Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

T he pelting rain, the swirling sirens, the crumpled metal—Jake had been here before. The devastating déjà vu of the moment froze his legs in place.

Through the smashed window, the limp body of the woman he loved failed to move. Devastating pain shot through him at the thought of losing her. His chest actually pounded in agony.

Fire lit through him. Not again. He wouldn’t lose Sophie.

He jumped toward the upside-down vehicle and grabbed the door handle.

Strong arms banded around him and twisted to the side. Fury leaped through his veins, more powerful than any storm. He pivoted and shoved Quinn. Hard.

His brother slipped in the mud. He growled and pounced, both hands grabbing Jake’s arms. “Stop it.”

Jake was beyond reason. Only one thing mattered—getting to Sophie. The primitive being deep within him surged to the surface. He shrugged from his brother’s grasp and rushed toward the vehicle, shoving a paramedic out of the way.

The tackle from behind dropped him into the mud and away from the car.

Rage heated every neuron in his body. He flipped around, both hands clapping Quinn’s face.

Quinn howled in anger and punched him in the jaw. “Fucking knock it off. The car isn’t stable—we need to go in through the other side.” For good measure, he punched him again. “Let us do our job.”

Jake blinked. Reality returned. Mud squished his back, and his heavy-as-hell brother flattened him to the ground. He stared into his brother’s concerned eyes. “She left me.”

Quinn yanked them both to their feet. “She didn’t leave you—not Sophie. This is different.”

Maybe. Jake turned toward the car. “I need to know. Is she?—”

“I don’t know.” Quinn shoved him. “Stay here. I’ll check.”

Jake nodded, helplessness catching in his throat. She couldn’t be dead.

He kept his gaze on his brother as he maneuvered around the firefighters trying to open Sophie’s door. Quinn leaned in and then slowly stepped back. “She’s alive.”

Jake hit his knees. Thank God.

Then he leaped forward to tear the car apart and get her out.

Sophie opened her eyes slowly to a white wall and bright lights. A dull pounding set up in her skull, so she turned her head to where Jake slumped in a chair, his chin on his chest, his hair wet under a black cowboy hat, his shirt and jeans streaked with mud. She shifted to the right.

Loni moved forward in her chair, her black eyes bright with concern, her hair a lopsided mess atop her head.

“My baby?” Sophie croaked, her throat on fire.

“The baby’s fine.” Loni reached and smoothed back Sophie’s curls.

The pain receded to a dull roar as other aches and pains sprang to life. “Dawnie?” Sophie asked.

Loni nodded. “Dawn is fine. Hawk found her at the bottom of the hill. She wrecked her car but only had a couple of small cuts and plenty of bruises. Dawn was more scared than hurt. They’re waiting the storm out at Hawk’s place.”

Sophie glanced over at Jake. “I wasn’t running away from him.” Tears filled her eyes.

“I know. Though you should probably tell him that, sweetheart.” Loni nodded toward the midnight dark gaze running over her face. So Jake had awakened. “I’m going to go call Colton. He’s worried sick.” She hurried from the room.

Sophie’s throat felt like sandpaper as she turned toward Jake. “I thought you were asleep.”

“I was praying,” Jake said.

“I wasn’t running away from you,” she whispered.

His chair creaked as he leaned forward and gently clasped one of her hands in his. Raw cuts and bruises welled from his knuckles. “I know. What were you doing?”

She gasped at his hurt.

A purpling bruise spread along his jaw. “The Jeep’s metal put up a fight while we were getting you out,” he confirmed. He stroked his finger down her cheek. “Where were you going in that storm?”

“Dawn called. I thought she was hurt at the bottom of the hill,” Sophie said.

“I figured. So you went out into the storm.”

The gathered tears began to fall. “I didn’t mean to risk the baby, Jake. I just didn’t know what to do.”

His eyes glowed dark pools of emotion. “The baby? You think I’m concerned for the baby?”

“Yes,” she said miserably.

“I’m concerned for you. Don’t get me wrong, the baby means the world to me. But there isn’t any world without you,” he said.

Her heart leapt. “What?”

“I love you, Soph. I don’t want this life without you in it,” he said.

Her mind swirled while heat bloomed in her chest. “I don’t understand.”

“I thought about it. The whole time you were out. We can live in San Francisco and visit Montana as much as possible. Maybe even get a summer place here.” Jake almost smiled.

“You’d move to the city? With Leila?” she gasped.

He nodded. “I could make enough money in the city to easily travel back and forth. Our kids could have the best of both worlds.”

Hope exploded within her entire body. “You’d give up your job with the tribe?”

He exhaled deeply. “I’d have to.”

“The best of both worlds?” she asked, her heart spinning.

“Yes,” he said.

“Well then.” She smiled, her heart in her throat. “Maybe we should live here and visit the city whenever possible.”

He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“My children are going to grow up with grandparents. And uncles. And meddling friends. Not alone like I did.” This was her decision, and she was making it.

“The law and the ranch keep me really busy. I don’t know how often we’ll be able to travel.” His eyes veiled as if he didn’t want to get his hopes up.

She loved the stubborn man. “Jake, didn’t I tell you? I’m going to be a famous artist. And a golf course designer. Money shouldn’t be a problem.”

“You’re awfully confident, Sunshine.” Dark eyes melted to burnt sugar.

“Yeah, I know. By the way, I love you, too,” she said.