Page 7 of Captivating Magic

“Niall?”

Lo glanced over his shoulder and noticed a burly stranger with a vase raised over his head. His reaction was immediate. Pivoting, he bent sideways and shot his foot into the other man’s midriff, then followed it up by knocking the impromptu weapon from his meaty fist and clipping his jaw. The guy shook like an angry bear and rose to his full height as if Lo’s defensive tactics were a mere annoyance.

“Niall, no! He’s a friend!” Ebba cried as she launched herself off the counter.

Remembering the broken glass and vase shards, Lazslo caught her around the waist and swung her to safety. Unfortunately for him, Niall, Ebba’s grizzly-bear-sized friend, took exception and shoved Lo before he could turn around.

His head became closely acquainted with her entertainment cabinet, and it was lights out.

3

“Lazslo!”Ebba’s heart stopped and resumed again at an abnormally fast rate. So fast, the lights around her flickered and dots appeared before her eyes. Could one stroke out from fear alone?

Blood pooled from the gash on his forehead, and she dropped to the floor beside him—mindful of the shattered vase shards he’d tried to protect her from. Whipping off her shirt, she pressed it to the wound and prayed to God he hadn’t sustained brain damage. That horrific, soul-shriveling thud when his head had connected with the corner of the entertainment center wasn’t a sound she was likely to forget.

“Niall, please hand me my phone.” She fought against a suffocating panic and pasted on an encouraging smile. Her neighbor’s brother had been intent on helping her, that much she gleaned. Possessed of a panda bear’s temperament, Niall wouldn’t seek out trouble, but if he’d happened to overhear Lo crash through her door, he might’ve assumed she was in danger.

“Is he your friend, Miss Ebba?”

The uncertainty in his deep voice was painful to hear.

“Yes. He is. Will you hand me my phone so I can call an ambulance? The bleeding is too much for me to stop on my own.”

After rushing to the side table she pointed to, Niall returned with her cellphone. “I’m sorry, Miss Ebba. I didn’t mean to hurt him. Will I get in trouble? Will the police take me away now?”

“No, Niall. I’ll let them know it was all an accident and Lo stumbled, okay? Please, give me the phone.”

Worry and confusion tightened his craggy features, and his ordinarily wide, smiling mouth was pulled down at the corners.

She wiggled her fingers in an impatient gesture. Infusing command in her voice, she said,“Now, Niall.”

After punching in the number, she placed the device on Lazslo’s chest and lifted the corner of the material to peek at his wound. The blood flow showed no signs of stopping or even slowing, and the ringing through the speaker was overly loud.

“For fuck’s sake! It’s an emergency line! What the hell is taking so long?” she muttered.

“Must be a busy afternoon,” Lo murmured, eyes still closed. “Hang up, Ebba. I’m fine.”

Although she did as he requested, she shook her head. “You’re not. I can’t stop the blood.” Inside, she cringed at how whiny her tone sounded. She’d never been horrible in a crisis, but since the accident, her ability to stomach blood had drastically diminished.

“I promise you it looks worse than it is.” His lids lifted, but before he could meet her eyes, his locked on her chest. “Did I miss all the fun? What happened while I was out? Were you practicing to become a stripper? I’m totally down for that.”

Having forgotten her topless state, she scowled. Thank goodness she was wearing a full-support bra. Had it been her demi-cup, she’d be dead from humiliation.

“They’re called exotic dancers, and will you focus?” she growled.

“Oh, I’m focusing, all right,” he assured her. A wicked grin curled his mouth as he closed his eyes. “I’ll be recalling this in my dreams.”

She fought a smile and lost. Who didn’t love attention from a secret childhood crush after twenty-odd years?

“I really think we need to call an ambulance, Lo. This looks bad.”

“Call Liz.”

Ebba recoiled and glanced at the phone’s screen with indecision. For their entire friendship, her best friend had lied to her. Facing her at a time when the betrayal was still fresh would only lead to accusations and arguments. She wasn’t prepared to sweep it all under the rug and pretend it had never happened.

When she registered the sensation of being watched, she looked at Lo, only to find him observing her. The concern on his face wasn’t misplaced, but her behavior was silly when he was the injured party. Firming her resolve, she lifted the device, prepared to do what she could to see him healed.

His hand stayed her.

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