LITMIR.BIZ

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she repeated with a grin. “I really like that word.”

      He’d noticed she was pretty on the helicopter, but she’d also been freezing, soaking wet and terrified. Now, her black hair was dry and silky and settled around her shoulders. Her skin wasn’t nearly as pale, either. She looked tired and very beautiful.

      He lowered himself onto the chair next to hers. The space was small, and it took a conscious effort not to allow his long leg to brush against hers. He had no choice but to breathe in the scent of her, which made him think of wildflowers and soft music. Soft music? Clearly, he was tired, too.

      Spreading his fingers, he splayed his clammy palms over his knees and reminded himself he was a member of the United States military and a grown man. “How is your mom?”

      “She’s going to be fine. No permanent damage. And she’s awake.”

      His mood lightened as he looked at the peacefully sleeping woman lying on the bed next to them. Nora had her head turned toward the wall and Jay could hear the comforting sound of her soft snore. For some reason, he couldn’t resist teasing her. With a tip of his head toward the bed, he said drily, “I can see that.”

      Mia looked surprised for a second and then let out a chuckle. “Well, not now... Obviously. But she woke up. Finally. This morning her eyes popped open and she asked for a green tea smoothie and a vitamin B12 shot.”

      Jay grinned. “That’s so great.” He liked the way her cheeks blushed with color. Her unease somehow made his a little more bearable.

      Nora stirred and murmured in her sleep, drawing both of their gazes.

      He flipped a thumb toward the doorway. “Should I...? Are we going to wake her up?”

      “I really don’t think so. The meds are making her really sleepy. Even though she only wants turmeric, fish oil and cannabis tincture, the doctors insist on giving her actual medication.”

      He chuckled. “Aubrey knows your mom. She sounds like a character.”

      “You have no idea.” She sighed and then added in a voice choked with emotion, “She’s actually really amazing. I don’t know what I’d do without her...” She sniffled. “I’m so sorry. I keep doing this.” She pointed at her eyes, which were brimming with tears. “Having these little episodes. It’s embarrassing.”

      “Don’t be sorry. Trauma like you lived through can be really emotional, even when it has a positive outcome.”

      Tears glistened on her cheeks. She swiped them away. “I thought I had a pretty good handle on death. I’m a vet and I deal with animal deaths all the time. But when it’s your own you’re facing or someone that you love...” Her words trailed off and she exhaled a shaky breath. “I’m so grateful we’re all alive.” She surprised him by belting out a laugh. “I’m suddenly grateful for everything.” She gestured around the room. “And not the obvious stuff like hospitals and doctors and antibiotics. But like everything—paper cups, liquid soap, dry-roasted peanuts, plastic wrap, tennis shoes and... And this is kind of a weird topic, huh? I think I might be over-sharing.”

      “No, it’s perfectly fine,” he said. “I understand.”

      “Do you?” she asked, her expression turning earnest. She went on before he could answer, “You must. Because I’ve been thinking about you a lot. I mean...” Another blush, and Jay found himself trying not to laugh and at the same time wanting to reach out and touch her, calm her down, comfort her. That wasn’t his job at this point, he reminded himself. Under certain circumstances that might be okay, but something told him he might enjoy being close to her a little too much.

      She added, “You and the rest of your crew, I mean. I’m embarrassed to admit this... My own brother is a Navy SEAL and I’ve never thought of it in this way before. I can’t believe you guys do what you do. Risking your lives all the time. On purpose. For other people. It’s so selfless and generous and brave.”

      Jay shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with her gratitude, reminding him of why he didn’t like to visit survivors. “So others may live,” he said.

      “What?” Her brow scrunched.

      “It’s the motto for Coast Guard rescue swimmers—so others may live.”

      “Oh...right. Well, that’s perfect.”

      He lifted a shoulder. “It’s an honor, actually. It’s the best feeling in the world to play a part in saving someone’s life. Human life is the most precious thing on this planet.” Who was over-sharing now? he asked himself, startled by his admission. He wasn’t normally one to share anything with anyone outside of his family.

      She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “I think I get that.”

      “Sure, yeah, saving animals must be rewarding, too.” Her lips parted like she was going to comment, but then they stayed that way. Her eyes traveled over his face. He watched, riveted because he could almost feel the intensity radiating from her.

      “It is,” she finally agreed with a little nod.

      He suspected that wasn’t what she’d been about to say as her gaze flickered to his and then to her mom and back to him again. “Thank you,” she added. “For saving me—us—especially my mom.”

      “You are welcome.” His gaze traveled up to her left temple. He remembered how she’d had a bloody bandage stuck there when he’d pulled her into the helo, how she’d insisted it was nothing, how scared she’d been about her mom. A rush of tenderness coursed through him and he found himself reaching toward it. “How’s your noggin?” He traced a thumb around the edge of the dressing. Yep, exactly as he’d expected, he liked the feel of her skin a little too much.

      The quick intake of breath and the widening of her eyes confirmed his belief that she was feeling the chemistry between them, too. He reminded himself that on her part, some of that could be gratitude manifesting as attraction toward him. Which also meant he shouldn’t be thinking about what a striking shade of blue her eyes were and how sweet she seemed. This woman with her compassion that already had him saying more than he liked to say could only mean trouble for him.

      Removing his hand, he attempted to make light of his actions. “Do I need to take a look at it? Do these doctors know what they’re doing around here?”

      She laughed. “They seem competent.”

      He grinned. “It’s difficult to set the job aside sometimes.”

      “I understand. I offered to stitch this up myself so the doctor could go help my mom. I, um, sort of demanded it, actually. She was already being treated at the time. It’s possible I may have been a little, um, overly distraught?”

      Aubrey had told him that she’d insisted her mom be taken up into the helicopter first. That was the commotion they’d heard on the radio. It was obvious this woman loved her mother. He wished he could relate. It wasn’t that he didn’t love his mom, it was just that circumstances didn’t allow him to love her in this way.

      “What does your mom do?”

      “She’s a retired teacher. A retired schoolteacher, that is. She still teaches, though. These days it’s yoga at Vela Studio and nutritional workshops at Clean and Green, the health food store here in town?”

      “Aubrey told me that she knows your mom from yoga. She’s also been to a couple of her health workshops. I think there’s one about how bad sugar is for you?”

      “Ah.” Mia nodded. “The Sweet Life, Short Life classes? All about the dangers of sugar and how to break your addiction.”

      “That sounds right.” He glanced toward the door and lowered his voice. “Aubrey seriously believes sugar is toxic.”

      “Mom, too. She tells me my addiction is ‘out of control.’ She’s always making these sugar-free creations. The other day it was banana muffins with this natural alternative

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