April swallowed hard, and carefully licked her lips, feeling his gaze follow every slight movement. “What do you want me to be doing tomorrow?” She couldn’t believe how insanely desperate that sounded, but now that the words were out, there was no way to take them back.
“My friends are having a barbeque. Will you come?”
April wasn’t sure if she was ready to meet his friends. That was a big step in a relationship, and she wasn’t even sure what this was between them.
Tanner cocked his head as if reading her mind. “Don’t say we’d be moving too fast. If you have other plans, or would rather do something else, just say that. But don’t warn me about moving too fast.”
“I’d love to come meet your friends,” April said. Theyweremoving too fast, but this wasn’t about them. All she had to do was think of Violet, and the truth was, they weren’t moving fast enough. Meeting his friends would help her see another side of him. And she needed to have all the facts on this man before she entrusted him with her niece. Maybe her plan to stay platonic with this guy had failed, but her first and only priority hadalways been to save Violet from Ned, and April would not fail her niece.
Tanner’s eyes heated as he lowered his head. His mouth barely touched her lips when they were interrupted by a panicked shriek, followed by someone yelling, “Call 9-1-1. Ethan’s been hurt!”
Chapter 9
The man’s voice reached them through the side door that had been left open. “Stay behind me,” Tanner ordered as they rushed back inside to see what was going on. Everyone seemed to be gathered around the backdoor that led out to the alley and dumpsters. But with so many people blocking the way, it was impossible to see anything more than their backs and the tops of their heads.
“Tanner, it’s Ethan,” Margot’s voice cut through the others as she rushed over to them. “I asked him to take out the garbage on his way out, but I forgot to give him the recycle, so I went after him. I was less than a minute behind him, but he was already hurt. Milo is calling for an ambulance, but there’s so much blood.”
April’s heart sank at the woman’s words. She didn’t trust Officer Ethan Sinclair, but she’d never wanted anything bad to happen to him.
“Stay right here,” Tanner ordered her, then pushed his way through the crowd until he reached what must’ve been Ethan lying on the ground near the dumpster. Tanner dropped to his knees, and a tense hush came over the crowd. “Ethan, can you hear me? Everyone take two large steps back,” Tanner ordered the small crowd that had formed around them. “Give me some room.”
As soon as everyone moved, April got a better look at Ethan. His white t-shirt was soaked with blood and there was a pool of it forming on the ground beside him.
April handed her smoothie to Margot and made her way through the crowd. She was no medical professional, but she knew basic first aid, and she wasn’t about to stand on the sidelines when there was a chance she could help Tanner save this man’s life. Sirens sounded in the distance, but Ethan couldn’t wait. She kneeled at Ethan’s other side and looked to Tanner for direction. “What can I do?”
“Looks like he’s been stabbed.” Tanner pulled off his shirt, wadded it up, and pressed it against the gaping wound on Ethan’s side. “Hold this down. Apply pressure to slow the bleeding.”
April swallowed hard at the sight of Tanner’s ripped torso on full display for everyone to see, but she quickly did as she was told. The moment she applied pressure to the wound, Ethan grunted. “I’m sorry. I’m only trying to help. Paramedics are on their way.” She tried to sound reassuring, but he was already so pale. If help didn’t get here soon, it wouldn’t matter what she said. Ethan was going to die.
Then Ethan suddenly went still. Tanner placed his index and middle fingers to his neck, checking for a pulse. “I can’t find a pulse,” Tanner said a moment later. “Keep applying pressure. I need to start CPR.”
April moved her arms slightly to give Tanner better access to Ethan’s chest. Tanner counted the compressions out loud as he did them until paramedics and several police officers arrived a few minutes later. She watched as the paramedics cut off Ethan’s shirt and applied electrodes to his chest. “Clear!” One of them yelled, and Ethan’s body arched off the ground, then fell back. The second paramedic felt the side of his neck. “Got a pulse.” Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief as one of theparamedics cleaned and bandaged his wound, while the second paramedic started an IV.
“Is he going to make it?” April asked no one in particular.
One of the paramedics, the one who’d just finished dressing the wound, turned to look at her. “Your boyfriend probably saved his life by starting CPR, so he’s got a chance. We’ll get him to the hospital. Then it’s out of our hands.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” April said, but quickly wondered if that was the wrong thing to say. She hadn’t forgotten what Tanner had told her in the garden, but still, she didn’t want him to feel pressured. Since he worked in law enforcement, there was a good chance he knew these people or had at least worked with them before. This wasn’t the time or place to make any kind of announcements. When she turned to assess Tanner’s response, he didn’t seem to have one, or maybe he hadn’t heard her over the commotion.
How had everything gone so wrong? She’d just been outside with Tanner, talking about gardening, thinking about Violet planting strawberries. And then there was that kiss. Her body still tingled just thinking about it.
Tanner seemingly materialized at her side then, and she found herself leaning into him. “He’ll pull through. Ethan is a tough guy. He’s survived worse,” Tanner said. “Thanks for your help. Are you okay?”
She met his gaze, worried more about Tanner than herself. “I’m fine.” Her voice was shaky, but she was unharmed. “Who would do that to him?” Even as the question formed on her lips, April realized she likely knew exactly who was behind all this.
“I don’t know,” Tanner said. “But you can be sure I’m going to find out. Right now, I need to get to the hospital. I want to be there when he wakes up. These officers can take everyone’s statements. They know how to get a hold of me if I’m needed.”
“I’ll go with you,” April said without giving it a second thought.
Tanner took her hand in his, and April couldn’t help noticing they both had Ethan’s blood on their hands. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to,” she assured him. “Ethan’s your friend. I want to be there for you. I want to help.” She wasn’t sure exactly how she could help besides telling Tanner the truth about his friend. But she also didn’t want Tanner to be alone right now.
“April,” he sounded like he was about to refuse her, but then nodded. He led her to the restrooms, where she washed her hands, and did her best to clean up and look refreshed. Tanner had also gone to wash and clean up in the men’s room, then met her just outside a few minutes later.
At his vehicle, he reached into his backseat for a gym bag, pulled out a clean shirt, and put it on before opening the passenger door for her.
He patiently helped her inside and waited for her to buckle her seatbelt, then closed her door and rushed around to the driver’s side. Keying the ignition, he fastened his own seatbelt and pulled out of the parking spot. Before she knew it, they were zooming down the road, lights and sirens. It was both exhilarating and a little scary.