“When the investigator gets the test results back, he and probably the fire chief will come in to tell you. You can’t let on that you already know.”
“I won’t.”
He stared at her, his eyes narrowed with doubt.
“I won’t, Nate. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“It’ll become a criminal investigation—”
“I understand.” She sat up straighter and touched his arm, an uncharacteristic gesture for her, but she wanted to reassure him since he’d put himself on the line for her.
More than once.
He twisted his arm and took her hand in his, the cords of muscle in his forearm shifting impressively beneath her fingers.
“I told you because I want you to be careful, especially once you leave here tomorrow.”
Sophie frowned and took in the contrast of their hands — his long, capable fingers dwarfing her whole petite hand. Normally, she felt so competent, able to handle whatever she needed to by herself, but a wave of weakness rolled over her.
Why would someone set her building on fire? Had they targeted her specifically? There were seven other suites, all of them but one occupied, so anyone could’ve been the target. Had it been random? The questions were too frightening to utter out loud.
She nodded. “I’ll be careful. I always am.”
“I’m picking you up tomorrow.”
“There’s no need—”
“I’m going to make sure you get home safely.” His jaw was set stubbornly, and his eyes penetrated hers, warning that he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
And while part of her reveled in the way he seemed determined to continue this … whatever was going on between them, another, bigger part of her was more than a little scared.
6
Nate didn’t get out and about before nine a.m. on his days off for just anyone.
Shit. He’d known Sophie for three days, and already, she wasn’t just anyone. He was drawn to her, physically, sure, but there was more to it. She’d looked banged up and exhausted for as long as he’d known her, and yet he couldn’t stay away. There was no explanation, and he refused to think too hard about it as he parked in the visitor lot of the hospital and headed for the door. He had to make himself move at a normal pace instead of rushing inside to see her.
Good damn thing he slowed down too. Otherwise he might’ve missed the nurse rolling Sophie’s wheelchair out to a waiting cab on the other side of the entrance. He jogged over to her and fell into step with the nurse.
“I can get her from here,” he said, working to keep his frustration out of his voice.
Sophie’s head whipped around toward him. “Nate.” She managed to sound surprised.
“That taxi is waiting for her,” the nurse said, nodding toward the first car in a line of them waiting to pick up passengers.
“I’ll take care of him,” Nate said, forcing his I’m-a-firefighter-everything-will-be-okay smile. “And her.”
“You comfortable with this, Sophie?” The nurse leaned to Sophie’s side to reassure herself.
“Yeah, I… He… Yes. This is the man who rescued me, Elizabeth. He apparently thinks his work isn’t done yet and he has to get me home safely.” Sophie’s lips curved up into a tantalizing shy grin.
At the sight of that smile, his tension started to melt away.
“Oooh.” The nurse straightened and looked at him again, this time with less glare and more hel-lo, the tone of feminine appreciation he used to get a kick out of when he was a rookie. “I guess there are tougher burdens to bear, my dear. I need to take my trusty chair with me though. You okay to stand?”
Sophie answered by clutching the plastic hospital-logo bag in her lap and rising to her feet. Her skin still seemed pale to Nate, but he’d never seen her when she was healthy, so maybe that was her usual coloring. Or maybe she was just still recuperating from some scum of the earth nearly killing her. Either way, he was one hundred percent entranced by her.
The nurse reached out for Sophie’s hand. “You take care, okay, sweetie? If you have any questions on your self-care, you call that number on the paper.”
