Page 49 of Meant to Be
“Still. I should be able to hold it together.”
“Why?”
She turned her head away. They stood silent for a moment.
Then she took a deep breath and looked at him. “I’ve got rounds to make.”
Despair haunted her hazel eyes. Like her whole world was ending. He wanted to make it easier. A minute hadn’t gone by since he’d first seen her in Charlotte Tavern that he didn’t want to kiss her. But the urge to do so now was beyond any he’d felt so far. He wanted to kiss away her fear and guilt. He wanted to see her smile and laugh.
It wasn’t the time or place, but Mitch wasn’t one to conform to convention. He slipped a hand along her neck, using his thumb to tilt her head. His other hand banded around her back and pulled her against him. He had a moment to register the surprise in her eyes. But when his lips touched hers, she didn’t pull away. The softness of her lips, the taste of her mouth, and the small mewing sound that escaped her throat wrapped around him, creating an escape for him as well as her. He forced himself to keep the kiss gentle, soothing, even though with each caress of his lips on hers, he wanted more. Her fingers clung at his shirt, holding him tight. With effort, he lifted his head.
Her puzzled eyes stayed on his when he pulled away.
“You have rounds to make.”
She stared at him another moment, but then, with a shake of her head, she started toward the hospital. Mitch fell into step with her.
“I don’t need an escort into the hospital.”
He flinched at the terseness of her voice. Especially since he was pretty sure she’d found as much comfort in his kiss as he did. “No. But I want to visit Jenny and Kevin.”
She let out a huff and brought her hand to her brow, as if rubbing away a headache. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
He studied her as they walked. “It’s okay. I’m going to let hospital security know to be alert for anyone suspicious and to escort you between buildings.”
She looked at him.
“Someone tried to kill you… nearly killed Jenny, during the day in this parking lot. You shouldn’t be wandering around between buildings without someone with you.”
“Yes. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Be safe.”
They walked the rest of the way into the hospital and to Jenny’s room without talking.
“Hey.” Jenny’s weak but friendly voice greeted him as he poked his head in the door.
“Mitch. Any word?” Kevin sat by Jenny’s bed. The messy hair and stubble on his face suggested he’d been there all night.
“Sydney is with me.”
“Yes, please come in.” Despite everything, Jenny was still able to muster a smile. It was like a piece of the sun lived in her. It was something Mitch thought he’d had once, but it burned out long ago.
Sydney rushed to Jenny, and the two women clasped hands and chattered.
Mitch nodded for Kevin to step to the corner of the room to discuss the case. He knew Jenny would want to know, but he’d let Kevin share with her what little they had.
“What have you learned?”
Mitch put his hands on his waist and looked down for a moment and then up into Kevin’s dark eyes. “Not much.” He studied Kevin to see how well he’d take hearing that Sydney was the intended victim. Kevin wasn’t a hothead, but when it came to matters of the heart and nearly losing the love of your life, Mitch knew emotions could get the best of people. He didn’t want Kevin bowling Sydney over with accusations. She was doing enough of that herself.
Deciding he looked okay now that Jenny was going to be fine, Mitch shared what he knew. “It looks like the attacker mistook Jen for Sydney.”
Kevin glanced over at Sydney with narrowed eyes. “They don’t look alike.”
“She was wearing Sydney’s raincoat and heading to her car.”
Kevin looked back at Mitch, anger and sorrow mixing in his eyes. Just in case, Mitch shifted himself between Kevin and Sydney.
