His to Defend, page 2
“Come on, man. Hang on. Just hang on.”
* * *
Amina Kelly listened as Dr. McPherson, a pediatrician, explained to six-year-old Sophia and her parents the proper way to care for the child’s cast.
“Try not to get it wet. You can buy a cast cover to protect it. Or you can use a couple of plastic bags and tape to wrap it before bath time.”
Amina smiled when Sophia walked over to her while the doctor continued giving instructions to her parents. As a pediatric nurse, she had the pleasure of working with children, calming their fears and connecting with them on a level that others might not be able to. Most days she loved her job, like today.
Sophia was absolutely precious. All of their patients were, but every now and then Amina found herself drawn to certain children, like Sophia. She wasn’t sure what that lure was this time, but there was something special about the little girl. Or maybe it was Amina’s biological clock ticking louder than usual. One hazard of being around children all day was that she was reminded of what she wanted more than anything in the world. A family of her own.
At thirty-four, she thought by now that she’d be happily married with at least three children. She had foolishly tried the marriage thing once, only to make the biggest mistake of her life. As for having kids? That might not ever happen, now that she couldn’t see herself getting married again.
Amina bent down to Sophia’s level. “I have something for you.” She dug through her pocket and pulled out a blue magic marker. “This is so your friends can write on your cast, but you can’t use it on anything else. No walls. No floors. You can only use it on the cast. Okay?”
Sophia nodded. Her unruly blond curls covered much of her face, and Amina couldn’t help but laugh each time the little girl brushed them away. They seemed to bother her, but when her mother tried pulling the hair back into a ponytail, Sophia protested.
Her gaze bounced from her cast to the marker, and her brows dipped into a frown. “I can write my name on it?”
“Yes. Do you know how to spell your name?”
Sophia nodded.
“How about this?” Amina removed the cap from the marker. “I’ll sign my name on your cast first, then you can write yours. Would that be all right?”
“Okay.”
Sophia watched in awe as Amina not only wrote her name, but drew a flower next to it. The fluorescent pink short-arm cast that stopped just below her elbow was so small. There wouldn’t be much room for many other signatures.
“Now you try.”
She held the little girl’s arm steady and smiled as Sophia concentrated on writing. She wrote something, but Amina couldn’t be sure if it was her name. It looked nothing like it.
“I did it! You like my flower?” Sophia pointed at what appeared to be a blue blob.
“It’s beautiful, sweetie.” Feeling her legs stiffen from the crouched position, Amina stood upright and stretched them out. “Be sure to save space for others who might want to sign your cast.”
“Okay.”
“Sophia, it’s time to go. Tell Dr. McPherson and Nurse Mina thank you,” her mother instructed.
“Bye,” Sophia said softly to Amina, her sad hazel eyes staring up at her. Then she lunged forward, practically knocking Amina off-balance when she wrapped her good arm around one of Amina’s legs. “Thank you for my marker.”
Amina bent slightly and hugged her back. “You’re very welcome. Remember, the marker is only for your cast, no walls or floors.”
Sophia bobbed her head, and Amina hoped giving the little girl a marker didn’t backfire. The last thing she wanted were angry parents calling and complaining about unwanted wall art in their living room.
She and Dr. McPherson walked out of the room behind the family. They all said their goodbyes and Amina watched as Sophia and her parents headed down the hall.
“You’re wonderful with kids,” Dr. McPherson said as he finished typing something into the computer tablet that he was holding. “They all love you.”
“I love them too. That was one of the reasons why I decided to become a pediatric nurse.”
“Dr. McPherson, your next patient is ready in room three,” one of the nurses said from the station that was directly across the hall from where they were standing.
“Thanks, Katie. That’ll be my next stop.” He tucked the tablet under his arm and turned to Amina. “Do you mind walking with me?”
“Sure.”
He didn’t speak as they headed to the room, but a few minutes into their stroll, he slowed and glanced around. Amina almost groaned. She knew what was coming next. He had asked her out to dinner the week before. When she turned him down, claiming to be tied up that evening, he’d said maybe another time. Since she hadn’t seen much of him since then, Amina had forgotten about that invite and the one from a couple of months ago.
“I was wondering if you were busy Saturday night. I have two tickets to the Motown Review and would love to take you.”
Caleb McPherson was not only one of the most respected doctors at the hospital, he was also super nice and GQ gorgeous. Most of the nurses referred to him as Dr. McFine. Of course, they didn’t address him like that to his face, but when they were huddled together it was always Dr. McFine this or Dr. McFine that.
Amina couldn’t much blame them, though. At fortysomething and around six-two, with a runner’s build, and smooth dark skin with a dimple in the left cheek, he was definitely nice to look at.
Amina wanted to say yes. Not because of those qualities, or the fact that her mother would absolutely love the idea of her dating a doctor. No, she only wanted to say yes because she’d been wanting to see that show since it first arrived in Vegas. Outside of that, she wasn’t interested in him. Besides, she had a rule about not dating people she worked with and had no intention of breaking it now.
She gave him a closed-mouth smile. “Thanks, but I can’t.”
He nodded, and his dark gaze held hers. “That’s the third time you’ve turned me down. Are you seeing someone?”
She was almost positive he knew that she’d gotten divorced six months ago. Most of her friends and family had been surprised that her marriage hadn’t even lasted a year. With so many wonderful examples of happily married couples in her life, the last thing she wanted was to get divorced. But months after marrying Jeremy, the funny, kind and generous man she’d vowed to spend the rest of her life with had turned into a world-class asshole.
The verbal abuse had been enough to let her know that their marriage wouldn’t last long, but the moment he’d put his hands on her, she’d known it was over.
“Are you?” the doctor asked again, pulling her back into the conversation.
Instead of answering his question, Amina said, “Though I appreciate the invitation, I have a rule. I don’t da...” Her words trailed off and her heart did a little giddyap when she saw a familiar face exit the elevator.
It can’t be, she thought, needing for the man to lift his head so that she could get a better look at him. When he did, a wave of excitement crashed through Amina at the sight of him.
Maxwell Layton.
Amina’s pulse amped as he ambled down the hall in her direction. She hadn’t seen him in a while, but occasionally, she’d think about him. He was a hard man to forget, but at the moment, he was glancing everywhere but at her. She wondered what he was doing at a children’s hospital. He didn’t have kids, but he did have a niece and nephew. Had something happened to one of them?
“Amina?” Dr. McPherson said. “You were saying?”
“Oh... I’m sorry. Excuse me, doctor. I need to check on something,” she said in a rush, and left him standing in the hallway.
She wandered toward Maxwell, giving him a quick once-over along the way. He almost didn’t look like himself. His laid-back, easygoing personality normally showed in his confident gait and the upbeat way he carried himself.
Right now, though, even with the distance between them, his anxiousness was almost palpable. His usual smile that could easily light up a room—nonexistent. Despite those observations, he still was one of the most handsome men she’d ever laid eyes on.
Maxwell kept his hair cut close to the scalp and often wore a baseball cap when he wasn’t on duty. Not today. Today she had a clear view of his attractive face and the way his smooth mahogany skin glistened under the fluorescent lights. Amina took in the gray T-shirt that stretched across his wide chest, molded over his broad shoulders and hugged his thick biceps. Dark jeans covered his powerful thighs and made his legs appear ten feet long.
When her attention returned to his face, she realized he had spotted her, and her steps slowed. It was so good to see him again, but at the moment, his hooded gaze looked past her. She glanced over her shoulder where McPherson was still standing. The doctor gave her a slight nod before walking away. When Amina returned her attention to Maxwell, he was zoned in on her.
The intensity of his stare had her rooted in place. It was as if he was peering deep into her soul, searching for what, she didn’t know. Then just as fast, his eyes softened. He regarded her in that way he usually did. As if she was the only person in the room. Amina often thought it was her imagination, but it was the same expression she’d seen the last few times they’d run into each other.
He moved forward, and her anxiety increased as his expression turned troubled and worry lines formed on his forehead. Suddenly a sense of foreboding settled in her chest. Before she realized it, her hands were in a praying stance under her chin.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen to Trinity? Gunner? The kids?” The words flew from her mouth like rapid-fired gunshots. Maxwell’s family meant everything to him. A family he would kill and die for. “Tell me.”
“It’s Jeremy.”
Stunned, Amina dropped her hands and took a step back. She searched Maxwell’s face again in confusion. He and Jeremy were no longer friends, but surely, he knew that she wasn’t in contact with her ex-husband and rightfully so. The last months of their marriage, Jeremy had made her life a living hell.
Maxwell cleared his throat. “He was shot in the neck. He didn’t...”
The blood flowing through Amina’s veins turned into ice as his unspoken words altered the cadence of her heartbeat. He didn’t have to say anything else. As she regarded him more, his red-rimmed eyes and the way his shoulders suddenly slumped while he rubbed a large hand over his chest said it all.
Jeremy was dead.
Amina didn’t know how to respond as what felt like a two-ton boulder pressed down on the top of her head. Growing up with a police officer as a father, a strong, courageous man who was also her hero, she’d wanted to marry someone just like him. Not necessarily a cop, but someone who embodied bravery and strong morals.
Even though she knew how dangerous his job was and that there was always a chance her dad wouldn’t return home to them, that hadn’t stopped Amina from marrying a cop. She’d become fearless and tough while growing up, feeling as if she could handle anything. Yet, nothing could’ve prepared her for this moment.
A range of emotions warred inside her. Shock. Fear. Sadness. Anger. Her mind and body couldn’t seem to settle on just one. Her brain filled with questions that her mouth couldn’t quite form.
Amina’s gaze stayed on Maxwell, and her heart broke for his loss. She’d lost her ex-husband, but he’d lost so much more. A fellow officer. A man who was once like a brother to him. She might not have been in love with Jeremy anymore, but it was awful that his life was taken by a bullet.
“He’s...he’s dead. He died on the scene.” Maxwell’s voice was hoarse as if he’d been screaming or crying. “I was there,” he continued. “I—I... I...”
Amina barely felt herself move. All she knew was that one minute she was a couple of feet from him and the next, her arms were around his waist. She rested her head against his chest, and the erratic tempo of his heart would’ve caused her concern, but was expected in this instance.
Jeremy’s gone. Shocked didn’t begin to describe what she was feeling. It just...it just didn’t seem real.
At first, Maxwell stood rigid. Then he swung his arms around her, holding her tight enough to cut off all circulation.
“Everything happened so fast,” he mumbled against her hair. His tear-filled words held so much anguish, and Amina ached for him.
“Shh,” she crooned, still stunned by the news herself but wanting to offer some type of comfort. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, but it’s going to be okay. Everything will be okay.” It had to be.
Chapter 2
What the hell is wrong with me?
Maxwell scrubbed his face with his hand, shocked at how he almost broke down in front of Amina. He usually did a good job at controlling his emotions in front of others. Yet today had been tough.
As a police officer, he knew every day that they stepped out on the street could be their last. That mental preparation was no match for reality, though. There was no way he could’ve prepared for losing someone he had once been so close to. The situation was made even worse because he and Jeremy hadn’t been able to settle their differences. Differences that should’ve been squashed. But no, he’d held on to the hurt that Jeremy had inflicted, and Maxwell regretted that more now than ever.
To Amina’s credit, instead of letting him stand in the hallway and further embarrass himself, she had ushered him into a nearby stairwell to the top landing. She excused herself to get someone to cover for her and returned within minutes. That was when it dawned on him that he hadn’t considered how his visit would pull her attention from her work. When he apologized, telling her that he’d leave, she ignored his protests.
A door from somewhere below slammed, and Maxwell stiffened.
“Relax,” Amina said quietly, her hand on his back. “Staff seldom come up here.”
Maxwell nodded and released an exhausted breath. He rubbed his forehead as if that would relieve the pounding inside his skull.
“Can I go and get you anything? Soda? Coffee? Water?” she asked. There was a slight tremble in her voice, but other than that, she was handling the news better than him.
“No, I’m good. Thanks.”
They were sitting on the top step of the landing that led out to the rooftop where a helipad was located. His senses were hyperaware of her nearness. Each time he inhaled, his nose got a whiff of her fragrance—something floral with a hint of vanilla. Their thighs were touching, which wasn’t helping his peace of mind. Even though he wasn’t at a good place mentally, heat bloomed inside him and need spread to every cell in his body.
Damn, his attraction to her was stronger than ever. And he hated himself for it. Lusting after Jeremy’s ex-wife felt wrong.
The man just died.
Maxwell rubbed his chest as if that would loosen the guilt swirling inside him. This was not the time for those intense feelings he once had for Amina to resurface. Yet, he couldn’t stop them. Her presence did something to him, still. This was the woman he had once envisioned hooking up with. Granted, at the time, he hadn’t known her well, but some things you just knew. The two of them clicked.
From the moment he and Amina met, there’d been a powerful connection between them that he couldn’t explain. Conversation had flowed easily as if they’d known each other forever, and he’d sensed her interest in him. But Maxwell had missed his opportunity thanks to receiving a telephone call from work.
He’d been a detective at the time, and the call had been in regard to a huge break in one of his cases. He’d had to leave immediately to follow up on the lead.
Of course, that had been the same moment that Amina had gone to the ladies’ room with her girlfriends. Rather than wait for her to return, he had jotted down a short note and his telephone number, and had asked Jeremy to pass it along to her.
Maxwell never did hear from Amina. He thought that maybe he’d read things wrong and had imagined their connection. He later found out that Jeremy never gave her the note. Instead, his so-called friend had taken advantage of the situation by pursuing Amina relentlessly. It was months later that Maxwell had seen them together and learned what Jeremy had done.
But now he’s gone, and he’s never coming back.
The words taunted Maxwell. He’s gone. Amina was no longer his. Technically, she’d been free of Jeremy months ago and could be with whoever she wanted. Maxwell glanced at her, wanting...needing to say something, but he couldn’t believe he was there, at a children’s hospital...with her. They were both leaned forward with their elbows on their thighs. Dark, soulful eyes stared back at him as his gaze took in her beauty. She had cut her hair since the last time he’d seen her. The pixie style was short in the back and on the sides, and was long in the front. Her bangs were swept to the right side and hung almost over her eye. The style complemented her oval-shaped face and bronze-tone skin. She was such a stunning woman.
He probably shouldn’t be there. Another officer could’ve delivered the news about Jeremy, but considering their history, Maxwell thought it best to come from him.
“It’s good seeing you,” he said quietly.
Amina bumped his shoulder with hers, and the corners of her alluring lips tilted up. “It’s nice to see you too. It’s been a while. I just wish we didn’t have to come together under these circumstances.”
He’d seen her off and on during her and Jeremy’s short marriage because they all had mutual friends. It had been tough hanging out with them at parties and cookouts, but Maxwell always tried to act like it didn’t bother him. He and Amina would talk at those occasions, and still, that intense vibe between them had been just as strong as the first time they met. He sensed that she’d felt it too, but she wasn’t the type of woman who would step out on her husband. And Maxwell wasn’t the type of guy who would ever disrespect anyone’s marriage.
