Authors: Elizabeth Moynihan
“Just his fist. One clean shot to the end of your chin and-boom– you went down like a ton of bricks; at least according to Chloe,” Hunter explained. “I would have thought you were made of sterner stuff, being a Rocmanov and all,” he taunted her, smiling when he saw her green eyes flame to life.
“Fuck you!” Dani’s words came out sounding more like a caress than the angry retort she had hoped they would. “When it doesn’t hurt to move my jaw so much, I’ll show you just exactly what I’m made of, Hunter James; maybe I’ll take a crack at your pompous chin,” Dani threatened.
“Promises, promises,” Hunter teased without worry. “Besides, my chin is not pompous, it’s aristocratic!”
“Hah!” Dani countered. “Aristocratic screams pomposity! Mark my words, I will take great pleasure in doing your aristocratic, pompous chin harm!” she vowed, holding up one small fist and shaking it at him in warning.
Hunter easily caught her small fist in his large hand, his thumb gently opening the clenched fingers and tracing lazy circles over her palm, the gentle motion causing little tingles of heat to trace up her arm. For several, long moments, Hunter sat silently stroking Dani’s palm, his gaze glued to the subtle motion his thumb made over her hand, seemingly mesmerized.
“Hunter?” Dani whispered, her breath catching when his eyes lifted to meet her own, his gaze filled with fiery emotion.
“You’ve made me feel emotions I locked up years ago and swore I would never risk feeling again. I haven’t decided if I’m happy about it or not.” Hunter growled, sending her a dark look for good measure.
“If it makes you feel any better, you turn me upside down too,” Dani countered slowly.
“I don’t like feeling this way.”
“Don’t like it or don’t want to like it?” Dani asked, lifting one eyebrow in question.
“What difference does it make?”
The look Dani threw Hunter was filled with exasperation. “That has got to be one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth, Hunter James! How you feel means a great deal to me.
Don’t ask me why, but it does. You’ve never given me any reason to care about you, but for some stupid reason I can’t seem to help myself.”
“Maybe it’s just my charming personality and dashing good looks that have you upside down.” Hunter suggested with a lopsided grin.
“Yeah, right! You so rarely show me your ‘charming’ side; I don’t feel I can truthfully comment on that particular asset you claim to have. As far as your ‘dashing good looks’ are concerned, again, I don’t want to risk sending your ego into overload. So, I guess, that leaves me with only your arrogant, condescending, infuriating, sexy and stubborn characteristics to comment on,” Dani complained, a soft moan of pain pushing past her lips as another shaft of pain sliced through her jaw at her wordy explanation. Slipping her hand from his, she cupped her jaw in both hands and closed her eyes.
“Dani, you can bash me another day. For now, you need to quit talking and rest your jaw,” Hunter suggested as he moved to sit on the bed beside her, leaned over and placed his hands over hers, the heat from his hands sending warm, soothing currents into her hands that were now covered by his own. His dark cognac gaze traveled over her face, the bruises disappearing beneath the beauty of her green eyes.
“And let you have the last word? I’m injured, not dead!” she tossed back tiredly, a hint of her fiery spirit reasserting itself despite the pain she was in.
“And you call me stubborn.” Hunter shook his head in exasperation.
“And arrogant and infuriating and sexy,” Dani added.
“You talk too much,” Hunter whispered, his thumbs softly caressing her full lower lip, the sensations his gentle touch evoked making her dizzy and tingly.
“I hate to tell you, but you’re not the first one discover I like to talk.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me? You make it very easy for people to ‘discover’ whatever they want to about you. You’re an open book, just waiting to be read. You wear your heart on your sleeve for everyone to see.”
Dani found herself hypnotized beneath Hunter’s dark gaze, her ability to take a full breath suddenly gone, and strangest of all, suddenly the pain in her jaw was gone as well. “Right this moment, I could say the same of you, Mr. Attorney,” Dani’s warm breath whispered across his face, a soft caress.
“Is that so?” he asked deeply, leaning down to brush his lips across one cheek.
Dani closed her eyes as his lips sketched the briefest of kisses across her cheek, then shared the same gentle ministration with her other cheek, a wave of soft emotion washing over her and leaving her trembling. Words failed her, and all she could do was nod numbly in answer to his question.
“What am I thinking now?” Hunter asked quietly, his voice a deep, sexy timbre that had her heart skipping a beat.
Dani could only move her head a fraction to shake it no, trapped beneath two sets of hands, her own and Hunter’s, but was still able to get her point across. “I don’t know,” she finally answered in wide-eyed wonder.
“Well, since you’re not working at a hundred percent capacity, I’ll give you a hint,” he offered, his eyes holding hers captive as his mouth slowly lowered toward her own, and finally settled gently against her soft lips, their breaths blending.
Dani felt her mind go blank, as sensations ran riotously through her body, and she found herself floating in a pool of warm emotion that enfolded her in its safe embrace.
Hunter found himself swamped with emotions he had no control over: the desire to protect, and give comfort, the need to share, instead of just take, an insatiable yearning to touch her soul, not just her body. Things he’d never given a thought to in the past, but now seemed vitally important.
Slowly he pulled away from the warmth of Dani’s kiss, his body protesting the withdrawal and looked into her dazed, dark eyes. “Care to take a guess now?” he asked with a slight smile.
Dani stared into his dark cognac eyes, and felt herself dissolving beneath his heated gaze. “Before I can make an informed decision, I think I need another hint,” she whispered, a seductive smile lighting her eyes.
Hunter nodded, his ‘attorney face’ in place, as he stated quietly. “If nothing else, attorney’s are thorough. If you need more information, I’ll be happy to disclose whatever you think will be helpful.”
“Hunter, shut up and kiss me!” Dani demanded.
His smile was decidedly wicked, as he stated deeply, “As you wish,” and fulfilled her demand.
T
he peaceful silence that had enfolded Jordan on her journey downward in the elevator disappeared as the doors opened on the ground floor and she stepped into the frantic paced, noisy atmosphere of the emergency room. Bright lights, sharply voiced demands and the various beeping, chirping and slurping sounds of different types of machinery, all designed to save lives when moments counted, attacked her senses and bumped her anxiety level up a notch.
Making her way to what she hoped was the main desk in the ER; she introduced herself and asked to see the doctor in charge of Chloe’s care.
Two nurses flipping through charts exchanged surprised glances with one another as they heard her name. All medical staff, having been apprised of the situation, was not surprised to suddenly have the security tightened in the hospital. It wasn’t unusual to see police officers milling around the ER, it happened all the time. Only this time, there was a different feeling in the air, a tension that was palpable, and had everyone on alert. Andrew Manning was still being sought for the abduction and assault of Chloe Spenser, and the hospital was taking no chances. If Andrew had been crazy enough to take her from one public place, it wasn’t beyond question that he might try to do it again.
The desk attendant efficiently checked records, and advised Jordan of Chloe’s whereabouts, pointing her in the general direction of Exam Room 4-A and asking her if she needed help finding it.
“Thank you for your offer, but I can manage,” was Jordan’s calm response, and with a small smile, headed off to find Exam Room 4
A.
Her mind wandering, she sought the exam room she’d been directed to. Jordan didn’t even hear the excited words from the nurses behind the desk as statements of, ‘She’s so small’, ‘She looks much bigger on the ice,” and ‘My God, she looks all of sixteen years old’, were whispered.
It wasn’t hard to figure out which room was Exam Room 4-A; the two police officers that flanked either side of the door gave it away. Jordan, without complaint, flashed the officers her driver’s license for identification, and stepped into the room, sighing in relief as she heard her son’s voice, his tone calm, as he chatted with the intern who was checking Chloe’s head wound.
Taking a deep breath, and exhaling, in an attempt to steady her still shaky nerves, Jordan stepped around the curtain to find Chloe sitting on the exam table, her left foot covered with ice bags and the intern carefully checking her head. Sergei sat on a chair on the right side of the exam table, holding Chloe’s hand as she was examined.
“Hi,” Jordan offered softly, coming around to wrap her arms around her son and then enfolding Chloe in her arms, kissed her on the cheek and whispered shakily, “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” Chloe returned with a smile, fighting the tears that suddenly filled her blue eyes and turned them to sparkling sapphires.
“The doctor’s made no such diagnosis, so don’t pay attention to anything she says,” Sergei growled, ignoring the dark look Chloe shot at him.
“The very fact she’s here and can say she’s fine is reason enough for me to celebrate!” Jordan countered.
“Thank you, Mrs. Rocmanov!” Chloe chimed sweetly, hissing as the alcohol the intern swabbed over the cut on her head started to sting.
“Sorry,” the intern mumbled.
“I’ll live. Do you think I’ll need stitches?” Chloe asked.
“That’s the least of your worries,” Sergei commented, catching his mother’s questioning look and having no answers for her.
“Sergei, I swear, if you don’t lose this crabby attitude I’m going to find a very large roll of surgical tape and tape your mouth shut!” Chloe warned.
“Sergei, please,” Jordan requested.
The intern smiled at the verbal sparring. “The cut’s very shallow; surgical glue should hold it together sufficiently.”
“Ah, the wonders of super glue!” Sergei intoned sarcastically, his words earning him nasty looks from both women.
“Hey, if it will hold that idiot construction guy hanging from a high steel beam in that stupid commercial, it should take care of this little cut without any problem,” the intern offered lightly, the image he verbalized causing them all to chuckle; the mood lightning measurably.
Aleksei followed Chloe’s doctor into the examining room, towering over her petite height by more than a foot. He’d thought he towered over his wife, looking down at the doctor, he thought perhaps Jordan had finally found someone shorter than herself. The laughter echoing in the room eased his apprehension.
“Am I missing dirty jokes?” Aleksei asked lightly, walked to his wife and slipped his arms around her, sharing a gentle kiss filled with relief. His softly questioned, “Are you okay?” reached her ears alone, and she smiled at his concern, nodding lightly up and down.
“I’m afraid the only dirty joke we have around here is what Chloe’s x-ray is showing,” the doctor stated, slipping the x-ray onto the flat front of the display box and flipping the switch. The stark white light clicked on and showed the bones of Chloe’s left foot.
Every face in the room turned to look at the x-ray, and every one knew what the ominous shadows meant.
Dr. Chen pulled a pen from her lab coat and used it as a pointer. “I’m sure you all recognize what the shadows represent on this x-ray?” At everyone’s mumbled or nodded agreement, Dr. Chen proceeded. “Besides being concerned about the old fractures, there are several very small, very fine lines, here and here, that have me concerned,” the doctor pointed out, running her pen along the thin bones of Chloe’s arch, “I’m also not terribly excited about the shadow on her heel. All in all, I don’t think it would be wise for you to skate tomorrow,” Dr. Chen voiced the words all had been dreading. “It’s my recommendation you stay off that foot for at least four weeks. I don’t think a cast is necessary, but I would rather you use crutches and keep it wrapped in an Ace bandage.”
The breath everyone had been holding was released as one discouraged sigh. They had all known what was coming, but to actually hear it meant their worst nightmares were realized.
“There’s always the Nationals,” Jordan offered quietly, her heart breaking at the sad faces everyone wore.
“What happens if I skate on it?” Chloe asked determinedly.
“You heard the doctor, Chloe. You’re off the ice.” Sergei stated flatly.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Chloe fired at Sergei, her blue eyes blazing with determination. “Dr. Chen, what could happen, if I skated on my foot, as it is?”
“It’s impossible to say for sure. Obviously, the more time you give it to heal, the greater your chances will be there are no long-term problems.” Dr. Chen stated factually.
Chloe cast a quick glance at the clock in the room; it was already way past midnight. “I can give it about sixteen hours, maybe a little less.” Chloe offered.
“Chloe, this is crazy,” Sergei stated heatedly.
“Tell me what could happen.” Chloe demanded, ignoring Sergei’s words, and looking directly at Dr. Chen.
“You mean besides the pain you’ll be skating in?” Dr. Chen asked her, and at her affirmative nod continued. “You stand to cause serious injury to your foot; possibly a career ending injury. There’s the possibility you will lose mobility, or sensation in your foot, you may have difficulty maintaining your balance.”
“So that’s the bad scenario. What’s the good one?” Chloe asked quietly.
Dr. Chen looked at the expectant faces all-looking to her for answers, or possibly a miracle. “Lightning could strike and your foot would be no worse off than it is now. But I don’t foresee that happening. You have several fine-line fractures that could completely break at any time, and bones that are repeatedly broken never fully heal. You could find yourself facing an entire lifetime of pain and immobility. You’re only eighteen; is this really something you want to risk?”
“Chloe, think about it,” Sergei encouraged quietly, “There will be other days to skate, other competitions.”
“What if I tape it?”
Dr. Chen shrugged. “It will add a small amount of support, but not alleviate your pain or lessen the risk factor for breakage enough to count.”
“Chloe, it’s not worth the risk!” Aleksei stated quietly.
“Be quiet, Sergei. It’s my decision,” Chloe fired back.
“Chloe, as a doctor, I strongly advise against you skating tonight. I understand how important this competition is to you, and what it signifies. But is it really worth risking an entire career?” Dr. Chen’s soft voice inquired, her eyes filled with compassion and understanding.
“You don’t understand,” Chloe whispered, her eyes filling with tears, as she had to face all that stood before her.
“Chloe, if I withdraw, that leaves you without a partner–no partner, no skate,” Sergei stated softly, the threat of his words hanging menacingly in the small room.
“Sergei…” Aleksei and Jordan gasped at the same time, casting anxious looks at one another and then shifting their gaze between the two skaters.
Chloe felt her body suddenly go ice cold, her heart seemed to stop beating and time stood suspended as she looked at Sergei in disbelief. “Are you giving me an ultimatum–you or skating?” she asked flatly, her expression filled with disbelief.
“If it keeps you from making the biggest mistake of your life, then yes, consider it an ultimatum,” he stated darkly, his heart breaking at her wounded look and yet determined to keep her from making, what he thought, a disastrous error. He understood how much tonight meant to her, understood that her simply skating, whether they won or lost, signified she’d conquered the fear that had kept her silent about Andrew’s abusive behavior for so long; that she felt she could finally face her demons and say she’d won. Still, did he dare risk their dreams for the future? If she did skate, and her foot fell apart, could he live with himself, knowing he could have stopped it simply by withdrawing? Or was he pushing her to the point of no return, a point where she would see him as simply someone else controlling her life? He felt sure he’d lose either way, and opened his mouth to take back his words.
“Fuck you, Rocmanov!” Chloe whimpered, fighting to control the emotions that exploded through her, the feelings of betrayal that swamped her and threatened to leave her curled in a small ball, as lost and alone as she’d ever felt.
Dr. Chen lifted her hands in supplication, trying to calm the rapidly escalating tension that had become unbearable, and stop anymore words that might be impossible to take back. In a quiet voice, she calmly stated, “Everyone’s very tired and been through a major trauma tonight. I suggest you all go back to the hotel and get some sleep. It’s amazing how even a couple hours of solid sleep can make things look better than they do at the present time,” she encouraged.
“I agree,” Aleksei said, his tone disheartened, his eyes filled with sorrow as he looked at Chloe and Sergei, each lost in their own world, miles apart in agreement though only inches apart in reality. Looking down into Jordan’s tear-filled eyes, he felt her pain as well, and wished he could turn back the clock and make everything the way it had been. Only a matter of hours ago they had been celebrating almost certain victory, now they were looking at the disintegration of the brand new partnership of Rocmanov and Spenser, possibly even the melt-down of two people so right for each other, they were soul-mates.
“If I might ask you to all wait in the waiting area, I’ll finish up with Chloe. I need to go over a few things with her, and make sure she understands what’s required to ensure her complete recovery,” Dr. Chen stated.
“Take your time, we want to go make a final check on Dani and Hunter, then we’ll be back,” Aleksei stated, ushering his wife ahead of him and send Chloe one last commiserating look.
Dr. Chen waited patiently as the others made their way out of the room, a small frown creasing her brow as she noticed Sergei never looked back as he followed his parents from the exam room. “That’s one very upset young man,” the doctor sighed, beginning her search through the supply drawers for the items she sought.
“He’s being an asshole,” Chloe mumbled tearfully, dashing away the tears that she could finally no longer hold in.
“He obviously loves you very much,” the doctor murmured softly, passing her a box of tissues.
“I thought he did. Now, I’m not so sure.” Chloe offered a teary smile of gratitude and blew her nose.
“People often act like
assholes
when it comes to those they love. Don’t ask me why, they just can’t seem to help themselves. Emotions run high, things escalate; get out of hand, and despite your desire to do anything but be hurtful, you wind up doing just that; hurting those you love the most,” Dr. Chen stated, shaking her head in exasperation.
“Yeah? Well it’s a stupid way to go through life,” Chloe mumbled sadly.
“I agree.” Dr. Chen stated with a sigh. Finally, having found the items she sought in the wrong drawer, she turned to face Chloe.
Chloe looked at Dr. Chen’s, her confused gaze traveling over the doctor’s porcelain-doll features and couldn’t help but smile a little.
“Since you obviously plan to skate, suppose we figure out a way to tape this foot of your so it doesn’t fall apart?” the doctor suggested.
Chloe’s expression was filled with surprise, and became even more dazed when the doctor pulled up a stool, sat down at the end of the table, and removed the ice bags from her foot. “You’re going to help me?”