But tPA, as it was called, was a less reliable treatment than stenting and could have signifi cant side effects.

Everyone looked at Reese.

“Eighteen minutes.”

“Amy,” Tory snapped, “call Hyannis and tell them to get the cath lab ready—we’re bringing in an emergency angioplasty. Let’s get him loaded guys, and make sure he’s strapped in tight. I’ll ride with you.”

“I’ll take point,” Reese said, “and clear the way.”

“Good,” Tory said softly and squeezed Reese’s hand before hurrying after the paramedics.

Reese watched Tory leave, then pivoted to Bri. “You’ll ride with me.” Her eyes fl ickered from Bri’s pale, stunned face to Caroline. From the looks of Caroline, she wasn’t about to let Bri out of her sight. “Both of you.”

“I’ll call in the evening shift to cover, okay, Sheriff?” Allie asked.

“Yes. And Tremont,” Reese said as she grabbed her hat and keys,

• 62 •

Winds of Fortune

“run the shift change and get these other guys home as soon as back-up arrives.”

“Yes ma’am.” Allie glanced at Bri. “Uh, do you think when you get a break someone could call—”

“I’ll contact you with an update.” Reese clapped Bri’s shoulder briskly. “Let’s go, Offi cer. We’ve got work to do.”

Bri twitched as if she were awakening from a dream and took a long shuddering breath. Clasping Caroline’s hand tightly, she said,

“Yes ma’am. I’m ready.”

❖

“Tory’s on the phone,” Randy said as Nita stepped out of a patient exam room. “She says it’s urgent.”

“I’ll take it in the offi ce. Thanks.”

Nita scribbled a note into the chart and tossed it onto the dictation pile. Then she grabbed the phone.

“Tory? It’s Nita.” Frowning, she held the phone in one hand and fl ipped through the next patient chart on her desk with the other. “Don’t even think about leaving until the situation is stabilized.” She sighed.

“Tory, I don’t mind working another shift. That’s why I’m here…How do things look?…Damn, Okay…call me later, then. Thanks.”

Aware that Randy hovered in the doorway, Nita traded the phone for the fi le folder marked Joey Torres and joined him. After checking that the hallway was clear, she said quietly, “Tory’s fi ne.” She lowered her voice. “Nelson Parker has had an MI. Keep it quiet for now, okay?”

“Oh hell,” Randy replied. “Let me know if you hear anything?”

“I will.” Nita indicated the chart. “I’ll be in doing a wound check on Joey.”

When she entered the procedure room, it looked like an instant replay of the day before, except this time Pia had joined the party. Sally, still laughing at something, laid out clean dressings and splint material on an instrument tray. Joey sat sideways on the procedure table, his injured right hand cradled against his chest in a sling. Pia stood next to him, her hip propped against the edge of the table. The person who held Nita’s attention, however, was Deo Camara.

Today Deo wore faded blue jeans that hugged her narrow hips and a faded grey T-shirt with the sleeves torn off. The neckline was

• 63 •

RADCLY fFE

ripped down the center, and Nita thought she glimpsed the soft swell of a smooth, creamy breast. She quickly averted her gaze, but she saw that Deo was smiling in a way that said she knew exactly where Nita had been looking. Annoyance at having given Deo more than a glance and, worse, having Deo catch her at it, set her on edge. She hated that Deo could throw her off stride with just a look. Deliberately, she turned away from Deo and smiled at Joey.

“How are you feeling?”

“Terrible.” Joey feigned a pained expression. “I think I might need three or four months off.”

Deo laughed. “Like hell. You’re not spending the summer on the beach.”

“Let’s have a look.” Nita kept her back to Deo, whose deep rich voice reminded Nita of hot summer air on a lazy August afternoon.

That wasn’t all Deo reminded her of, and that was the real problem.

Deo actually looked nothing like Sylvia, who had been the epitome of blue-eyed, blond beauty, but they shared the same seething sensuality.

And apparently, if her racing pulse were any indication, she was still susceptible to such empty charms.

With effort, Nita put Deo out of her mind and, after donning sterile gloves, carefully removed the bandages from Joey’s hand. Pia watched from nearby.

“Incisions look good,” Nita reported. “There’s anticipated swelling, but nothing out of the ordinary. Finger position indicates the tendon repairs are intact.”

“What do you think about a functional splint?” Pia asked. “I’ll keep the affected fi ngers blocked for now so there won’t be any motion, but we’ll be ready for a little bit of gentle ranging in a few days.”

“All right. Sally can get you what you need if you want to fashion the splint yourself.”

While Pia worked on the splint, Nita re-bandaged the injured fi ngers and quickly recorded a chart note. On her way out into the hall, she said, “Two weeks for suture removal.”

She was almost to her offi ce door when she felt a hand on her arm.

She slowed, knowing who it was and silently chastising herself for the sudden swell of anticipation. Slowly she turned and met Deo’s eyes, knowing what she would see. Deep set eyes, liquid and dark. So dark.

• 64 •

Winds of Fortune

She could imagine how they would look when Deo was aroused, when that sultry shimmer turned to fi re. When Sylvia orgasmed, her glacial blue eyes sharpened until Nita feared she’d bleed on their edges. Deo’s eyes…Deo’s eyes would be molten, hot enough to scorch the fl esh from her bones.

“What is it?” Nita asked, her voice sounding breathy to her own ears. It’s only chemistry. Mindless attraction. Ignore it. Haven’t you learned?

Deo was entranced by the rapid fl urry of expression on Nita’s face. Annoyance, appreciation, intensity…desire. Even though the break in Nita’s careful façade had been fl eeting, she hadn’t been wrong.

She knew what desire looked like in another woman’s eyes. What she hadn’t expected was the quick surge of heat in the pit of her stomach.

Taken off guard, she fumbled for words.

“I…uh…I wanted to thank you for taking care of Joey.”

“That’s not necessary.” Nita backed up a step, aware of her open offi ce door just a few feet away. Sanctuary awaited. Being near Deo made her feel as if she were Daniel cast into the lion’s den. Her common sense told her to fl ee, but what she really wanted to do was reach out and sink her fi ngers into the thick black hair and thrill to the power of feline muscles rippling under her fi ngertips. Lions kill, she reminded herself. “It’s my job.”

“I know.” Deo took a step closer, wondering what it would take to stir that fi re in Nita’s warily shuttered gaze again. Unused to women hiding their desire, she found the situation challenging. “How late are you working?”

Confused, almost certain she could feel heat pouring off Deo’s body, Nita said, “What? Why?”

“I’d like to take you out to dinner tonight.”

“No.”

“Why not?” Deo grinned, but she didn’t feel her usual confi dent self. Nita confused her. She couldn’t get a read on her—one second Nita looked at her as if she wanted to put her hands all over her, and in the next instant, her expression vacillated between fear and fury.

Deo never chased after women, because she didn’t want to spend time with anyone who wasn’t interested in exactly what she was interested in—pleasant company and shared pleasure. Women came to her for

• 65 •

RADCLY fFE

that and that was the way she liked it. So why the hell had she just asked Nita out for a…date?

Nita considered making an excuse, but then realized that she wasn’t the one pushing the issue. She had already told Deo the night before that she wasn’t interested, regardless of how her traitorous body might respond, and she didn’t appreciate being forced to do it again.

“You’re not my type.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why?” Deo snapped. “Because I’m a construction worker? Or because I don’t have a college education?”

“No,” Nita said, trying unsuccessfully to curb her anger. She pressed her fi ngertip to the side of Deo’s neck. “Because you’ve got a lovely bite from whoever you took home last night. If you happen to remember.”

“I just asked you to dinner, not to go to bed with me.”

“When’s the last time you had dinner with a woman you didn’t take to bed?”

Deo hesitated.

“That’s what I thought. Like I said, I’m not interested.”

Deo caught Nita’s hand as she started to turn away. “That’s not what your eyes tell me.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“No I’m not,” Deo whispered, rubbing her thumb over the top of Nita’s hand. Reluctantly, she loosened her grip and Nita snatched her hand away. “Sooner or later, you’re going to admit that.”

“That is never going to happen.”

“I’m going to change your mi—”

Nita stepped into her offi ce and closed the door, cutting off the last of Deo’s sentence. She leaned her back against the solid oak, grateful for the barrier between them. Deo’s hand had been hot, her thumb a delicate tease as it swept back and forth over her skin. That brief caress had touched off an unwanted but undeniably pleasant spark within her. Apparently she was helpless to resist not just Deo’s beauty, but her touch. That was a terribly dangerous combination, and she had no intention of tempting herself any further. Not when she wanted very much to give in.

• 66 •

Winds of Fortune

CHAPTER SEVEN

Thanks, Nita,” Pia said, lingering in the hall outside the procedure room.

“No problem.” Nita smiled at Pia, but her gaze followed Deo and Joey as they disappeared through the door into the reception area. “He’s really a sweetie.”