Slope of Love (Love in Bloom: The Remingtons) (26 page)

“I don’t think you have to worry about it. We all know that a woman would have to barge into your office and pry your fingers from your keyboard to get your attention.”

Kurt peered around Rush. “Looks like someone’s in trouble.”

The emergency medical team’s snowmobiles were speeding toward the slope where Jayla was skiing. An icy chill ran down Rush’s back.

“You have your phone? Gimme your phone. Fast. Hurry up.” He was already moving toward the slope.

Kurt thrust his cell into Rush’s hand. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know, but that’s where Jayla is and I have a bad feeling.” Rush called Chad.
Answer the phone
.
Come on. Answer your goddamn ph—
“Chad. What’s happening? Is it Jayla?”

“Rush? Yes. Someone clipped her, knocked her into the woods. She circumvented the trees but flipped when she hit the brush.”

No. God no.
“Blood?”

“Clipped her head on something, but not bad. They’ve got her on a stretcher. Nothing broken, but we can’t tell exactly what’s going on with her shoulder and arm. You’ve got to get over to your competition.” It was a command—one that Rush was not going to follow. “I’ll call as soon as I know what’s what.”

He handed Kurt the phone. They reached the base of the slope just as the rescue team brought Jayla down the mountain. He broke out in a cold sweat at the sight of her lying still, wrapped in the stretcher. Press swarmed around them.

“Jayla!” He pushed past the cameramen and reporters and was relieved to see anger instead of pain in her eyes.

“Some bastard clipped me. I was taking it easy.” She said through clenched teeth.

“Babe. Your shoulder? What else?”

The paramedic answered as they hurried toward the parking lot. “Shoulder, arm, neck. No breaks that we can detect. Shallow breathing, probably from pain. We have to get her to the hospital.”

Jace kept pace on Jayla’s other side. Chad moved to clear the press from coming too close.

“I’m coming with you,” Rush said.

“Rush, I’ve got this,” Chad said.

Jayla narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you dare leave this competition. Stop, please,” she said to the paramedics.

“I’m not letting you go alone.”

“I’ve got Jace, and I’m fine. Go. Win your race for us.” She was so damned stubborn, it tore at his heart.

“I’ll go with her,” Kurt said from behind him.

He’d nearly forgotten his brother was there. “Thanks, Kurt, but I’m going, too. Jayla.”

She shook her head.

Chad stepped to the side and made a call. Within seconds, a host of volunteers for the race were managing the encroaching crowd and giving the paramedics and Rush and Jayla a wide berth.

“Rush, you’ve got a competition in twenty minutes,” Chad reminded him.

“I know that.” Freed from his skis, he grabbed one of the paramedic’s arms. “Give us a sec?”

Jace and Kurt stepped between the paramedics and Jayla.

“One to ten?” Rush demanded.

She gritted her teeth.

“Fifteen. Got it.” Rush swore under his breath. “I’d like to kill that asshole.”

“Focus, Rush. It’s my shoulder. I’m sure that’s all it is. I’m fine.”

“You’re not
fine
, Jayla, and I’m not leaving your side. I don’t give a rat’s ass about this race.”

“Shut up and listen to me. I’m injured. You’re not. The team is counting on you. I’m counting on you. Now, get Jace to take our picture so we have something good from this crazy day, and then get your butt up that mountain and win. For me. And if you argue, I’ll climb out of this stupid thing and get back on my skis. You know I will.” She kept her eyes trained on him. “Jace, can you take our picture?”

Jace stepped forward. “Your picture?”

“It’s our thing,” Jayla explained.

“Damn it, Jayla.”

“You two are definitely made for each other.” Jace took out his cell phone, and Rush went down on his side in the snow beside Jayla’s stretcher. He pressed his cheek to hers, and Jace snapped a picture.

“Go,” Jayla urged. “I have Kurt and Jace. I’ll be fine, and if you don’t win, there will be hell to pay.”

“You’re going to be the death of me, Jayla Stone. I’m pulling boyfriend rank.”

Jayla clenched her jaw. “If you want to still have boyfriend rank, get out of here and win that race.”

“You’re the most frustrating, stubborn woman I know.” Rush gently cupped her cheek and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I hate you for sending me away.”

“But you love me for so many other reasons.”

Rush shifted his eyes to Jace and Kurt. “Don’t leave her side.”

“Like I need you to tell me that?” Jace crossed his arms over his chest.

“Like ink on paper,” Kurt said with a nod.

Rush looked down at Jayla again. “When this is over and your shoulder is healed, I’m taking you away for a week of nothing but…” He eyed Jace, who shook his head and looked away. Rush lowered his voice. “Us. No competition, no stress, no teammates, no coaches, and no distractions. Just you and me with sand between our toes and a warm bed at night.”

“Win this race or it’ll be a long time before I’m in your bed again.”

“You’re a pain in the ass, but you do know how to motivate me.”

LATER THAT EVENING, after having been put through a battery of tests and discussing her injury with the hospital doctors, surgeons, team doctor, and being lectured by the coach—which was more painful than any of the tests—Jayla was back in her cabin and finally able to relax. The stronger pain meds they’d given her at the hospital had helped, and knowing that Kia had won the race in her place and that Rush had crushed his competition had added some good news to the reality of her injury.

She sat on the couch in front of a roaring fire, with her arm in a sling. To her right was Rush’s sister, Siena, and to her left, Jack’s fiancée, Savannah. Siena’s boyfriend, Cash Ryder, was a tall, muscular firefighter, as handsome as Siena was pretty, and Siena hadn’t taken her eyes off of him all evening. Cash, Jack, Kurt, and Jace stood by the fireplace, talking about the new motorcycle Jace had designed, flexing their all-things-male knowledge. Testosterone brewed in every corner of the cabin. Jayla looked across the room at Rush talking with his mother and father and realized that her worst what-ifs no longer scared her. She thought she’d feel lost, empty, without competitive skiing, but with Rush by her side, she knew that no matter what happened with her career, she’d never feel anything but fulfilled in her heart.

Jayla had spent time with Rush’s family on many occasions, but she’d never before noticed the way Rush drew his shoulders back when he spoke with his father and how his facial expression softened every time he looked at his mother. She knew that James Remington had always been strict, with his military background and belief that hard work was all that mattered, but now she saw something more. Despite his steely gaze and squared shoulders, when Rush spoke, his father really listened, lifting his brows with interest. And sometimes the side of his lips curved up and his face softened in a fashion similar to Rush’s crooked grin, which she loved so much. She wondered if beneath all those sharp edges there was a softer side that even he didn’t know existed.

Like me
.

Rush’s love had peeled away her hard, competitive shell, and she realized that with Rush, she didn’t have to be the strong one, and she liked that. She’d taken care of herself and pushed herself in every way for so many years that she’d almost forgotten how to let herself be cared for. Rush was good at that, caring for her. Rush’s tender heart and fierce determination helped her see herself, and her future, more clearly.

Savannah touched Jayla’s leg, drawing her back to their conversation. “So you definitely need surgery?”

“Yes. When we go back to New York, I’ll have surgery to repair the tear in my labrum, the lining in my shoulder; then, after six weeks, I’ll start rehab.” The injury had seemed like the end of the world at first. But with Rush by her side and a good dose of perspective, she realized that this was just another mountain to scale. And she was good at conquering mountains.

“Will you still be able to compete?” Savannah brushed her long, auburn hair from her shoulder, and her green eyes filled with concern.

“We won’t know for a long time, but she’s not going to push it.” Rush sat on the coffee table in front of Jayla and locked eyes with her. He flashed that sexy grin of his, and Jayla wished she wouldn’t have taken that last stupid run down the mountain so she could wrap her arms around him.

Siena leaned forward. “I know you won’t let her.” Then she sat back and said to Jayla, “Not that you need him holding you back, but he’s right. You really shouldn’t push it.”

Jace came to Jayla’s side. “My little sister needs a reminder sometimes. Trust me on that.”

Jayla rolled her eyes.

“Jayla, honey, I’m just glad you’re all right. I worry about you two every time you compete.” Joanie Remington, Rush’s mother, put a gentle hand on Rush’s shoulder. The colorful blouse she wore hung just below the waist of her wide-legged slacks. She was as laid-back as Mr. Remington was rigid in his dark slacks and starched button-down shirt.

“I can attest to that, having watched some of your competitions on television with her. She covers her eyes sometimes,” Kurt added.

“Really, Mom?” Rush scoffed.

“You wait until you have children of your own. Between worrying about Jack flying all over creation in that little bush plane, you two speeding down the slopes, and now Sage and Kate going off on a different adventure every few weeks, it’s amazing I get any sleep at all.”

“Please don’t mention me and children in the same breath,” Rush said.

You don’t want kids?
She’d never bring it up in front of his family, and they hadn’t ever talked about if they wanted children or not, but his comment made her heart squeeze a little.

“Oh, Rush, please,” his mother said.

He looked at Jayla. “Thanks, Mom. Like she didn’t have enough on her mind.”

She had almost forgotten that he could see right through her.

“Don’t worry, babe,” Rush said. “I want kids. I just don’t want my mother pushing me…us…to have them.”

Us. Kids
. She breathed a little easier, though now, with everyone’s eyes on her, she was thoroughly embarrassed. She tried to laugh it off. “We’re dating, not married.”

Rush got a funny look on his face that Jayla couldn’t read.

“Well, we’ll give you grandkids for sure.” Savannah reached for Jack’s hand.

Cash reached for Siena’s hand. “And we both want kids someday.”

Siena looked up at him and smiled. “And we’re not engaged or anything yet, but we know we’ll be together forever.”

Kurt moved to Jace’s side. “Is it getting a little thick in here?”

“Very. Think you can revise this scene?” Jace looked at the bedroom door. “Maybe wipe the sappy stuff and replace it with something dark and scary?”

Kurt glanced around the room, and Jayla could practically see him revising their conversation in his mind. Rush, on the other hand, still had her locked under a serious stare, and she was beginning to wonder why.

“Hey, no rewriting family moments,” Joanie said.

“Don’t worry, Mom. Nothing in this room feels the least bit dark or scary. I think we’re stuck with the mushy dialogue grooving through the cabin.”

“Well,” his mother said, “I’m so happy Jayla and Rush have come together. I can’t imagine two people being any closer. You two know more about each other than most married couples, and you still love each other. That’s a testament in and of itself.”

Rush reached for Jayla’s hand. “Me too, Mom. In a way, we have Jack to thank.” He looked at Jack, who was leaning on the arm of the couch beside Savannah.

“I’m a miracle worker. What can I say?” Jack teased.

Jayla stifled a yawn. The pain meds were definitely taking their toll. “I’m glad you guys got to see Rush compete. Kurt and Jace, I’m really sorry that you had to spend the day at the hospital with me.”

Jace pulled a piece of paper from his front pocket and waved it at her. “Totally worth it, sis. I have a hot date with a nurse tomorrow night.”

“Blonde?” Kurt asked, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a piece of paper and looked at it. “Christie?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jace said flatly.

“Nope. I couldn’t get a signal on my cell and asked to borrow their phone. When I thanked her, we talked and…” He shrugged. He crumpled the paper and handed it to Jace. “I’ve got a publishing deadline and I’m heading to Cape Cod with absolutely no intention of spending one minute away from my keyboard, so go for it.”

Jace tossed both pieces of paper in the trash. “No, thanks.”

“I can’t believe you guys were scoping out women when I was getting those tests done.” Jayla yawned again. “Anyway, you guys should go out to dinner or something. I feel bad making you all stay in after you’ve come all this way.”

“Family comes first, and you’re family.” Jack turned to Jace. “You, too, Jace, now that my brother finally got his head out of his—”

His father took a step closer to Jack and lowered his chin, cutting him off with one hot look.

“Thanks, Jack. These two were bound to get together at some point,” Jace said.

“Glad you’re so sure, because I thought I was going to have to live with my Rush fantasy forever.”

“Fantasy? Hm. I’ll have to explore that further.” Rush leaned forward and kissed her.

Heat vibrated through her, flushing her cheeks.

“Rush,” his mother chided him with a harsh whisper.

“It was just a kiss.”

“The comment, not the kiss,” she clarified.

“Sorry, Mom.” Rush rose to his feet. “Do you guys want to go eat at a restaurant, or should we order in? I don’t think Jayla should go into town after everything she’s been through.”

“I’m okay,” she lied. It had been a grueling few days, and with the competition no longer hanging over their heads, her injury now professionally diagnosed, and pain meds on board, she was whipped. She couldn’t wait to be wrapped in Rush’s arms again.

“Oh goodness, I didn’t even think about how exhausted you must be, Jayla. I’m sorry, hon,” Joanie said. “James, why don’t we all go eat and let Jayla get some rest? We can catch up with everyone tomorrow.”