Where There's Smoke.... Barbara McCauley

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СКАЧАТЬ know, she tried to say, but her lungs were burning and her brain felt as if there were shards of glass tumbling inside. She struggled to keep her eyes open and focused on the man questioning her, struggled to keep her thoughts from bumping into one another. Derrick. He’d said his name was Derrick.

      “You left the plant thirty minutes before me.” He narrowed his gaze. “I watched you drive away. What were you doing there?”

      “I…don’t know…what you’re talking about,” she managed to say, but the words cost her and she started to cough again.

      “Dammit, Emily, what are you—”

      A knock at the half-open door stopped him. With a frown, Derrick straightened. “What is it?”

      “I came to check on Emily.”

      That voice. Deep, a bit hoarse. So familiar, she thought. So comforting. Though her eyelids were heavy, she lifted her gaze toward the doorway.

      “Who are you?” Derrick demanded.

      “A friend.” The man wore faded jeans, a denim jacket and black boots. His gaze flicked over Derrick as he moved into the room. “Who are you?”

      “Derrick Barone.” Derrick stood and squared his shoulders. “Emily’s brother.”

      Emily felt her pulse skip as the man moved closer to her bed. She knew him, she was certain she did. She just didn’t know how.

      He was tall, close to six feet, his chest broad and upper arms solid muscle. His sandy-brown hair was short and neat on the sides, just long enough on top to allow several thick strands to dip down in the middle of his forehead. His eyes were green—no, blue. Both, she finally decided, and held her breath as he turned his incredible gaze on her.

      “How you feeling?” he asked her.

      Before she could attempt an answer, Derrick stepped forward. “Excuse me. I didn’t catch your name.”

      “Shane.” He kept his eyes on Emily. “Shane Cummings.”

      “I know most of my sister’s friends,” Derrick said. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

      “We haven’t.” Shane moved around Derrick and came closer to the bed. “Hey, Cinderella, how you doing?”

      Cinderella? Why would he call her that? she wondered. She doubted she’d left any glass slippers behind or—

      Pain seized her, shot like an arrow through her temple, had her gasping for breath and squeezing her eyes shut.

      Fire…flames everywhere…smoke…

      The sounds came back to her. The crackling heat, an explosion, shattering glass.

      She reached out, felt the comfort of Shane’s large hand closing over her own.

      I’ve got you….

      She heard Shane’s voice, felt his arms lifting her out of the ashes and rubble. He’d carried her down a ladder, covered her body with his to protect her. Stayed with her.

      That was all she could remember. Nothing before that moment he’d scooped her up in his arms, nothing after he’d climbed into the ambulance with her.

      As the pain eased, she opened her eyes and saw the concern in his furrowed brow.

      “Shall I get the doctor?” he asked quietly.

      “Now, see here.” Derrick smoothed a hand down his tie. “I don’t know who you are, or why you’re here, but my sister’s been through a terrible ordeal. I would appreciate it if you would—”

      “Mr. Barone?” A redheaded nurse stuck her head in the door. “Your parents are on the phone at the desk. They asked to speak with you.”

      Derrick glanced at Shane, then Emily. “I’ll be right back. If you need anything—”

      “I’ll be here,” Shane said evenly.

      Derrick frowned, then followed the nurse.

      “You…saved me,” Emily murmured.

      “You mean just now, or earlier?”

      “Both.”

      He smiled down at her. “Do you remember me?”

      “The fire… You carried me out….”

      When she started to cough, he squeezed her hand. “The doc says you’re going to be fine, but you’ve sucked some smoke into your lungs, which is going to make them burn for a day or two. And since a ceiling came down on your head, I suspect that’s gotta hurt, too.”

      She nodded, then reached up and touched the bandage taped high on her temple. “What happened?”

      “We were hoping you might be able to tell us. You were the only person in the building when it caught fire.”

      “Building?”

      “Baronessa Gelati.” When she did not respond to the name, Shane lifted a brow. “Where you work.”

      She closed her eyes, felt the pounding in her brain start up with renewed vigor. Why couldn’t she remember?

      “Mr. Cummings.” A blond woman wearing a white doctor’s coat and black skirt came into the room. “I believe I sent you home.”

      “I was on my way, Doc.” His expression innocent, Shane stuck his hands into his front pockets and stepped away from the bed. “But when I saw Miss Barone was conscious, I thought she might be able to tell us how the fire started.”

      The doctor threw a dubious glance at Shane, pushed her black-rimmed glasses up her nose, then looked at Emily. “I’m Dr. Tuscano. How’s that head of yours feeling?”

      “Like it’s trying to hatch,” Emily said weakly.

      The doctor smiled. “I had to give you a few stitches along your hairline, but they should heal without a noticeable scar. We’re giving you pain medication in your IV right now, but if you do well through the rest of the night, we’ll take you off in the morning. Other than the laceration on your head, some bumps and bruises and a little smoke in your lungs, you’re in great shape considering your ordeal.”

      “Shane saved my life,” Emily whispered.

      “I believe he did,” Dr. Tuscano agreed as she made a note in Emily’s chart. “Your family will be very happy to hear you’ll be all right.”

      “My family?”

      The doctor paused in her writing and glanced up. Frowning, she set her chart down and pulled a small flashlight out of her pocket. “You don’t remember the accident?”

      “No.” Emily winced at the light the doctor shone in her eyes.

      “Do you know who you are, where you live?”

      Who СКАЧАТЬ