Chapter 8
Nolan waited with Helena to get her discharge paperwork and medications.
Then they waited until Bella was awake from surgery.
Helena almost made a nurse cry as she forced her way into recovery to see her.
Nolan kept an eye out as he stood behind Helena as she forced a hug on Bella.
Even doped up, the U.S. Marshal looked uncomfortable with the hug.
It was almost enough to make Nolan laugh.
“I had to see you before I went to Keeneston,” Helena told Bella as she held the woman’s hand and shooed away the nurse so they could talk in private. “Plus, I thought you’d want updates.”
“Yes. I asked the doctor if the two men were dead and he thought I was still under anesthesia. What happened? I remember being thrown from the car, the grass coming at me fast, and then nothing.”
“You shot both of them. That’s all I know. Nolan is the firefighter who helped us after the accident. He can tell us more about that part,” Helena said before looking over her shoulder at Nolan.
“It appears that when you shot the driver, he slumped forward, and his foot wedged down the gas pedal. Instead of slowing, he accelerated and rammed into your car, sending you flying and Helena straight into the fence post. One of our deputies found you a good hundred yards from the accident scene. Your leg was obviously broken and you were bleeding from a head wound,” Nolan told her.
“So, we splinted your leg, got an IV running, and Flint and I raced you and Hel here. I’ll let her take over now with the update you probably really want. ”
“Just the facts. I like you, Nolan.” Bella looked back at Helena and raised her eyebrow, waiting for her to pick the story back up.
“The men were the ones from New York. They knew where we were going and got here before us,” Helena told her.
Bella tightened her jaw and Nolan could see that her brain was fighting the drugs, trying to work harder than her brain wanted. “We need to get you to a safe house.”
“About that. I talked with the sheriff of Keeneston, and the bed and breakfast is run by a woman whose husband is an FBI HRT guy and is happy to help. And well, the sheriff’s father-in-law and his brothers will help watch out for me.
And if it gets bad, I can go to the Ali Rahman royal family’s farm and stay with all the soldiers.
But they,” Helena said, turning to look back at Nolan, “think I’ll be safe in Keeneston still.
They also said you can stay there too when you get discharged and you can meet Ahmed. ”
“You got me with the last sentence,” Bella grumbled. “Fine, but I want constant updates until I get discharged.”
Nolan reached into his pocket and pulled out his card from his wallet. “Here’s my cell phone number. Helena got your phone from the car. Text or call anytime.”
Helena dug around the clear plastic bag the hospital had given her for personal items and handed Bella her phone. “Thank you,” Bella told them. “But I want you to check in hourly or I will get a wheelchair and wheel my way to Keeneston.”
Nolan pressed his lips together to stop from laughing. Bella was intense and he appreciated that. He knew some people in Keeneston who would also appreciate it.
“I’ll text you as soon as I get checked into my room,” Helena promised. “And I want you to rest. Nolan said there’s a good doctor in Keeneston who can take over your care. Do I need to call anyone for you?”
“Nah. I’m on vacation for a month. I don’t need my boss freaking out right now.” She looked up at Nolan and gave him a little nod. “Thanks for patching me up. I take it you’re going to be looking after my girl?”
“I am.”
“You'd better do a good job or I’ll shoot you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Bella’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t even blink at that threat. I really will shoot you.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
“Why aren’t you sweating? Why isn’t your pulse raised?”
Nolan smiled, looking utterly relaxed, which confused Bella even more.
“You’ll understand it more when you get to Keeneston.
I grew up being interrogated by the Rose sisters, followed by Ahmed’s drone when I dated his daughter, and hanging out with my friends’ parents who were soldiers, spies, and law enforcement.
Threats are a love language in Keeneston.
Hell, Ahmed and his son-in-law throw knives at each other to see if they can get the other one to flinch.
So, a little gun threat doesn’t bother me. ”
“Damn, I’m going to love Keeneston,” Bella said on a sigh as her eyes began to drift closed.
“Get some rest. We’ll talk soon.” Helena squeezed her hand, and they were on their way out of the hospital.
Nolan found Flint leaning against the ambulance. “Hop in the back. I’ll take you back to your truck.”
Nolan slapped his friend on the back. “Thanks for waiting for us. I was going to order a car.”
Flint grimaced. “They never know how to drive country roads and you end up either going so slow you could have walked to Keeneston faster, or they go so fast they end up flinging you all over the place and you want to vomit. Ask me how I know.” Flint looked over to Helena and gave her a little wink. “Nice to see you up and about.”
“Thanks, Flint. It’s nice to see you again, although, not under these circumstances.”
Nolan placed his hand on the small of her back, which Flint noticed instantly. His lips widened into a broad smile and he pulled out his phone. Before Nolan could even open the back door to the ambulance, his phone was going nuts in his pocket.
Nolan helped Helena up and then turned to Flint. “Did you just place a bet on me?”
“I did. And April would be a lovely time to get married,” Flint told him before climbing in and shutting the door.
Nolan jumped into the back and took a seat on the bench next to Helena. The ambulance jerked forward and Helena fell into him. Nolan took the opportunity to put his arm around her and pull her tight to his side.
“Thank you. I was sliding all around,” Helena said.
She snuggled closer and put her hand on his thigh.
Nolan about had a heart attack. It meant so much more when someone he actually cared about was flirting back.
It still didn’t mean there could be anything between them, but Helena was possibly as affected as he was.
Chemistry sparked between them. It felt as if he was being shocked back to life with the way she slowly moved her hand over his leg until she gave him a little squeeze.
The trouble with crushes was that they were called crushes for a reason.
Right now, his heart was being crushed with the conflicting feelings of longing, but knowing any action between them may only be temporary.
He’d be that small town guy this big city lawyer hooked up with once. A good story for her friends.
But, what if it was more than that?
The thought raced through his mind. It was more than that for him. Maybe it was for her too?
Helena barely took a full breath during the ride to Nolan’s truck.
She was tucked up against Nolan and felt so safe and protected that she never wanted to move.
She’d placed her hand on his thigh, and those muscles tensed under her touch, which only led to her wanting to touch them more.
Nolan reacted to her as she reacted to him.
Goodness knows he’d been invading her dreams enough, but having him here, holding her?
Well, it was a million times better than any dream.
Flint stopped the ambulance by Nolan’s truck, which was still in the road.
Nolan helped her down and thanked Flint before opening the door to his truck for Helena.
The luggage that Luke had found in the trunk had been put into the back of his truck.
Helena climbed up and took in the spotless, well-cared-for interior of the truck while Nolan walked around to the driver’s side.
He told her a little about what they were passing by on the drive to Keeneston, but otherwise they sat in comfortable silence. “I have a question,” Helena said into one of those silent moments as they drew closer to Keeneston. “Why would Matt call his father-in-law?”
“His father-in-law is Cy Davies. He’s a former CIA agent,” Nolan said as if it were completely normal.
It was not normal. “The Davies brothers were all military except for the youngest who is a techie. Cy and his military brothers, along with Ahmed and his wife, own and operate the Keeneston Training Center. They are very well qualified to help you.”
“Is anyone in Keeneston not in the military?”
Nolan laughed. “I’m not. But I did grow up with the Davies kids so I got a lot of training from their parents. It’s kind of a town hobby.” Nolan paused as he turned onto Main Street. “The bed and breakfast is right up here.” He pointed to a side street a moment before turning left onto it.
They drove up the hill a short distance and the white house with a huge, sprawling tree out front and a beautiful front porch came into view. “This is it. Poppy and Lucas run it for the Rose sisters, who live next door with their husbands now. Don’t be surprised if they pop in to say hello.”
Nolan parked in the small parking lot to the side of the house. He opened the door for her before grabbing her bag and one belonging to Bella. Nolan opened the door for the bed and breakfast for her and moved aside so she could walk in.
A tall man with broad shoulders, an easy grin, and wearing shorts, flip-flops, and a tank top with a picture of a polar bear on it greeted them.
Helena had loved him the moment they met the last time she was in Keeneston.
Lucas was from northern Alaska and liked to think he had a pet polar bear.
The pictures proved that one tolerated him and didn’t eat him when he rubbed her belly.
It was easy to forget he was FBI HRT, which she certainly had forgotten.
“Hells Bells! Welcome to the B&B!” Lucas called out as he approached with wide open arms. He wrapped them around her and pulled her up for a bear hug.
“Good to see you again. I hear you’re bringing some excitement to town.
Good. It’s been a while since we had any.
Ah,” Lucas sighed as he set her down, “it’s always a good time when kicking terrorist ass is involved. Let me show you to your room.”
Lucas handed her a big iron key and headed up the sweeping staircase that looked right out of Gone with the Wind. He took her to the second floor and down the hall to a corner room on the right. “Here you go, room number three.”
Helena unlocked the door and opened it. Inside was a large four-poster bed, beautiful hardwood floors, and antique furniture. There was an en suite with a clawfoot tub and windows that overlooked the side of the house and the front of the house. It was certainly a beautiful room.
“We lay out breakfast at six and if it’s after eight, come on down to the café for food.
” Lucas gave her a wink and rubbed his flat belly.
“Food sounds good. I’ll go lay out a snack in the living room.
There’s only one other couple here right now and they’re leaving tomorrow morning.
February isn’t high season so you’ll get all of our attention.
Also, I have pictures from my last trip home.
I can’t wait to show you how much Bertha’s cub has grown!
” Lucas patted Nolan on the shoulder as he walked by.
“Don’t worry, I’ll watch her.” Then he bounded off down the stairs.
“So much energy,” Helena said with a chuckle. “Thanks for carrying up my bags. I’m going to unpack and call Quinn. I know she’s worried about me.”
“Let me give you my number,” Nolan said before rattling it off so she could put it in her phone. “Call me, day or night, if you need anything at all. Even if it’s just an escort to the café.”
Helena’s mind had gone to something way different than an escort down the road.
Anything at all had made her think of the fireman charity event when she’d hosed him down and run her fingers through his hair and down his chiseled body.
Would a booty call be inappropriate? Because that was the type of call she wanted to make to Nolan.
“Thank you for everything, Nolan. I hope to see you around while I’m here.” She hoped to see him naked while she was here too. Maybe being shot at and run off the road had messed with her head. She should be scared, but instead she just stared at Nolan’s muscles and lusted.
“You’ll be seeing a lot of me, Hel.” Helena bit her bottom lip to stop the groan she wanted to make as Nolan turned and left her room. “Don’t forget to lock the door,” he called out as he closed the door behind him.