Her Accidental Boyfriend: A Secret Wishes Novel (Entangled Bliss) (7 page)

Without waiting for a response, Shane guided them back in the direction of the paramedic and the ambulance in the distance. He searched the crowd again with an eye out for Erin. He needed to be sure she was in one piece too.

Lucky for him, he didn’t have to look far. She sat in the ambulance they approached, her legs dangling out the back. A paramedic appeared to be working on her hand.

“Oh, I’m so glad you guys are okay,” Erin said.

“What happened?” Kagan asked, quickly moving to her side. “Hey, Troy.”

“Hi, Kagan,” the paramedic said. He looked vaguely familiar to Shane. “Erin cut her hand on a broken beer bottle, and I’m administering a little TLC.”

Erin rolled her eyes. “So not necessary. I’ve done far worse rock climbing.”

“Do you know if there were any other injuries?” Kagan asked in between coughs. She sat next to Erin when motioned to do so by the paramedic who’d found them.

Troy darted a quick glance at Kagan before his attention went back to Erin’s hand. “I think most everyone got out with only minor cuts or bruises.”

“Thank goodness.” She looked around the parking lot, searching, Shane guessed, for Barney.

The paramedic turned on a compressor and light mist came out of a tube opposite the mouthpiece in his hand. “Place this between your teeth and seal your lips around it,” the man said. Kagan nodded. “Take slow, deep breaths and if possible, hold each one for two to three seconds before you breath out. That way the medication can settle into your airways.”

Kagan put the mouthpiece in, and Shane felt lightheaded. She’d put her life in danger to help someone without a second thought. He’d already started to admire her, but now he wanted to protect her too. What he wouldn’t give to change places with her right now.

“The treatment takes about ten minutes,” the paramedic said. “When you hear a sputtering noise, that means there’s only a little medication remaining and you can stop.” Kagan nodded again. “I’ll be back. I’m going to check on a few others.”

“What happened?” Erin asked.

Shane stepped closer to Kagan and took her hand. “Kagan saved Barney, that’s what happened.”

She shook her head and pointed at Shane. Huh. This no talking for the next ten minutes could be fun.

“The guy weighed a ton and Kagan wasn’t leaving the kitchen without him.”

Her eyes pleaded with him to stop, but she deserved the praise.

“I think when he comes to and finds out what happened, he may crush on you.” One side of Shane’s mouth lifted.

Kagan rolled her eyes and shook her head again.

“The whole town will have a crush on you when they hear what happened. We take our fish and chips and burgers seriously and you rescued the man who makes them. I’m thinking you’re a shoo-in for employee of the month.”

Kagan pulled her hand from his and pushed him in the upper arm.

“What? Okay, employee of the year.”

“Ouch!” Erin said. “What are you doing?”

“You had a tiny piece of glass in there.” Troy covered her palm with a second piece of gauze and applied some pressure. “Now let’s see if we can get the bleeding to stop.”

“It’s still bleeding?” The color drained from her face. “I uh, feel a little woozy, Troy.” She closed her eyes.

“Hey. Stay with me. No fainting allowed.” Troy moved a hand to her shoulder. “Take some deep, slow breaths. In through your mouth, out through your nose.”

Kagan reached over and interlaced her fingers with Erin’s.

Erin followed Troy’s instructions. After several exhalations she said, “You better wrap that baby up good and tight because I am not undoing it anytime soon.”

“Since when are you afraid of seeing blood?” Shane asked.

“I’m not afraid of seeing
your
blood. Only my own. And believe me, if I knew the cure, I’d take it.”

“How are you doing?” Shane asked Kagan. Her lids lay at half-mast, her posture drooped. She gave a weak thumbs-up.

Shane moved beside her, careful not to touch the compressor. “Here, lean against me. You look like you’re about to fall asleep.”

Keeping the mouthpiece in place, she laid her head on his shoulder. Without thinking, he kissed the top of her head.

A police officer approached and filled them in on what they thought had started the fire. Because he and Kagan were the only other ones in the kitchen besides Barney, the officer wanted to ask some questions.

The breathing treatment stuttered, indicating Kagan had finished her dose of medicine. She sat up and with what appeared to be renewed energy, launched into what happened.

An hour later, Shane told Kagan to leave her car where it was. He was driving her home.

…

Weary
didn’t begin to describe the state of Kagan’s body. Worn to a frazzle. Ready to drop. If not for Shane’s arm around her waist as he guided her up the walkway to her front door, she’d be crawling instead of walking.

“Keys?” Shane said.

Oh. He planned to see her in.
I’m hers for the rest of the night,
he’d told Brett. She’d thought that was to keep up their charade. It was, wasn’t it? He was just being nice now and making sure she got in okay. It was nothing more, despite how much she did want him to stay.
Stupid, girl
. Shane was a playboy, he didn’t hold a girl all night because she wanted someone to keep her safe and warm.

He opened the door, flipped on the light switch, and once she was inside, kicked the door shut. “Which way to your bedroom?”

“My—”

“I’m tucking you in, Jelly Belly. Then I’ll be back tomorrow. My parents are having a barbeque and I thought I’d take you with me.”

Not I
want
to take you with me.

She pulled her hair out of her ponytail and brought some strands to her nose. A smoky scent annihilated the lavender and lemon fragrance. She looked down at herself. Her pink shirt had dark smudges, her knees were dirty. “That’s okay. I need to take a shower first. Thanks for the escort home. I appreciate it.”

“That’s what you think this was?” Hurt sounded in his voice. His tired eyes slid away from her, and she wanted to take back what she’d said.

“No. I’m sorry. That came out wrong.” She took his hand and led him to the couch. Standing took too much effort at the moment. “Thank you for bringing me home. That was really nice of you.”

“What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t?”

Kagan shuddered.
Yep, he’s just pretending.
But it was getting awfully confusing. Was it all in her head that one minute he sounded like he actually cared, and the next he made it sound like it was part of his agreement with her? She didn’t know whether to hit him or laugh. She’d known since the day she met him he didn’t do attachment. And she wasn’t looking for that either.

So why the lump in her throat?

“I’m just really upset about the fire. I feel awful for Milt. He’s going to go stir crazy staying home while the pub is repaired.” Luckily, the electrical fire had only damaged the kitchen and the smoke had been contained quickly enough to salvage the rest of the pub. But the restaurant would be closed for repairs and remodeling.

That also meant she was temporarily out of a job. She looked forward to her shifts. Not because of the paychecks, since she had her savings to keep her afloat. But because she’d miss the people, including the regulars who came in and seemed to genuinely care about how her day was going.

“He’ll be okay. I have a feeling the older ladies around town will make sure he isn’t lonely.”

“That’s good,” she said. “I guess I’ll have plenty of time to work on bracelets.” A sigh fell from her lips.

“Hey,” Shane said, catching her under the chin. “I thought you loved making bracelets.”

She stared at his messy cocoa-colored hair, strong jaw, concerned eyes, and for a second forgot what she was going to say. “I do. I guess I’ve just gotten into a routine, and I’ll miss it.”

“Tell you what. I’ll take the next week off too.”

“What? Why?”

“I haven’t taken a vacation since I started at Burke four years ago. I think I’m due. I’ll just make a few calls in the morning and make sure my team knows what’s going on with the new project.” He reached over and toyed with strands of her hair.

“You don’t need to do that on my account. Take your vacation when you’ve planned something fun.”

“I thought we were all about fun, Jelly Belly.”

“That was one night.” The gala at The Duchess had been fun—until Brett showed up.
Brett.
He’d acted different in the bar tonight, a little less under control. When he’d grabbed her on his way out he’d said things that surprised her, put her on edge. Things like he wanted a chance with her. He’d help her get through to her father. But they weren’t a team. Never had been and never would be. He was trying to manipulate her and when he got in that frame of mind, she worried he’d stop thinking logically.

“Let’s make it a week.” He waggled his eyebrows, and her traitorous body got all tingly.

He let go of her hair and very slowly slid his finger across her collarbone, around her shoulder, and down her arm. Why was he touching her like this? No one was around.
Because that’s what he does. He makes women feel good.

This was not good. This was a huge mistake. “Okay.”

“Where’s your shower?” His eyes darkened. His deep, husky voice made her already unstable hormones even more jumpy.

“You are not—”

“Why, Jelly Belly, when did your mind hit the gutter? I just thought I’d get you situated before I leave. You still look a little shaky.”

“Stop smirking,” she said, standing. “And what do you mean
situated
?”

Okay, so in her twenty-six years, she’d had exactly four boyfriends. None of them had lasted longer than six months. And none of them had ever taken her to the shower. God, she hoped her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt.

He got to his feet and cradled her neck. His hands were warm and gentle and so much bigger than her own. Shane had to be a couple of inches over six feet. And when he stood beside her five-seven frame like this, more than just his hands felt big. Broad shoulders, long, muscular legs, biceps barely contained inside his woven short sleeve shirt. She hoped he didn’t notice her breath falter.

“You’ll see.”

She bit her bottom lip. Shane Sullivan was so much more than she’d ever imagined. If he ever found the girl to tame his bad boy ways, that girl would be one lucky woman.

“O-Okay. Thank you.”

His arms moved around her upper back, and he brought her close for a hug. “You scared the shit out of me tonight, Kay.”

He was scaring the shit out of her right now. Pressed against him, contentment floated out from her chest like steam from a hot apple pie to every cell in her body. The cadence of his heartbeat filled her head like a lullaby. And despite the smoky smell on his clothes, she could still detect the fresh, cool, minty scent of his skin. She inhaled.

When he pulled back she smiled and said, “I’m glad you were there.”

“So, bathroom?”

She led him upstairs and down the hallway to her bedroom, trying to remember if she’d made her bed or left anything lying around she wouldn’t want him to see. Like the birthday gift from Charlotte. She did and hadn’t.
Phew.
A few more quick strides and they reached the master bath. It was her favorite room in the house with its slate walls, midnight blue tiles, and lotus flower chandelier. The Jacuzzi tub and large shower were pretty great too.

“You like candles,” Shane said, more as a statement than a question, his voice a little rough around the edges.

“Not at all,” she teased. One, two, three, four… seven candles decorated the room. A few on the counter, the rest around the tub.

His hand touched the base of her spine and she spun to face him. If he touched her in any sort of affectionate manner again she was going to haul him into the shower with her. He lifted his arm, and her heart fluttered. He dropped his arm back to his side.

Neither moved for what seemed like forever. Shane looked away first. “I’m getting images of you in here I shouldn’t be having.” He stepped around her and turned on the shower.

Desire swept through her. She wanted to know about those images. Dirty talk from Shane excited her, sent her mind reeling to places guaranteed to release the pressure building between her legs. Oh my God. She could not think this way.

Well, she
could
. But only after he’d left and there was no danger of embarrassing herself.

She stole herself some much-needed distance by going to her bedroom to grab an old ratty tee and cotton pajama bottoms. When she walked back into the bathroom, steam wafted from the shower and a towel hung over the glass. He’d filled a cup on the counter with water, and put two pain relievers from her medicine cabinet beside it. Lit two candles.

Shane paused beside her on his way out the door. Heat flared in his green eyes. His lips pressed together. Then he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll be here at three to pick you up, but if you need me before that, just call.”

Kagan shut her eyes. She didn’t want to need him. She didn’t want to need anyone.