Killer Scents (28 page)

His boss removed his glasses
. “Who is it?”

“The hospital.”

“Well, maybe you should answer it?”

Randy noticed a slight tremor of his hand
when
he pushed the button. “Hello?”

“Hi, is this Randy?”

“Yes, um, who is this?”

“It’s Jacob. I think it would be a good idea for you to come and visit Becca soon.”

His jaw dropped
.
Had he heard
him correctly
?
“Why do you think that? She didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat last time I was there.”

“She’s making remarkable progress. You might be interested in knowing
Becca
was asking about you and
she
feels real
ly
bad about how she treated you.”

“That is welcome news. Thank you. I’ll stop by and see you soon.” Randy flicked his cell closed
. He
sat staring at it
, trying to figure out if her wanting to see him was a good or bad thing.

“Is Becca okay?” Chief took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “That was the hospital, right?”

“Yes
.
I, um...” Randy
shook his head
. “Yes, it was Jacob. He wanted me to know Becca feels bad about how she treated me. He thinks it would be a good idea for me to pay her a visit.”

“What are you doing here? Don’t you think you should get over
to the hospital
right away?”

Randy shrugged and took another sip of coffee. “I don’t know what to think.
Do you have any idea what it did to me when she said
she didn’t want me around last time I
saw her? I don’t ever want to feel that kind of pain again.
”

“You aren’t seriously going to hold that against her, are you?
For God’s sake
, look at all the poor girl woke up to. Wouldn’t you be a little messed up if it were you?”

“
Don't you think I know that? It broke my heart to see her like that
.”

Chief pushed his chair away from
the
desk and stood
. He
hik
ed
up his pants that somehow slid past his belly whenever he sat. “Let’s go
,
then.”

“You’re coming
,
too?” Randy straightened in his chair.

“Why not? I’ll go visit with Jacob while you see Becca. Once I’m through
,
I’ll come and see her
,
too.” He
frowned
. “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you want to see her?”

“Yes and no.” Randy heaved a sigh. “Jacob wouldn’t have called if she didn’t say something to encourage him, don’t you agree?”

His boss laughed and grabbed his arm, helping him to his feet. “How in the hell would I know
?
I can tell you this much, you aren’t going to find out sitting there playing twenty questions.”

“Good morning, Becca. How do you feel about a change of scenery today?” Nurse Debbie
bustled
into the room carrying a neatly folded selection of clothes, topped with stark
-
white runners.

“You’re letting me go home?” Becca’s pulse quickened and her palms grew sweaty. “I don’t understand?”

“No, you’re making remarkable progress, but it’s a little too soon for you to be leaving us.” She pulled the curtain around
the
bed. “However, D
r.
Swanson thinks some fresh air will do you a world of good.”

Becca dressed in black yoga pants and a long-sleeved white t-shirt, while her nurse paid special attention
to ensure
her bandages were completely covered. Socks and runners felt foreign after being bare
foot
for
so many weeks
.

“I don’t even know how long I’ve been here. What day is it?”

Her nurse
taped the last pad of gauze in place. “We want to be extra careful you don’t get an infection.” She took the chart from the end of her bed. “Let’s see,
not including to
day
,
you’ve been here six weeks.”

“I never would have guessed that long. Time sure flies when you’re having fun.”

Nurse Debbie stepped out into the hall and returned pushing a wheelchair. “You’re chariot awaits, my dear.”

Becca offered a weak smile, not exactly thrilled with having to use one of those contraptions. She’d only been allowed to put weight on her leg a few days ago. Resignedly
and
with the aid of her nurse, she shuffled alongside her bed and plunked herself down
in the seat
. The simple task left her breathless.

Her nurse laughed light-heartedly. “Don’t you worry
.
You’ll be starting physical therapy soon and
will
be good as new in no time at all.”

Becca took slow, measured breaths
on
the way down the barren hallway
.
Nurse Debbie took
the elevator down to the main floor and follow
ed
an arrow marked
:
Courtyard.

She shielded her eyes from the sun as they crossed the threshold to
the
outdoors. The sweet aroma of freshly cut grass and rose
bushes in full bloom
filled her senses
.
S
he tilted her head back and revelled in the sun’s warmth on her face. “This was an excellent idea.”

“I think so
,
too.”

Becca’s eyes flew open. Her chair
was
spun around to face Randy, who kneeled down to her level. His lips twisted in the same lopsided grin that had first attracted her to him.

“Randy.” She choked on his name and cleared her throat noisily in a futile attempt to mask her emotions. “I don’t...
.
I mean, I’m sorry
.
”

Randy pressed a finger to her lips. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I can’t tell you how good it is to see you, and how happy I am Jacob called me this morning.

Emotion clouded his expressive brown eyes.

She
couldn’t have stopped the tears if she tried. “I’m very happy you came.”

He
gathered her in his arms. “I’ve missed you
,
Becca.” He nuzzled her neck, sending tiny impulses across her skin.

She manoeuvred awkwardly from the wheelchair. Randy, always so perceptive, lifted her from the chair and onto his lap.
She laid her head against his chest,
happy to feel the connection between them renewed.

Randy was first to pull away. “I have something I want to show you.”

Becca
noted the devilish glint in his eyes and narrowed her gaze suspiciously. “What are you up to?”

He
stood with her cradled in his arms
and set
her
back
down
in the wheelchair
so gently she wondered if he thought she might break. He guided her through the courtyard and around the side of the building.

Her
jaw dropped
as
the sight
unfolded
before her. Sunshine glinted off the chrome of a midnight blue trike, the passenger bench padded in leather. “Is this for real?”

He smiled and nodded. “Yup, Doc gave me permission to take you on a short ride as long as we are careful to keep your burns covered. He
scooped
her out of the chair and set her on the warm leather seat. “That is, if you’re up to it.”

She smiled lovingly at him. “I don’t know why you’re doing this for me. Not after the way I treated you.”

Randy
put a finger under her chin and raised it so she had to look into his eyes. “I love you, Becca. No matter how hard you try to push me away, I’m going to be here for you.” He pressed his lips to hers in a long, drugging
kiss
.

He let her go
, leaving her breathless. “Are you going to take me for a ride or do you just want to make out right here?”

“
That’s pretty
tempting
, but
I don’t want to get on your
d
oc’s bad side. He picked up a helmet from behind her and handed it over. His hung from
the
handlebars. Randy retrieved a blanket from beside her and laid it across her lap.

“Is this really necessary? It’s hardly weather to be snuggling under a blankie.”

“Just humor me, will you?”

Randy
hiked his leg over and straddled the bike, bringing it to life with the turn of a key.
She
closed her eyes, and placed her hands flat on the seat, revelling in the familiar rumble beneath them.

“Are you ready?” Randy called
back to her
.

Becca
gave him a thumbs up in his mirror. Overcome with emotion, she wiped the tears from her eyes as he rode away from the hospital toward the lakeside.

She titled her face upward to welcome the
sun’s kiss
to her cheeks
, t
he magic in the gentle breeze swirling around her
. The ride proved
more healing than any doctor
’s prescription
.

Randy kept an eye on her in
the
mirrors. It warmed his heart to see her eyes closed and a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. He’d taken a gamble she’d be receptive to his offer. Since she
had
her own bike for years, he imagined she looked to her
ride
for comfort during times of crisis.

As much as he treasured this time with her, a dark cloud still lingered above him. It was time she knew the truth. Only then could they move on with their lives together.

He picked a nice spot by the lake to spread out the blanket and settle Becca with her back against a shade tree.
He grabbed
a couple bottles of water from the
bike
,
sat beside her
,
and
then
took
a long drink.

She put a hand on his leg. “What’s wrong?”

Damn, I forgot how intuitive she is.
He
shudder
ed
. He’d battled long and hard about telling her, but knew secrets had a way of coming out at the most inopportune times. No, he needed to suck it up and come clean.

“Randy,” Becca cupped the side of his face. Concern lined her brow. “Something’s wrong
.
I see it in your eyes.”

He sigh
ed
and
took
her hand away, kissing her open palm before resting it on her lap. “I’m trying to tell you
something you need to know
.”

“Please
,
Randy, you’re scaring me.”

“I know we agreed not to talk about that day, but there’s something we haven’t told you.”

He
clasped
her hand in his
,
briefly shut his eyes, and nodded definitively.
“He’s alive.”

Her eyes grew big. “Who’s alive?”

“
Danny. He
suffered burns over eighty percent of his body
.
N
obody thought he’d
survive
.”

Panic seized her as she looked in every possible direction
. “Where is he?”
Her breaths came too quickly and she gasped for air.