A Dangerous Leap by Sharon Calvin Page A

mesmerized by Kelly’s force of will as the sailor appeared to be. Her hand, looking crushed in the man’s return grip, vibrated. Even as tears flooded her eyes, her voice never wavered, her demands never ceased. Her strength and sheer determination awed Ian.
    Interminable minutes later, Caitlyn’s calm voice announced their ETA at the hospital. Ian immediately contacted the receiving physician and delivered the patient’s current vital signs. Heart rate too rapid, blood pressure too low, but by God, he was still alive.
    Joe slid the door open and a ground crew dispatched a gurney before the helicopter’s wheels touched the tarmac. Ian jumped out, pulling the litter behind him while Kelly accompanied them, still issuing orders to the sailor.
    “You aren’t done yet, Ensign Balinski. You still have a job to do,” she shouted. She still gripped his hand.
    “We’ve got him now, ma’am. You can let go.” A young male nurse grabbed Kelly’s arm.
    For a minute, Ian thought she was going to argue. Or deck the guy. But she blinked, then closed her eyes and released the sailor’s hand. The gurney and the team quickly disappeared though a set of swinging doors and Kelly stood absolutely still.
    After a moment or two, a tremor rippled through her, and she gave a single sharp nod. She turned and climbed into the helicopter, her movements unnaturally slow, each hand and foot placement deliberate, as if she might shatter. Ian wanted to pull her into his arms, but her fierce expression demanded space. He grabbed Joe and headed toward the doors that swallowed their patient. They needed to retrieve their rescue litter.
    “Ian!”
    He wheeled at Kelly’s shout and jogged back to the helo. She held a plastic bag out to him, her expression guarded. “Here, these are his things. Could you…would you find out who…?”
    “Yeah, I’ll find out who to call for an update,” he said.
    She had her right hand curled between her breasts. He frowned and reached for it, but she backed away. Hell, the way that kid had been hanging on, he could have broken several bones. “Maybe you should have that x-rayed.”
    She shook her head, her eyes overly bright. “Go, we have to get back to the station. With two helos down for repairs, they might need us again.”
    He hesitated for a second, then turned and hurried after Joe. He damn well hoped they didn’t get another call, because Kelly was about as strung out as a person could be and still functioning. This wasn’t the way he’d envisioned their first night together, but he knew he wasn’t about to let her go home alone. Even if it meant he’d be taking cold showers for the next week.
    * * *
    Ian ignored his brother’s wink as he set two beers on the table. He didn’t need, or want, his brother’s advice, which as the oldest, Brendan seemed to feel it was his birthright to dispense. Today had taken something out of Ian. And Kelly.
    “Go away,” Ian said to his brother, his attention focused on a somber Kelly. Brendan briefly clasped his shoulder then, miraculously, left them alone. An Irish ballad of young lives lost played in the background, echoing their own horrific day.
    He’d delivered the news of the young sailor’s death to Kelly in person, then persuaded her to go out with him. He didn’t want her sitting on her boat, brooding all by herself. Since his brother’s bar wasn’t a Coastie hangout, they wouldn’t have to worry about running into familiar faces.
    He wasn’t in any mood for laughter or crude jokes.
    Kelly latched on to her beer mug with both hands. But she didn’t drink—she simply held on.
    Exactly what he wanted to do, only instead of cold glass, he wanted to wrap his arms around her. He needed to erase the bruised look that appeared so out of place on her normally cheerful face.
    “So this is your brother’s place,” she said. Her gaze darted around the room, but didn’t seem to take in the polished wood and gleaming brass before returning to her