Bad Karma (44 page)

“
I didn’t get my romantic proposal,” she said.

“
You will.”

She grinned at him, relieved that he had taken her back. Relieved that it hadn’t taken seven years. “Alrighty then.”

~*~

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Rotation

Javier drove Cassie home, turning off the ignition and staring up at the usually cheery abode.

Zach’s house looked like it had been abandoned, all boarded up and without the usual furniture arranged around the deck or the Jet Ski chained underneath. As though Zach had gone and left no forwarding address.

“
Javi, I’m getting scared,” she said. “Is this hurricane going to destroy my beautiful island just when I’ve barely gotten here?”

He squeezed her shoulder. “Probably won’t hit here. It’s aiming for a rural area between here and Corpus. Maybe we’ll get lucky again.”

“
Then why are all the locals boarding up their houses and leaving town? On the news, it showed long lines of traffic headed away from the coast.”

“
People are just being careful. Let’s go up now.”

Zach and Sky were seated on the benches built along the front of the deck below the railing. They looked sombre.

“
Want some iced tea?” Sky offered. “We were just having some tea out here because it seemed like a normal thing to do.”

Zach raised his glass in a salute. “And because, it’s so dark inside the house with all the windows covered.”

Javier declined, but looked down at Cassie. “Why don’t you go get some clothes packed?”

“
Packed? Where am I going?”

“
I want you to go with my parents. They’ll take you to San Antonio to stay with my uncle for a few days. You’ll be safe with my family there.”

Cassie gazed from Javier to Sky and back to Javier. “And where are you going to be?”

“
I’m on standby. If Fiona hits the Island and Port Isabel, there will be a lot of damage, a lot of rescue.”

Cassie shook her head. “I can’t go with your family, Javi. I’ll go wherever Sky goes. She’s my family.”

Sky cleared her throat. “Cassie, perhaps you better take Javier up on his offer. Zach had made arrangements with Calvin to take you with him to join the rest of the Bailey family at a relative’s ranch near Edinburg. It’s your choice.”

“
But why?” She searched every grim face for answers.

Zach huffed, his shoulders rising and falling abruptly with the effort. “Because you sister has made the questionable decision to stay at the hospital for the duration of this storm. She’s going to be working the emergency room.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “That’s just freakin’ idiotic! A hurricane headed straight for us and a crazy man wanting to kill you, so you put yourself right out there! Why don’t you just hang a sign around your neck that says, kill me?”

Zach nodded his head. “Eloquently stated. My sentiments exactly.”

Sky bit her lower lip and then shrugged. “I’ve been assured that the hospital will withstand the strongest hurricane and it has generators.” Sky glanced at Cassie and then at Zach. “Somebody has to do it. Tell them, Javier.”

Javier stood with his feet planted and his hands fisted on his hips. “She’s right, Cassie. Somebody does have to do it. Usually it’s my mother, but this time she gets to go with her children and husband. She wants you to join them.” He stared down at her. “Don’t worry about the hurricane. Even if it comes in here, the hospital is as solid as a mountain. Go on and get your clothes, baby.”

Cassie shook her head. “I can’t. If Sky is staying at the hospital, then I am too. Consider me a volunteer.”

Sky and Javier both started to protest.

“
Actually, I think it’s a good idea.” Zach sat looking up at her. “I’m going to be staying with Sky, too. At least if we’re all together, I can keep an eye on both of you.”

Javier stood glaring down at him.

Zach returned his gaze. “Think about it. You and Sky have to stay here, so Cassie and I will be here too, in a safe location if the storm hits and you can duck in to see her when you get a chance.”

Javier shrugged, raised both palms in a gesture of surrender. “Okay. I give up. I’ll tell my parents to go on without you. But…” He cast a stern glare at Zach. “If the storm heads this way, I expect you to make sure Cassie’s safe.”

Zach grinned at him. “I’ll protect them both with my life.”

Cassie followed Javier down to his truck. He opened the door and backed her into the opening, shielding her from view with his body.

Javier’s eyes searched her face hungrily. “I may not get to see you for a few days. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get out.”

Her chest felt tight, but she fought against tearing up. “Just be safe, Javi.”

He lowered his head, kissing her lips, taking possession of her mouth.

Cassie’s arms circled his neck and he lifted her off the ground. His hand slipped under her shirt, caressing her breast, teasing her nipple. She made a little sound, like a kitten mewing. He slid his hand inside the elastic waistband of her shorts and into her panties.

“
Oh, God! Javi.”

His fingers pressed into her wetness, bringing waves of joy swirling up through her body, clutching her in the grip of passion.

Cassie clung to him as he brought her to the peak of pleasure, shuddering as that pleasure crested and climaxed, leaving her weak and shaky. “How can you do that to me?” she gasped.

Javier was grinning. “I plan to spend the rest of my life pleasuring you.”

“
And what happened last night? I found a hicky on the inside of each of my thighs.”

“
You only found two?” Javier laughed, still gripping her against him. “Last night you were a very naughty girl. I had to do something to help you get to sleep.”

She nodded. “I’m glad. Being a virgin was getting to be a burden. Yes, I’m really glad.”

Javier made a noise in the back of his throat. “You think I’d take advantage of you while you were in an altered state?” He set her on her feet and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “When we first make love, I want you to remember it. On our wedding night, I’ll divest you of that burden and not before.”

“
You didn’t...I’m still...?”

“
Baby girl, you’re still as cherry as the day you were born.”

~*~

Sky hadn’t asked for permission to bring her guests. The Hospital Administrator and anyone else with the authority to grant such a request had long since packed up and left the island.

Zach and Cassie went up in the elevator to commandeer a couple of the rooms on the hospital unit. They were to unpack the bags and get settled in, with the intention of using the rooms as a place to change and bathe and maybe catch a little sleep.

Sky looked around the main area of the Emergency Unit, counting noses. Lucy, the LVN, Carlos and Ted, the two orderlies and Hank, the custodian were assembled.

She gave them a grin. “So this is it?”

Lucy shook her head. “There’s a cook and a dietary aide in the cafeteria and there are a couple of techs in the lab and a nurse aide upstairs to help if we have to admit someone. Rick went to get his things. He’ll be back soon. In the meantime, you’re in charge.”

Sky straightened her shoulders. “And I’m the new person. Tell me what’s likely to happen.”

Lucy shrugged. “A lot of waiting. The television goes out and then we play cards. The sheriff will be trying to get all the idiots off the island. Occasionally one of them is injured before the storm hits. But mostly, we wait.”

Sky bit her lower lip. “What if the hurricane hits the island directly? Then what?”

Lucy smiled. “We stay snug as little bugs in our rug here. The electricity goes out and the generators kick in. We raid the cafeteria for food and play more cards.”

Sky smiled. “Doesn’t sound so bad.”

Ted, one of the orderlies spoke up. “There are quite a few locals who don’t evacuate. Sometimes, after a bad storm, they come here if they need shelter. You know, until the utility companies can get back in.”

“
Right,” Lucy said. “If the storm comes in here, there may be injuries. The emergency workers are at risk too. Power lines go down, gas lines get broken, lots of dangerous situations.”

Sky was glad Cassie wasn’t around to hear that little tidbit of information.

“
It sounds like we’ll have a lot of time on our hands; but first, I’d like to make sure we have the supplies we need readily available.” She sent the two orderlies to the supply room to fill the carts in each patient area, while she and Lucy stocked the med carts.

“
Miss Sky, what do you want me to do?” Hank stood at the door looking big and ill at ease. “I made sure everything’s clean, but if there’s something you need, just let me know.”

Sky looked up. “Thanks a lot, Hank. I know that you have medical skills and I hope we won’t have to call on you, but it’s good to know, just in case.”

He gave her a lop-sided grin and backed out of the room.

“
What was that all about?” Lucy asked.

“
Hank was a corpsman and he has medical training and field experience. He was very helpful to me with a patient when Rick was busy. I told him that he should go to nursing or medical school.”

“
Really?” Lucy cast another glance after Hank’s retreating form. “Who’d of thought?”

~*~

Zach turned on the lights. The hospital room was dark. This was because the rolling metal storm shutters had been locked down all around the building. He peered out through the tiny slits in the metal barrier. The sky was getting darker. It looked like they were in for a long night.

He had hung their changes of clothing in the small closet, smiling when he arranged Sky’s panties alongside his boxers in one drawer of the bureau.

He took a clean towel and spread it on top of the bureau with their commingled toiletries.

Too bad he wasn’t married by now. Too bad he wasn’t on a honeymoon cruise with his bride, and too bad his almost-wife had seen fit to volunteer her services during the storm that had royally screwed up his plans.

He flipped on the television to watch the news.

Cassie came in and sat beside him on the bed, a troubled frown on her pretty face as she stared at the screen. “Look how hard the wind is blowing. Why do the reporters stand out there in the elements with their hair blowing and the wind whipping them to pieces?”

Zach smiled at her. “I guess it makes for a more exciting story.”

The reporter’s windblown image disappeared, replaced by a live shot of slow-moving traffic as the evacuees inched their way north.

Cassie made a disgusted noise. “They’re barely moving. Some of the cars are stalled on the side of the road.”

Zach nodded. “That’s why it’s a good idea to leave ahead of time and not to wait till the last minute.”