Page 17 of Recklessly in Love

Mia lets out a choked laugh. “You’re swearing. That’s a good sign.”

“It’s my coat and a blanket,” I offer, still crouched near her feet. “But we’ve got your clothes if you’re ready to put them on.”

Joanie’s eyes meet mine. Her gaze is undecipherable, and I try to give her one in return that reassures her that we’re here, that we’ve got her.

She finally tears her eyes away and looks at the clothes in Mia’s arms. “Anything to get off this ice and onto something softer. And warmer.”

“I can move her to the couch in the office,” I offer to Nate.

“Probably for the best,” he agrees, stepping back and deferring to me.

I rise, then position myself back in a crouch next to her. “I’m going to bring you inside, okay, city girl?”

She grimaces and nods faintly — no exuberant agreement to me carrying her while she’s mostly naked and only covered by my coat. My eyes flick up to Nate’s momentarily, communicating that observation. He dips his chin in acknowledgment.

I slide my arms under her and pull her to me as I rise, cradling her as gently as I can against my chest. Mia performs a few tucks of the coat and blanket dangling around her, and we head away from the dispersing crowd. Nate stays beside us, and Mia gets in front to open the community center door.

I bring Joanie through, and we repeat the process with the office door before I carefully set her down on the small couch.

Rae pokes her head in. “I’ve got Penny wrapping up the event. I’ll find Miss Joanie something hot to drink.”

Nate nods. “And something to eat, too, I think, Rae. Thank you.”

“Sure thing, Nate.” Rae disappears just as quickly as she appeared, and Mia sinks to the floor next to the couch, clasping Joanie’s hands in hers.

“Well, that wasn’t exactly how I wanted to steal the show,” Joanie jokes in a much quieter tone than usual.

Mia huffs a laugh. “I’m just glad you’re awake. You freaked me out there, Jo.”

Joanie cringes. I’m not sure if it’s pain or embarrassment. “How long was I out?”

“Just a few minutes,” Nate says. “But you’re lucid, the bump isn’t big, and you don’t have radiating pain, so it’s probably a concussion at most. Though given the fact that you were unconscious at all, and you did hit your head, I think it’s best if we take you into the emergency room just in case.”

Joanie grimaces again. “What, no ambulance?” she remarks drily.

Nate’s eyebrows jump up, and he holds up a hand with three fingers raised. “How many fingers?” he asks abruptly.

Joanie rolls her eyes. “Three. And it was sarcasm. I’m fine.”

Nate continues to eye her skeptically. “First of all, you don’t fuck around with head injuries. Second, it’ll be far quicker if we take you. I’m not sure emergency services will come here unless someone needs to be airlifted.”

“That’s barbaric,” Joanie scoffs.

Mia nods in agreement. “I know. When I started the bakery, I tried to push to incorporate the town so we’d get basic services out here. No dice.”

Well, that’s news. I’ve attempted it myself, but now isn’t the time or place to swap stories.

“We can discuss town politics another time,” I inject pointedly. “Joanie should get to the hospital as soon as possible.”

Nate nods his agreement and gestures for Mia to grab Joanie’s clothes.

I move next to Nate. “Let me know how it goes, okay?” I say in a low voice.

But apparently, it was not low enough because Joanie turns her gaze from Mia, who is starting to help dress her, and gives me the biggest puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen. “You’re not coming?”

If the look didn’t do it, the soft, sad tone does. I hesitate for only a heartbeat.

“Of course I am, city girl.”

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