Off The Clock (First Responders 1)

“What the hell happened?”

Gabe set his teeth. “Someone hit the shoulder, overcorrected and crossed into her lane. She didn’t stand a chance. She’s lucky she didn’t roll. And guys? It’s Carly Douglas.”

Eric frowned. “Damn, she’s Casey’s teacher this year.”

Gabe paused, feeling a strange lump in his throat. He’d known Carly since elementary school, when he’d become best friends with her brother, Brandon. He’d been at her house as much as his own until things changed in university. In a town this size lots of people were connected to each other. It couldn’t change how they did their jobs.

“She’s scared, so go easy with her. Let’s get her to the hospital and get her OB to meet us there. The baby is our first concern. And we need to watch the head injury. She told me her baby was a boy three times. It could be panic, but she was unconscious when I got to the vehicle.” He looked at them meaningfully. “I don’t want to take any chances.”

“We’ll take it from here, bro,” Mike said, scrambling down the slope to the crumpled car.

The hardest thing Gabe had ever done was let Mike and Eric take over while he stood back. This was his job, but he wasn’t the one on duty right now. He wanted to be there for Carly, but the EMTs needed room to work. He knew that. And touching her very rounded belly, feeling her hand on his wrist…he was too close.

“How’re you doing, Gabe?”

Constable Givens came up beside him. Kendra Givens had only been with this detachment for a year, but already she was a favorite in the community. Five foot eight with an efficient manner and a sense of humor, she tended to put people at ease all while being very effective at her job. “Kendra. You didn’t waste any time.”

“I was at Grand Pré when the call came in. Single vehicle?”

“Hit and run.” He gave her the time, make and partial plate number, always keeping one eye on Eric and Mike, tensing when they put Carly on a stretcher.

“You need anything else?” He forced his gaze back to the constable and she smiled at him.

“No, go. I can tell you want to. I can talk to Carly later. And you too, I suppose. You’re going to the hospital?”

He nodded, off balance by the unusual tightness he felt in his chest. “Friend of the family,” he replied, knowing in his heart Carly was more to him than that. “I don’t want her to go alone.”

It was crazy. She wouldn’t be alone. She had Mike and Eric with her. But it wasn’t the same. Not anywhere near the same. He wouldn’t fail her the way he’d failed Brandon.

“If you give me your keys, I’ll send someone out to bring in your truck.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t.” She raised an eyebrow. “Gift horses, Gabe. We’ll drop your keys at Emerg.”

He handed over the keys to his truck and jogged over to the ambulance, hopping in the back with Mike. Mike never said a word. As they drove off, lights flashing, Gabe reached over and took Carly’s cool hand.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered, and Gabe’s chest cramped. She’d said the same thing years ago, when Billy Rogers had stood her up for prom and she was waiting at home, all alone in her fancy dress. Gabe had put on his graduation suit and taken her instead, thrilled to be able to play her hero for once and terrified of kissing her at the end of the night. In the end she’d been the one to do it, leaning across his seat and pressing her lips to his. Thoughts had raced through his nineteen-year-old brain, and for a minute he’d considered taking it further. But he couldn’t. It was like an unspoken rule—thou shalt not mess around with your best friend’s sister. Brandon would have kicked his butt if he’d known Gabe was making out with his sister.

Brandon wasn’t here now, but if he were he wouldn’t be too happy with Gabe holding Carly’s hand. Gabe couldn’t blame him for those feelings, but they weren’t teenagers anymore and her baby’s father was nowhere to be found.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he answered, squeezing her fingers in his.

Chapter Two

At the hospital Gabe walked alongside the gurney, still holding Carly’s hand. She squeezed his fingers again and he checked his watch. “Six minutes.” She’d begun having contractions during

the drive and Gabe had timed them closely. The obstetrician on call was waiting as well as the doctor on shift. Gabe let Mike give them the rundown. Right now he was focused on Carly. She was pale and she was terrified.

“Breathe,” he murmured, rubbing her hand. “Big long exhale, darlin’. Nothing is happening for a while yet.”

“He’s right,” Dr. Denning spoke reassuringly. “We’re going to examine you first, Ms. Douglas, and put you on a fetal monitor to see what’s happening with your baby. You’re exactly where you need to be.”

“Gabe…” Dr. Denning spoke gently, but he knew what that tone meant. And as much as he wanted to be there for Carly, he wasn’t her husband, or the father of her baby, or even really family, and things were about to get quite personal.

“Don’t go.” Carly’s voice was firm. “Please, Gabe.”

“Carly, they’re going to examine you and…” He felt a blush creep up his neck. A blush, of all things. He’d seen so much more during his years as a paramedic. He’d even delivered a baby in the ambulance once. But it wasn’t the same as knowing it was Carly. And he wasn’t the father of her child. He’d given up that idea years ago.