25. Dylan

25

DYLAN

I f I thought the wait for the pizza delivery had taken forever, the drive to Soledad took even longer. It was a minor miracle that I did not get pulled over. Why the hell had Ryan taken her out there? It made no sense. I did curb my speeding as I got closer to the police department. I'm not that dumb.

My insides had been clenching the entire drive to get to her, but when I saw Jessica's feet, it felt like a gut punch.

"Oh, baby, what happened?" I slid to my knees as I got to her side. I took her hand in mine.

"Are you the boss or the boyfriend?" a cop asked.

"What? I'm both, I guess. I've been worried sick, running around like an idiot trying to find her. It never occurred to me that he would bring her all the way down here." I stood to face him. "How did you find her?"

"Some kids saw her and let us know. She doesn't know how long she was out there, but her feet are pretty messed up. You should take her to a hospital to get her cleaned up."

"Why didn't you take her to the hospital?"

"In case you haven't noticed, this is a small town, and she's not critical. We can't really afford the manpower."

I nodded. "Okay, I got it. I can take her."

"Can we get out of here?" Jessica asked. "I want to go home."

"Of course." I stopped and forced myself to stare at her feet. They looked really bad. "Let's get you taken care of, and then home."

One of the officers helped to get Jessica outside with the wheelchair. I pulled the car around.

"What are you doing?" Jessica giggled as I scooped her up to put her in the car.

"You really want to walk?" I asked as I slid her into the passenger seat.

I stayed there with her. She was safe in my arms where she belonged. Her breath tickled my cheek. I turned and leaned in to close the distance between our lips. The kiss was soft and meaningful. She was safe. She was here. "I love you," I said. It was barely a whisper.

"Did you just say what I think you said?" she asked.

I stayed close. "Yes, you heard me right. I've had a lot of time worrying about you tonight. It took a lot of effort and cost me a pricey bottle of wine just to have Ryan blow me off, and I couldn't do anything about it. I was so desperate to get you back. I would have given up so much more just to know you were safe. When I saw you again, I knew. I knew what it all meant."

She blinked, and I saw tears form in her eyes. I kissed her forehead.

"I know, it's a lot right now. Let's get you taken care of." I started to stand op, but Jessica grabbed my shirt and pulled me back in close.

"I love you, Dylan. I'm sorry I was so stupid."

I ended up sitting on the floor board so I could lean into the car. I couldn't stop touching her, stroking her arms, her hair. Jessica cried and hiccupped and just kept looking at me. Every time she tried to say something, she started crying again. The most she seemed to be able to say before she lost control was ‘I'm sorry.'

"Shh," I tried to soothe her. "I'm here and you're safe. That's all that matters."

"But… but I…"

"You thought you were doing the right thing. And maybe it was. Fighting in front of Max was not my finest moment. But damn, it felt good. I never realized how much that guy has bothered me for years. I think I've always wanted to smash the smirk off his face from time to time."

"I ruined your business deal." She sniffled.

I squeezed her hand and ran my fingers down the side of her face.

"No, his actions did. I mean, if his proposal is as strong and as good of an idea as he was telling me, then why would he have to resort to threats? No, if anything, this proves this isn't a good deal. I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of it."

We sat there just looking at each other, touching, being at peace that we were close and in each other's company.

I started to get up, and she tugged on my hand, keeping me in place. "We need to get your feet looked at, and it's a long drive home."

She squeezed my hand tighter, not letting go.

I chuckled. "I'm just going to walk around the car."

"I know. I just, I'm… thank you for coming to get me." The tears started again.

I leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the lips. "I love you." Before she could grab me again, I closed the door and ran around to the driver's side. I was in the car, and after I got it started, I picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" I asked.

She twisted up her face against more crying. Her pain was like a sharp knife in my chest.

She spent the first half of the drive crying every time she tried to tell me what had happened.

"Hey, you don't have to tell me until you're ready," I gently reminded her. She didn't need to talk if it was going to be that difficult, but she kept starting in different parts of her story. As long as she was willing to talk, I was there to listen.

I was able to figure out from what she did manage to say that Ryan headed into the valley and just kept going. She fell asleep, so she didn't have any more details. At some point, the road that goes down the valley circles around and comes out in the middle of the county, and that's how she ended up in the middle of farmland.

When it was clear she was done trying to talk around her crying, I told her about Sarah's son, Ethan, and his ridiculous scheme for locating Ryan. I thought the story would entertain her and give her nerves a chance to settle.

"When he said rich people were greedy and I had to sweeten to deal with something Ryan would want to get, I couldn't think of anything. He already had you. What more could he take from me?"

Jessica didn't respond. I glanced over when she didn't say anything. She was asleep. She looked so peaceful and calm. And so beautiful. I really had been terrified I would never see that beautiful face again. She had to be emotionally exhausted from the evening. I know I was.

The emergency room was fortunately quiet, and they were able to take Jessica into the back almost right away. I sat with her and held her hand every time someone examined her feet. They had her lay on her front and prop her feet over tubs of water.

She squeezed my hand and cried as they worked.

"Isn't there anything you can give her so it doesn't hurt so much?" I asked.

"We're almost done. She really did some damage. What were you walking on, glass? The bottoms of your feet are shredded," the nurse said.

Jessica pinched her face and looked miserable. "Can't they just knock me out?"

I leaned in and kissed her face. "You are so brave."

"This doesn't feel brave." She struggled to say each word. "Ah, ow!" she cried.

"There's still some debris, and it looks like bits of the plastic shoes you had on, embedded into your heel. Next time, don't take a hike in those cheap flip-flops."

We didn't get home until it was almost time to get up and start the day again. I was exhausted, but I carried Jessica up to my room.

"You should put me in my bed," she tried to complain.

"Too late," I said. "You're already in this one, and I'm too tired to carry you across the hall, and you aren't walking."

"Will you at least get my pajamas?"

I kicked out of my clothes, leaving my boxer briefs on before I crossed the hall and grabbed her pajamas from her pillow. I helped her change, and the next thing I knew, my phone was ringing, waking me up.

My phone rang again. I groaned and grabbed it, looking at the screen. Why the hell was Sarah calling me this early? Then I looked at the time. Crap, it was much later than I expected.

A sudden bolt of guilt had me sitting up. "Did Ethan get home last night?" I asked as I answered the phone.

"Good morning. Yes, he did. Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine, why? I overslept. Last night was…" I looked over at Jessica who was sound asleep next to me. "It was very long."

"I can imagine. You'll have to fill me in on exactly what was worth that bottle of Chateau Lafite."

"Who," I interrupted. "Who was worth it. Yes, I'll fill you in. But if Ethan got in, why are you calling?"

"Mr. Thompson from Frisco Investments has been calling nonstop demanding to know what you did," Sarah said. "Something about jeopardizing a sound investment and pulling any future support. You know he absolutely refuses to speak with me, but he was happy enough to chew me out. From the sound of it, Carmichael of the Carmichael Proposal reached out directly, and there's some kind of breach of contract going on and jeopardizing the deal? And something about suing you also. The best I could figure out is that Carmichael is also suing you?"

I groaned.

"Okay. I've got a few things to get situated here before I come into the office," I started.

"Make it quick, please. I can't keep telling people I don't know when you'll be in." She sounded aggravated.

"People?"

"Yes, people. When can I tell them to expect you in the office so you can return their calls?"

I rubbed my hand over my face and put my feet on the floor.

"Okay, when they call back, or you call them to tell them when I'm available, please let them know that I am aware of the situation and that I would like the opportunity to properly explain and that I will have full disclosure within twenty-four hours. The best I can do right now is return their call, but I do need time to get situated." I checked the time. I had a lot to do this morning, and I had to go rescue my mother and Clara from Max.

"I will start returning calls by one. I will be in before that. Yeah, this is a mess. I'll deal with it." I ended the call. It looked like I was in for a long day after an emotionally draining, long night.

I leaned over and kissed Jessica. It was going to be time to give her the medicine soon. I climbed out of bed and began the mental task list—give Jessica her antibiotics and pain meds. Rescue Max from Clara. Call an emergency nanny. I wasn't dressed yet, and I already had too much to do.