Hot Pursuit - Denise A. Agnew [39]
She marveled at something that should have been apparent to her a long time ago. These military types, as she thought of them with affection, they stuck together. Her friends, all of them.
As they all found chairs and she filled them in on what she knew—which was essentially not much, she said, “Sorry to ruin your party.”
Mitch slung his arm around Neena’s shoulders. “We couldn’t have enjoyed ourselves knowing Vic was in here, and you were here waiting.”
She saw it in their eyes, the unspoken. They’d be here no matter what. Eve, Marisa, Neena and Freddie looked at her with genuine concern, and the men had that stoic expression she’d come to expect.
Marisa placed a hand over Lucy’s. “You okay?”
“Me?” Lucy said with a soft chuckle that lacked all humor. “No. I won’t be until I know how Vic and Danny are.”
She left her chair for the wall phone. After a quick call, the nurse said she’d be right out. Frustrated, Lucy returned to her chair and told the others. Sympathetic grumbles ushered from the group.
True to her word, the short middle-aged nurse came into the waiting area. “Lucy Creed?”
Lucy popped up and greeted the woman. “That’s me.”
“I’m Anna. You can see Mr. Moore. Follow me.”
As Lucy followed the woman, she waved at her friends and left them behind. “How is Vic?”
“He’s fine. He’ll probably be released within the hour. The CAT scan has to come back. He’s solid as a rock.” Anna’s stern expression melted into a warm smile as she lowered her voice and stopped. “And I mean that in the nicest way. That’s one strong, healthy young man. If I was twenty years younger….” She winked and shrugged.
Relief drove into Lucy. She laughed softly as tension started to trickle out of her slowly. Within a few seconds, the nurse directed her to an area cordoned off into cubicles by stalls. Curtains were pulled across some of the stalls. She heard a woman weeping, her voice low as she talked with another person.
All the hair went up on the back of her neck. “Danny Mendoza. Is he all right too?”
Anna’s narrow face returned to an official, stern expression. She didn’t say anything.
“Is he badly hurt?”
“You’re not family?”
“No.”
“Then I’m afraid I can’t give you that information.”
“He’s a…I’m a close friend. He doesn’t have any family here as far as I know. They’re all in Jackson Hole.”
Anna’s mouth pursed in thought. “His parents have been notified. They’re on their way.” The nurse’s eyes softened the slightest bit. “I can tell you that if it hadn’t been for Mr. Moore’s quick actions, Mr. Mendoza wouldn’t have survived.” She gestured to the stall at the end on the right. “Mr. Moore is the last one on the right.”
Curiosity rose inside Lucy, but she nodded and decided not to press further. “Thank you.”
The curtain wasn’t drawn all the way across Vic’s niche, and she pushed it back with caution. He was sitting up in the gurney, hospital gown top on, a blanket covering his lower half. His gaze snapped to hers as she entered the stall, and Lucy’s heart skipped a beat at the instant connection.
He gave her that heart-melting smile. “Hey.”
“Vic.” She went to his side and gathered his hand in hers.
As she leaned toward him, he pushed one hand into her hair and brought her close for a quick, warm kiss. “God, it’s good to see you.”
Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back. “You too.” She drew in a deep breath. “I was so worried.”
His grin was irreverent, but also filled with a deep emotion she hadn’t seen in a man’s eyes before. “Nah, I was never in any danger. I don’t even have a concussion. They’re going to let me out any second.”
“I’m so grateful it wasn’t worse.” That curiosity wouldn’t leave though. “The nurse said you saved Danny’s life.”
He gestured for her to come closer, and as she leaned down, he whispered. “I was in the ambulance with Danny. It was touch and go for him for a while.”
“What was wrong with him?”
“Femoral artery was nicked. His compact car crunched up like a cracker box when he hit me. He has a concussion, a broken left leg, and I don’t know if he has anything else wrong with him. Anyway,