Page 35 of One Kind Hand

“Watch that other piece! Get it from both sides!”

And she was barking orders at people trying to rescue him?

Before he had time to consider how he felt about her jumping down there to be with him, that sliver of light grew as the pieces of pavement were lifted away from him. In the next moment, Charlie was right beside him, one of her hands still holding his as the other cradled his arm.

“Can you move this?” She lightly tapped his arm.

He bent his arm at the elbow, the wrist, up at his shoulder. “Yeah.” His throat was all scratchy, his voice hoarse. “I think it got pinned between those pieces of pavement.”

“What else hurts?” Her gaze scanned him, her hand resting on his back now.

“Umm . . . the back of my head.”

She disappeared behind him for a moment. “Okay, yeah. A little gash back here. Doesn’t look serious. Do you feel dizzy or sick or anything?”

“No. My legs are cramped from being in this position though. Help me up.”

Charlie got to her feet and supported him as he slowly stood. He took an inventory of what ached. It really was only his arm and his head though. He patted his chest with his free hand, his other hand still clamped onto Charlie’s.

“I think I’m actually still in one piece,” he said.

A breath whooshed out of Charlie. “I’m not sure how that’s possible.” She gestured to the rubble all around them. “But I’m sure glad you didn’t damage this face.”

He would have pulled her into a hug—maybe snuck in a kiss—but applause from the open hole above them made him look up instead. Several faces peered down at him, all of them relieved.

“I don’t recall seeing this in the script, people,” he said, making them laugh.

“We have a ladder here,” Cody said. “Do you think you can climb out or do you need a more dramatic rescue?”

“The ladder will do it, wiseass.”

Charlie let go of him and got into position to receive the ladder. She shifted it around until she’d deemed it stable and motioned for him to climb up.

“Ladies first,” he said.

“If you think I’m missing the chance to stare at your ass from below you on a ladder, you are sadly mistaken.” She pointed at the ladder. “Get going.”

He appreciated her attempts at levity, just as he’d done, but her concerned eyes told him she’d been truly afraid he’d been crushed.

“Fine,” he said. “My ass is dust-covered though.”

“I don’t care,” she said, holding the ladder steady as he stepped on the first rung. “As long as it isn’t broken. As long as none of you is broken.” She squeezed her eyes closed for a moment then shook her head as if trying to keep her composure. “There’s an ambulance up there to take you to the hospital.”

“I’m fi—”

“Don’t bother saying you’re fine. Cody is going to insist on getting every inch of you X-rayed. Go with it. It’s not a bad idea.” She looked back at the mess behind them. “It’s a miracle you’re climbing this ladder right now.”

He swallowed loudly, knowing he’d probably cheated death.

Again.

At least this time, no one else had been less fortunate.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Austin ascended, wondering if Charlie was actually checking out his ass. Cody and Iggy reached their arms down and helped him out of the hole then they grabbed Charlie while a few others emerged from the manhole where he’d first gone down to shoot the scene.

“How did you end up down there?” he asked Charlie before Cody could march him toward the waiting ambulance.

“She can run like the wind,” Iggy said. “Her feet barely hit the ground. It was like watching a superhero.”