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hug before she and her father made their exit.
I m going to walk out with them for a minute, Jacob said, and followed them
out the door.
Jessie's body was stiff; her movements slow as she rose from the bed. It'll get
easier in a day or so. You won t feel like this for long, Lucy assured her. You took a
hard fall when you landed. You re lucky you only bruised your ribs.
Suddenly remembering she wore only a hospital gown, Jessie dug through the
bag Jacob had left on her bed, and was grateful to find he'd packed her bathrobe. With
Lucy s help she was able to wrap it around herself, then settle into the chair carefully.
She nodded, slightly breathless from the exertion, but immediately felt better as they
headed for Brick s room. She was as anxious as he was to see for herself that he was all
right.
Ice Cream In The Snow 104 Diana Castilleja
Chapter Nine
Brick s last conscious thought before the explosion, as he caught Jessica s
questioning look reflected in the glass of the shop, had been that the tiny red light
blinking under the counter like a warning beacon for planes atop a tower was a bomb.
Instinct had told him to get out of there, but since there was nowhere to go, he had just
pushed. He remembered the searing heat as it exploded across his body. The impact
had knocked the wind out of him, and the sound of the bomb had deafened him
temporarily and made his ears ring. They were still ringing, giving him a hell of a
headache.
He was sitting up in a hospital bed with close to eighty errant stitches in his back
and another twenty on his shoulder. He remembered Jacob being there as the wail of
sirens grew. He'd felt tender touches on his skin, a faint young voice asking if he could
hear. He realized later it had been the girl in the shop with Jacob, not some angel finally
calling for his soul. Beyond that, the details blurred. Now he was wide-awake and
surly, because he couldn t see Jessie. He needed to know she was all right. He needed to
see her, and damn it, he wanted to see her now!
When he'd threatened to march down the hall in his nothings to her room to see
her for himself, the staff hadn't believed him. He'd nearly gotten completely out of bed,
but at least now they understood he meant business. Lucy, the floor nurse, had said it
would take a few minutes, but she would bring Jessie to him. Now he waited with a
pounding heart and a new feeling in his body.
Ice Cream In The Snow 105 Diana Castilleja
Never in his life had he been so close to being blown away. The bomb had been
intentional, and he wasn t conceited enough to think it had been meant for him.
Someone wanted Jessica dead. His mind had been clicking ever since he'd awakened. In
all the investigating he'd done on Arthur, he d had no idea there was someone else out
there searching in silence. It chilled him to the bone. He regretted now that his interest
in finding the money had lessened since he'd decided to pass on it for the opportunity
to get to know his tempting redhead better.
The minute he could call his office, he was going to order a background search
that would dig up Arthur Harden s past with a vengeance. He would see to it every last
dust mote was uncovered. This had gone beyond the money. Now it involved Jessica
and Jacob.
How does my hair look? he heard Jessica ask as she neared his door.
Honestly? A little fried on one side, but a good hair cut will fix it. He smiled,
knowing the floor nurse was trying to keep her calm. Brick couldn t have cared less
about her hair. She was alive, and he realized she was the most beautiful woman he had
ever seen when she was pushed through the door, fried hair and all.
Can you stand? he asked her. When she nodded in answer, he made room for
her on the bed. Then get your rump up here. His command was rough but playful as
he patted the bed next to him. Lucy locked the wheels of the chair, and helped Jessie
from the chair to the bedside. Brick shot Lucy a daggered stare, and the look she gave
him in return told him to behave himself.
I ll be back in fifteen, Lucy warned them.
Make it thirty, or so help me, I will walk down that hallway, he growled
belligerently.
It s against policy.
Brick started to get out of bed, and Lucy threw up her hands. Fine. Thirty
minutes. Lucy gave him an exasperated glare, and with that, left them alone. Poor
Lucy had already had to deal with his attitude twice that morning, and Brick knew he
Ice Cream In The Snow 106 Diana Castilleja
had worn her down, but right now he had Jessie next to him, and she was the only
thing that mattered.
Brick felt her warmth and the brush of her hair against his skin as she leaned
forward to kiss him. Unfortunately, the kiss ended too soon when lines of pain
tightened her features and she gingerly sat back up. He caressed her cheek, willing the
pain away for her.
Sorry I can t do that for longer. I would really like to, she admitted with a shy
glance. His entire body grew warm and heated when she pressed her cheek into his
palm.
I understand. I want to hold you so badly, but my arm is immobile. She
gasped as she looked up and down his arm, searching for damage. They shot it full of
some nerve agent and now it won t move, probably for another four hours or so. I got a
pretty deep slice in my shoulder, and they were afraid there would be damage if it
twitched during surgery, so they put it to sleep.
Brick! That s awful! Her hand trailed up and down his arm until she was
convinced there was no other damage. He reveled in her attentions, regretting he
couldn t feel her touch.
After investigating his arm thoroughly, she began to stroke his hair. It wasn t as
short as it had been on his arrival, and she ran her fingers through the caramel-colored
length. His eyes closed at the sensual caress.
That feels wonderful, though, he murmured, his voice husky with reawakened
desire. He luxuriated in the feel of her touch for a few minutes before he asked, How's
Jacob? I haven t seen him much this morning.
He walked Sammy and her dad out. They were all with me when you made
your imperial demand, she said, laughing at him.
He s one hell of a kid. I don t know who I was more proud of; him for not losing
his head, or his girlfriend for staying by his side.
She lifted an eyebrow. His girlfriend? You think so? From her expression, he
realized that thought hadn t occurred to her yet.
Ice Cream In The Snow 107 Diana Castilleja
His chuckle rumbled through his chest. If not, it s only a matter of time. He ll
realize she s a good find, too, when he thinks about how well she handled herself.
Oh, my. He s growing up so fast. She shook her head sadly. He s changing,
and I m not handling it very well. I noticed it on his birthday. In a couple more years
he ll be taller than me, too. Do you know he needs new shoes? Again?
He captured her roaming hand in his good one, bringing it to his smiling lips. A
new-found contentment filled him. Don t worry so much. It ll be a few years yet before
he asks to borrow the car.
She sighed. "I know. But he could see the ache in her eyes.
Jessie, there are a few things we need to talk about. His voice lowered, his tone
no longer as relaxed. He shifted on the bed, to ease the soreness in his lower extremities.
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