Chapter 17 #2
“If you don’t mind, I’ll ride with you in the ambulance,” Oscar said. He lowered his voice and added, “I don’t want to hang around for the police’s questioning, if you know what I mean. I’d rather not be involved in the official law enforcement portion of this party.”
They were lucky that the ambulance arrived within seconds of the police, but Oscar had waited next door even so. A crowd had gathered and the police took over as Dane and Shana climbed into the ambulance and Oscar discreetly followed.
*****
Dane woke up in his own bed the next morning. Alone.
He’d refused to stay at the hospital overnight.
No need. They’d given him blood and stitches.
His arm wound would heal and he’d have another scar.
The worst thing that had happened somewhere during the scuffle was that he twisted his knee.
It had swollen and they’d taken pictures of it and told him he had a sprained MCL. Again.
The sun streamed through the window from the southeast and he figured it must be past ten in the morning. The sound of voices out back drifted in through the open window. He wished to hell Shana was in bed next to him now.
After he washed and dressed, limping as little as possible, he went outside with an ice pack Velcroed to his knee.
They were all out on the patio in back of his beach shack overlooking the Vineyard Haven harbor.
Oscar was there with David and Dan O’Keefe and Cap.
Acer was gone. His eyes searched and didn’t stop until they found his girl.
She looked up and smiled. His heart stuttered. She walked toward him.
“You’re finally awake. They must have given you good drugs before you left the hospital last night,” she said.
The others made smartass remarks about him sleeping in, but he hardly took his eyes from hers.
She said, “You going to get us donuts for breakfast? I’m starving.”
In truth, Dane thought she must have lost ten pounds since they got the trouble call. He said, “I have something better in mind.”
She swatted at his good arm and rolled her eyes at him.
“The doc told me about all I can lift is a phone so I’ll call the kid to deliver something gourmet from his restaurant.”
Cap said, “If you’re calling out for food, I’d rather have pie.”
“That can be arranged.” Dane slipped his phone from his pocket and pressed in the kid’s number first.
Shana turned to Oscar and asked, “Where are you off to next?”
“I haven’t decided yet, but I may go home for a while.”
“Where is that? David asked.
“I can’t say since I’m in the government witness protection program and they frown on me divulging my whereabouts to priors—people I knew in my prior life.”
Everyone laughed at that. Dane finished his calls.
“I’ll give you a lift,” O’Keefe said. “If you stop in Boston first, because my wife and son would love to see you.”
“Grace would love to see you too,” David said. “In fact she’ll kill me if she finds out you were this close and I didn’t drag you home for a visit,” David said.
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse.” Oscar turned to Shana and asked, “What are you going to do next, young lady? Do you plan to stay here for the summer?”
Silence followed. It was an awkward moment. Dane stopped what he was doing, about to bring a mug of coffee to his lips, and watched her. She lost her cool a little and lifted her chin and said, “What’s it to you?
Oscar laughed. “I guess I have my answer.” He gave Dane a warning look.
David jumped in and said, “Oscar is always trying to protect other people’s women.”
They all laughed except Cap. And Dane and Shana.
“What did I miss?” Cap asked.
David said, “Long story, but Oscar was not in favor of me marrying my wife. He didn’t think I was good enough for Grace—he was probably right, but Grace took a chance on me.”
Oscar said, “It’s a work in progress. I’m still watching.”
David slapped him on the back and said,” Watch away.”
O’Keefe said, “Or you could have my wife fix you up—”
Now Oscar raised his hands.
Dane continued to watch Shana. She looked like she still felt troubled by Oscar’s question. Or maybe she was troubled by her answer—which she’d kept to herself. Or maybe she didn’t know the answer.
Maybe she was still considering leaving, or thought she had to. Or worst of all, maybe she thought she needed to stay to nurse him, take care of him. Dane didn’t need a nursemaid.
He said, “I think our pie has arrived—baked by a professional.” He limped toward the back door and managed to sweep Shana up with his right arm around her waist on his way by. He took her with him through the back door to his kitchen.
“The pie isn’t here yet,” she said.
“No, but it will be soon enough.” He pulled her in with his one good arm to hold her tight against his chest. He dipped his head and laid his mouth on hers for a long kiss to prove she was not his nursemaid.
Thank God she didn’t resist. He never knew if she would.
Made kissing her a dangerous proposition every time.
Made it extra exciting. But then he was a sick one when it came to his need for excitement.
That need was wearing him out. He was tired, but he was fighting that feeling with everything in him.
He lifted his head and buried his mouth near her ear and asked, “What’s the answer to Oscar’s question?”
*****
His question froze her for a moment. Then her gut squirmed as if it were inhabited by a live animal. An animal named Dane.
“What do you mean?” She stalled. He separated from her. Her thoughts were too jumbled to say more, to give an answer. It was the question she wrestled with every day, every minute she was in his presence, and more so when she was alone and wanting him.
“There shouldn’t be any question, should there?” he asked again.
“I didn’t ask it, I didn’t bring it up—you heard David. Oscar is overprotective of his female friends. Don’t pay attention to him.”
“I’m not. I’m paying attention to you. And you didn’t answer him.”
“Because he didn’t deserve an answer,” she said. She stiffened her back, confident in her answer, that she was on sure ground.
“Do I deserve an answer?”
That quieted her, threw her thoughts into chaos again. She heaved a sigh and pushed the hair up off her neck. It was hot. Shutting off her unsettled thoughts, she let her instincts take over without interference.
“I’m staying.” She held his eyes, concentrating on him, on seeing him, feeling his physical presence. She quivered with uncertainty, but she’d meant her words. The quivering went through her to her insides and through her center and she gravitated forward against him and felt the singe of his body.
“I’m glad.” He whispered and played with a tendril of her hair. Holding her with one arm, he nuzzled her neck. She felt herself losing her ability to stand, felt her muscles and then her bones turning to liquid and swirling to a heady vibrating excitement.
The feelings churned and her mind spun again and her thoughts settled into focus. In spite of everything, all the pain he’d caused, all the pain he would still cause, Shana let him hold her. How could she—an adrenaline junkie too much like him—give up the most exciting man she’d ever met?
##