Page 15 of Just One Look

“I’m fine. Not a scratch on me. I did a head count,” Tom said. “Everyone is accounted for and you’re the only one injured.”

“What about Mary? She’s on oxygen.” Stuart’s gaze skipped to the other EMT vehicle where they’d seen the woman on a stretcher on oxygen.

“Just a precaution,” the EMT responded, wrapping a blood pressure cuff on Stuart’s arm.

“She has asthma.” Stuart closed his eyes.

“We know. Like I said, a precaution.”

With that, the doors closed on the vehicle holding Mary and pulled away.

“What can I do?” Dev asked.

Stuart shook his head. “I have no idea right now.”

“Are you insured?”

This time his friend nodded. “It happened so fast. It was insane. The smoke was so thick.”

“I know.” Dev patted the man’s good shoulder.

“Your BP is through the roof.” The EMT folded up the blood pressure cuff.

“No, surprise there.” Stuart rolled his eyes.

“We need to get you to the hospital, treat that arm, monitor your BP, and…” the EMT raised his hand before Stuart could protest, “this way you can check on your people yourself.”

Stuart nodded. “Okay. Good idea.”

“I’ll call you in the morning. See how you’re doing,” Devlin said.

“Thanks.” Stuart tried to smile but only one corner of his mouth barely moved. “Sorry about your reservation.”

Dev couldn’t help but chuckle, and thankfully, that pulled a slight smile from Stuart. “It’ll be all right.”

Stuart sighed. “Let’s hope the insurance company agrees.”

“We’ll talk in the morning.” Dev took a step back. “Go take care of yourself.” He stood still until the vehicle pulled away with Stuart inside. Spinning around, he realized he was still holding Liz’s hand. What a way to start an evening out. He was going to have to make this up to her. “Hungry?”

Chapter Seven

The short walk back to their car went more slowly than the rushed steps when they’d first arrived. Liz could tell Devlin was processing the evening. The way the muscles in his jaw clenched, she knew the situation and concern for his friend had him more than a little unsettled.

At his car, the same way as he’d done when he’d first picked her up and then again after the spec house, he opened her door and offering a hand, waited for her to climb in before closing the door and circling the hood to the driver side.

Nothing about tonight was happening the way she’d expected, and right about now, she wished she could do something for Devlin besides rearrange the staging in his residential project.

In his seat, Devlin pushed the button to start the car and blew out a deep sigh. “Still up for steak?”

She really wished he didn’t seem so worn out. “You don’t really want to eat. You’re still worried about Stuart.”

Devlin’s head snapped around. “It shows?”

“I’ve got great instincts.” Sucking in a deep breath of her own, she reached over and touched the top of his hand. It had been nice having his hand wrapped with hers for the last hour or so. “Why don’t we head to the hospital and I can get a lift from there back to my sister’s.”

“No, ma’am. My grandmother would have my hide if I let you take a public ride home.”

“Okay, what if you drop me off at the condo and then you go to the hospital and check on your friend.”

---