Read Online Earth Enchanted by Brynna Curry - Free Book Online Page B

Nothing else mattered. Remembering their kiss only a short while ago, it had been like no other she’d experienced. The sea had roared in her ears, she thought, but the sound was so familiar it was a homecoming. Liv hadn’t been able to ignore the colors spiraling around and through her, recognizing them as magic. She had found what she’d waited for all of her life. Liv needed no more than that one meeting of lips to know. It was as if her heart had said, “Oh, well there you are finally.” Still, that same heart was breaking even as she silently surrendered it to him. He would claim it and keep his for someone out of reach. What would she do if he didn’t make it?
    All her thoughts and prayers focused on that door; she begged for his life to be spared and sent her thoughts out to him.
    Alone in the room except for an old woman sitting by herself with her hands in her lap, she watched as a doctor went toward the woman. Liv took one look at his face and knew. His eyes seemed years older than he should have been, like they didn’t quite match his face. Liv heard him recant the same line he’d probably told others. I’m sorry. We did all we could but I’m afraid he passed away. With a swish of his lab coat and the squeak of his tennis shoes on the newly disinfected floor, he walked away. The old woman sobbed across the room. After a while she stood and dried her face with a handkerchief, and walked past her.
    “Ma’am,” Liv addressed her as she passed. “I’m sorry for your loss. Could I phone someone for you?”
    The woman shook her head. “No, young lady, but it was kind of you to ask. There’s no one. He was my only family, my husband.” Fresh tears rolled as she remembered. “I saw your young man when he was brought in. I’ll pray for him.”
    Liv swallowed the hot ball in her throat. “Thank you.”
    As she started to walk away, she turned and said, “Love is precious, just like life, don’t waste either and in the end you’ll have no regrets when yours is over.”
    Her heart froze in her chest when another doctor, still in scrubs, came toward her. “Mrs. Roarke?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “I’m Olivia Corrigan. Jack Roarke is a friend of mine. I brought him in. Is he all right?”
    “Mr. Roarke came through with flying colors. He was lucky that the bullet passed through his shoulder without serious damage. He’ll be coming out of recovery soon.”
    “Can I see him? I have to see him.” If she could see him she’d know it was going to be okay.
    “Normally I can’t allow visitors, except in the instance of family members.”
    “Please, I won’t disturb him. I just need to see for myself.”
    “I’ll see what can be arranged.” He made his exit while a middle-aged couple walked up to the desk, hands clasped tightly together, distracted her attention. They insisted something to the nurse, who waved them in Liv’s direction. As they came toward her, she noted the woman was barely holding up. The man’s eyes were flat and controlled, cop eyes, and trained on her. Since Jack’s parents were dead, she wondered who they were and how they knew him.
    “Excuse me, are you the young woman who brought in Jackson Roarke?”
    She nodded, then straightened and offered her hand.
    He never blinked, but the woman nearly fainted on the spot at the sight. Jack’s blood.
    “Yes, I’m Olivia Corrigan, a friend of Jack’s. Are you related to him?”
    The lady shook her head.
    “No, but we are close friends. I’m Captain Sam Berringer, Miss Corrigan, and when you’re up to it, I’ll have to get a statement from you. This is my wife Eleanor, Jack’s editor. Ellie, why don’t you wait here and I’ll see what I can do.” He walked to the nurse’s desk, flashed his badge, and was immediately escorted back.
    “I’ve heard a little about you from Jack, Olivia. May I call you Olivia?”
    Liv nodded her head.
    “His mother and I go back a ways. When Jack was on the police force, he served