Page 6 of I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell

“I think that’s contributing to your freaking out,” he comments. Then, as if Debra weighs absolutely nothing, he scoops her into his arms. Damn, if I knew the key to getting a man to carry me like a princess was demonic possession, I might have spent more time hanging out at crossroads.

“I think my freaking out is kind of warranted,” I defend, trying to slow my racing heart.

His dress shoes crunch on the glass as he exits the horror movie scene into the untouched hall. With his elbow, he presses the elevator button. His thick dark brown brows tug together as he looks at me with regret. “I apologize. Everyone was supposed to be gone for the evening.”

I put down the salt and stapler and follow him into the elevator. “Is she dead?” I force out past the growing lump in my throat as we descend.

“Unlikely.” Luke steps out into the empty lobby and lowers Debra to the ground. His hand moves to her cheek in a gentle caress. It’s a hand I’m used to seeing sign off on customer contracts, making the unfolding sight all the stranger. He gives her a few light smacks. “Debra, can you hear me?”

Nothing. I reach for my phone to dial 911 before remembering it’s in the car. Through the glass double doors, it still runs. I could go grab it—

I leap out of my skin as Debra sits straight up with a gasp, eyes flying open. To my immense relief, they’re back to normal, though filled with confusion. Welcome to the club, sister.

“What happened?” she feebly asks with a cough.

“You took quite the spill,” Luke says, voice back to the low, even tone I’m used to, but with a caring edge. “Everyone but Brie and I had left for the day. You took the stairs and we heard a shout. I think you fell down them.”

Took the stairs. I have to hold in my scoff. I know Luke’s only been here a month, but Debra would sooner leave the office using the roof as a helicopter pad than take the stairs.

She blinks up at him, clearly thinking the same thing. “I don’t…I don’t remember.”

“I was worried about that. Looks like you got a bump on your head.” His finger traces the knot where my stapler slammed into her temple. I watch his acting in odd fascination, too stunned to speak. “Might be a good idea to pay a visit to the hospital. I’m happy to take you.”

That snaps me out of my stupor. I drop into a crouch in front of her, gently tilting her chin to face me. “I think you have a concussion.” I examine her, noting the way her eyes are struggling to focus. “You should get a CT scan, just to be sure it’s nothing more serious, like internal bleeding.”

“Oh no, that’s alright,” Debra says. With Luke’s help, she gets to her feet, though she sways. “I’ll be fine. I just need to find my keys—”

“You can’t drive,” I insist. “With a head wound like that, you’d endanger yourself. And others. Trust me, I used to be in med school. You need a scan, especially if you’re on any blood thinners.”

“You were in med school?” Luke peers at me curiously.

I ignore him, because that really doesn’t matter right now. Debra hems and haws. “My car—”

“Brie’s right,” Luke easily cuts in. “Someone can get your car over the weekend. Let me drive you home so your husband can take you to the hospital. I won’t sleep tonight otherwise.”

I follow them out the door, stopping at my humming vehicle. My keys are in my hands, but I can’t make myself get in.

Luke eases Debra into the passenger seat of his car. As he closes the door, he meets my eyes. My face must reflect how fucked up I feel inside, because he strides over. His eyes travel the length of me, snagging just slightly on my hips. “Are you alright?”

“You just exorcised my coworker,” I retort shakily. “What do you think?”

“Let me rephrase. Are you hurt?”

Oh. That’s why he was looking me over. Obviously.

I’m sore and rattled and probably going into some kind of shock because there is no way what I just saw actually happened. He steps closer, taking up my entire field of view, thanks to his height and the broadness of his shoulders. His hands lift like he’s going to put them on my arms to steady me like before, but they fall at his sides.

“No,” I decide. “But you are taking her home, right? I don’t know if there’s a code to this or—”

“I’m taking her home,” he confirms. “And you’re going home, too.”

“I’m going home,” I echo. He opens my door for me and I plop into the seat. Before he can close the door, my hand shoots out to stop it.

I stare up at him. Despite it not even being five yet, the sun is setting. Under the fluorescent office lights, he’s never struck me before as intimidating. Now, as shadows creep, I can’t help but notice how angular his features are, from his sharp cheekbones to his defined jaw. Like mine, his eyes are brown, but with the last rays of sun at his back, they might as well be as black as Demon Debra’s.

“What was that?” The words escape fast, yet so soft he might not have heard them at all.

But from the way a muscle in his jaw feathers, he did. “My problem. Not yours.” With a double pat on the side of my door, he closes it. Through the window separating us, he says, “Go home and forget this happened. Don’t bring it up again.”