To Catch A Thief

She asked, “How’s your head?”

“My head?”

“You’re hurting.”

He started to nod but grimaced and stopped. “I’ve got my meds if it gets too bad.”

Even though she wanted him to stay, she said, “You should go home.”

“I’m good.” He took her hand and laced their fingers together. “I want to help you.”

“Thank you for being here,” she said.

“It’s no big deal.”

But it was to her. She wasn’t alone. She had someone to lean on. She wouldn’t mind him holding her until her mother was better.

The tech directed them to a small waiting room. They sat next to each other on the sofa.

“This will go down as my most unusual first date ever,” he said.

“Date?” She looked up at him and got lost in his green gaze. “I like you, but because of my mother, I don’t think I have time to date.”

“I know we don’t know each other very well, but I want that to change.” He stroked a finger down her cheek. “No pressure. I’m here to help.”

He tugged her so her head rested on his shoulder. “Any help or comfort you need, I’m your guy.”

Her body melted into his.

When her mother had first gone through breast cancer treatment, Carolina had been alone. Could she accept his help?

A different tech, female this time, walked in. “Agent Cornell?”

Agent?

Sage straightened but kept his arm around Carolina. “Yes?”

“How are you doing?” The blonde put a hand on his arm.

“Do I know you?” he asked.

The tech giggled. Giggled! “I did your MRI—twice. Just a couple of weeks ago.”

He’d had MRIs? Carolina’s breath rushed out. Did he have cancer, too?

“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I don’t remember.”

“Of course you don’t.” The tech still hadn’t removed her hand from Sage’s biceps. “How are the headaches?”

Sage didn’t answer. “Are you here to tell Ms. Castillo about her mother?”

“Oh, yes.” The tech straightened, her hand dropping away. “She’ll be done in a few minutes. Then they’ll compare this scan to her last one. You can wait in her exam room.”

“Did she wake?” Carolina asked.

“I thought she had for a moment, but she’s not conscious now. The good news is that she hasn’t had another seizure.”

Well, that was something.

The tech smiled at Sage. “If you want to know anything about your scan, you can ask for me—Amara.”

“Thanks. I talked to my doctor.” Sage laced his hand with Carolina’s.

She and Sage headed back toward her mother’s room.

Instead of asking why he’d had two MRIs, she asked, “Did you recognize her?”

“No.”

“Why did she call you ‘agent’?”

“That’s what I am.” He hesitated. “I work for the FBI.”

An FBI agent? She swallowed. Yesterday she’d started to ask what he did for a living, but Mamá had needed her medicine. She and Sage hadn’t gotten back to that conversation.

“Why did you need MRIs?” she asked.

He shifted, no longer touching her. “I was hit.”

“In the head?”

“Yeah.”

At least he didn’t have cancer. “That’s why you’re having headaches?”

“Yes.”

He wasn’t volunteering information. They reached her mother’s room. The distance between them was bigger than the hallway. “Thank you for coming. It’s probably better if you leave.”

“What? Why?”

Was he clueless? “You were injured. You shouldn’t be taking care of me while you’re still healing.”

“Hey.” Sage stepped closer. “I want to be here. I...hate sitting around.”

“How exactly were you injured?”

“I hit my head and a bullet winged me.”

Her legs wobbled. “You were shot?”

“Winged.” He led her to the chair and pulled over a rolling stool, sitting in front of her. “I don’t remember much.”

She cupped his cheek. He’d been shot and he’d still come to the hospital—for her. “Will you be all right?”

“Absolutely.” His gaze dropped to the floor.

Was he lying?

Her mother was wheeled back into the room and a nurse followed in her wake, so she couldn’t press him.

“Dr. Laster is admitting your mother,” the nurse said. “We’re working on the paperwork.”

“When will she wake up?” Carolina wanted her mother back.

“She mumbled on the way back to the room. That’s good.”

Carolina took her mother’s hand. “Hey, Mamá. I’m here.” She leaned closer. “Come back to me.”

There was weak pressure on her fingers.

“Mamá?” Carolina squeezed again. Hope coursed through her body like a shot of adrenaline. “She squeezed my fingers.”

“That’s great,” Sage said, smiling.

Carolina held her mother’s hand until an orderly came to take her to Intensive Care. “Thank you,” she said to the nurse.

“You bet, honey. I hope your mama wakes up soon.”

Sage took her hand as they followed her mother’s gurney down the hall. His touch whisked away the worst of her stress.

A nurse met them at Intensive Care. “You can wait there.” She pointed out a small waiting room. “We’ll get her checked in. Then I’ll come get you.”

“That’s the way of hospitals. So much waiting.” Sage headed to the small coffee maker. “Do you want coffee or tea? There’s decaf.”

“Sure.” She picked out a tea bag and poured hot water. He poured a cup of coffee.

“Can you drink coffee this late at night?” she asked, tossing her tea bag.

“The caffeine helps with the headaches.”

“Are they back?”

“They don’t ever leave.”

This was something she could do. She pointed to a chair. “Sit.”

“Okay?”

She began with his shoulders.

He put a hand on hers. “You don’t have to do this.”

“It will take my mind off my mother.”

“And I get the benefit.” He leaned forward, giving her better access to his neck and shoulders. “It seems wrong.”

She let her mind go blank as her fingers dug into his muscles and tendons. His groans guided her hands. “I do this for my mother, too.”

“She’s lucky to have you.”

“I’m the lucky one.” Without her mother, she’d have no family.

“Do you have brothers or sisters?” Sage’s words were loose and ran together.

“Just me.”

“Dad?”

“Dead.” Her pain cranked up. She pushed too hard and he stiffened.

“I’m sorry. My dad died when I was five.”

“I was five, too.” Not that it was a competition. “Do you have more family?”

“My mother—she’s a rock. And two older brothers.”

“You’re lucky.” If something happened to his mother, he’d still have his brothers. “Where do they live?” she asked.

“Texas.”

“Texas? You don’t have an accent.”

“My dad was in the army. We lived on different bases. After my dad died, we moved to my grandparents’ ranch.”

“A ranch.” She moved in front of him and massaged his temples, glad his eyes were closed. “I can’t imagine that.”

“It was great.” His face softened as he smiled. Under her fingers, the tension in his face eased. “I like being around the steers.”

“But you joined the FBI.” And left his family. “Why didn’t you stay to run the ranch?”

He cringed again.

“Sorry.”

“No.” He touched her hands. “It’s... All the men in the family are heroes. I want to be just like my dad and my brothers. Being on the ranch...” He shrugged.

“Heroes?” What did that mean?

“My dad’s a Medal of Honor recipient. Posthumously.”

“I’m so sorry.”

The nurse waved from the doorway. “She’s all settled.”

The hallways lights had dimmed since they’d followed her mother’s gurney up to the floor. If it wasn’t for the beeping monitors and the IV tubing, her sleeping mother would look peaceful.

“She’s in good hands.” The nurse patted Carolina’s shoulder. “You should go home and get some sleep.”

“What if something happens during the night?” Carolina chewed her thumbnail. “I’m twenty minutes away without traffic.”

“We’ll call.” The nurse walked to a whiteboard. “What’s your phone number?”

Carolina recited it.

There was nothing more to do but say good-night. She brushed a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “I love you, Mamá.”

She wouldn’t cry. Mamá needed her to be strong. “I’ll be back in the morning.”

Sage had held back, letting her say goodbye. Now he took her hand. “Are you okay to drive?”

She nodded. But she wasn’t sure.

“I wish I could take you home.” He guided her to the elevator. “But I’m not cleared to drive.”

“How did you get here?”

“Uber.”

He’d made an effort to help her. She swallowed back the gratitude filling her throat like a river. “Thank you. Let me drive you home.”

“Not necessary.”

“Yes, it is.” She pointed the direction to her car. “How are you feeling?”

“It’s your mother in the hospital. How are you?”

She frowned. “You’re avoiding my question.”

Sage waited for her to unlock the car. Then he slid into the passenger seat. “It’s always there. The headache. But your magic hands pushed the pain back. Thanks.”

“What do the doctors say?”

“My brain needs to heal.” He slammed the seat belt together. “I’m not good at waiting and I can’t stand sitting around.”

Who could? But Carolina knew there was going to be a lot of sitting and waiting in her future. “I hope coming to the hospital didn’t set you back.”

“That’s more walking than I’ve done in a while,” he said. “But it’s good since I can’t work out.”

“Let me know if I can do anything for you.” She would make the time for Sage. “Where am I going?”

“River Street.” He fired off directions, since she’d never driven these one-way streets before.

As she parked in front of a warehouse condominium, he unbuckled his seat belt. “I’d like to invite you to up to my place.”

“I can’t.” But she didn’t want to leave him, either. He kept her—calm. “I really appreciate you coming to the hospital.” How many times had she said that already?

He slid closer. “I want to see you again.”

She could see the kiss coming.

He stopped inches from her face and asked, “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes.” Her single word was a whisper.

His lips were gentle. Sweet. Light pressure with a little scrape from his stubble.

“Nice,” he murmured, brushing kisses on her cheeks and eyes.

“Yes.” Her hands rested against his chest. “Really nice.”

Sage leaned in. His tongue licked the seam of her lips, seeking entrance.

She opened and stroked his tongue with hers. He tasted of coffee and mint and something dark and sexy. His chocolate-citrus scent made her want to sip at his lips, kiss his eyelids and nibble on his collarbone. She gripped his shoulders, the muscles hot under her hands.

He tipped her head and buried his fingers in her hair.

She fell hard into their kiss, wanting to explore the firm body beneath her fingers. “Sage.”

He pulled her closer.

Pain slashed her chest as her seat belt locked in place. “Ooh.”

They laughed.

He cupped her cheek. “I guess your car is trying to tell us something.”

That she should take him up on his offer to come up to his apartment?

“I can meet you at the hospital in the morning,” Sage suggested. “Maybe we could have breakfast nearby?”

Guilt had her sitting back behind the wheel. While kissing Sage, she’d forgotten about her mother. “I’ll have to see what’s happening.”

“Sure. Sure.” He brushed another kiss on her lips, this one sweet and soft. “Will you let me know when you get home? I don’t want to worry that you didn’t make it.”

Had anyone ever cared if she got home safely? Not even her mother. Mamá had always been worried about how her arrivals and departures affected her own life.

She couldn’t think that way. Her mother was dying.

She touched Sage’s cheek. “I’ll call you.”

* * *

CAROLINA HADN’T CALLED. Sage had fallen asleep when he’d hit the bed, but this morning there hadn’t been any calls or texts in his log. And she hadn’t answered his phone call this morning, either. Damn.

He’d moved too fast. Shouldn’t have kissed her. What had he been thinking?

He’d been thinking she was—incredible. He wanted to spend time with her. Find out what made her smile or cry. And he wanted to help her. Because sometimes she seemed lost.

It was after one in the afternoon. He shut his laptop. Even five minutes looking at the screen had his head pounding. The letters danced and doubled if he looked too long.

Picking up his phone, he scrolled to Carolina’s number. But her last words had been I’ll call you.

He tossed his phone on the coffee table. There had to be something he could do. Sitting around was driving him as crazy as a rattlesnake in a stampede.

Since reading intensified his headache, he pushed up from the sofa and headed to the window. For now, the sun glinting off the river didn’t shoot shards of glass into his brain. He slipped open the slider and stepped outside. The Savannah heat and humidity was a shock. His body kept expecting the dry Texas prairie winds.

Next week he had an appointment with his doctor. Maybe by then he’d be able to get back to work. Sitting around was more painful than his headaches.

Muffled laughter floated up to him from brave people sitting on restaurant patios along River Street. How could they stand the heat? A woman waved from the deck of a boat as it motored down the Savannah River.

This sucked. He went back for his phone. He would call Carolina. All she had to do was tell him she couldn’t be bothered. That the kiss they’d shared last night had been a fluke.

It hadn’t been a fluke for him. Finding Carolina was like finding a long-lost friend. ’Course when he touched her, he wasn’t thinking friendly thoughts. Not with all the gorgeous hair and those eyes that carried so much sadness. He wanted to wrap her up and tuck her away from the pain of her mother’s cancer.

He hit Dial.

“Sage?”

“I thought I would check on you.” He corrected himself. “Did you...have any trouble getting home?”

“Oh, shoot. I promised to call.” Carolina sounded upset.

He waited.

“My phone was dead when I got home. And I fell asleep before I could access your number.”

“No problem.” At least she hadn’t blown him off. “How’s your mother?”

“The hospital woke me early. She’s conscious, but she had two more seizures during the night.”

Now he felt like a heel. “Is she okay?”

“She wants to go home.” He heard her sigh over the phone. “We’re waiting on her oncologist for a family conference.”

That didn’t sound good. “Is there anything you need? Food? Clothes?”

“That’s so sweet.”

Sweet? He wanted heroic. He rolled his eyes. Pain made him regret the action.

“I think I’m good. Ever since they called, I’ve been on the run and haven’t looked at my phone.”

“If you’re there through dinner, I could bring you food.” What restaurants were near the hospital? Or there must be a cafeteria.

“I... I guess I’m hoping I can bring Mamá home today.”

“Of course you are.” Idiot.

“Could I call you after we meet with the doctor?” Was her voice trembling? “Would that be okay? Unless something else comes up for you.”

“That’s perfect.” The words flew out of his mouth. He didn’t want her changing her mind.

“I’ll do that. The doctor’s supposed to be here in the next half hour.”

He sure hoped she wasn’t putting him off. “I’ll wait for your call.”

* * *

CAROLINA COULDN’T KEEP the smile off her face. Sage was the one good thing that had happened since she’d arrived home. She was about to the tuck the phone back in her purse, but noticed the voice-mail icon. Shoot, it had come in last night.

She poured hot water over her tea bag. As long as she was in the waiting room, she’d listen to the call.

“Hi. This is Abby Fitzgerald. I’d like to offer you the job. Give me a call when you get a chance. I was hoping you could work a short shift on Thursday for training.”

Carolina stared at her phone. She’d gotten the job.

No! She didn’t want to work for Abby.

With Mamá ill, it was too long a drive between Savannah and Tybee. Her mother needed her.

She started to hit the call button but Dr. Laster entered the lounge.

“Hi,” Carolina said.

“Hey.” The doctor poured a cup of coffee. “Looks like we had the same idea. Shall we head to your mother’s room?”

“Sure.” She tucked her phone away. She would call Abby and turn down the job after she took Mamá home.

“How are you, Rosa?” Dr. Laster asked as they walked into the hospital room.

“I’m so tired.” Mamá pushed the button on the bed and sat up. “What happened?”

“You had seizures last night and this morning.”

“Seizures?” Her mother frowned.

Carolina’s chest tightened. She and Mamá had already talked about this.

“It’s okay if you don’t remember.” Dr. Laster patted her mother’s leg. “The neurologist has prescribed medication, but we’ll need to monitor you. I’d like to keep you in the hospital while we do that. We can begin your first treatments here.”

“In the hospital?” Rosa grabbed Carolina’s hand. “Can’t I go home?”

“You’re safer here. I’d rather you didn’t have to come back via ambulance.”

Carolina wanted her mother to be safe. “What if you fall or have a seizure and I’m not around?”

“But...” Rosa closed her eyes and inhaled. “I hate hospitals.”

“Who doesn’t?” Dr. Laster smiled.

“I’ll bring your pretty robe and whatever you need from home.” Carolina forced a cheerful tone into her voice. “We can make the room nice.”

“Nice?” Her mother snorted.

Yikes. Her mother didn’t snort.

“We can. Flowers will brighten up the room.” Carolina should have brought her mother flowers.

“I want my bird.” Her mother pointed her finger at Carolina. “Don’t forget my bird.”

Carolina would like to purge the bird from Mamá’s memory. She didn’t want stolen property sitting in her mother’s hospital room for all to see. Why was the bird the one thing Mamá wouldn’t forget? “Sure.”

“Staying here is best for you, Rosa,” Dr. Laster insisted.

“It won’t be for long, will it?” Rosa asked.

“A couple of weeks. Maybe more. I’d want to make sure the medication stops the seizures before you start the radiation treatments. Then...we’ll see how it goes.” The doctor glanced at Carolina.

A chill ran through Carolina’s body. We’ll see how it goes? She tucked her trembling hands under her thighs. With her mother listening, she couldn’t ask Dr. Laster whether Mamá would ever go home.

Dr. Laster talked about lab work, medication and getting her mother’s weight up before treatment started. Carolina should be taking notes.

Her mother nodded off.

“Can I ask you some questions?” Carolina asked as she and the doctor headed out of the room.

Dr. Laster nodded. “I know this is a lot to take in.”

“You didn’t sound certain that my mother would leave in a week or two.” Carolina stared into Dr. Laster’s kind blue eyes.

“Honey, I don’t know that she will get out very soon. We have to stop the seizures. Then we can start treatments.”

“And she has to gain weight.”

Dr. Laster nodded. “She’ll need reserves.”

“So this might be three or four weeks?”

The doctor nodded.

Her plan to turn down Abby’s job offer faded like the final note in a sad song. If she took the bartending job, she could spend the day with her mother and then head to work.

She didn’t have to like it. She just had to make money. Because a long hospital stay was going to hurt—financially.

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