crumpled to the floor. The gun in his hand skittered across the carpet out of reach.
Josh recovered his gun, but Carranza had retrieved his own weapon from his desk drawer, and their barrels sighted each other at the exact same moment. Nei ther hesitated to squeeze the trigger.
Two gunshots reverberated in the study, the blast echoing like cannons. In horrible slow motion, Paige watched as Josh stumbled back, his eyes wide as has clutched his chest, a harsh moan of pain escaping him before he finally collapsed to the floor.
“Nooooo!” she screamed, dropping her own weapon to rush to his side as all hell seemed to break loose around her. Armed men flooded the room, barking orders and swarming the area. They could have been Carranza’s cohorts for all she cared-her only concern was with Josh and his injury.
On her hands and knees on the carpet, she pushed back his tuxedo jacket, moaning pitifully when she saw the dark, spreading stain of blood on his white shirt. His eyes were closed, his body limp, his expression lax-she feared the absolute worst.
She touched his cheek, willing him to live. “Damn you, Josh, don’t you dare leave me,” she said in a choked whisper as hot tears streamed down her face. “After everything we’ve been through, I won’t let you leave me!”
12
HE WAS HAVING the most wonderful dream. He was being cared for by an angel with a sweet, husky voice, and soft, cool hands that caressed his brow, making him momentarily forget the searing heat in his shoulder. Gentle lips brushed his cheek. That same tempting voice whispered encouraging words in his ear.
Ahh, maybe he was in Heaven. Yeah, that had to be it.
He tried to move toward that cajoling voice, that delectable feminine scent that overrode more antiseptic smells, and moaned as a shaft of pain ripped along his chest and arm. He wouldn’t have thought he’d feel such burning discomfort in Heaven. Soothing fingers fluttered along his good shoulder-an angel, maybe?-distracting him from the gnawing ache on his left side.
“Come on, Marchiano, I expect you to pull through this like the tough guy you are.”
No, definitely not an angel, unless they were extremely bossy.
He forced his eyes to open, his gaze falling on the woman sitting next to him on the edge of the narrow hospital bed.
He’d thought he’d never see her again. When he’d felt Carranza’s bullet rip through his flesh, before darkness had obliterated his mind, he’d had the fleeting thought that he’d failed her, just as Anthony had. That Carranza or one of his men would kill her, and he’d been the one to put her in such a dangerous situation. And he’d hated himself for that. Hated that he’d risked her life, and ultimately proved that he was no better than her husband had been.
But she was very much alive, and he was grateful enough for that huge blessing to know that he had to let her go, set her free.
She wore no makeup, and she’d clipped her rich auburn hair back from her pale face, which emphasized the dark crescents beneath her eyes. The depths of those striking green eyes were filled with tenderness, exhaustion and a determination that seemed soul-deep. Despite appearing fatigued and worried, she looked absolutely beautiful-as close to an angel as he would have ever wanted.
But she wasn’t his to keep confined, no matter how much he loved her. He realized that, accepted it, no matter how painful losing her would be.
“Hi,” he rasped, his throat dry and scratchy.
She smiled, a multitude of emotions shimmering in her eyes. “Hi, yourself, tough guy,” she said, her voice sounding as tight as his own had. “We’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
His gaze scanned the small hospital room, finding it empty except for them. “We?”
“Me. Your parents. Your brothers and sisters. The entire gang.” Picking up the cup of water on a nearby tray, she slipped the straw between his lips so he could take a drink. “They’re in the lounge, but if you don’t mind, I want you for myself for a few minutes before the cavalry arrives.”
Josh knew once his family swooped in, he and Paige wouldn’t have any time alone. Selfish as it might be, he wanted every moment alone with Paige that he could get. Too soon, she’d be gone, and he’d only have memories to remember her by.
“What day is it?” he asked, trying to orient himself.
She smiled. “It’s Monday morning.”
He frowned. “I lost a day somewhere.” He tried to think back, but his mind wouldn’t cooperate. He caught images, but nothing solid. “What happened?”
“You were shot in the shoulder Saturday night at Carranza’s estate, and knocked unconscious,” she told him, gently smoothing the blanket over his chest. “You were flown to the hospital for surgery and given enough painkillers to keep you sedated for the past twenty-four hours. But you came through just fine. The doctor said you’ll be back to work within a few months.”
The last thing he wanted to think about was work. “What happened to Carranza?”
“He’s dead,” she said quietly. “Your aim was more accurate than his. Seconds after you were shot, the undercover officers arrived. Everyone involved in the jewel-smuggling ring was arrested, and they found enough evidence to make a conviction stick.”
“Good.” Josh nodded, pleased that the undercover operation had been successful and a band of criminals would be put away for a very long time. Maybe, as a result, Paige could put that nightmarish part of her past to rest, too.
He shifted to find a more comfortable position, and grimaced as his upper body protested the slightest movement. Paige immediately stood and fussed over him, using the remote control to lift his mattress until he sat up in a relaxed, reclining position. She fluffed his pillows, gave him more cold water to drink and rearranged the light blanket around his waist.
“Ummm, I could get used to this,” he teased.
She abruptly stopped her pampering, suddenly appearing nervous. He wondered if his comment had been too personal, too full of the intimation that he wanted her to stay and take care of him. He did want that, more than his next breath, but he’d already made the decision to set her free and he wouldn’t renege on that promise. He’d love her forever, but she deserved to be happy-even if that meant letting her live her own life in Connecticut with her family, thousands of miles away from him.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, propping her hip on the edge of the mattress once again, her gaze concerned, but anxious, too.
“A little uncomfortable with the pain in my shoulder, and a whole lot happy to be alive.” He reached for her hand, twining his fingers with hers. “And even happier to see that you’re okay. No one hurt you?”
She shook her head. “A few bruises, but nothing that won’t heal. Because of you, I’m fine.”
He balked at that. “I can’t take all the credit, Paige. I know how much you hate guns, and what you did was incredibly brave. I’m so proud of you. You saved both of our lives.” More hesitantly, he added, “And now that the case is over, you’re free to go back home.”
He thought she’d be relieved, but the panic that filled her expression confused him.
“I thought I’d lost you,” she whispered, moisture glittering in her incredible green eyes. “And when I saw all that blood on your shirt, all I could think was that if you died, so would I.”
A reassuring smile formed on his lips. “As you can see, I’m fine.” Reaching up, he gently brushed away“a tear that trailed down her smooth cheek. ”You’re one of the most courageous women I know.”
Paige bit her trembling bottom lip, finding it difficult to accept Josh’s praise when she’d come to a stunning conclusion while waiting for him to awaken after his surgery. “I’m a coward,” she blurted.
He laughed, then groaned as his expression of amusement caused him discomfort. “What in the world makes you think you’re a coward?”
