Page 35 of Sleigh My Heart

She needed to talk to Nick. Now.

Chapter 9

It took way too long to wrap up things at the accident scene and hand it off to Jenkins. Michelle glanced at the dash clock. It had been an hour and no word from Nick.

“Get out of my way!” Temptation to flip on the lights and siren boiled in her blood. Sometimes it sucked to be a cop. Everyone dropped their speed to exactly the speed limit.

The late nineties Buick finally turned, and Michelle leaned into the accelerator. “It’s about time.”

With the increased speed, she slid into the hospital drop-off area and skidded into the designated police parking.

Slow it down. Even with her self reminder, she fast-walked through the doors and straight to the one open receptionist. “Santa was brought in by the paramedics an hour ago. Can you tell me where he is?”

“Do you have a name?” No break in her calm, professional expression.

“Jolley. Russell Jolley.”

“Are you family?”

Michelle paused. “No.”

“One minute.” The woman’s fingers flew over the keyboard.

Michelle wanted to pace. The itch in her legs had her locking her knees.

“Officer. Mr. Jolley is in surgery. It’s through those doors and follow the signs.”

“Thanks.” Michelle’s steps lengthened. Surgery? Shit.

When she rounded the last corner of the maze that was the hospital corridors, she came to the surgical waiting room… And Nick.

The other people waiting faded into the background. Her full attention locked on the tired man with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. The urge to cradle him in her arms rushed over her in a wave so strong it could capsize a boat.

For the first time in twenty years, she threw caution to the wind and crossed to him. Without another thought, she dropped down in front of him. His head lifted. Their gazes locked. And a second later, they were holding each other.

She took as much of his worry and pain as she could and pushed her own aside. She didn’t speak, only waited. Nick would talk when he was ready.

He exhaled, hot on her neck.

She shivered.

“He’s in surgery.” He tightened his grip.

The pleasure from his familiar embrace made her frown. She rubbed his back and put a few inches of space between them. He’s hurting. Don’t get confused by his touch.

His strong arms slowly slid from her. The grief in her chest was both real and remembered. She needed more than a few inches of space. She needed to focus on the reason she was here.

Stress and worry swam in his eyes.

Okay, one of the reasons she’d come. But first, she had to ask, “Did they say what the prognosis was?”

Nick blew out a heavy breath. “They didn’t say much. Did some scans, then said he had some bleeding on the brain and took him into surgery. They just took him back right before you got here.”

She slipped a hand over his. She couldn’t help herself. She needed the contact as much as he did.

He cleared his throat. “What happened? Did the van run the light?”

“No.” Michelle exhaled. How to explain her theory to Nick without riling him up.