Clearly, I’ve lost my marbles.
Time slows down. It seems like hours, but probably no more than five minutes later, a man in his sixties lowers to the sand. “I’m a doctor. What happened here?”
“He was just standing there, then fell.” Not daring to look up at Mr. Naked Abs, I keep my eyes on the older gent.
“I sent someone for a defibrillator, and it will be here shortly. Do either of you know this man?”
Like a kid in grade school, I raise my hand. “I do.”
The physician nods, reaches into an expensive leather satchel, and retrieves a stethoscope. “Has he ever had heart problems? High blood pressure?”
Hesitating, I shake my head no. I want to tell him about the weapon, but I would rather not go to jail.
Torn between loyalty to friend and country, I bite my tongue to avoid blurting out something stupid.
My internal debate halts at the arrival of a young Adonis lifeguard holding a portable defibrillator. After he hands it to the medical professional, the device’s robotic voice counts down, and I pray harder than I ever have in my whole life.Please, Henry. Don’t die.
“Clear!” At the doctor’s order, I jump back, and the lifeless body jolts.
When Henry’s eyes open, I ignore the tears rolling down my cheeks and grab his chubby, soft hand. “You’re going to be alright.”
Watching me, the sexy man squats on his heels beside his dog. Except for the tongue hanging out, the canine and his owner express the same intent, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The taller of the pair focuses his gaze and licks his lower lip. Drawn to his mouth, another tingle shoots down my spine and lands at the bullseye between my upper thighs. All sorts of inappropriate thoughts cloud my brain, such as running naked on the beach, skinny dipping, his long, thick…
Lordy, what is it about him? I’ve never reacted to a man like this, not even my ex. I dig my newly gelled nails into my palms to stop the madness.
Unaware of my struggle, the doctor pokes a needle into Henry’s arm and says, “Does your boyfriend have a drug problem?”
“Not that I’m aware of, and he’s not my… We’re coworkers.” Although I consider my three-hundred-pound associate to beone of my closest confidants, a horrible truth dawns on me. I know almost nothing about him. He considers potato chips a vegetable, ingests massive doses of vitamin D, and is likely a vampire for all the sunlight he absorbs.
No longer needed for CPR, my mind wanders to Mr. Suit, and I begin to shake. Perhaps I imagined the weapon. If not… I shudder as I consider the implications.
Chapter 2
A wolf doesn’t concern himself with the opinions of sheep.~George R.R. Martin
Axel
As we wait for the ambulance's arrival, the attractive brunette with huge chocolate-brown eyes holds the resurrected man’s hand. Their closeness triggers my internal primate. Clenching my fists, I resist the urge to beat my chest and drag her to my cave.
On the sand near my feet, the heavyset Lazurus grows agitated and tries to sit. “Someone fucking shot me.”
“Shush. There was no gun. You had a heart attack.” My sexy suspect pushes him until he again faces the star-filled sky.
After he settles, she bites her lower lip, raises her brows, and shoots me a pointed gaze, daring me to argue.
What? So now there was no weapon?Concerned at the change in her story, I text the only man I trust in this case, Lochlan James.
Me: Move your wife and team underground ASAP. TTYL.
Lucky: ***thumbs up emoji***
A few minutes later, streaks of red rotate across the beach, the ocean-facing buildings, and along the boardwalk.
Heaving a heavy sigh, the sexy scientist stands and brushes fine grains off her too-short black dress. “It’s about time they got here.”
Her boobs bounce as she waves her arms at the young policeman in a bright yellow t-shirt. “Over here.”
