Synergy: New Adult Romantic Suspense (U-District, #1) (5 page)

He pulled her close. “Marge!” He prayed she’d returned to her desk.

Marge ran in and took one look at him on the floor with Jade in his arms. “Oh dear, what’s wrong?”

“She passed out.”

Marge knelt down and felt for a pulse in Jade’s neck, then checked her forehead with the back of her hand. “I’ll call an ambulance.”

VOICES DISORIENTED JADE
and a cold sensation on her forehead made her stir.
Where am I?
She forced her eyes open despite her spinning head. The last thing she expected to see was Bryce holding her in his arms. She closed her eyes.
Another fantasy, it’s okay. It’s warm and safe here and… queasy.

“Jade.” Bryce shook her.

Her eyes fluttered open and her stomach rolled.

“I thought you’d passed out again.” Concern etched the corners of his eyes and his lips were so close. If only he’d bring them closer. “Are you all right?”

All right?
Jade pulled herself from the fog. She blinked.
Why am I on the floor?
She tried to pull away.

“Take it easy, dear,” Marge said. “You don’t want to get up yet.”

“What happened?”

“You fainted. Here, try to take a sip of this soda.”

Jade pushed the can away as Marge put it to her lips.

“When was the last time you ate anything?” Bryce’s voice took on an edge of irritation she didn’t understand. Why would he be upset with her?

Nausea threatened to erupt at the mention of food. “I’m not hungry.”

“It’s okay,” Marge said. “The ambulance is on the way. They’ll know what to do.”

“Ambulance?” Jade shook her head and spread her arms, seeking something to pull herself up with. “No, I can’t be seen like this, it would—”

“Not look good.” Bryce put the soda can to her lips. “We’ll call them off if you drink this and let me take you to the hospital.”

“Yes.” Jade took a sip and her panic started to subside. She couldn’t let her employees see her like this. What would they think?

“Get the elevator ready, Marge.” Bryce pulled Jade up with him when he stood and kept a firm grip around her waist.

He got her into the elevator and punched the button for the lobby. Jade had never felt so tired. She numbly watched the floors pass by, waited while people got on and off. They’d nearly reached the first floor when her head started to spin again.

Bryce steadied her as they walked to the parking garage elevator. She leaned into his strong body, her knees threatening to buckle from under her. “Don’t let go,” she whispered.

He pulled her into his arms. “I’ve got you.”

Those three words she’d longed to hear… faded into darkness.

BRYCE SHOOK JADE
… no response. His chest constricted as if a linebacker had sacked him. In the last moments before she’d passed out again, the color she’d gained from her embarrassment vanished. The vulnerability reflected in her eyes gave him an overwhelming need to protect her. That instinct came on so sudden and so strong it scared the crap out of him.

I should have let the ambulance take her.

He needed to hurry. By the time he got Jade belted into his passenger seat, she was out cold. Bryce ran around the car, jumped in, threw the car into first gear, and took off. He screeched out of the parking garage, barely missing a truck turning too wide into the garage entrance.

Idiot.

He headed northwest along Third Avenue, weaving through traffic, before turning right onto Pike Street. Pike was backed up from traffic heading under the I-5 freeway. He made it to the light just as it turned red.

Dammit.

Jade was still out. When the light changed, he stomped on the gas. The car lurched forward to catch up to the traffic in front of him. He banked hard right onto Broadway, relieved to see Swedish Hospital dead ahead.

“Jade, we’re here.” Bryce pulled in front of the ER. He shook her arm. “Jade?” Her face was still void of color, and her hand was icy. He felt for her pulse, and his heart stuttered. He couldn’t find one.

Bryce jumped out of the car and ran to the passenger door. Swiftly, he pulled her out of the front seat and into his arms. “I need help,” he shouted and charged into the ER.

A nurse ran to his side with a gurney.

“She passed out. She won’t wake up.” He laid her down gently.

“We’ll take care of her. Please stop at the front desk.” The nurse rushed Jade through two swinging doors.

She has to be okay. She has to be.

Bryce wiped sweat from his brow. As he approached the front desk, his heart was beating faster than a racehorse’s on its final lap. He explained the situation, then sat down to fill out the paperwork he was given.

He stared at the form, his eyes bouncing all over the page. He couldn’t do this. He’d known Jade a long time, but he knew little that was pertinent to the situation, not even her address. He called Marge, who proved to be quite helpful, and gripped the pen tight while he filled out what he could.

When he finished, he stared at the colorful fish in the tank next to him and rested his head against the wall.
Gloria will haunt me for eternity if anything happens to Jade.
He closed his eyes and tried to relax as his heart slowed.

“Bryce, how is she?”

He recognized Bill’s voice immediately. Marge must have called Jade’s parents as soon as he left for the hospital. Bryce stood to meet Jade’s father. “I haven’t heard anything from the doctor yet. She was unconscious when I brought her in. It looks like she hasn’t been eating.”

“I should have been paying attention,” Grace said to her husband, who squeezed her hand.

Now that her hair was graying, Grace looked so much like Gloria. She was petite and elegant, with slender hands, high cheekbones, and stunning green eyes. Jade was a reflection of her mother, with the exception of her dark brown hair and unnatural red tips.

“Gloria shouldn’t have put Jade in this position so early after her death.” Bryce gritted his teeth, regretting the outburst.

Grace’s eyes were filled with concern. “We pleaded with Mom to change her mind about making her CEO right away. She knew Jade wouldn’t accept the position if too much time went by.”

“That’s Gloria for you.” Bryce nodded. “Nothing we can do about it now, other than make sure Jade takes care of herself.”

Bill extended his hand. “We’d appreciate it if you’d keep an eye on her at the office.”

“Of course.” Bryce shook his hand.

Great. Now I’m really locked in as Jade’s babysitter.

Guilt punched him below the ribs as if Kenzie were there to do it for him. How could he be thinking such a thing when Jade’s fragile body had just been lying in his arms? She needed someone to look out for her, someone to care for her. She needed someone who cared, period. She needed someone like… him.

What the hell? Where was
that
coming from?

It was the same need he’d felt earlier, that need to protect her. He didn’t like it, not one bit. Yet… it was still there. Why?

Jade mattered for some reason. Maybe it was just that he needed to protect his investment. Synergy Technologies was everything to him.

Yeah, that made a whole lot more sense than some deep primal need to protect her.

ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH.
Jade wished her parents would stop hovering. It wasn’t like she had brain cancer or anything. In fact, the doctor had said her CBC was normal, whatever that was. Other than severe dehydration and low blood sugar, she was fine.

After taking two days off work, Jade returned on Wednesday. Somehow, she’d avoided Bryce all morning. How could she face him after he’d carried her out of the office in his arms—strong muscular arms with biceps to die for? And his chest, she’d actually laid her cheek against his hard, sculpted chest.

Reality was much more potent than her fantasies when it came to Bryce. But he was not someone she should be thinking about right now—or ever. He was her employee.

Although she wasn’t hungry, it was noon already, and she had to take her doctor’s orders seriously so she wouldn’t end up back in the hospital. She finished her Gatorade, closed the contract, and headed out to lunch. There was a McDonalds two blocks south of the building.

I think I can stomach a vanilla shake and fries. Probably not what the doc had in mind when he prescribed high-caloric foods.

The last time she’d eaten at a McDonalds was with Dad after ballet class when she was eleven. Mom would not have approved. The first thing Jade noticed when she walked through the door were numerous eyes focused on her. Some she recognized from work.

Her stomach growled from the smell of fries permeating the restaurant. After getting her order, she found a table in the back corner, away from staring eyes. It didn’t surprise her when Roz, the receptionist and company snoop, sat down without an invitation. Jade had watched her for many years. At first, she’d found Roz’s social skills irritating. But her grandmother had made her realize that Roz paid attention and had a lot of useful information—not bad for someone only a few years older than she was.

“Can’t eat, huh?” Roz popped a fry into her mouth.

Jade continued to suck on her straw. The thick, creamy vanilla shake soothed her stomach.

“Must be tough for you. I know you and your Gran were close.” Roz bit into another fry and continued to talk with her mouth full. “You gotta eat though, or you’ll fall ova. You lost a lotta weight. I mean, your clothes normally fit perfect. I always admired the way you dress. But now, well, you look kinda awful.”

“Thanks.” Jade couldn’t help but smile. Roz just said it like it was, and you had to respect someone like that.

“No one knows where you were though. Bryce and Marge have kept it on the QT.”

“Then how do you know?”

“Oh, me? I just put things together, you know. How you and Bryce left early on Friday, how Marge wouldn’t tell nobody where you were…” Roz put three fries into her mouth and continued talking. “How you looked better today than you did last week. I’m guessing you went to the hospital and they fixed you up.” She sipped her soda. “You did a pretty good job hiding it. Don’t think most people noticed. You were locked up in your office most of the time.” Roz shrugged. “Anyway, most people think Bryce runs things, and you just sit in your office and look pretty.”

“Really?” Jade sat up straighter.

“Yup, really.” Roz finished her fries, then un-wrapped her Quarter Pounder with cheese. “So, whatcha gonna do about it?”

“I’ll have to think about that.” Jade put down her shake, surprised by how famished she was. She reached for a fry. The salt on her tongue had her craving another. She popped two in her mouth, savored every bite, and swallowed. “First thing I think I’ll do is offer you a new job.” It would be better to have Roz finding out information and giving it to her, rather than being the topic of the gossip.

“Oh, yeah, doin’ what?”

“I’d like you to be my personal assistant.”

“You mean like sit at a desk outside your office and do stuff for you?” Roz bit off a piece of cheese hanging from the side of her burger.

“Yes, and stay on top of what’s going on and keep me informed.” Jade put another two fries in her mouth. Her appetite was increasing.

“Well, the pay attention part I’m good at. The other stuff? I dunno.”

“You’ll learn. My grandmother said you’re a fast learner.”

“She did? She said that about me?”

“There’s one catch though.” Jade’s voice became serious.

“Yeah, what’s that?”

“You’ll hear a lot sitting outside my office. You work for me, and you report to me. You do not, under any circumstances, relay any information you find out about me or what happens around me to anyone. Is that acceptable?”
Crap, I sound like Gran.

Roz bit off another hunk of her burger, responding with a sloppy salute. “Aye, aye, cap-i-tan.”

“Good. You can move your stuff into the desk outside my office after lunch. I’ll let Marge know.” Jade stood to leave. She’d just made her first decision. She didn’t care if Gran would approve. Okay she cared, but that was beside the point.