Page 12 of SEAL's Patience
“Don’t let go of my hand. I don’t want you to fall and get hurt, little girl,” Quinn said in his commanding voice.
When he used that tone, it sent shivers of arousal straight to her core.Damn. This was the not time or the place. She needed to focus on helping the woman. Getting turned on was not on the agenda.
“I’m not a little girl,” she muttered, not sure he could hear her.
His grunt in response told her he had.
She needed to get her head on straight. Patience had assisted her parents with births a few times, but this would be her first alone and in adverse conditions. “Did she give you her name? Do you know how far apart her contractions are?” she asked as she followed him toward the car.
The ground was uneven and littered with fallen branches, making it hard to keep her balance. Holding onto Quinn’s hand was the only thing keeping her from landing on her ass.
“Felicity.”
“That’s her name?” It was unusual, but so was hers.
“Yeah, that’s all she gave me when I asked. I didn’t want to press her for more. She’s scared and in shock. I figured once the paramedics got here, they’d get the information she needed.”
“Right.” Patience prayed it would be soon. Delivering a baby in the middle of a blizzard was not on her bingo card for this year. As they reached the wrecked car, she sucked in a breath.Seeing the sedan wedged between two pine trees, with the hood crumpled, and the windshield a spiderweb of cracks, it was a wonder Felicity was even alive, let alone coherent enough to talk at all.
Patience appreciated Quinn’s warm hand holding her steady as she reached the driver’s door. Knocking gently on the window, afraid to do anything to shatter the windshield, she hoped she didn’t startle the woman inside. It was impossible to see her through the condensation-covered glass, but she didn’t want to yank the door open and let in all the frosty air if she could avoid it. They needed to know her status. Patience worried that the woman’s condition had worsened after Quinn came for her.
After a muffled shriek, they watched as Felicity wiped the steam from the window with her coat sleeve. Her relief at seeing Quinn standing with Patience was palpable. Quinn’s grip on her hand eased, and a huffed breath let her know he’d been worried about Felicity, too.
“The door is off kilter. She won’t be able to open it. I had to shove it closed when I came to get you. You steady?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
Quinn moved her toward the rear of the vehicle and made sure her footing was steady before releasing her. “Stay here. I can’t guarantee the car won’t shift when I pull on the door. I don’t want you in its path. Okay?”
Patience nodded. “Just get the door open.”
Quinn met her eyes and, after finding what he was looking for, he stepped closer to the sedan. Reaching for the door handle with one hand, he braced his other on the top of the car. With a small grunt, he wrenched it open. The car shuddered but didn’t move, and Patience let out the breath she’d been holding.
Quinn leaned into the car, but she couldn’t hear what he said to Felicity. Then he turned toward her and reached out a hand.
Grasping it, she let him pull her over the uneven, snow-covered ground.
Patience got her first good look at the woman. Even with a bruise forming on her forehead and tear-tracks on her cheeks, she was beautiful. Quinn moved to the side so Patience could lean closer.
“Hi, I’m Patience. How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay—I think. But the baby…”
“Quinn told me you’re in labor. How close are the contractions? Have you been able to track them?” Patience felt stupid asking, but if there was even a slight chance, the woman knew it would be helpful.
“Every two minutes now.” Felicity gestured to her smart watch on her wrist. “I’ve been checking it.”
“Good. Did you water break before you left home?” Patience needed as much information as possible. From the sound of things, it looked like they were going to be welcoming the baby soon.
“Yes, that’s when I figured I needed to go to the hospital.” Felicity moaned and clutched her stomach. “Oh my God,” she cried. “They lied in Lamaze class. This hurts like a motherfucker.”
Patience tried to hide her grin. “It does. Try to breathe through it. Inhale…hold it…exhale. Good.”
“That was the worst one yet.” Tears rolled down her flushed cheeks. “I don’t want to have my baby here.”
Patience didn’t want that either, but she wasn’t sure there’d be a choice if the ambulance crew didn’t show up in the next few minutes.
“I know. I wouldn’t either, but it’ll be okay. Do you have any extra blanket in the car? Or your suitcase?”
