All of a sudden, it came to her like a flash of lightning in a rainstorm. She knew exactly what was wrong. Nick was what she wanted more than anything else in this world. She had just been so afraid to trust. To believe that her future could be filled with love and stability. Because of her past hurts, Harlow had never allowed herself to hope for normalcy, for the love of a good, strong man. In truth, she had never felt worthy of what Nick was offering her. Love. Acceptance. Strong arms to hold her. Everything she’d always wanted.
She met Stella’s gaze. Concern radiated from her eyes. “I made a mistake, Stella. I-I shouldn’t have ended things with Nick.”
Stella reached for Harlow’s hands and squeezed them. “Then reach out to him. Make things right. Sit Nick down and talk everything through.”
But what would she say? That she’d been an idiot? That she was totally head over heels in love with him?
Just then Stella’s cell phone buzzed and she held up her hand. “One second. I’ve got to take this,” she said with a frown. Lucy came over to Harlow and gave her a hug.
“It’s all going to work out, Harlow. You’ll just have to do a little groveling,” Lucy said, patting her on the back.
“I’m not above groveling,” Harlow answered. If Nick forgave her for her complete lapse in judgment, Harlow would tap dance in a bikini on the town green.
Stella let out a gasp and turned toward them. Her cell phone slipped out of her hand and fell to the ground.
“Stella! What’s wrong?” Lucy asked, rushing toward her.
Stella’s big brown eyes were as wide as saucers. She let out a moan and said, “There’s been a rockslide at the site of the search and rescue mission. That was Luke’s superior on the phone.” Stella made a fist and placed it over her mouth. Blinking back tears, Stella pulled her hand away from her mouth. “Luke is in trouble. He was buried under the rubble. Nick managed to free him but he’s been taken to the hospital with serious injuries.”
“Okay, what do you need?” Lucy asked, scrambling to mobilize.
“I need to get there as soon as possible,” Stella said as Lucy bent down to pick up her phone.
“I’m so sorry, Stella,” Harlow said. “What can we do? Do you want me to stay behind and look after Jade?”
Stella shook her head. “No, I’m going to bring her with me. Harlow, I need you to come along for Nick’s sake. At a time like this, he’s really going to need you.”
Nick! She had been so busy thinking about Luke, she hadn’t had a moment to consider how Nick must feel right now. From the early days of their relationship, she’d known how deeply he loved his brother. How close the ties were that bound them together. Nick had told her about all the years when Luke had been overseas as a Navy SEAL and how grateful he was to have him back in Mistletoe. And now, without warning, Luke’s life could be hanging in the balance. Her place was by Nick’s side.
“Of course,” Harlow said, grabbing her coat and purse. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” Or with anyone else. This was her crew. Stella, Luke, Lucy…and Nick. After Stella gathered up Jade, the three women got in Harlow’s car and raced to the hospital, offering prayers the whole way over.
***
Nick paced back and forth in the hospital’s waiting room as he anticipated word on his brother’s condition. He was still shaking from the events on the mountain. They had been rescuing three hikers who had been lost overnight. One moment they had been standing on the mountain, and in the next a rockslide had come out of nowhere, burying Luke along with the hikers. With the help of other team members, Nick had dug Luke out as quickly as possible before the paramedics mobilized. He had ridden in the ambulance with his brother, who hadn’t regained consciousness the entire time. One of the hikers had died at the location, which was a heartbreaking outcome.
Luke had to make it. Nick couldn’t imagine his life without him. He was his best friend in the entire world.Who else would he share his deepest thoughts with?Not too long ago, Luke had found the love of his life, Stella, after serving heroically for so many years as a SEAL. He couldn’t die from a random rockslide on a Maine mountain. Not after winning the Medal of Honor for heroism in Afghanistan. Not after bringing Jade into the world. Luke deserved a chance to be a father for his little girl and to live out his incredible love story with his wife.
We can’t lose him!Nick didn’t even want to think about living in a world without Luke in it. All he could think about was Kara’s accident and receiving the terrible news of her death. He didn’t want to go through that torture all over again, nor did he want Stella and his folks to endure such trauma.
Pretty soon he was going to have to make the call to his parents to tell them about the accident. He’d been waiting until he heard an update from Luke’s doctor. If the news was good, he could lead with that information. Nick’s mind wouldn’t allow him to go toward a negative outcome.
The moment Stella burst through the waiting room doors she threw herself at Nick’s chest, wrapping her arms so tightly around his neck he could barely breathe. He looked past her shoulder, surprised by the sight of Harlow standing with Lucy, who was cradling his niece in her arms. Stella abruptly let go of him before asking, “What are the doctors saying?” she asked, stress lines creasing her features.
He placed his arm around her. “I’m waiting for news from the doctors.”
Stella shuddered and wrapped her arms around her middle, tears falling from her cheeks. Lucy strode to her side to comfort her, then led her to a nearby sofa, where they both sat down with the baby.
Harlow stepped toward Nick and he instinctively opened his arms to her. That’s where he wanted her to be—pressed up against his heart. As she rested against his chest, the smell of her hair product rose to his nostrils. It was something fruity, like mango or coconut. Whatever the scent was, he breathed the aroma in, allowing himself to bask in the comforting smell that always surrounded her like a halo.
For Nick, all that mattered right now was that she was here with him. She’d smashed his heart into smithereens, but the very sight of her caused pure adrenaline to pulse through his veins. He came to life just looking at her. Nick had no pride where Harlow was concerned. He couldn’t even pretend to be unemotional about her being here. He needed her, which was way deeper than wanting her.
When their embrace ended she placed her hands on either side of his face. “Oh, Nick. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.” Her touch on his skin caused shivers of awareness to flood his body. Despite the drama swirling around him, Harlow’s contact felt invigorating.
“Thanks for being here,” he murmured. He was trying to still his thumping heart, as hard as it might be. For a man who wore his heart on his sleeve, he wasn’t used to playing it cool. The last thing he wanted to do was overstep boundaries with Harlow now that she’d made her feelings toward him clear.
“Of course. I care about what happens to Luke…and Stella. And you, Nick.” Her voice was buttery soft, and it flowed over him like a soothing balm.
She still cared about him. He hadn’t been imagining the romantic vibes between them. Nick tried not to get his hopes up too high. Maybe she was just being nice and comforting him about his brother. “I’m just praying he pulls through. Waiting for news is the hardest part.” He grimaced. “He has to be all right.”
