Page 123 of Flirty Dancing

He kissed Mateo on the forehead. “I’ve gotta go see Lynn and Sasha real quick—they just got engaged! I’ll be at the theater by six though… ish.”

“Okay, hurry back.” Mateo squeezed his waist. “And congratulate them for me too, please.”

Archer pocketed his phone and hurried out the door into the heavy afternoon heat, settling into a jog toward Lynn’s cabin, sweat beading on his forehead. When hecame around the bend by the lake, there was a small, lone figure crumpled in the middle of the path.

Archer’s heart wrenched in two when he recognized the purple floral dress.

“Eileen!” he cried, racing to her side. He fell to his knees and reached for her hand. Her eyes were closed, face stark white. “Eileen,” he said again. “Eileen, are you okay?” He pressed his fingertips to her neck trying to find a pulse, but all he could feel was his own hammering heart.

Then her eyelids fluttered.

“Thank God,” he muttered, scrambling to pull his phone out of his pocket and dial 911.

He did his best to answer their questions and listen to instructions. When the dispatcher put him on hold, he sent a text to Mateo with shaking fingers.

Something’s happened with Eileen. I

found her unconscious. I’m on the phone

with 911.

Where are you? I’ll be right there.

We’re on the path by 101.

“Someone’s coming, Eileen,” Archer murmured to her. “It’s going to be okay. Please, hang in there.” There was no response, but her chest rose in the odd shallow breath.

The dispatcher’s calm voice returned. “An ambulance is on its way. I’m going to give you some more instructions to help Eileen. Are you ready, Archer?”

“Yes. Yes, I think so.” He followed the steps to put Eileen in the recovery position, and he sent a bystander to the front desk to alert them to the situation.

Mateo came running up. A wave of relief flooded Archer’s chest at seeing his face.

“Archer! What happened? Is she okay?” he panted.

“I don’t know.” Archer dragged a hand through his hair and reached for Mateo.

Mateo fell to his knees next to them and followed the same motions Archer had—checking her pulse, listening for her breath, searching for any encouraging signs. “Has she moved at all?” he asked.

“Just an eyelid.” Archer picked up Eileen’s fallen sun hat and clutched it with white knuckles.

A few more curious onlookers gathered, then Mrs. C arrived, carrying a first aid kit.

“She’s breathing,” Archer told her. “Barely.”

Mrs. C checked her over, as well. “Poor thing,” she murmured, brushing Eileen’s hair off her forehead. “She mentioned before that she has poor circulation. I wonder if that has something to do with it.”

“I don’t know,” Archer said, his voice rough. “Is there anything else we can do?”

“They’ll be here soon, Archer. Eileen knows you’re here with her.”

They finally heard the ambulance approaching, and then the siren cut out once the ambulance pulled into the long drive. A minute later, two EMTs came into sight walking down the main path with a stretcher. They waved the crowd back and set their cases down.

“Archer?” one of them asked.

“Yes,” he nodded, mouth dry.

“I’m Caroline and this is James. We are emergency medical technicians and we’re here to help Eileen.”

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