At least he was upfront and honest.
Jenna closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, trying to still her anxiety.
You can’t lie in bed all day.
No, she couldn’t.
She sat up, wondering what to do with herself. She could go to the gym to burn off some stress, but she couldn’t work out all day. What she needed was a job to keep her busy, some way to contribute without getting in anyone’s way.
She got to her feet and walked into the bathroom to refresh her mascara. She was happy to see that her eyes weren’t as red as they’d been a few moments ago.
BOOM!
Glass exploded around her, the ground shaking beneath her feet, toppling her to the floor. Her head struck the vanity, and for a moment, she laid there, dazed.
A car alarm. Ringing in her ears. Shouts. Splitting pain in her skull.
She opened her eyes, the world spinning around her, and saw blood—herblood. She’d hit her head.
Head wounds bleed.Concussion.
She told herself to get up so that she could get a washcloth to apply direct pressure, but then her eyes closed again and she drifted.
“Jenna!” Derek shouted to someone. “Jenna is injured and unconscious. I’m taking her to the infirmary.”
“I’m not … unconscious. Hit my head … on the counter.”
He scooped her into his arms. “I’ve got you, angel.”
Motion. Lights. Voices.
Jenna found herself lying on a gurney beneath bright exam lights, Derek beside her, her blood on his shirt, his fingers twined with hers. “What … happened?”
A dark-haired man she didn’t know leaned over her, studying her through green eyes, pressing something to her temple. “I’m Sean Sullivan. I’m a medic. It looks like you got a nasty cut on your temple, and some cuts from broken glass, too. I’m going to fix you up. Can you tell me your name?”
“Jenna Marie Hamilton.” God, her head hurt.
“How old are you, Jenna?”
“Thirty.”
Derek grinned. “Just a baby.”
“Do you know who that ugly guy is?” The medic pointed to Derek.
“He’s not ugly. He’s Derek.” It took her a moment to realize he was joking.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“There was a loud boom. Glass went everywhere. The building shook, and I fell and hit my head.” She met Derek’s gaze. “What was it?”
His expression went dark. “Someone set off a car bomb across the street.”
A car bomb?
Jenna thought she might throw up.
15