiot. She was a professional, and in her work environment. And he had come to the hospital for help. He didn’t need her being an idiot over him. But every thought that could ran through her head.
“Is everyone at Houghton’s ok?” she whispered. He nodded, his darker blue eyes meeting hers. Annie straightened. She looked at Wanda, who was watching her with suspicion in her own gaze. Annie tilted her head toward the time clock. She wasn’t about to leave him. Not yet. She’d just clock out if she had to. Annie turned back to him. “Let’s get you into an exam room. Allen and Nikkie Jean are here tonight.”
“I’m good, honey. Just a little bruised. Send Al in here when he gets a chance.”
“You sure you want to wait? Nikkie Jean’s just as good.” She led the way into the nearest exam bay. Turner and his brother were right behind her.
“I’m sure she is. But I want out of these bloody clothes—and Al’s already seen me naked.” Turner shot her a wicked look. “Unless you want to stick around while I change…”
Annie’s cheeks burned. His brother said his name, chiding.
“Turner, don’t be an idiot. I’ll send Allen in here when he gets a chance. In the meantime, I’m sure your brother can keep you in line. I was just about to clock out, but…”
“Well, it was worth a shot.”
The typical flirting tone he always used with her was there, but he was obviously hurting. Worry slammed into her. If she’d had a long day today, so had he. Only for it to culminate in this.
Annie pushed it away. She wasn’t going to let him get to her. No matter what. She hid how she felt with small talk, when all she wanted was to demand those answers. “The flowers and fairy you sent Izzie were perfect. Thank you.”
“I was happy to do it. I like Iz. She didn’t deserve what happened.” His eyes were on hers, saying things she didn’t know how to interpret.
“I know.”
“How is she? I was planning to swing by tomorrow and check on her. Keep her company for a while. Hate for her to be stuck in the hospital all lonely. I know her uncle’s still…away.”
There was something in his tone that had her attention sharpening. Something that told her more than he probably realized. “Do you know where Jake’s at?”
He shook his head slowly. “I know where he was going, and why, but I haven’t found him yet to give him the message about Iz.”
“Is it related to…that other…business?” she whispered near his ear. She didn’t know how much the man knew about what was going on.
Turner nodded.
“Wait a minute, you two really do know each other?” his brother asked.
“Yes,” Turner said, just as Annie spoke. She hadn’t realized she’d gotten so close to Turner, or that the hand he wasn’t favoring had landed on her waist. Heat hit her cheeks.
She was still on the clock. Annie knew better. She didn’t know what she’d been thinking.
“Turner and I were in city hall together when the storm hit. He…saved my life.”
“No, I didn’t. We saved it together.” Turner shot her a look, one she would need a few days to interpret, Annie thought. “And now she’s stuck in my head and won’t get out. And I don’t want her to get out. But Annie is playing hard-to-get.”
“Seriously? Just because a woman tells you no, bro, doesn’t mean she’s playing hard to get.”
Yes, Annie did like Tucker Barratt. She’d have to introduce him to Izzie. Even though his suit was even more stuffy than any she’d seen Turner or his cousin Houghton or even Rafe wear, he seemed to be reasonable. Steady.
No doubt Izzie would like him, too.
“I like your brothers, Turner. Tucker reminds me of Houghton. Trevor, not so much, but I liked him, too.”
Trevor had taken one look at Delancey and promised he’d stick close, to add another non-TSP barrier between her and whoever would hurt her.
“So she’s already met the family? And she hasn’t gone running?” Tucker asked, as she started cutting Turner’s shirt away. “So…when’s the wedding?”
“What?” Annie pulled the sheers back and looked at the man next to Turner.
“Geesh, Tuck, way to rush her right out the door. Or make her freak while holding scissors next to my skin. I haven’t quite gotten that far with her…yet.”
“I think you should just pull a Houghton then. Once you aren’t all bruised up and useless, anyway. She’s small and light enough. Just toss her over your shoulder and take her off to Mexico. I’ll even help. I’ll drive you to Houghton’s private jet.”
Ok, maybe she didn’t like Tucker Barratt all that much after all.