Colton 911--Soldier's Return, page 5
Things were pretty quiet in the NICU, relatively speaking. Carly loved working with infants and had a soft spot for the vulnerable preemies. She was grateful for days like this, when she could take care of her charges without rushing from one incident to another. She even had time to chat with a few of the parents, many of whom she’d gotten to know well.
When her lunchtime arrived, she smiled at the nurse who’d come to relieve her so she could eat. They all knew better than to comment on the calm day—to do so practically guaranteed it would end.
She headed down to the cafeteria, planning to grab a salad and her personal weakness, a diet ginger ale. The cafeteria always made sure to keep some in stock for her. As she rounded the corner, she stopped short, stunned at the sight of Micha sitting on a bench just outside the cafeteria entrance.
After the first initial rush of seeing him, she frowned. “Now I’m really beginning to feel like you’re stalking me,” she said. “What are you doing here?”
He stood. “I thought you might want to have lunch.” He held up a bag. Fontano’s Subs. Her favorite.
“You remembered.” Touched, despite herself, she let her gaze search his face.
“Yep. Homemade meatball with red sauce.” He grinned. “And corned beef for me.”
For just an instant, the force of his smile took her back. Micha had used to meet her for lunch all the time when they’d first gotten engaged. Sometimes he’d bring her a treat, sometimes they’d eat cafeteria food. What had been important was spending the time together. She’d missed their lunches a lot once he’d gone back to active duty.
Now, though, two years had passed. She’d grown used to eating her lunch alone. She wasn’t sure her heart could withstand taking a giant step back into the past.
Noticing her hesitation, his warm smile dimmed. “I can go,” he said. “If you want me to.”
Eyeing the paper sack, she relented. “I’m sorry. You can stay. You just caught me off guard. Let me go get us a couple of drinks and we’ll grab a table.”
“In the courtyard?” He nodded toward the outside eating area. With the warm weather, a lot of people took advantage of the chance to get out.
She shrugged. “Sure, if you can find a table. If not, inside’s fine.”
Inside, she grabbed her diet ginger ale and a cola for him. After paying, she made her way outside, spotting Micha at a two-seat table under a small umbrella.
“Wow,” she commented, handing him his drink and taking a seat. “You really lucked out.”
Smiling again, he opened the paper bag. She inhaled deeply, her mouth beginning to water at the wonderful scents that escaped. Around them, she saw a couple of her coworkers giving her curious looks, but she ignored them.
As soon as he handed her the meatball sub, she unwrapped it and took a huge bite. The flavor had her humming low in her throat with pleasure. She looked up to find him staring at her, his warm gaze making her face heat.
“I haven’t had one of these in a long time,” she said, going for a second bite. “So good.” She rolled her eyes.
Laughing, he unwrapped his own sub. “I love your gusto,” he murmured, before digging into his corned beef.
Love. She pretended not to notice his choice of words. “I talked to Officer Crenshaw,” she told him. “He’s promised to make sure there are extra patrols on my street.”
He nodded. “Any word from your family? I’m assuming by now someone will have notified them about the new set of murders.”
“Heath has called a family meeting on Sunday,” she replied. “I’m guessing he wants to let us know in person.”
“Are you going to tell them about me?” he asked softly.
She finished her sandwich, wadding up the wrapper, and then took a deep sip of her ginger ale. “Yes. That’s another thing best done face-to-face, I think. I’ll tell them Sunday.”
Now that they’d both finished eating, she checked her watch. “I don’t want to hog this table,” she said, pushing to her feet. “I’ve only got a few minutes before I need to get back to work. Thank you for bringing me lunch.”
“You’re welcome.” He followed her back into the hall. “When’s your next day off?”
“Sunday.”
“May I see you?” he asked.
“I’m going up to Oak Park, remember?” she replied.
“After? How about dinner?”
Shaking her head, she considered. “I’ll let you know.”
“Fair enough,” he replied. “I’ll pick you up after you get off.” And then he walked away without a backward glance.
She watched him go, her emotions conflicted. Once, he would have kissed her goodbye. Though she certainly knew she couldn’t return to that past, to that place in time, she missed that kiss with a sudden aching yearning.
The rest of her shift passed uneventfully, a blessing and a respite in a nurse’s day. Carly had chosen pediatric nursing early in her career, though she had to do a required stint as an ER nurse before moving to the children’s floor. She’d gravitated toward the NICU, where the most seriously ill or premature babies were cared for.
She loved her job, despite getting her heart broken on those awful days when they lost a patient. She always cried, as did most of the other nurses and doctors on her team.
Shaking her head to clear away those dark thoughts, Carly finished up her charts and got ready to hand everything over to the night nurse who’d be arriving soon. She had to admit the thought of seeing Micha again made her heart beat a little faster. Though she knew it might be foolish, she couldn’t contain the quick rush of joy she felt seeing him pull up in front of the hospital entrance and wave to her.
Getting in the car also brought back an odd combination of nostalgia and uncertainty. To cover, she checked her watch. “We’ve got to hurry. I don’t want to be late for the vet appointment.”
“Okay. All your supplies are in bags in the back seat.”
She turned to look. “Thank you. I’ll write you a check later.” Locating the collar and leash, she removed the price tags. “I’m going to need these.”
Once they reached her house, she jumped out of the car. “I’ll be right back.” As she unlocked her door, she wondered how much damage the stray dog might have done. She’d barricaded her in the kitchen with an old comforter to sleep on, food and water in old plastic bowls, and she’d also laid out newspaper near the back door in case of accidents.
When she stepped inside, her house seemed quiet. A bit apprehensive, she walked back to the kitchen, moving away the old baby gate she’d pulled from the garage.
Bridget sat on the old comforter where she’d made a nest. She eyed Carly warily, though her ears remained up and her tail wagged. She’d eaten all the boiled chicken, but as far as Carly could tell, there’d been no potty accidents.
Moving slowly, Carly crouched down and reached to put on the collar. To her surprise, the dog lowered her head and allowed this. Since Carly had already attached the leash, she stood and gave a little tug to see if Bridget would follow her.
The dog slowly got to her feet and did.
Carly led her outside, locking the door behind her. Signaling to Micha to wait, she took Bridget to the side grass, waiting while the dog relieved herself.
“How about cars, girl?” Carly asked, leading the dog over to the back door. When she opened it, Bridget promptly jumped inside.
“She’s been someone’s pet,” Carly mused, climbing into the front passenger seat. “She’s clearly used to walking on a leash and riding in cars. I don’t know how long she’s been on her own or why, but if someone is missing her, I hope we can find them.”
“Hopefully, she’s chipped,” Micha said. “If not, you can check with shelters. Plus there are usually lost-dog groups on social media.”
Though Carly nodded, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Truly, she felt as if Bridget was meant to be her dog. She guessed she’d just have to wait and see.
Inside the vet clinic, despite two other clients and their dogs waiting, Bridget stayed close to Carly, sitting with her side pressed against Carly’s leg and her head down. She ignored Micha and the other two dogs.
Once they were taken back to an examination room, Carly explained how she’d come to be there with Bridget. The vet tech, a young woman with purple hair and a broad smile, went and got a microchip scanner and waved it over the dog’s neck and shoulder areas. The device beeped.
“We have a chip,” the tech announced. “We’ll contact the chip company and get information on the dog’s owner.”
Heaven help her, Carly thought she might cry. She managed to nod, all the while continuing to stroke Bridget’s soft fur. “Thank you,” she said. Micha squeezed her shoulder, as if he understood her inner turmoil.
“There’s no sense in doing any vaccinations or exam yet,” the young woman continued. “You should wait until we hear back from the dog’s owner. There’s no charge for today.”
“Okay.” Deflated, Carly took Bridget’s leash and headed outside, blinking back tears. Silently, she loaded the dog into the back seat of Micha’s rental car, before climbing in the front and buckling herself in.
“It’s going to be all right,” Micha said as he got in on the driver’s side. “You did a good thing. Gave the dog shelter and now she’s on her way to being reunited with her owner.”
Carly nodded, keeping her face averted while she struggled to get her emotions under control.
“You really wanted to keep her, didn’t you?” Micha asked, touching her lightly on the arm.
“I did.” Squaring her shoulders, Carly turned to eye Bridget, now curled up on the back seat. “But I’m glad she has a home. With me.”
Back when they’d been together, they’d never discussed having or not having a pet. They’d talked about dreams and values and how many children they’d like to have, but not about cats versus dogs versus pet-free. In fact, until recently, the closest thing Carly had to a pet had been a squirrel that lived in the large oak tree outside her kitchen window.
Curious, she eyed Micha. “What about you? Do you have any pets?”
He shook his head. “No. Up until now, it’s been military and then hospitals. But I grew up with dogs.” Glancing at Bridget in the back seat, he smiled. “I like yours.”
“Thanks,” she replied. “I like her, too.”
As they pulled up in front of her house, Micha didn’t say anything but she could tell from the hopeful look in his eyes that he wanted her to ask him in.
“I appreciate the ride,” she said instead. “It was good to see you. But it’s been a long day and I want to give Bridget a bath and feed her, plus start taking her out on the leash to see how she does.”
He nodded. “Okay.” Hesitating, he glanced up and down the street. “Stay safe.”
“You, too.”
Puttering around her house, Carly found herself constantly reaching to pet her dog. Bridget seemed reluctant to leave her side. She suffered through her bath with a kind of quiet dignity, ate her bowl of kibble with gusto and curled up on the couch with her head resting on Carly’s lap while they watched TV. After, Carly took Bridget outside on the leash to relieve herself. Once she had, they came inside and Carly gave her a treat as a reward.
“Ready to go to bed, girl?” Carly asked. Bridget immediately began wagging her tail as if she understood. Heart lighter than it had been in days, Carly led the way back to her bedroom.
Carly had placed the brand-new dog bed on the floor near her nightstand and when the time came to turn in for the night, she showed Bridget where she should sleep. To her surprise, the pup seemed to understand immediately and curled up there with a soft grunt. Closing her eyes, she promptly went to sleep.
After taking a couple of pictures with her phone, Carly resisted the urge to text them to Micha. Instead, she washed her face, brushed her teeth and got into bed. Turning out the light, she drifted off to sleep.
The vet clinic called early the next morning. “I’m afraid I have some bad news on the owner of the stray dog you found,” the caller said. “We’ve located the previous owner and learned he is deceased. His daughter stated she does not want the dog.”
Somehow, Carly managed to restrain herself. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “That means I can keep her, right?”
“Yes, you can. Or you can drop her off at the shelter if you prefer.”
Glancing at Bridget, sleeping in a stray patch of sunlight, Carly grinned. “That’s not happening. She’s mine now. I guess I need to make another appointment to get her vetting done.”
They settled on a date and time and Carly ended the call. She walked over to her new dog and bent down, crooning softly as she reached out to pet her. “You’re not going anywhere, baby girl.”
Bridget eyed her, yawned and then went back to sleep.
Carly got up and started dancing around her kitchen. While she found it sad that Bridget’s owner had died and unbelievable that his daughter hadn’t wanted the dog, Carly couldn’t help but rejoice in the knowledge that she got to keep her.
Impulsively, Carly grabbed her phone and punched in Micha’s number. He answered immediately, his kind, husky-voiced greeting generating a warmth deep inside her. Talking quickly, she told him the news. “So now I really have a dog,” she concluded. “I made another vet appointment to get her checked out.”
“Congratulations. I wish I was there to celebrate with you.”
She caught her breath, her heart skipping, any words she might have said caught in her throat.
“Too fast?” he asked.
“Kind of. Yes.”
Quickly, he changed the subject. “Are we still on for dinner Sunday night?”
Again, she hesitated. “I’ll probably be eating a huge meal over at the cookout, so I doubt I’ll be hungry.”
“I get that. Maybe we can just grab a cup of coffee.”
“Micha...”
She could picture him steeling himself. “Yes?”
“I know we agreed we’d try to be friends for now, but I think maybe this is moving way too fast.”
“Hey, it’s just coffee.” His quiet laugh sounded forced. “Actually, I just want to see you.”
His words and the husky tone to his voice had warmth unfurling inside her. Was she really that weak?
While resistant, she considered the idea. “We really should give each other a few days’ space,” she replied.
“Please. We can do whatever you want. Even if you just want to sit outside in your backyard and watch your dog play.”
The quiet plea in his husky voice made her relent. Once, she’d never been able to deny him anything. “Look, I’ve got to head in to work. I’ll call you when I’m on my way home from Oak Park tomorrow,” she said. “We can figure out something.”
Murmuring assent, he ended the call. Staring at her phone, Carly wondered how it was possible to miss someone so badly when her emotions were all over the place. Losing him had shattered her. She wasn’t sure she wanted to set herself up to be destroyed again.
Chapter 4
After ending the call, Micha rejoiced—just a little—at the fact that Carly had actually relented and decided to see him Sunday after her family get-together. Even talking to her on the phone affected him. Listening to the unabashed joy and excitement in Carly’s voice as she’d told him about her new dog, his heart had squeezed. He ached for her. Hearing her sweet, sexy voice over the phone wasn’t enough. He wanted to be there to share in her happiness, to take her in his arms and dance around her kitchen the way she always did when she was happy. He could see it as clearly as if he was there.
Beautiful, sexy, sweet and smart Carly. The back of his throat stung with emotion. Whatever emotion she experienced, she did with gusto. Her joy was infectious, infusing him with hope for a brighter world. He had no idea how she did it, but merely by her existence, Carly made him want to be a better person. Worthy of someone as special as her.
At this very moment, there were two things Micha craved in this world. The first was to keep Carly safe. After that, the second would be for her to finally understand that they were truly meant to be together.
She belonged with him and he belonged with her. No terrorists or helicopter crash, burns or long convalescence could take that away from them. He felt it deep in his soul. Once, Carly had felt it, too. Their connection had been instant and deep, searing them forever.
Two years and a huge miscommunication had separated them, driven a wedge in between them. Yet when he’d first seen her, every emotion had come rushing back, filling him with love and desire. And Carly had felt the same things, too. They’d devoured each other, fallen into each other’s arms as if no time had passed since they’d been apart.
Imprisonment, horrific injuries and learning she’d been wrongfully notified of his death had conspired to keep them apart. He’d almost let those things and two years apart change him, letting himself believe that he could continue in life without her. Until he’d actually caught sight of her once more and realized how wrong he’d been.
Micha had never been a poetic man. He considered himself a realist, pragmatic and grounded. Except when it came to her. Carly changed everything. He had no doubt that they were each half of the same soul, destined to be together for as long as they drew breath.
He knew she would realize this eventually, he just didn’t know when. He knew he had to go slowly, cautiously, so he didn’t scare her away. She held the pain and grief she’d been through wrapped around her like a shield. Regaining her trust would only be accomplished slowly. He knew he’d have to resist every impulse to rush things.
As for keeping her safe, at least Chicago PD had gotten involved. While a start, that wasn’t nearly enough, so Micha had decided he would become her personal bodyguard and do his best to keep her safe. Considering that he didn’t want to freak her out, he planned to do much of that as quietly as possible in the background.
