Hart To Hart (25 page)

A second stretcher left the barn, this time carrying Darryl Grainger. Adios, asshole. To think she sat at the bar sharing drinks with him, not having a clue he wanted to harm her family. Sheesh. If that didn’t make her stop drinking, nothing would.

After she picked up her jacket, Ellie edged over to where two police officers were questioning Sharon, but remained quiet, not wanting to disturb them. She couldn’t wait to hear what had actually happened. Sharon had accomplished what she meant to do and hadn’t been injured, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t land in jail.

Trent came up to her. “Are you glad it’s over?”

She jerked out of her reverie. “I haven’t had time to think about myself. All I can think of is Vic. The blows to his head alone worry me.”

Trent rubbed her shoulder. “He’ll be fine.”

What else could he say? “What happens to Charlotte?”

“I’ll call Annetta and have her drive Charlotte down here. I’d go myself, but I’ve got a ton of paperwork to fill out.”

Ellie couldn’t wait to see her daughter. “I understand. Thank you.”

Sharon held up a hand and motioned for Ellie to come over. “What’s up?”

“Can you drive my car back to Vic’s?” Sharon asked.

“Sure, but I’m not sure how to get back.” Ellie had been too scared to pay attention to the street names.

“Use the GPS on your phone.”

Christ. “Of course. Why don’t I drive it back to the office? My car’s there.”

“Given the blood next to your vehicle, I’m afraid it might be where the abduction took place. They’ll want to process the scene.”

She’d forgotten about the blood—Vic’s blood. Yikes. “Okay, but what about you?”

“They need to question me at the station.”

Worry raced through her. “Are they going to arrest you?” She’d come to care for this woman.

“No. Darryl shot first, but he missed.” She smiled. “I didn’t.”

Good old Sharon. “Would you have shot him if he hadn’t fired at you?”

“We’ll never know, will we? Go home and for God’s sake put on your jacket. It’s freezing in here.”

Ellie had been so upset about Vic’s injuries that the cold hadn’t even registered. Sharon, too, was probably cold, but her jacket had blood over it. She handed it to her. “Vic said he’d buy you a new one.”

“He’d better.” She grinned.

“Call if you need me to pick you up.”

“I will.” Sharon leaned over and hugged her. “Thanks for figuring it out.”

“Vic was the one who gave me the four suspects, and you showed me Darryl’s picture.” Ellie didn’t think she’d helped much at all.

“But you put the pieces together.”

True. Trent came over. “Everything okay? Want me to drive you home?”

“I have Sharon’s car. I’ll be fine. I want to head to the hospital to see Vic.”

“Keep that man of yours from tearing up the hospital. He’s going to be a bear for a few days.”

Trent had Vic pegged. “Will do.”

Ellie bundled up, and as soon as she rushed out the barn door, the cold air slapped her in the face. Brr. Winter was coming. To her, it signaled Christmas, which meant the rush at the gallery would be intense. People loved buying paintings and artwork for their big parties. The question was whether she’d get back in time to help.

Or if she really wanted to.

Chapter Twenty-Three

V
ic wanted to
go home. The surgery to remove the bullet went well and the pain was now minimal—at least in his leg. His head still ached and a few of his ribs were sore, but there was no reason for him to stay in the hospital. Sure, the physical therapists wanted him to work out the leg, but he assured them he was capable of walking around on his own.

He glanced over at El, slumped in the chair with her eyes closed. She’d been by his bedside since the shooting. While his love for her grew with each passing minute, he knew he had to let her go. She was born to work in the gallery, and the big city life fit her. Besides, he couldn’t guarantee that someone else might not want revenge and harm her.

He shifted in the bed, and the rustling of sheets must have roused her. She looked over and smiled. “You’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“Good. Do you think you can find the doctor and ask him when I can get out of here?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I asked him last night. He’ll tell you when he thinks you’re ready.”

“I’m ready, now.”

She laughed. “Next you’ll be telling me you want to go back to work.”

He smiled. “You know me too well. I wish it was business as usual, but I actually need help at home. For starters, I don’t have a car.”

Why am I asking her to stay?
Because I want her here, even though she’ll need to leave soon.

As soon as he bought a car, he’d put her on the next plane to Virginia and cut the cord. If Charlotte didn’t have to be back at work, he might have asked her for help.

Yesterday, Trent had brought his daughter to the hospital, and the reunion was quite tearful, especially on El’s part. Vic really hadn’t wanted Charlotte to see him lying in bed, but as Trent explained, Hart’s were stubborn creatures. Charlotte had insisted.

“I’ll be happy to stay for as long as you need me,” El said.

While her smile was warm, she looked tired. “I appreciate it. Have you been in contact with Hilton to see how things are going at the gallery?” It would show her level of concern and interest in her work.

“I called him last night. His sister had a stroke and he’d flown up to see her, but he’s back now. That’s why he’s been out of town. He said Ronnie Maloney did a great job tending to the gallery.” She sighed.

That was an interesting reaction. “Why the long face? Afraid Hilton will want to buy you out and ask this Ronnie fellow to take over?”

She laughed. “He wouldn’t dare.”

Guess that settled it. El’s comment implied she was eager to return, but at least she’d stay a bit longer. While he recuperated, he planned to enjoy her all that he could. Christ. Just the thought of making love with her again had his cock twitching.

El stood. “Since you seem so determined to leave, I’ll see what the doctor has to say about your release.”

Vic waved a finger. “Don’t go suggesting I stay here a few more days.”

“I would if I weren’t so tired and needed a good night’s sleep.”

Poor El. She deserved better than a burned, beat up old man like himself.

It seemed to take a good hour before his surgeon rolled in. They shook hands. “Ellie tells me you want to go home.”

Didn’t every patient want to get out of there? The food sucked and the nurses stopped by throughout the night to prick and probe him. “No reason to be here.”

“Let’s take a look at that calf.”

Vic swore the man tried to break open the incision with all the prodding and pushing he did on the wound. Vic didn’t groan, but he probably winced a few times. “How does it look, doc?”

“You’ll be good as new in no time. I spoke with Dr. Harrison. He wants you to come back in a few days to check your vision. Concussions are tricky creatures.”

“Sure thing.” His vision was fine. Vic would say anything to escape one more night there.

His surgeon, Dr. Gutna, looked over at El. “Can I count on you to bring him back?”

Christ. Did the whole town think he was unable to take care of himself?

“Absolutely.”

Dr. Gutna nodded. “Let me do some paperwork, and then we’ll send you on your way.”

*     *     *

After many hours
of waiting, the hospital finally released him. No surprise, El fussed the whole way home. Then she insisted he sit on the sofa while she fixed dinner. Vic wasn’t an invalid. He’d been shot before. It wasn’t that big a deal.

“Need help?” he called out.

“I’m good.”

Damn. Being useless was driving him crazy. After a few minutes of hearing her bang around in his kitchen, he rose and limped in to join her. His headache was almost gone and his ribs were healing nicely. His calf wound would take a bit longer to heal, assuming he didn’t overdo it.

El planted a hand on her hip. “You need to sit down.”

Vic pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and dropped onto the seat. “There. I’m sitting.”

She rolled her eyes. He dragged over another chair and propped up his leg. While she worked, he wanted to talk about their future—or lack thereof.

“I want to apologize for getting you involved in all this,” he said.

“Vi-ic.”

“Let me finish. As soon as I realized it had to be someone from my past who was after me, and not you, I should have sent you home.”

She whirled around on him. “Are you kidding? Darryl, if that’s his real name, would have targeted Charlotte even more. He already shot at her and set fire to the house where our child was sleeping.”

“I don’t think he wanted to harm either of you—at least not yet. He was filled with anger that he needed to get out. He believed his father was innocent. Besides, a brick house would be hard to burn down in the winter. He didn’t use enough accelerant to do damage.”

“Perhaps because he didn’t know better.” She wagged a finger. “If I hadn’t been here, who would have saved you from that lunatic? I was the one who figured out it was Darryl, and don’t forget Sharon shot the bastard.”

Vic shrugged. “Point taken.” He waved a hand. “But that’s all in the past. I think we should talk about now—about us.”

Her body stiffened as she pressed her lips together. Her face said it all. “Vic, there is no us. Don’t get me wrong. Have you changed? Absolutely. You’re a wonderful man, and I’m almost grateful to Darryl for bringing us together.”

“But?”

“I don’t know. I’m confused. I’ve worked so hard these past five years to start fresh. I’ve built a gallery into a thriving business—with Hilton’s help, of course.”

“I couldn’t be more proud of you.” He truly was.

“Thank you. It’s not that Rock Hard isn’t nice. It is. They have some great galleries, too, but I belong in Virginia.”

“I totally understand.” He was happy she was so content there. In fact, he was about to tell her she needed to move back, that she’d never be safe, or happy, with him.

She moved closer to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “If you’d consider moving back to Virginia, we could see if it would work between us again. We could date for a few months. I don’t want to jump into something this important after being with you for such a short time.”

His heart nearly leapt out of his chest until reality reigned him in. “It’s what I’ve always dreamed of, but I know myself too well. Everything would be ideal for a while, and then I’d get that one phone call. It would be my old boss asking me to help out with some case only I could handle.”

She cast her gaze off to the side and her shoulders slumped. “And you’d have to say yes.”

He nodded. “I’d get embroiled in the job, and some new danger would become my focus. I won’t do that to you again, El. I loved you enough to walk away five years ago, and I love you more now. I want you safe and happy. I’m not the right man for you.”

At his profession of love, her chin trembled. “You are good enough, Vic. That’s the problem.”

No matter where he lived, his life would be fraught with danger. “Since we agree it’s better if we part, how about making the time we do have together memorable?” He pasted on a smile, but, inside, his heart was breaking. Letting go of her again would be the hardest thing he’d ever have to do, but it was for the best.

El stepped closer. “Describe memorable?”

“How long before dinner?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Maybe half an hour. Why?”

He grinned. “I’m thinking that will give us just enough time for you to ravish me once more.”

She laughed. “You want to have sex? Now? You’re impossible.”

He popped open his jeans and pulled down the waistband of his briefs until his cock sprang out. “What do you think?”

“You’re injured.”

“My dick’s not. Since I can’t press you against the counter and take you from behind, all the more reason for you to get naked and sit on my lap. I promise it will be a ride you won’t forget.” Vic moved his hurt leg off the chair.

She bit down on her lip, looking so adorable. “You sure I won’t hurt you?”