wish the doc could have given me something for the pain.”
“He didn’t because they need to know if you’re loopy because you smacked your head, not because of meds.” She couldn’t resist smoothing back a lock of his dark hair from his forehead.
His eyes popped opened, his expression inscrutable.
Afraid of making the wrong move and messing up this opportunity, she tucked her hands into the pockets of her pink ski jacket. “Your arm’s not broken, which is good.”
As if she’d picked back up some sort of gauntlet she’d thrown down between them, he closed his eyes again and sighed. “Hmm, hmm.”
For a long moment, the sound of the ambulance’s tires crunching over the gravel put down on the roads to provide traction filled the bay. Julie was content to look at him. She hadn’t seen him in the flesh since high school graduation. And even then it had been from a distance.
“You look good,” he said, startling her. “Great smile. No more braces.”
“I haven’t had braces since I was fifteen.” Was that how he remembered her?
“Hmm. Long time ago.”
When she didn’t respond, he opened one eye. “You’re still here.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He smiled and closed his eyes. “I meant Bend.”
“Yeah, well—”
“Hey! Watch out!” Ted yelled from the front of the ambulance.
The ambulance veered sharply. The tires squealed. Julie yelped as the force of the sudden swerve pitched her forward. She landed sprawled across Nick’s chest.
His uninjured arm came around her back, holding her tight. “Steady now.”
Gripping the sides of the gurney, Julie lifted her head, her face inches from his. “What was—”
“Hang on!” the EMT driver shouted.
The vehicle decelerated rapidly.
The force of the unexpected speed change threw Julie forward again until her face was buried in the crook of Nick’s neck. His good arm pinned her to his chest. The ambulance came to a sudden halt, the sound of crunching metal echoing in her ears. The contents of the ambulance rained down on them.
“Mr. Walsh!” Ted’s frantic cry pierced through the echo of the crash ringing in Julie’s ears.
She lifted her head and stared at a wide-eyed Nick. “You okay?”
“Yes. You?”
“I think so.”
Every point of contact between her and his muscled chest and strong arm registered in her stunned brain. Warmth crept up her neck and flooded her face.
“You sure? You look a little rattled,” Nick said. “Like you could use some reassurance.”
“Yes. What? No, I—”
The back bay doors flew open. Julie jerked upright, pushing herself off Nick.
Ted loomed in the doorway. “Mr. Walsh?”
Nick lifted his head. “We’re good in here.” His gaze narrowed with a hard glint. “What happened?”
“Idiot driver cut us off. We hit a patch of ice and slammed into a telephone pole.”
“You think it was an accident?” Nick asked.
Julie slanted Nick a curious glance. Why would he think it wasn’t?
“Can’t be sure. Guy didn’t stop.”
Nick dropped his head back. “Get us out of here.”
“On it, sir,” Ted said and closed the doors.
“What’s going on?” Julie asked, feeling as though she’d somehow stepped in the middle of a scene without a script.
Nick closed his eyes. “I’ll explain later. Provided I make it to the hospital in one piece.”
“You will,” she promised and pushed his hair off his forehead again, feeling protective and attracted all at the same time. And why not? The man was gorgeous.
Granted, as a kid he’d always been cute, with his hair flopped over his forehead in a sort of roguish way that had made more than one young girl’s heart flutter.
Okay, her young heart.
The man before her was even more handsome than the boy he’d been. Time and years spent outdoors had etched lines on his face that enhanced his rugged good looks, making him appear mature and wild at the same time.
And yes, sent her adult woman’s heart pounding.
So not the appropriate reaction to be having for the subject of the story she wanted to tell. She would not, could not, let the attraction flaring within her have any room. He was so far from the type of man she needed in her life. Most important, if she wanted that promotion, she needed to put anything other than professionalism in a tight box and stuff it deep down in a place where it wouldn’t interfere with her career goal.
Only trouble was she had a feeling being the perfect professional would be easier said than done.
A second ambulance arrived and Nick was transferred to the back. At the hospital, Nick and his guard went with the medical personnel. Julie was stopped at the swinging doors.
“Are you his wife?” a nurse asked. “Or sister?”
“Friend.”
“Sorry, family only,” the nurse said, giving her a sympathetic smile. “You can go to admitting and they can let the patient know you’re here.”
Waiting wasn’t Julie’s biggest strong suit, but she had no choice. She quietly prayed that the tests would come back negative. It would be a horrible shame if he wasn’t fit to compete in three weeks.
Bob appeared at her side and took the seat next to her. “Are you okay? I was following the ambulance when it crashed.”
“A little shaken up,” she replied. “Did you see what happened?”
“Yeah, that car passed me and then cut in front of the ambulance. Next thing I know the ambulance is swerving and bam, into the pole. I got some footage of the banged-up ambulance and of them transferring Nick to the second ambulance.”
She bit her lip. Knowing how Nick felt about the press, she doubted he’d be okay with them airing the videotape. But it would add so much to the feature. Injured skier’s ambulance crashes. The public would go nuts for it. Especially with the film of Nick’s ski accident and him getting to his feet to walk away from the crash. It would build him up even more as a legend and hero to the American people. And if—when—he won gold next month, it would be even
