“Goddamn it, Ramsey.” Paul twisted his head around to get a glimpse of whatever was going on back at the store. “Get me into my car!”
Paul’s sharp order and lack of explanation made Ramsey set her teeth. This had bad all over it. She followed his lead and also glanced back at the store. The police cars hadn’t moved. She stepped away from the door and gestured to him to get out. “You’re on your own, Paul. I’ll take you to the ER, but I’m not taking you anywhere else. Not even to your car.”
Ramsey set her teeth harder, this time because of the voice that came suddenly from behind her.
“You may as well do as she wants,” said Jay. “She has a knack for getting her way.”
“Who the hell of are you?” Paul asked, jerking his chin at the stranger.
Simultaneous to Paul’s question, Ramsey pivoted to face Jay and demanded to know what the hell he was doing.
Jay smiled smoothly, supremely unaffected by the twin laser-like glares focused on him. “Jay Carpenter,” he said, addressing Paul. “Ramsey’s husband.”
“Ex,” she said immediately. “Ex-husband. Take a hike, Jay. I’m busy.”
“I see. Looks to me as if you could use some help.”
“He doesn’t want any.”
“Sure, he does. The man’s too proud to say so.”
“No,” said Paul. “Not too proud.”
Ramsey smirked at Jay. “See?” She turned to Paul. “Step out.”
Paul lowered his good leg to the asphalt, got his balance, and brought the other leg down. The simple act of adding toe weight to the injured leg made him groan. Beads of sweat appeared on his upper lip.
“That’s what I thought,” she said. “Don’t be an ass. Get in.”
Without an invitation, Jay stepped forward and grasped Paul’s left leg and lifted it into the car. As Paul was forced to swivel sideways in the seat so that he began to face forward, Jay supported Paul’s right leg behind the knee and eased it inside. He closed the door as Paul leaned back against the headrest. “You’re welcome,” he said to Ramsey. “Sometimes you have to stop arguing and just do what you need to do.”
Ramsey offered a grudging thank you. “What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“Is that Dudley?”
“No. That’s Paul Shippensmith. He’s the top manager here. My boss.”
“Oh. I guess that explains you trying to take care of him.”
“Being a human being explains it. There’s nothing in it for me.” She started to go around him to get to the driver’s seat, but Jay caught her arm and held her up. She stared at his hand on her elbow and then at him. “What do you think you’re doing? Let me go.”
“Get in behind your manager. I’ll drive.”
“You’re crazy. I’m not going to do that.”
Jay’s voice dropped to a deeper timbre. “Does he know about your twenty-three million? I bet he doesn’t.” He raised his free hand and made a knocking gesture with his fist, making his intention clear. “Should I tell him?”
“I didn’t think I could despise you any more than I do, but somehow you’ve made that happen. Let me go. I’m getting in.”
“Good decision. Keys?”
“They’re in the car.” She tore her arm out of his grip and climbed into the back seat behind Paul. “Jay’s going to drive us to the ER,” she said, mustering credible calm.
Paul grunted acknowledgement, but when Jay got in behind the wheel, he repeated his demand to be taken home.
“I’m easy,” said Jay. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, though I have to say that my wife isn’t wrong about you needing to go to the hospital.”
“Ex-wife,” Ramsey said, then wanted to kick herself for taking the bait.
