Born Ready by Lori Wilde Page B

boy, the boy’s mother and the medic packed onboard.
    So Jackie had taken Scott’s boat back to Key West, with all kinds of horrible scenarios circling in her mind. When she got to the hospital, the staff directed her to the waiting area. There she’d found a room packed with Coast Guard. She’d almost fled, but the Sector commander, Carl Dugan, had seen her and motioned her inside.
    “How bad is Scott?” she asked bluntly, trying her best to tamp down the dread that had been building inside her since the incident.
    “Scott’s shark bite was a just bump and run,” Carl said. “The shark hit his calf but didn’t take any tissue. He lost a small amount of blood. Not any big deal really.”
    “But he lost consciousness. Surely that’s cause for concern.”
    “Not from blood loss,” Carl said. “His blood pressure dropped and he fainted. The doctor called it neurally mediated hypotension. Apparently, it’s not all that uncommon an occurrence in young, healthy people. The usual triggers are standing or sitting for prolonged periods, strenuous exercise, hot weather, emotional stress, and it most frequently happens after eating a meal. It’s not a condition that needs treatment.”
    They’d stood during the long boat ride to the Dry Tortugas. They’d scuba dived. The weather had been warm and humid. The stress of taking care of the boy and getting shark bit. They had just eaten.
    “Scott fainted? That was it?” Relief pulsed through her. Scott was going to be okay.
    “Yeah.” The entire room rolled with laughter. “He fainted.”
    “Well,” Carl said in Scott’s defense. “There was a shark involved. It’s not a pleasant experience.”
    “If Scott is fine, then why is everyone here?”
    “We’re here for the boy,” Carl said. “He’s in surgery. They’re working to save his leg.”
    “What about the blood loss?”
    “They had to give the boy blood, but thanks to Scott, he’s going to make it. If Scott hadn’t been there…” Carl left the sentence unfinished. “He’s a true hero. Even if he did faint.”
    More snickers went around the room.
    “So where’s Scott?”
    “In a treatment room getting examined.”
    “Well, if he’s going to be fine…” Jackie hesitated, torn on whether to leave or stay.
    “Sit down.” Dugan patted the chair next to him. “He’ll be happy to see you.”
    Jackie thought of a dozen excuses not to stay, but Dugan eyed her expectantly, so she sat. Secretly, she was glad that she could stay.
    Half an hour later, a side door opened and a nurse appeared. She stood aside and Scott came through the door on crutches, a sheepish grin on his face. His right leg was wrapped up in an Ace bandage.
    “He’s all yours,” the nurse announced.
    The Coast Guard in the room jumped to their feet and saluted him as he hobbled into the waiting room.
    “Sit down, knock it off,” he growled sheepishly.
    Several guys came over to slap him on the back and call him a hero. He shook his head, burdened by embarrassment. Midway across the floor, he stopped. His eyes lit on hers and Jackie felt an inexplicable tightening in her chest.
    “I fainted,” he said. “Like a little girl.”
    “You saved a boy’s life. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
    He arched an eyebrow. “You came.”
    “I did.”
    “I didn’t expect it.”
    “Well, if I’d known you’d just fainted…” she teased. “I brought your boat back.”
    “Thanks.”
    Just then, two women rushed into the waiting room. One was a pretty girl in her mid-twenties with hair as dark as Scott’s, the other woman was older. Early fifties.
    “Scotty! My poor baby.” The older woman ran to him. “You scared the daylights out of us!”
    Scott’s face reddened. “Mom,” he mumbled, tolerating her exuberant hug. “It’s no big deal.”
    “We were in Miami when we heard,” the dark-haired girl said. “Wedding shopping.”
    “C’mon, I’m fine.”
    His mother placed a palm over her heart. “After