Page 12 of Lion’s Den

“Whoa!” He gathered her close, then slipped one arm across her back and one behind her knees. “Are you all right, Sedona?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Let’s get you to the hospital so a doctor can check you out.” He quickly settled her in the shotgun seat and fastened her seatbelt for her when Sedona fumbled so much that she couldn’t click the belt on her own.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

“I’ll be right back.”

Seconds later, Cam opened the cargo area, then came back to her.

He unfolded a plush blanket and held the warm fabric in front of her. “May I tuck this blanket around you?”

Man, Cam was trying so hard not to trigger a panic attack, which Sedona appreciated. But how did that help when she remembered nothing except that she’d wanted him to touch her for months and still did? “Yes. Please.”

Cam was careful to touch her only enough to tuck the blanket around her, then paused. He held his hand where she could see it, silently asking permission.

Sedona nodded. “Cam, it’s okay to touch me.”

He slowly slid his hand along her jaw until his palm cupped her nape. “Trust me,” he whispered. “Please.” Cam moved toward Sedona slowly, then pressed his mouth to hers, light as a feather.

When he raised his head a second later, Sedona noticed that both of them were breathing fast.

Cam smiled and then eased back, satisfied. “Time to get you to the hospital.” He came around the hood of the SUV and slid behind the wheel. A minute later, they drove from the forest onto a highway.

“Where are we?”

His head whipped toward hers. “Of course you wouldn’t know. I apologize for not telling you sooner. The men took you to Silverwood Forest.”

Sedona scowled. “But why? And why can’t I remember things?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it?” He reached over and threaded his fingers through hers. “Don’t push to remember. It will come when your brain is ready.”

“What if it never does?” Would she always have a gap in her memory? How frustrating to miss part of her life. If she didn’t recover her memory, Sedona would never know who was friend or foe.

Cam squeezed her fingers. “We’ll deal with it. First, let’s wait for the doctor’s opinion before we make a plan.”

“But wouldn’t you want to know about the missing hours of your life if you were in my shoes?”

“Of course. What the doctor says will determine what type of plans we create.” Another squeeze of her fingers. “I promise I will keep you safe, Sedona. You can trust me.”

“I know,” she whispered.

Cam released her hand to turn on his lights and sirens, then pressed the accelerator to the floor.

For the next two hours, Cam kept the cruiser’s speed at a scary level all the way back to Maple Valley. During the journey, he wove in and out of the sparse traffic. Once they reached the Maple Valley city limits, he turned off the siren but kept the lights flashing until he parked in front of the emergency room entrance.

When she reached for the door handle, Cam said, “Wait. I’m coming around to help you out.”

Never let it be said that she hadn’t given a male companion a chance to treat her like a lady. Although she could easily open her own door, Sedona wasn’t so sure about her ability to remain standing.

Cam opened her door, unlatched her seatbelt, and cradled her in his arms, blanket and all. He carried Sedona into the emergency room.

“Sedona!” A nurse, who had been walking from one treatment room to another, rushed toward her. “What happened? Were you in an accident?”

She shook her head. “I’ll explain later.”

“She needs to see a doctor, Patty. Where do I take her?”