Splendor(126)
He’d very nearly given up, the despair he felt sapping the little energy he had left, when he finally spotted her.
She was sitting by herself at a little corner table, her hair wildly tangled and her face streaked with tears and soot. Someone – presumably the Red Cross – had given her one of those ultra-light space blankets, which she was huddling inside of, her body shivering with cold – or more likely fear. Beneath the unsubstantial blanket, she wore only a pair of sleep shorts and a flimsy tank top, and her feet – Jesus – her feet were bare and dirty. She looked so forlorn and terrified that he wanted to weep. Instead, he pushed past all the other people milling aimlessly about until he was kneeling in front of her.
“Thank Christ,” he muttered hoarsely, taking her face between his hands. “God almighty, Tessa, tell me you’re all right.”
She gasped, her hands drifting up to cover his as the ridiculous excuse for a blanket fell away from her body. “Ian. Oh, my, God, how are you here? How did you find me?” Her voice was hoarse, either from crying or smoke inhalation.
He stood and lifted her into his arms, letting the blanket fall to the floor as he cradled her against his chest. “I’ll always find you, my love. Now, let’s get you out of this hell hole and take you home.”
He carried her out of the restaurant while somehow still managing to dig his phone out and pressed the speed dial for Simon’s number. He answered on the first ring.
“I’ve got her, mate. Yes, unharmed so far as I can tell. Meet us on the southwest corner of the block, past the barricades. Be there shortly.”
He stuck the phone back in his pocket and hefted her a bit higher in his arms, scarcely noticing her weight. He would have gladly carried her for miles, crawled through the actual fire, or walked over broken glass, just as long as she was safe.
“Ian,” she murmured huskily. “Put me down. I’m too heavy for you to carry.”
“Hush, darling. It’s no bother at all and you are not walking a step on these filthy sidewalks in bare feet. Ah, there’s Simon.”
Faithful, devoted Simon was standing anxiously by the side of the car as they arrived, holding the back door open.
“Give Miss Lockwood to me, sir, while you get inside,” offered Simon. “I’ve left a blanket on the back seat.”
Ian quickly shifted Tessa to Simon’s waiting arms, giving his loyal chauffeur an appreciative pat on the back. “You think of everything, mate. Thank Christ you were here tonight.”
He slid inside the Town Car as Simon gently set Tessa down on the seat next to him. Ian wasted no time in covering her shivering, scantily clad body with the much more substantial wool blanket, and then pulled her onto his lap as Simon started the car.
“I want you to be seen by a doctor,” he told her firmly. “Tonight. Simon, would you take us to the University Medical Center, please?”
“No,” she protested weakly. “Please, Ian, I just want to go – home. The paramedics checked me out and aside from being in shock I’m okay.”
“Tessa – I would be much happier if you’d agree to this,” he argued. “Your voice – you must have inhaled a lot of smoke.”
She shook her head before resting it wearily on his shoulder. “Not so much. My voice – I think it’s like this from crying so much. I was so scared, Ian.”
“Christ, and I was terrified, Tessa, absolutely fucking terrified. I kept calling your phone numbers and when I didn’t get an answer, I started imagining all sorts of terrible things that could have happened to you. God knows this wasn’t one of them.”
Tessa began to cry, burying her face against his chest, and he rocked her like he would a child, murmuring to her soothingly. Her hair reeked of smoke, her face was grimy with tears and soot, and her body still shook uncontrollably within his arms. He rubbed his cheek against hers, uncaring that his skin, too, was now smudged, or that his suit would also begin to smell of smoke. The only thing he cared about was making sure Tessa was safe and well, to offer her comfort and shelter, and most of all, his love.
By the time they reached his house, he was almost numb with exhaustion and was grateful for Simon’s assistance in bringing Tessa inside. She was almost collapsing in shock and fatigue herself, but he made himself strip off their clothing before lifting her into a hot shower. While she sat slumped over in helpless surrender on the built-in bench, he shampooed her hair and soaped up her body, washing away all traces of soot and smoke. The water was almost scalding hot, but still her body felt chilled to his touch and he forced himself not to panic, hoping it was only shock that was responsible for her continued shivering.