Nan Dixon - To Catch A Thief

“That’s great,” Sage said, smiling.

Carolina held her mother’s hand until an orderly came to take her to Intensive Care. “Thank you,” she said to the nurse.

“You bet, honey. I hope your mama wakes up soon.”

Sage took her hand as they followed her mother’s gurney down the hall. His touch whisked away the worst of her stress.

A nurse met them at Intensive Care. “You can wait there.” She pointed out a small waiting room. “We’ll get her checked in. Then I’ll come get you.”

“That’s the way of hospitals. So much waiting.” Sage headed to the small coffee maker. “Do you want coffee or tea? There’s decaf.”

“Sure.” She picked out a tea bag and poured hot water. He poured a cup of coffee.

“Can you drink coffee this late at night?” she asked, tossing her tea bag.

“The caffeine helps with the headaches.”

“Are they back?”

“They don’t ever leave.”

This was something she could do. She pointed to a chair. “Sit.”

“Okay?”

She began with his shoulders.

He put a hand on hers. “You don’t have to do this.”

“It will take my mind off my mother.”

“And I get the benefit.” He leaned forward, giving her better access to his neck and shoulders. “It seems wrong.”

She let her mind go blank as her fingers dug into his muscles and tendons. His groans guided her hands. “I do this for my mother, too.”

“She’s lucky to have you.”

“I’m the lucky one.” Without her mother, she’d have no family.

“Do you have brothers or sisters?” Sage’s words were loose and ran together.

“Just me.”

“Dad?”

“Dead.” Her pain cranked up. She pushed too hard and he stiffened.

“I’m sorry. My dad died when I was five.”

“I was five, too.” Not that it was a competition. “Do you have more family?”

“My mother—she’s a rock. And two older brothers.”

“You’re lucky.” If something happened to his mother, he’d still have his brothers. “Where do they live?” she asked.

“Texas.”

“Texas? You don’t have an accent.”

“My dad was in the army. We lived on different bases. After my dad died, we moved to my grandparents’ ranch.”

“A ranch.” She moved in front of him and massaged his temples, glad his eyes were closed. “I can’t imagine that.”

“It was great.” His face softened as he smiled. Under her fingers, the tension in his face eased. “I like being around the steers.”

“But you joined the FBI.” And left his family. “Why didn’t you stay to run the ranch?”

He cringed again.

“Sorry.”

“No.” He touched her hands. “It’s... All the men in the family are heroes. I want to be just like my dad and my brothers. Being on the ranch...” He shrugged.

“Heroes?” What did that mean?

“My dad’s a Medal of Honor recipient. Posthumously.”

“I’m so sorry.”

The nurse waved from the doorway. “She’s all settled.”

The hallways lights had dimmed since they’d followed her mother’s gurney up to the floor. If it wasn’t for the beeping monitors and the IV tubing, her sleeping mother would look peaceful.

“She’s in good hands.” The nurse patted Carolina’s shoulder. “You should go home and get some sleep.”

“What if something happens during the night?” Carolina chewed her thumbnail. “I’m twenty minutes away without traffic.”

“We’ll call.” The nurse walked to a whiteboard. “What’s your phone number?”

Carolina recited it.

There was nothing more to do but say good-night. She brushed a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “I love you, Mamá.”

She wouldn’t cry. Mamá needed her to be strong. “I’ll be back in the morning.”

Sage had held back, letting her say goodbye. Now he took her hand. “Are you okay to drive?”

She nodded. But she wasn’t sure.

“I wish I could take you home.” He guided her to the elevator. “But I’m not cleared to drive.”

“How did you get here?”

“Uber.”

He’d made an effort to help her. She swallowed back the gratitude filling her throat like a river. “Thank you. Let me drive you home.”

“Not necessary.”

“Yes, it is.” She pointed the direction to her car. “How are you feeling?”

“It’s your mother in the hospital. How are you?”

She frowned. “You’re avoiding my question.”

Sage waited for her to unlock the car. Then he slid into the passenger seat. “It’s always there. The headache. But your magic hands pushed the pain back. Thanks.”

“What do the doctors say?”

“My brain needs to heal.” He slammed the seat belt together. “I’m not good at waiting and I can’t stand sitting around.”

Who could? But Carolina knew there was going to be a lot of sitting and waiting in her future. “I hope coming to the hospital didn’t set you back.”

“That’s more walking than I’ve done in a while,” he said. “But it’s good since I can’t work out.”

“Let me know if I can do anything for you.” She would make the time for Sage. “Where am I going?”

“River Street.” He fired off directions, since she’d never driven these one-way streets before.

As she parked in front of a warehouse condominium, he unbuckled his seat belt. “I’d like to invite you to up to my place.”

“I can’t.” But she didn’t want to leave him, either. He kept her—calm. “I really appreciate you coming to the hospital.” How many times had she said that already?

He slid closer. “I want to see you again.”

She could see the kiss coming.

He stopped inches from her face and asked, “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes.” Her single word was a whisper.

His lips were gentle. Sweet. Light pressure with a little scrape from his stubble.

“Nice,” he murmured, brushing kisses on her cheeks and eyes.

“Yes.” Her hands rested against his chest. “Really nice.”

Sage leaned in. His tongue licked the seam of her lips, seeking entrance.

She opened and stroked his tongue with hers. He tasted of coffee and mint and something dark and sexy. His chocolate-citrus scent made her want to sip at his lips, kiss his eyelids and nibble on his collarbone. She gripped his shoulders, the muscles hot under her hands.

He tipped her head and buried his fingers in her hair.

She fell hard into their kiss, wanting to explore the firm body beneath her fingers. “Sage.”

He pulled her closer.

Pain slashed her chest as her seat belt locked in place. “Ooh.”

They laughed.

He cupped her cheek. “I guess your car is trying to tell us something.”

That she should take him up on his offer to come up to his apartment?

“I can meet you at the hospital in the morning,” Sage suggested. “Maybe we could have breakfast nearby?”

Guilt had her sitting back behind the wheel. While kissing Sage, she’d forgotten about her mother. “I’ll have to see what’s happening.”

“Sure. Sure.” He brushed another kiss on her lips, this one sweet and soft. “Will you let me know when you get home? I don’t want to worry that you didn’t make it.”

Had anyone ever cared if she got home safely? Not even her mother. Mamá had always been worried about how her arrivals and departures affected her own life.

She couldn’t think that way. Her mother was dying.

She touched Sage’s cheek. “I’ll call you.”

* * *

CAROLINA HADN’T CALLED. Sage had fallen asleep when he’d hit the bed, but this morning there hadn’t been any calls or texts in his log. And she hadn’t answered his phone call this morning, either. Damn.

He’d moved too fast. Shouldn’t have kissed her. What had he been thinking?