A Time to Live (10 page)

She backed away enough to look at him, one hand brushing his hair back from his face.
Michael shivered in delight. “I tried to get here as soon as I could, but I had a beastly time convincing the sheriff of the truth.”

Michael could only gape at her.
The truth?

“Hey, Michael,” Doc said, striding down the wooden walkway, grinning broadly.

Michael released Nikki, but she shocked him even more by sliding to the side so his left arm remained around her shoulders and her arm looped around his waist. God she felt wonderful tucked securely against him.

Michael accepted Doc’s handshake warmly.
“Good to see you, Doc.”

Doc chuckled but looked at Nikki and wagged a finger at her.
“You need to stay off that leg.”

“I will
, Doctor Blackthorn, but I had to take care of this first.”

“Just Doc, Miss Matthews, I’m just an old country doctor.”

She stuck out her hand. “Nikki,” she said smiling. “I’m sorry we didn’t get off on the right foot before.”

“That’s quite all right, Nikki.
It was worth it. I’ve never seen anyone cow John Boyd like that.”

Michael glanced down at Nikki in surprise.

“Yup,” Doc said, reading Michael’s expression. “I thought she was going to claw Boyd’s eyes out. If she hadn’t been chained to an IV, she probably would have.”

Nikki giggled, gazing up at Michael.
“It’s all those years dealing with the lawyers in our family company. I learned really fast not to take crap from anyone. Especially when a man saves my life and gets blamed for something he didn’t do.”

Michael’s heart shattered into tiny pieces.
His body quivered as he stared at the beautiful, vibrant woman under his arm. Something wrenched within him and with it the barriers came crashing down. All the pain and hurt he had suffered in the past healed in one instant because of one woman. A woman who was the strongest and most courageous person he had ever met.

“Thank you, Nikki,” he whispered.

Doc cleared his throat. “Nikki, you really shouldn’t be pushing yourself like this. You need to stay off of that leg for a couple of days, but because of the concussion, I don’t want you sleeping the whole night through tonight.”

Michael’s heart lurched.
“Concussion?”

“It’s mild,” Doc said.
“But I’d rather be on the safe side.”

He nodded.
“Don’t worry, Doc. I’ll take care of her.” Michael looked down at Nikki again. “Let’s get you home.”

A van slid to a stop in the middle of the street. Michael looked up in surprise
, then fury tinted his vision red.

“Reporters?” Nikki asked in shock.
“What are they doing here?”

“Let’s go, now,” Michael growled.
His arm remained firmly around her shoulders as he guided her toward the Bronco.

“Mister Roumare,” the reporter barked, not bothering to wait for his camera man.
“Is it true you were just arrested for attempted murder?”

Michael gritted his teeth, trying not to rush Nikki on her injured leg.
“No comment,” he growled.

“What about the Martin case
—”

Michael managed to get Nikki in the passenger seat of the Bronco and slammed the door shut before the reporter finished his question.

“—are you still a suspect?”

Michael locked the man in his gaze.
“Leave us alone.”

“Who is the lady? Does she know about your past?”

“I said, leave us alone.” He charged around to the driver’s side and jumped in. Nikki handed him the keys and the engine roared to life. Within moments, they left the reporter standing in the middle of the road.

“What was that all about?” Nikki asked.

“I have no idea,” he lied. Abruptly, Michael took a deep breath, his anger fading. He gripped her hand. “Are you all right?”

Nikki’s face was still terribly pale
, but she managed a smile. “I’m fine, Michael.”

“Good.”

****

Nikki was grateful Michael drove her home.
Her right leg screamed and her head ached so badly, she thought it would split. Driving to the jail had nearly sent her unconscious. But she didn’t have a choice. She had to go home first to get the money for Michael’s bail and her own vehicle.

Michael stopped in front of her house and carried her inside.
He said nothing, promptly ascending the stairs to her bedroom. She blushed furiously, the place was a mess, but Michael didn’t seem to notice. He set her on the bed and helped her with her jacket and boots. He paused and crouched before her.

“Nikki, I know what the sheriff probably told you.
I swear to you it isn’t true.”

She blinked at him, trying to clear her muddled thoughts.
Didn’t her actions today prove she didn’t believe the sheriff? “I know, Michael,” she said.

He took her hands in his.
“I just don’t want this to sound wrong, but please let me stay with you. Doc’s right, you shouldn’t be on that leg and someone should be here to wake you up tonight because of the concussion.”

Nikki’s heart twisted and she ducked her head.
She didn’t want Michael to see all the medicines in the kitchen cupboard. She didn’t want anyone to see the life she was forced to live, the nausea, the pain, and the weakness. But as Nikki warred with herself, she realized Michael was right. She would never be able to negotiate the stairs to get her medication or cook meals. Hell, just making it to the bathroom would be an epic saga. And he was right about waking her up at night, at least for a day or two. Nikki had no choice but to admit the truth.

She needed him.

Sorrow closed her throat. Once Michael saw the medication and realized her illness, he would push her away just like her friends had done...just as Bradley had done. Her eyes filled with tears and she fought them back, her head hurt too much to think.

“Nikki,” Michael whispered, pulling her closer.
“I’m sorry, if you don’t want me here, I will leave.”

She heard the pain in his voice and the mistrust.
Could she blame him? The man had saved her life and got saddled with an attempted murder charge. The best thing she could do was to show her faith in him. The fact that he trusted her enough to stay, proved he was reaching out for hope and Nikki knew she couldn’t deny him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly. “I want you to stay, Michael...I...I need you.”

Michael returned her embrace, his breath brushing softly over her cheek.
“I need you too, Nikki,” he whispered.

No!
her heart screamed.
Don’t need me, Michael, please! That will only make it hurt more.

Despite her efforts, tears trickled down her cheeks.
“You don’t understand.” She gulped down her sorrow and fought to speak in a steady voice.

He backed away, looking at her with a puzzled frown.
“Then explain it to me, so I can understand.”

The urge to tell him rose so powerfully
, she had to clamp her jaw shut. She should, he deserved to know the truth, but she couldn’t. The cancer was not only stealing her life, but it had stolen everyone she had cared about. And now she realized she couldn’t lose Michael too. Nikki hated herself, she had wanted no attachments for good reason...but now Michael sheltered her, and in his embrace she could forget about the agony. He offered her sanctuary.

“Michael, I...,” her voice broke and she tried again.
“I need my medicine.”

“Your inhaler is in your jacket,” he said gently and reached for it.

“No,” she said, gasping around a sob. “There is other medicine I must take and I can’t go downstairs to get it.”

“It’s all right,” he said soothingly.
“Tell me where it is and I will get it for you.”

Her heart breaking, she told him where to find the bottles.
Michael left and Nikki managed to change into the huge tee-shirt she used for a nightgown. But she realized her heart could be declared a national disaster. She expected to hear the front door slam behind Michael once he saw all the medicines. But surprisingly he returned, carrying the bottles in one massive hand, and the other holding a glass of water.

His features seemed a bit pale
, but he smiled at her and handed her the glass. Nikki took it and cringed as he placed the bottles on her nightstand.

“Is there anything else you need?”

She blinked in shock. No questions? No third degree? Finally, she shook her head.

Michael caressed her cheek.
“Get some rest, sweetheart. I will wake you after I fix you something to eat.”

Tears surged down her cheeks anew.
Damn her infernal head, she couldn’t control herself.

“No,” Michael whispered and again knelt in front of her.
“Please don’t cry, Nikki. It tears my heart out when you cry.” He gazed at her a long moment, then lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers.

Nikki’s heart lurched as his kiss sent a blaze of hot desire through her.
Her hand reached up, behind his neck, and her fingers wove through his thick hair.

Michael again wrapped his arms around her, his mouth fully claimed hers and he deepened the kiss.
His tongue swept across hers, igniting her blood with brilliant passion. She responded to him with an intensity she never felt before. Michael brought her body alive with a wondrous glory. She relaxed against him, only wanting him to take her to the place where his kiss offered to lead.

Michael ended the kiss but his lips hovered over hers as he spoke.
“You need to rest, Nikki,” he said his voice thick.

Nikki gazed into his amber eyes, vibrant with emotion.
She thought she saw a spark within them, something she had never seen in any man, something she could not define, but it quickened her pulse and stole her breath. She had thought Michael the most beautiful man she had ever seen, but staring into his eyes now, never had she known anyone to possess such primal glory...words could never truly describe him, nothing could...he was true mystery...and magic.

Michael closed the door to Nikki’s room, took two steps down the stairs, and staggered against the banister. Her kiss still whispered over his lips and roared through his body. The sweet, heady taste of her possessed him, her touch seared his skin. He wanted nothing more than to return to her room and make love to Nikki, losing himself in ecstasy...an ecstasy he could only experience with her. Never had he known such a woman. Never had he witnessed one stand so boldly yet be so vulnerable.

Her tears had cut his soul.

When Michael had gazed at the bottles in the cupboard he thought his heart slashed to ribbons. What was so wrong that she needed so much medication? He had read the labels but only recognized one drug.

Morphine.

Michael shivered, a thousand terrors scrambling through his mind. He remembered the chemical sensation he experienced before, when he first met her, and Nikki’s words, she had an illness. But his infuriating instincts even now denied sickness within her. Especially after the dynamic kiss he had shared with her...she was full of life, with only a chemical taint...chemical...not disease...and she was suffering because of it. What was it? What caused her such agony?

He remembered her terrible cough and being able to hear the liquid flux squeezing through her lungs.
Only a disease could cause something like that...right?

And the medication...so much of it...so many chemicals. Michael understood his instincts were rarely specific.
He had a gift but had no idea how to use it. The sensations he felt caused so much confusion, sometimes he didn’t understand them. Nature spoke in her own tongue and most of the time he was too stupid to understand her words. What was wrong with Nikki? Addiction? Or something worse?

Michael closed his eyes, one thing he could not deny was the peace he felt when he held Nikki in his arms, when he kissed her and she returned his kiss without fear or reservation.
Nikki had stood for him and what was right. Although injured and in terrible pain, she had repaid all he had done for her by fighting like a wildcat for the truth. She had plucked him from jail, of her own freewill, unwilling to back down to anyone.

When Laura divorced him, she shattered Michael’s heart.
Then her death shattered his soul. Not since then had Michael been so powerfully drawn to another woman. Even when he dated Joanna, hoping to move past the tragedy, his fear had controlled him. He kept her at arm’s length, a safe distance, and out of his heart. But with Nikki, his defenses crumbled.

Michael needed Nikki’s fire in his life, more than anyone would ever know.
And he would fight with everything to keep her. He wanted to ask her about the medicines, about her illness, but sensed the fear in her. He knew if he asked, she would only push him away and he could not bear that right now. He had to move slowly. Michael didn’t know if he had a prayer, but when he set his sights on something, he could be a very patient man. Nikki was a treasure he would guard body and soul.