The Firefighter's Cinderella (12 page)

She opened her eyes, feeling groggy from the pain medication. C.J. sat on the side of the bed and put his arm around her.

“Tasha, darlin'?” Genevieve said. “Your dad and I have been here all night.”

She could hear the click of her mother's shoes as she moved a chair closer. Tasha couldn't remember a time when her mom had ever looked this stressed. Her father's sure and steady footsteps soon followed, as he pulled up another chair next to her mother's. “We're both here for you, Tasha.”

She lifted her head to look around. She was in a good-size hospital room; with two cots set up at the end of her bed. Her parents were wearing jeans and T-shirts. The worry on their faces was palpable.

She turned to C.J. “What's going on?” she whispered.

“Let me explain,” her father said. “If you will, Tasha?” His eyes pleaded with her.

She nodded, finding it easier than speaking. Then she closed her eyes, absorbing C.J.'s strength.

Her dad leaned over and kissed her hand, which caused her to look at him curiously. “Dad, I'm alive,” she said in an effort to comfort him.

“Barely, and it's my fault. I was stupid to think I could have you protected on my own.” He was shaking. Tears fell from his eyes. Her mother's eyes were bloodshot. Tasha could see and sense how upset they were.

“But I'm fine,” she croaked. The smoke she'd inhalated was still making it hard to talk. “Will my foot heal?”

C.J. caressed her cheek. “Yes. You'll be walking with crutches for the next couple of weeks, with your cast. In six to eight weeks you should be able to return to normal.”

“Will I be able to run again?”

“With physical therapy, the doctor doesn't think there would be any reason why you couldn't.”

“Thanks to you, C.J.” She turned to him urgently. “Thank you for everything.”

He shook his head. “Just taking my girl on a tour to show her what I do for a living.”

“That's not funny, Jeremiah.”

“I know,” he said emotionally.

“We owe you everything, C.J,” George interjected. “You saved our little girl.”

C.J. took a deep breath. “You owe me nothing. Tasha
being right here safe is all the thanks I need.” He gave her a squeeze.

She looked at her parents. “I'm sorry I've been doing such dangerous work.”

“No, Tasha,” her father said. “You have nothing to be sorry about. I'm the one who owes you an apology. Since I've been running on the platform of stopping illegal immigration, I've been receiving death threats, but then threats of harming you started coming about ten months ago.”

“Isn't that pretty normal for a politician, Dad?”

“I've always taken anything to do with you very seriously. One of the threats against you was a death threat. I went to the FBI immediately. They didn't think much at first, either, because there was no pattern to assume the threats were from the same person. But I've had you being watched in your office night and day.”

“You mean the security guards aren't there because the other tenants hate me?”

“It's true they aren't happy with you. But they never would have put security detail on you night and day.”

“What are you talking about, night and day?” Tasha sat up straighter.

“You don't think I'd let you go into Amigos without someone watching you the whole time, do you?”

Tasha's mouth dropped open. “You've known what I've been doing all along and never said a word?”

“Now, Tasha. You and I are very much alike. We love our independence. I never wanted to take yours away. I just hired ex-secret service men to follow you. They were good and knew how to stay out of your way.”

Tasha looked at her dad and mom in a new light. For
the past year, since she'd started her firm, she'd never once thought how her actions might worry them. “Well, I'm still sorry I've scared you.”

Both her parents looked taken aback. Her mother rubbed Tasha's arm. “We're very proud of what you've accomplished. It's been keepin' your father up at night, but we admire your tenacity. We just didn't realize how entrenched you've been. Then those threats came and we had to protect our only child without breaking her spirit.”

“When your house went up in flames,” George said, “we thought for sure it was one of your enemies. You can't imagine our surprise when it came back as faulty wiring. Regardless, we were so pleased you were willing to move to the penthouse. We thought we could keep you safer there.”

He hung his head “When the call came tonight that your office had blown up, I thought my stubbornness about not warning you had gotten you killed.”

Tasha reached over to squeeze her father's hand. “I thought that with me going after Mendez, it was all my fault. I've been chasing a tiger by the tail.”

George met her gaze again. “He's just one of many drug lords plaguing our country. I have many enemies who want to hurt me and my family.”

“That's horrible.”

“But when I thought of the burning building and you in it, I was gripped by fear that I might have lost my dearest Tasha. Like I said, we've been having you followed for a while.”

Tasha saw her parents so differently now. Before the incident tonight she would have been furious to think
her freedom and privacy had been taken away. But to realize they cared this much astounded and touched her.

George looked at her mother, then back at her. “Tasha…this is going to be hard to say.”

She stared at him and then at C.J., whose face was tight with worry. “What?”

“C.J. talked to the fire chief and I've talked with the police and the FBI. It isn't safe for you to be in San Francisco right now. You're going to need to go into hiding till we can find the culprits.”

“I can't do that, Dad. I have people counting on me. First of all, I need to hand the D.A. vital statements that are at my villa in Yountville.”

George relaxed in the chair. “Done. I'll send out my finest attorney and have him turn in the documents you need.”

“But, Dad, you hate what I do!”

“Doesn't matter. What else needs to be done?”

“Who will run my firm? Richard isn't a litigator. Somebody needs to keep it going. There are clients who will need to be seen Monday.”

“Natasha, be realistic. Your office was blown up. I can have it relocated and running in a week or so, but not by Monday. I'll put an ad in the paper in Berkeley for a litigator who fights for human rights. I'm sure I can get the position filled soon.”

“You would do that for me?”

“I would do anything for you.”

Tasha burst into tears. When she recovered somewhat, she said, “Daphne is an excellent paralegal. She'll get the litigator up to speed. All they need to do right
now is take notes and follow what I've been doing over the last year.”

Tears still slipped down her cheeks. “If I have to go away, I'm going miss you, C.J.” She turned her face into his neck.

He held her tight. “It's going to be all right, sweetheart.”

“How can you say that?” She looked at him hopelessly. Tasha knew she was being pathetic.
Come on.
She should be grateful that her firm would carry on its work. Yet somehow it didn't mean anything if she didn't have the man she loved by her side. How would she be able to stand the separation? Who knew how long she was going to have to stay in hiding?

She eyed her parents. “When will I see you two again?”

Her mother broke down. Tasha had never seen her cry like that. Just as she was getting close to her family, she was going to be ripped away.

George put his arm around his wife. “We know the fire sprinklers at your office were tampered with. The security cameras we installed in the building will reveal who did it, as well as who planted the bomb. It won't be long, now that they've left a trail.”

C.J. lifted his head. “Okay,
my
turn to talk.”

“Your turn, huh?” Tasha said through a throat clogged with tears.

“I hope you really meant it when you said you love me.”

“How can you even ask?” She was indignant.

“That's good, because you're coming home to Alaska with me.”

She shook her head. “I couldn't. No.”

“Yes,” he countered. “I know what you're thinking, but you won't be putting me in danger. I'm taking you
out
of danger. We're going to be airlifted out of here as soon as we get clearance from your doctor.”

“But—”

“No buts. Your father and his team of safety personnel have approved the plan. The watch he gave you has a GPS beacon that can be found by satellite. So he can keep his eye on you and know you're safe.”

Tasha groped for her wrist, which was bare, as her dad pulled the watch out of his pocket. “They had to take it off of you for surgery, Tasha. But now I'm going to put it on you for good. Okay?”

She smiled through the tears. “Okay.” When he clasped it in place, the distance between her and her parents didn't seem so bad. “Thank you again for the gift.”

“C.J.'s going to take good care of you. He has paramedic training and knows the perfect hiding spot for you up in the mountains.”

“My family is ecstatic about meeting you.” He bent down to kiss her cheek. “Jake has found the perfect place to hide us. He'll fly us up and make sure you're comfortable till this blows over.”

“How did you work all this out so fast?”

George smiled for the first time. “It seems you've finally met your match at figuring out loopholes in hours. Not to mention that he's madly in love with you.” Her father winked at C.J.

“But what about work, C.J.? How can you take so much time off?”

He reached up and brushed a strand of hair off her face. “I asked for some personal leave. Considering I broke protocol by rushing into a building by myself, let's say the station was sad to see me go but thought it would be a good chance for my bosses to cool off.”

“But you're a hero, C.J.” George looked perplexed.

“I know, and that's why they can't get too mad. And paid personal leave fits into my schedule perfectly.”

George looked angry. “I'll have a talk with the commissioner for you.”

C.J. shook his head. “Don't worry. It's all taken care of. If I need your help I'll ask.”

He turned and winked at Tasha. “This isn't how I planned it, but I want to do something before we leave.”

With C.J. she never knew what to expect. “Do what?”

“Natasha Bennington, will you marry me?” He pulled out a little black box and handed it to her.

She took the box, noting her parents' smiling faces. There was no question he'd talked to them about this. Tasha opened the lid, to discover an exquisite princess-cut diamond solitaire set in platinum. She was hit by a tumult of emotion, unable to breathe.

“I bought the diamond after I planned the party,” C.J. said. “I'd wanted to ask you to marry me this weekend in a more romantic setting. But I can't take you away from your parents unless they know how serious I am about protecting you.”

“The ring's perfect, C.J.”

“That's what I thought when I saw it. A princess diamond for a princess. Will you marry me?” He seemed a little unsure of her answer.

Tasha handed him the ring so he could slide it on her
finger. He'd even gotten the size right. The love she felt in that room was almost more than she knew how deal with. She smiled up at him, filled with joy. “I would love to marry you.”

She turned to look at her parents and showed them the ring. Her hand was trembling, just like her body. “Mom…I'm getting married.”

“I know, darling, and you couldn't have found a finer man.” Her mother reached over and hugged her so hard it almost hurt. Tasha glanced at her father, who was shaking C.J.'s hand.

“Welcome to the family, son. I know you will take care of our daughter.”

“I will. Thank you for giving me your permission.”

Genevieve didn't let go of Tasha. Instead, she reached for C.J. and the three embraced in a real family hug.

“Hmm. Sorry to interrupt.” They all looked over and saw an older doctor standing at the foot of the bed. “The airlift is ready to take the patient and Captain Powell to the airport.”

Genevieve gave Tasha one more hug before the paramedics entered the room, and then her dad did, whispering, “Don't forget we'll be watching.”

Tasha looked at her parents one last time as she was rushed out of the room. “I love you,” she called back.

Jarring up and down movements brought Tasha out of a fitful sleep.

“We're almost there.”

She opened her eyes when she heard C.J.'s voice. It took her a second to focus when she peered out the window of her parents' private jet into the clouds. The melancholy sky fit the mood she'd been in since they'd left San Francisco.

Fear still clutched her because she'd placed C.J. in danger. The menace they faced from Mendez put her new fiancé's family and friends in peril, too. But in her present condition, she was hardly in a position to be anything but grateful.

How could she be anything else? She'd finally gained the attention from her parents she'd so desperately wanted. And of course there was C.J., the man she loved, the man she was going to marry. She would never forget he'd risked everything to save her life after that bomb blast.

“How do you know where we are when you can't see anything?” Tasha murmured.

He chuckled. “The attendant just told me.”

“How much longer before we land?” The ache in her foot was becoming unbearable.

“Is the pain in your ankle bad?”

“How did you know?”

“Because you're about to rip the sides of the seat apart.” He reached into the case he kept by him and injected a dose of medication into her IV bag, hanging from one of the overhead bins. What a blessing C.J. was a trained medic!

As the painkiller began to kick in, Tasha was grateful her parents had offered their private plane. She and C.J. had been able to skip the lines of passengers at the airport.

Funny to think that for years she'd fought against accepting the luxuries her parents could provide. Now it was because of their assets and wealth that she'd been protected all this time.

She heard the captain say over the intercom, “We are about to make our final descent into Ketchikan, Alaska. Flight attendants prepare the cabin for final landing check.”

The Fasten Seat Belts sign flashed on.

They were losing altitude now and she could read the excitement on C.J.'s face.

“Can you see the ground yet?” She couldn't wait to get a glimpse of the land that had formed C.J. Moments later they broke through the clouds. “Wow! I didn't realize the airport wasn't on the mainland.”

“No, it's on Gravina Island. It was a huge project to clear it. Most passengers have to take a ferry over to Ketchikan, but Jake and Cole will be waiting for us after we land and will fly us to Craig.”

“Cole?” She hadn't heard the name before.

“Dr. Stevens. He's a good friend.”

Another person he hadn't mentioned. C.J. was coming back to a world of people she knew nothing about. “How long is the flight to your home on Prince of Wales Island?”

“Around forty-five minutes.” C.J. acted and looked different today. More carefree, more relaxed. It helped soothe Tasha's nerves.

“I think Doc Stevens will want to check you out first before we get on his float plane. Then again, Jake might insist on flying us.”

“Wait.” She eyed him curiously. “
Both
of them have planes?”

He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “This is Alaska. My brother is chief ranger for his station over in Craig. He runs multiple research projects on fish in the Tongass National Park up here. He has to fly or he would be stuck.”

“And what about Cole, or Doc, or whatever you call him?”

“He's a bush doctor and head of the E.R. at the hospital in Ketchikan. Except instead of using an ambulance, he flies all over the park to save people and get them back to the hospital.”

“What a different world! Why did you come to San Francisco for excitement when it sounds like it's all up here?”

“That's a good question. But when you're eighteen, this place can seem pretty small.”

“I'm glad you came.” Tasha's voice turned soft and
she rested her head next to C.J.'s, twining her fingers through his. “I love you.”

“And I love you.” He kissed her hair.

Tasha watched as they came in for a landing, marveling at the rugged beauty of the land. C.J. had warned her it would be gray and rainy, which was no different from San Francisco weather.

But the mountains here held her spellbound. The thick forest looked ethereal against the steel-blue ocean. As they taxied to a private runway, the town of Ketchikan visible in the distance, she thought that pictures could never do justice to the majesty of this land. It truly was the last frontier.

No wonder C.J. always talked of his home as heaven on earth. Nothing could match the sheer grandeur of what she'd seen so far, just out the window of a plane! Odd how he'd never spoken about wanting to come back here to live.

“It's beautiful, C.J.”

“This is nothing,” he murmured. “Wait till you see where we're going tomorrow.”

“Shouldn't we just go there now? I'm so worried about involving your family in something this potentially dangerous.” She couldn't keep the tremor from her voice, or squelch her fear.

“Sweetheart, we're far from danger. My family would never forgive me if I didn't bring you home. Especially when I promised them I would.”

“But, C.J.—”

“The federal agents have approved my plan.” He winked. “You've got to trust me. They said it would be safe because we aren't using any transportation that can
be easily traced. Just one night with my family, Tasha. Then we're flying out to where no one can find us.”

The jet pulled into a private hangar and came to a stop where two men were waiting. One looked identical to C.J., but she could tell them apart immediately.

Not just because his twin wore a ranger uniform, but because there was something different about their facial expressions that she couldn't put her finger on. Maybe C.J. still carried evidence of his sorrow at the loss of his best friend. She remembered meeting Jake at Tim's funeral for a brief moment. She'd been touched by the way he'd comforted C.J. The two had seemed to share a strong brotherly love.

A handsome, blond-haired man stood next to Jake. “Is that Dr. Stevens?” she asked.

“Yes.” C.J. stared hard at her. “Interested?”

“Of course not. Just curious. He doesn't look like most doctors I've known, that's all.” The guy was every bit as tall and brawny as C.J. Daphne would adore him. Once Mendez was apprehended, Tasha would have to introduce her paralegal to him.

“He's a pretty boy who's crazier than Tim and I put together,” C.J. said. If she didn't know better, she would think C.J. was jealous. How funny. She'd never seen him act this way before.

She elbowed him. “Well, you know I hate pretty boys.”

“Just remember you're engaged to one.” His possessive tone was hilarious.

Tasha hugged his arm. “More than that, I
love
one.”

For that he gave her a passionate kiss on the mouth.

Soon the plane door was opened and the clean smell
of pine and earth filled the cabin. It was just the way C.J. had described when they'd been down at the harbor a few weeks ago.

Jake came on board first, looking as if he'd just climbed out of a bog. Tasha saw clumps of dirt he left on the floor of the plane.

C.J. jumped up to hug him before he realized the same thing. “Jacob? Don't you ever carry a clean change of clothes? Come on. At least some boots, for heaven's sake. This is a private jet.”

His brother's eyes, the same brilliant blue as C.J.'s, lit up in mirth. “You forget this is the rainy season, Jeremiah. This
is
my clean pair. Now let's see the lady who's caught my little brother's heart.”

“Little brother by sixty seconds,” C.J. scoffed.

Cole was behind Jake. “Come on, my friend. You don't walk onto someone's private jet in dirty boots!”

“Shut it, Cole.” Jake sounded surly, but his eyes didn't reflect it.

Cole smiled and turned his attention to Tasha. “How are you feeling? I heard you've had quite the scare.”

If she wasn't hopelessly in love with C.J., she'd easily see how a woman could fall for this guy.

C.J.'s arm crept around her. “Enough with the charm, Stevens. I just gave her a dose of morphine.”

“Come on, Christopher,” Jake said.

So that's what the C stands for,
Tasha thought.

“Let Cole check her vital signs so we can fly her home,” Jake continued. “I want you to meet my little girl, Christina. She's three months old now and beautiful, just like her mother. Not to mention that Mom and Dad can't wait to meet Natasha.”

“Are Nels and Marta coming over?” C.J. asked while Cole produced a stethoscope and started his ministrations.

“You think they'd miss a party like this?”

“Good. I want them to meet my fiancée.”

Tasha watched Jake grab C.J. in a bear hug. “Congratulations, bro.”

“Thank you, but I wish you'd let go. I don't want to smell like whatever weir you were climbing into today.” Tasha thought the smile on C.J.'s face had to be wider than the Golden Gate Bridge. He was thrilled to be home.

Cole slapped C.J. on the back. “Well, congratulations, my friend. Your fiancée seems to be doing fine. Let's get her to your parents' place and settled.”

Doc Stevens turned to Tasha and got down on his haunches. “Are you sure it isn't shock that has scared you into marrying C.J.? If you find—”

“I beg your pardon,” she interrupted him, smiling.

C.J. went over, grabbed his friend in a headlock and started knuckling his skull. “Were you just coming on to my woman?”

Cole fought back. “Absolutely! It's not every day I have a patient this beautiful fly up to Alaska wanting to marry a Powell. I've got to make sure she isn't still in a daze.”

C.J. let him go and studied him. “So
that's
what you're doing,” he said as he adjusted his fitted gray wool sweater and faded jeans.

Cole grinned as if he'd won the match. “Seeing you like this has me thinking Jake was right all those years about Beastly.”

“Not anymore,” Jake chimed in. “She's already spoken for.”

Now all the men were laughing. Tasha didn't get the joke. “What's so funny? Who's Beastly?”

C.J. came and sat by her, kissing her forehead. “Beastly is Jake's dog and was the love of his life till Sammi came along.”

“So then who has spoken for Beastly?” Tasha was totally confused.

Jake beamed. “My daughter. Beastly has now become the official nanny. Once that dog knows you're a friend, you'll be able to hold Christina. Until then, she won't let you near her.”

“So why would Cole want a dog?”

The men were trying very hard not to laugh, but Jake's shoulders were shaking. Cole looked off in another direction while C.J. stared at the ceiling.

“What?” Tasha said.

Laughter exploded again from all three of them. The uncontrollable kind.

“I have a cat.” She spoke to anyone listening, hoping to get their attention. “She's amazing, too. She survived when my condo burned down.”

C.J. reined himself in, but the other two still had tears coming out of their eyes. “Why don't you guys fire up the plane and I'll wheel her over once we've unloaded.”

Jake and Cole got out of the jet, and the two of them could still be heard all the way down the runway.

“Why are they laughing so much?” Tasha asked.

C.J.'s eyes shone. “Because they like you. And they love to give me a hard time.”

“I don't understand. Why would they want to do that,
when you said your family loved you? Are your feelings hurt?”

“I'm touched by your concern, sweetheart, but you've got a lot to learn about men and how they joke around. You know—it's like how the guys and I tease each other at the station.”

“Oh.” She thought about it. “Yeah.”

“Tasha, real brothers are just like the guys at work. We love to joke and wrestle and tease each other all the time. It's what guys do. Don't worry. It's just something you'll have to get used to.” He reached out and caressed her cheek.

“Seriously? Boys really never grow up, then.”

He flashed her an ironic smile. “Well, not when we first see each other.” C.J. got their stuff collected. “Now all I need is for you to put your arm around me and I'll get you to the car. We'll drive to the plane.”

Tasha didn't need a reason to hold on to her fiancé. She noticed the extra care he took in picking her up, cast and all. C.J. could be so tender. The more time she spent with him, the more he gave, and the more she understood all the facets of life she'd missed out on, being an only child.

He knew how to love completely.

 

C.J.
STARED AT THE WOMAN
he loved sleeping on the gurney in the prop plane. He pushed a stray strand of hair off her cheek. “Thanks for the sedative, Cole. Sleep is what she needs, but are you sure she'll be wide awake and coherent for the party?”

Jake grinned. “With those comments about her cat,
everyone will think she's crazy, anyway, Jeremiah, so I don't really see the difference.”

“When we get off this plane, you're going to pay for that remark, Smokey. You have no idea the hell she's been through in the last twenty-four hours.” C.J. was still haunted by her close brush with death.

“Sounds like you might need a sedative yourself,” Cole interjected.

“No. I've got to be on my guard at all times.” He turned to his brother. “I can't thank you enough for taking me and Tasha in.”

“Um, that's going to be a problem. Dad and Mom don't care about the risks. They had a fit when they found out you were going to stay with me and Sammi and not them. I'm afraid we had to do some rearranging.”

“Like what? Come on, Jake. I was adamant that if I was going to bring risk to the family, we were only going to stay one night at your house. You said you'd stay with Sammi's grandparents. Why is that a problem?”