Chapter Five
S everal days after Sam’s party for Dylan, Connor, Sierra, and their pilot landed in a field near a tiny clinic outside of Red Lodge, a small town southeast of Livingston, minutes ahead of a huge snowstorm blowing in. The request for an air ambulance had come because the patient needed surgery for a compound fracture of his fibula and the small, rural clinic wasn’t equipped to deal with it. They’d asked for help from other closer EMS transports but Marietta’s was the closest that wasn’t tied up at the time the call came in. They were fighting the clock on this patient because a compound fracture needed to be operated on within six to eight hours after it occurred. Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas.
Getting from the helicopter into the clinic was challenging, even as close as it was. The wind had picked up and felt like it was gale force. Once inside the building, their pilot Rick said, “You might as well take off your outer layers and get comfortable. We aren’t going anywhere until the weather clears and it looks like we might be in for a long wait.”
“I was afraid of that,” the clinic doctor said. “It’s already been two hours. That doesn’t leave us much of a window to get him someplace where the doctors can take care of him.”
“Maybe there’s a ground crew who can get here,” Connor said.
“Maybe. We’ll have to try. Again.” To Rick the doctor asked, “What if there’s a lull in the weather? Could you take off in that case?”
Connor didn’t see much hope of a lull, not considering the wind and snow, which only seemed to be picking up steam. But he wasn’t a pilot.
“I’m afraid not,” Rick said. “You’ll do better to try to get a ground crew out here. There are some hospitals that aren’t too far away.”
The doctor nodded, looking resigned. “I’ve already tried for both air and ground transport, but I’ll try again for ground ambulance. There’s a staff lounge with coffee and there might be something to eat, though probably not. Anyway, make yourselves at home.”
All three of them took him up on the offer. Rick immediately busied himself listening to the weather, trying to figure out when they might have a chance to leave. The doctor left to call around and see if he could get a ground crew from somewhere to pick up the patient. Rick hadn’t been hopeful that the weather would clear in time for the helicopter to fly.
“How’s the coffee?” Connor asked Sierra, who’d poured herself a cup when they entered the break room. He doubted it was any good but still hoped for the best.
She made a face. “It tastes like I imagine kerosene tastes. But there’s a Coke machine out in the hall.”
He put the cup down before pouring any. “I might get a soft drink later.”
Rick stood and left the room, muttering something about finding the doctor.
Connor sat beside Sierra on the couch. “Have you been delayed because of a blizzard before?”
“No. Rain, hail, thunderstorms but no blizzards. Although we’ve had some ice storms in Dallas before. Last year we had what everyone called snowmageddon. It snowed and everything froze for over a week and lots of people lost power. No one could get anywhere because Dallas has no equipment to deal with ice and snow. Luckily I wasn’t working at the time so I didn’t have to try to make it in to the hospital and my power didn’t go out.”
“I remember hearing about that on the news. They said people’s swimming pools froze solid.”
“They did. It was an experience. Not one I want to repeat.” She sighed and nodded toward the window, which showed snow still coming down heavily. “We’re lucky we got here before the storm hit. I wouldn’t have wanted to fly in that.”
“Me neither.”
“Sucks for the patient, though.”
She nodded in agreement. “Makes you think, doesn’t it?”
“What? That life’s too short?”
She nodded again. “Yes, and you never know what’s going to happen in your future.”
“Does it make you regret not following through?”
“Following through?”
He motioned between them. “With you and me.” He didn’t really expect an answer and sure as hell not a positive one.
She tilted her head and looked at him. “Sometimes.”
*
He stared at her. “I didn’t expect that answer.”
“I didn’t expect to admit it.”
He’d been lounging with his feet crossed at the ankles but at that he sat up. “Do you ever think about it?”
She knew exactly what he was referring to but she asked anyway. “Think about what?”
He gave her a look that said, ‘Give me a break’ but he answered, “That night. The night we spent together.”
Truth or lie? “I try not to.” That was the truth, just not all of it.
“I’ve thought about that night. A lot.”
“What’s the point? It’s not going to happen again.”
He ignored her. “It’s not because you’re gorgeous, although you are. Or because you’re smart, although you’re extremely smart. You’re dedicated, capable, sexy as hell, and every time I see you, no matter where we are or what we’re doing, I want you. The point is I can’t forget that night. I can’t forget you.”
“Why?” She wished thinking about that night didn’t make her wish for it to happen again. That hearing his words didn’t turn her on. Hell, he was seducing her with words alone. While they were at a rural clinic waiting for the weather to clear. Not a romantic place. Damn, no wonder he never lacked for a woman.
“How can I forget the best night of my life?”
She snorted. “Right. I know your rep, Connor.”
“Yeah, I have a rep. Not totally unmerited. But it was different with you.”
“Again, why?” She didn’t believe him, although she wanted to. Still, she wanted to see what he’d say.
“I don’t know. All I know is I haven’t been with another woman—hell, I haven’t even wanted to be with another woman—since our night together.”
She wanted to believe him, so badly. “That was weeks ago.”
“I know. But whenever I think about even kissing another woman, I can’t. All I see is you. All I think about is you. If you want the truth, it’s driving me freaking nuts.”
She couldn’t help laughing. “You are crazy if you think I buy that.”
He grinned that killer panty-melting grin she’d first seen in Las Vegas. “Yeah, I know. I wish there was a way to convince you I mean it.”
“Stay celibate for another month and I might start to believe you.” She said it flippantly, not believing he’d take her up on it. But what if he did?
“I could. But what’s to stop me telling you I am when I’m not?”
“Hospital gossip for one thing. And…I don’t think you’re a cheater. A player? Yes, and you don’t hide it. But you don’t cheat. Why would you when you’re never with a woman for more than a few dates?”
“What happens if I agree?”
“You mean you stay celibate for a month? What happens then?”
“Yeah.”
“What do you want?”
“Give me a chance.”
“That’s it? A chance?”
“A chance to convince you that Las Vegas doesn’t have to remain a one-night stand.”
Oh, she shouldn’t. She knew she shouldn’t. But she couldn’t deny he tempted her. Couldn’t deny she’d thought about him and their night together more times than she wanted. Couldn’t deny she wanted him, that she hadn’t been able to put that night completely in the past. Besides, she doubted Connor McFarland could stay celibate for what would wind up being more than two months.
And what if he did? She’d have to pay up. But giving him a chance didn’t necessarily mean anything had to happen. Even if something did happen it wouldn’t last long. It would be a fling rather than a one-night stand.
She deserved to have some fun. They were both adults. Connor wouldn’t want anything more than a fling anyway. Surely they could remain friends and colleagues after it ended.
Sierra held out her hand. “Deal.”
Connor took her hand and shook it. “Deal.”
She wondered if she was making a huge mistake.
*
The next several days were frustrating for Sierra. Did the man have a radar where she was concerned? Didn’t she see Connor enough at work without adding in seeing him all over town?
She’d even run into him at Sage’s Chocolate shop. Again, he was alone. She could have sworn he blushed when she asked him what he was buying. A little shame-faced he admitted to an addiction to some of Sage’s special chocolates.
She could understand that. She loved Sage’s chocolates too. To counter that, she ran. Not daily but often. A few days after she saw Connor at Sage’s she was out for a run on one of the paths through the woods near the hospital. She liked it better than running on pavement. It was a nice change, even though she had to be careful about tripping since the path was challenging with lots of roots, dips, rocks, and patches of snow.
She took an offshoot of the main path and ran smack into Connor. Very nearly crashed into him, in fact. Though he was going in the opposite direction he said, “Want some company?”
“Sure. I’m only going another couple of miles, though.”
“Fine with me. I was nearly finished.”
He wore sweatpants and a tight, long-sleeved T-shirt, but no hat and no jacket. She, on the other hand, was more bundled up although she’d taken off her sweatshirt, put her jacket back on, and tied the sweatshirt around her waist.
“Do you always dress like that in the winter?” she asked after they’d run for a bit.
“No, sometimes I wear shorts. I’m hot-blooded.”
She laughed. “Cute. How long do you usually run?”
“Four to six miles, depending.”
“Where do you go when there’s too much snow?”
“The streets and sidewalks are usually okay.”
“Do you ever run on a treadmill?”
“God no. I’d shoot myself if I had to do that.”
“I’ve done it but I don’t like it. Do you run for pleasure or to keep in shape?”
“Both, I guess. But I like it. If I don’t get to run for too long it makes me twitchy.”
She was about to ask him another question when she tripped on a root and fell flat on her face. Groaning, she lay there a moment before rolling onto her back to assess her injuries. Connor, who’d tried to catch her, squatted beside her. “Your face is bleeding. Is anything else hurt?”
“Only my pride.”
He examined her face, ignoring her protests. “You’re bleeding a lot but it’s a head wound so that’s no surprise. Come on, let me fix you up.”
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t be stubborn.” He gave her a hand and helped her up. “It’s not far back to the apartments, but the hospital is closer.”
“I am not going to the hospital because I was clumsy. I got a cut. It’s no biggie.”
“Apartments it is. I’d give you a handkerchief if I had one. Or my shirt, but it’s sweaty. Or you could use your own sweatshirt.”
“And ruin it? I don’t think so.” She wore an old T-shirt beneath a heavier shirt so she pulled it up and wiped at her face. “Better?”
He was obviously trying not to laugh. “Not exactly. You’ve smeared blood all over your face.”
“I give up,” she muttered.
“Poor baby. Let Connor take care of you.”
She gave him a dirty look but allowed him to lead her away.