Off The Clock Read Online Free PDF Page B

She bent to pick up her shoes again and brushed past him.
    “Cara.” Austin caught her wrist. “Let me help you.” Tenderly, he lifted her chin and planted a soft kiss on her lips. “Please.”
    She crumpled against him, giving in to the offer of brief comfort. She felt his arms encircle her, holding her close. Cara wiped her eyes and raised her head. Austin’s dark eyes met hers as he brushed the lingering tears from her cheeks. She took a deep breath and pulled away. “H-how do we do this?”
    “Easy. I have my driver for the night.” Austin took her hand and led her to the foyer, stopping to leave a message for Roxie with the coat-check girls. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Six
    Cara burst through the emergency room doors, followed by Austin. She rushed to the admissions desk and gave her name. The young nurse nodded and buzzed the door, motioning for her to go on through.
    “The doctors are still working on her,” the nurse warned as she led the way to the curtained area.
    “What about the nurse who was with her?” Cara stopped abruptly at the sight of Doreen’s black eye and split lip. “Oh my God…what happened?”
    “Your brother arrived and attacked your mom. When I pulled him off of her, he punched me and threw me against the dresser.” Doreen flinched as the nurse adjusted the dressing over her forehead. “Someone must have bailed him out. You said he was still in jail.”
    Behind Cara, Austin cleared his throat. “I’ll go call Grant and let him know.”
    “No,” Cara turned and placed a hand on his arm. “He’s having a good time at the dance. This will wait until morning.” She faced Doreen again, and felt Austin’s fingers entwine hers. “Where’s Mama?”
    “In the next cubicle.” The nurse ushered them to the next curtained area and paused. “As I said, the doctors are still working on her.”
    “Have the police been called?” Cara leaned against Austin.
    The nurse nodded. “They’re already here.” She pushed the curtain aside and poked her head in. “The daughter is here, okay? Cara, the police want to talk to you first. Come with me.” The curtain fell closed and Cara gasped in shock.
    “Can’t I see her yet?” She gripped Austin’s hand tight.
    “You will in a few minutes,” the nurse reassured her.
    “Sweetheart, let the doctors finish with her first. I’ll go with you,” Austin murmured in her ear.
    She raised moist eyes to his and whispered, “Thank you.” Skirts rustling, she moved around Doreen’s cubicle to take the seat the nurse indicated.
    Austin let go of her hand and located another chair for himself. Cara jiggled her foot impatiently and felt a jolt when Austin placed a hand on her satin-clad knee to calm it.
    “Relax. I’m here to help you. I’m sure everything will be okay.”
    “Okay? How can you say that? My brother assaulted our mother!”
    The police arrived. Cara answered their questions to the best of her ability and Doreen provided more information. Austin excused himself to get some coffee. When he returned, Cara was at her mother’s bedside, trying to blink back tears as she spoke to the traumatized woman.
    “Austin, I am so sorry to drag you into this.” She released her mother’s hand and stood up to walk towards him. “Her nose is broken, along with two of her ribs and her jaw. Her jaw! How could my brother do this?” The unshed tears spilled over her lashes.
    Austin set the coffee on the table and gathered her against his chest. “I don’t know.” She welcomed his comfort as her sobs subsided. “Are they going to admit her?”
    “Yes. I really need to go home and get some shoes that don’t make my feet hurt. And I felt so happy tonight…” her voice trailed off as she recalled what had been happening when the call came in.
    “You’ve had a shock, sweetheart. And you look beautiful. As soon as they get her settled, I’ll take you home so you can get some rest.”
    “I need to go back and get my car, so I can take