without thinking, racing toward the stroller, which had come to a stop. Loud wails erupted from the children as they wiggled in their seats, but he didn’t have time to comfort them as his hands fastened on the stroller’s handle.
Out of the corner of his eye, he realized the car was about to hit them, and he gave the stroller another hard shove. It rolled to the curb and came to a stop just before Cole felt the impact. The breath left his body as he was thrown up into the air and landed with a crash on the hood of the car. The last thing he remembered before losing consciousness was the driver’s frightened expression staring at him through the windshield and the sound of Holly screaming his name in the background.
* * *
When Cole opened his eyes, he lay still trying to figure out what had happened to him. He frowned as he recalled running after the twins and their kidnapper. And then he remembered the car and his attempt to get the stroller out of the way. His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach, and he swallowed. Had he been successful, or had Emma and Ethan been hurt?
There was a rustling sound next to his bed as someone came to stand beside him, and he turned his head toward the person. He could hardly believe it when Holly bent over him and placed her cool hand on his forehead.
“You’re awake.” Her voice trembled as she stared down at him.
“The twins?” he gasped as he tried to push up on his elbows. “Are they all right?”
Her hands connected with his shoulders, and she gently pushed him back down onto his back. “They’re fine, Cole, and alive because of what you did. How can I ever thank you?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he tried to calm the way his heart raced at her touch. “There’s no need for thanks. I was just doing my job.”
A skeptical look crossed her face, and she shook her head. “You did your job well, but I think it was more than that. You love those children. I saw it in your eyes last night when you were holding Ethan. And you put your life in danger to save them.”
He stared up at her. “Where are they now?”
“On their way home with my security team. Mrs. Green, the housekeeper, called her daughter to come help with the twins, so they’re taken care of. I wanted to stay here with you until I was sure that you were okay.”
The mention of her security team brought to mind the fall that one of them had taken. “I saw your bodyguard fall. How is he?”
“Todd’s okay, just a skinned knee. Ray didn’t suffer any major injuries, either.”
Cole frowned. “Who’s Ray?”
“My other bodyguard. He was waiting outside the store for us and someone hit him on the head right before we ran from the store.”
He recalled seeing the man lying on the sidewalk, and he nodded. “I got there right after he’d been knocked out. I was beside him when you ran out the door.”
She smiled. “I’m so glad you followed.” Her smile disappeared as her eyebrows drew down into a slight frown. “I don’t understand, though. What were you doing there?”
He took a deep breath and told her about the strange phone call he’d gotten and how it had pinged off a tower nearby. “I don’t know how I thought I’d find her, though. I have no idea what she looks like. She could be...” He stopped speaking when he noticed how her eyes had grown wide. “What’s the matter?”
“There was a woman in the supermarket. She was standing at the end of an aisle staring at us. There was something about her that frightened me. Do you think she could be the woman who called you?”
He thought about it and then shook his head. “I don’t know, but I can’t find out anything lying in this bed. I need to check in with the station.”
“The sheriff and two deputies were here earlier, but when the doctor told them you don’t have any broken bones or head injuries, just some bruises that will heal with time, they left. The sheriff said for you to go home when you were discharged, and he’d talk to you about how much time you need to take off to recover.”
“I don’t need any time off. I need to get to work.” He started to throw the covers back, but suddenly he realized while he’d been unconscious someone had changed him into a hospital gown. His gaze darted around the room. “Where are my clothes? I’ve got to get out of here.”
She laid a restraining hand on his shoulder as he pushed up into a sitting position. “Cole, please lie back down. Your body has had quite a traumatic shock.”
He took a deep breath and shook his head. “You don’t understand, Holly. Last night, you fought off an intruder in the twins’ bedroom. Today, they were abducted from a supermarket. I have to find out who that is. To top it off, I get a strange phone call from a frightened woman, and you see a stranger staring at Emma and Ethan. I’ve got to find out what’s going on.”
“Cole,” she whispered, and he looked up to see that her face had gone pale. “You’re scaring me. Why would anyone want to harm the twins?”
Regret that he’d frightened her washed over him, and he reached for her hand. “Holly, you are a very wealthy woman. A kidnapper would know that you’d pay any amount of money to get them back. We can’t let this situation get to that point.”
“B-but what can we do?” Tears began to roll down her cheeks, and her shoulders shook. “I can’t lose them. They’re all the family I have left.”
His thumb stroked her knuckles as he spoke in a soothing tone. “I know, and I’m going to make sure they stay safe. Whatever’s going on, I promise I will find out and protect them.”
She wiped at her tears with her free hand and tried to smile. “Thank you, Cole. I know you will. I’m just thankful that you’re here.”
He bit down on his lip as he released her hand. “Now, how about you find a nurse, so that I can get my clothes, and we’ll get out of here.”
A nurse entered the room at that moment. He could tell by the amused look on her face that she had overheard him asking for his clothes. She smiled and wagged her finger at him. “Oh, no, you don’t. The doctor wants to see you now that you’re awake, and he’ll decide if you can leave or not.”
Cole’s eyebrows arched, and he shook his head. “I’m fine. I’ve had worse mishaps in my line of work. I need to get out of here.”
Holly propped her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes as she glanced at the nurse. “He’s always been a stubborn one. It may take some persuasion to keep him here.”
The nurse laughed and stopped beside the bed. “I’m used to patients wanting out of here. But, Detective Jackson, we need to make sure you’re okay before we release you. So settle down, and the doctor will be in to see you shortly. He’ll let you know when you can be released.”
Cole huffed and settled back on the bed as he mumbled something to himself. Holly couldn’t help but grin. “Stubborn. That’s what he is.”
He glared up at her. “As if you’re not.”
The nurse rearranged the blanket over him and smiled. “Is there anything else I can get for you right
