Page 5

I startle as the door crashes open, looking into the eyes of the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.

Worried blue eyes meet mine. I swallow, but my throat is dry as a desert.

“You’re going to be okay,” he tells me.

His brown hair falls over his forehead as he moves to cut my seatbelt.

“Can you tell me what hurts?” he asks.

“Everything,” I rasp.

“Yeah, I’m not surprised. Do you remember what happened? Do you remember hitting anything?”

“Wolves.”

He freezes. “Wolves?”

I nod, wincing as the ache in my head intensifies.

He pulls on gloves and gently prods the sore spot on my forehead. “Try to stay still. You hit your head.”

Tears prick my eyes. “Oh, God. I… Is Dillon okay?”

The man looks stricken. “Dillon? Is that your friend’s name?”

“Yes! Is she okay?”

“My partner is working on her. She’s in good hands.”

“I can’t lose her,” I whisper.

“You won’t,” he promises.

For some strange reason, I believe him.

The man is handsome, but there’s something else about him. His presence calms me and puts me at ease. I feel connected to him.

Must be because he saved me.

I try to move again to see Dillon, but the guy holds me in place.

“Stay still. I’m getting you out.”

An EMT wheels a stretcher over and puts a neck brace on me, carefully tightening it. His gentleness brings tears to my eyes. Guess it makes sense. I haven’t had much comfort or kindness in my life.

My handsome rescuer smiles reassuringly. “I’ll help you onto the stretcher. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“We’ll go slow. Just take it easy. Can you move your legs?”

“I think so.”

I slide one foot to the door and set it on the ground carefully.

“That’s it,” he encourages.

“Oh!” I shout as I twist, and a stabbing pain erupts in my side.