LITMIR.BIZ

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I’m here.” She leaned closer. “Come back to me.”

      There was weak pressure on her fingers.

      “Mamá?” Carolina squeezed again. Hope coursed through her body like a shot of adrenaline. “She squeezed my fingers.”

      “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.”

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