Chapter 8
“Aidan?”
“I’m here, Lex. You’re okay. Just breathe.”
“Where’s Kayla?”
“She’s headed for the hospital now. I’ll take you to see her later. Just rest.” The ambulance doors closed, and she sagged against him. They’d crossed the bay while she was passed out and were now speeding toward Cleveland Clinic.
“What was that back there?”
“What was what?”
“Don’t do that—don’t make me sound crazy. Why do I feel so weak? What was that, and why did I pass out? And how exactly were you flinging burning tree limbs around like they were nothing? And your hands! They were completely charred not an hour ago. How did we just walk out of that ring of fire?”
“Now is not the time to discuss it,” he said firmly, nodding toward the paramedics.
“Aidan, please?”
“Not now.”
“When?”
“Later!” he snapped.
“Fine!” She winced at the splotchy blisters covering her arms.
“I’m sorry you got burned.”
“It’s not as bad as I thought. I just don’t understand. How do you not have a scratch on you?”
“Not now, Alexis Ann.”
* * *
“Allie.” Gregg sighed in exasperation. “You’ve been through a traumatic experience. You’ve got severe second-degree burns along both arms and shoulders. You need rest, sweetheart.”
“I need answers!” Allie glared at them from her hospital bed.
“I told you she’s stubborn,” Aidan said.
“Aye, you weren’t kidding.”
“Enough, I am not crazy. Strange things happened during that fire. Things that should not be possible, and I want a rational explanation.”
“She needs to calm down, son.”
“Be careful, Da, she can hear you.” He sounded amused.
“Of course I can hear you. I’m not deaf.” Angry tears glistened in her eyes.
“No, you aren’t crazy—”
“Aidan,” Gregg reproached.
“I can’t stand this. Look, Lex, I know you’re confused and totally pissed off, but I need you to relax.”
“How?” She felt a fire burning in her chest and couldn’t breathe.
“Da, I don’t know how to do this. Help her, please?”
“We’re different, Allie,” Gregg said gently but firmly. “I think you’ve known that for a while now, and I’m certain you’ve encountered others like us.”
She nodded hesitantly, taking another slow, shaky breath. She thought of Navid and the countless strangers she’d met in the past—the ones she was always drawn to. But every time she felt that connection, they moved almost immediately. She’d never put it all together.
It’s like I refused to see the connection.
“You are drawn to us because you are what we are,” Gregg continued. “How you came to be wholly ignorant, I do not know. You want logical answers, but I have none to give. I need you to trust that now is not the right time. I will not elaborate any further tonight, so don’t even ask,” he finished firmly.
“All right, I’ll be patient—”
“It’s a freaking miracle,” Aidan muttered.
“If you can tell me when it will be the right time,” she added stubbornly.
“Alexis Ann—”
“Like you’d be any less irritating?” Gregg chuckled. “It will be the right time very soon, and it will be the right time because you’ll know it is.” He grinned mischievously at his complete non-answer. “Now, give him a break, red.” He nodded at his son. “He’s a fixer. And he cannot fix this. It’s driving him crazy, which is driving me crazy.” He winked.
“Don’t look at me like that, Allie,” Aidan said. “I know you don’t understand, but you helped me save Kayla’s life today, and I’ll never be able to thank you for that. But I need you to forget it. Don’t try to force it to make sense, just move on.”
“Look at your hands, Aidan. I can’t just move on. That fire was unnatural, and it just went out. Poof! Like you willed it.”
“Do you trust me?” He leaned in close and took her bandaged hands in his.
“Yes, but—”
“Do. You. Trust. Me?”
“There’s no one I trust more, but—”
“No buts. We’re done with the buts and the whys and the tell mes. Whatever else comes out of your mouth tonight better not be a question.”
“But what about—?” She couldn’t help smiling at his answering growl.
“Trying your patience, is she?” Gregg arched a brow at his son.
“I’ve always heard redheads were a handful.”
“Lad, you’ve no idea.”
“How’s Kayla?” Allie ignored their teasing banter.
“Still critical.” Aidan scowled. “She has severe second and third-degree burns along the left side of her body, face, and neck. The doctors are optimistic, but it’s—”
“Aye, the doctors claim she’s very lucky she did not go into shock,” Gregg said. “And they are attributing that to the very good care she received on site.”
Aidan glowered at his father, but Allie’s parents returned from chatting with the doctor before she could ask why he seemed so determined to take responsibility for the accident.
* * *
“Got it!” Allie shouted as she rushed downstairs to answer the door. She was discharged from the hospital the previous evening, but Lily insisted she get a good night’s rest before Vince was allowed to visit.
“Careful,” Lily said as Allie dashed past her study.
“Burned my arms, Ma, not my legs!”
“Hey, short stuff.” Vince grinned when she flung the door open. His smile faded when he saw her bandages. “Are you in pain?”
“Not really. Just itchy and kinda numb in places.”
“I was so scared.” He hugged her carefully.
“How boyfriendly of you,” she murmured against his chest. “Be careful, you might catch the Cliffton girl cooties.”
“Do you have any idea how adorable you are?”
“Some.” She grinned from ear to ear. He had a remarkable knack for making her feel so normal.
“Wow, sweet house.” He took her hand as she led him into the giant living room facing the walled garden.
“Your hair is shorter.” He reached to touch her shoulder length tresses.
“Had to cut it. I looked like a half-plucked chicken.”
“You’ve got a bandage stuck in it. Sit, I’ll fix it.”
She sat on the edge of the sofa, and a chill swept through her when he pulled her against his chest. He trailed soft kisses along her throat, stopping when he reached the angry blisters at her shoulder.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.” He tugged the stray bandage from her hair.
“I’m fine.” She leaned back, taking comfort in his embrace. “Better now.”
“Are we revisiting the just friends label already?”
She giggled when his hands began to wander.
“Don’t you think that ship has sailed?” His warm laughter tickled her ear. “I was so scared when I heard about the fire, and I didn’t know if you were okay. It just made me realize how much I want to be with you, despite my reservations.”
“Well, there is the matter of that birthday date we discussed.”
“Well, I’m your guy. Your party, by the way, was on the verge of ridiculous.”
“I told the girls to keep it small.”
“They were planning some kind of outrageous masquerade ball, so Aidan and I fired them. We figured you’d ditch your own party if anyone tried to put you in a hoop skirt.”
“You two are working together? Should I be scared?”
“We figure if the redhead’s happy, everyone’s happy.”
“Wait. Hoop skirts?”