Susan Sleeman - Emergency Response

“Are you ever going to start calling him just plain Noah?”

“Just plain Noah is much longer than Detective Noah, I think.” She chuckled. “But no, I will continue to use Detective with him just as I call you Nurse Darcie. It is my way of showing my respect.”

“We don’t need that, Pilar. We know you respect us and our work. In fact, I wish you would stop. At least with me.”

“Then I will.”

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Isabel announced from where she sat watching television.

Pilar started to move as if she planned to get up to help Isabel.

“Don’t even think about it,” Darcie warned. She squeezed Pilar’s shoulder to soften the admonition and looked down into her eyes ringed with dark circles. Assuming the care for an injured young child was taking its toll on Pilar. She wouldn’t admit it or complain at all. She loved Isabel and was thankful to have custody of her granddaughter, who’d lived many years with Mayte in terrible conditions.

Darcie firmly clasped the handles of Isabel’s wheelchair, not caring that the pressure smarted against her skin. She’d rather be in pain than think about the callout where she’d found Isabel living in a squalid apartment with drug paraphernalia all around.

Darcie’s anger from that day came roaring back. How could a mother treat her child like that? How could Mayte even have a child when Darcie’s precious Haley been taken from her?

No, stop. It does no good.

What was the point in doing so? She’d asked these questions over and over, year after year, and God never answered. She’d concentrate on what she could do. Like spend even more time with Isabel to give Pilar a break.

Darcie wheeled Isabel into the bathroom and helped her maneuver the ankle-to-hip cast weighing her down. Darcie settled Isabel in place, then turned her back to give her privacy. Maybe for Darcie to get her emotions under control, too.

She took deep breaths like she’d done daily after Haley had died. Darcie couldn’t save her own daughter, but she’d saved Isabel and could help improve her quality of life.

Darcie closed her eyes. Envisioned a happy place. A nice home for Pilar and Isabel, free from guns and gangs. Even Mayte could live there when she came out of rehab. Darcie imagined a cute little house in the sun. White with blue trim. A garden for Pilar. A swing set for Isabel. Birds chirping. Butterflies floating overhead. Maybe a rainbow or two.

A knock sounded on the door to Pilar’s room. Darcie jumped and spun. Noah’s deep voice soon rumbled through the space.

Noah. It’s just Noah.

She blew out a breath. She’d been expecting him and was honestly glad he was here. She felt safer with him around. Far safer. But that wasn’t good. She couldn’t let herself depend on him or want him in her life for any reason.

“I’m done, Darcie,” Isabel announced.

The innocence of the little girl’s voice instantly replaced Darcie’s thoughts with a smile. She helped Isabel wash her hands and get back into the chair, then stole a quick hug, drawing in the fresh scent of her strawberry shampoo. She loved the feel of the trusting child offering uncomplicated love and affection.

“Can we go see Noah?” she asked, her expression excited.

“Of course.” Darcie wheeled her into Pilar’s room.

“I’m glad you came,” Isabel said.

“I’m glad to see you, too.” Noah flashed a smiled but then stepped toward Darcie.

His worried expression set her anxiety flaring up again.

“Can I talk to you alone for a minute?” he asked.

Darcie’s gut cramped hard, but she fought back the panic and looked at Pilar. “Will you two be okay if I step into the hallway for a few minutes?”

“Yes, of course,” Pilar said, but her brow was tight with concern.

Darcie strode into a hallway similar to the ones she’d walked in during her years as a nurse. Noah moved close enough for a whiff of his spicy aftershave to overcome the familiar hospital smells. Close enough to see the small dimple in his cheek that always appeared when he smiled.

Ignore it. Ignore him. Ignore the desire to let him hold you and chase all your troubles away.

Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

She would forever be in his debt for his help. She was also thankful he continued to help Isabel and Pilar, too. Darcie was able to handle a few hours here or there in his company while they focused on helping someone else. But now...now there would be an investigation into her attack. How was she going to avoid him as she’d tried to do since they’d met? To avoid the chemistry that always sparked between them?

She wasn’t about to follow her interest and risk her heart again. Not with him. Not with any man. Not after losing her precious Haley and then her ex-husband, Tom, when he abandoned her after he was unable to deal with his grief. She’d once believed the people she loved could help her deal with life’s trials. Believed that God could banish problems. But now she knew everything in her life depended on her and her alone.

She might be physically attracted to Noah, but it would go no further. He couldn’t chase away her troubles. She was the only one who could do that.

She cut off her thoughts with a finely honed self-discipline she’d developed since Haley’s death and faced him.

“I’m sorry, Darcie.” He shoved a hand into his hair, leaving short little tufts standing at attention. “We tried our best, but we weren’t able to apprehend the shooter.”

Darcie’s heart sank, but she didn’t speak. Couldn’t speak. What could she say after hearing the man who’d tried to kill her was still running free?

Noah pulled out a small notepad and a pen. “I got a quick look at the suspect’s size and body type, but I’m hoping you can give me a facial description so I can put out an alert. Then you can meet with the sketch artist first thing in the morning.”

Darcie forced herself to replay the details of her attack so she could describe the creep. “He was dark-skinned. Latino. His face was round, and he had stubble covering his chin. Maybe a full goatee—I’m not sure. He was mean-looking, Noah. So mean. Like he’d done this before. Killed someone, I mean.” The fear that had nearly taken her down during the attack resurfaced, and she looked at Noah for a moment to take comfort from his warmth. His concern.

She jerked her gaze away before she started thinking she could continue to go to him for reassurance. Turning her head sent pain shooting through her tender neck, and her near-death experience came flashing back with a vengeance. Shivers started at her head, racing down her body like a rushing river. A cry of despair slipped out before she could stifle it.

“Hey.” Noah stepped closer and rested a warm hand on her arm. “It’s okay. You’re safe.”

Was she? Would this creep think she could identify him and come looking for her? Come after her with his gun, or even worse, try to strangle her again?

A full-on shudder claimed her body, and despite her efforts to fight back her tears, they started flowing. She tried to stop them, willed them away, but to no avail.

“Aw, no. Don’t cry.” Noah’s arms went around her and he drew her close.

She’d forgotten the feel of a man’s embrace other than from a friend, the warmth and tenderness, and she moved even closer, sobbing hard and soaking his shirt. She willingly reveled in his warmth and pushed to the recesses of her mind all thoughts of why allowing him to care for her was wrong.

She needed him. Just now. Not later. Never again. Just now.

He cradled her head and held her. Minute after minute. Standing strong. His arms enveloping her. Her fear receding. Calm returning and, along with it, her common sense. She allowed herself a few more moments to accept Noah’s compassion that eased the chill from her heart, but when her tears fully subsided, she couldn’t find an excuse to stay in his arms so she freed herself and looked up at him.