Off the Grid Read Free Page B

answer. Now.” He inched forward.
    “I’m fine.” She put out a hand to ward him off. “Just kind of in the middle of something right now.”
    He moved closer until the tips of her fingers pressed against his chest. “You’re sure everything’s all right? It doesn’t look all right to me.”
    “Why don’t you back the fuck up, buddy?” Marnie fought to push past Sophie’s arm.
    Caleb met her glare for glare. “Someone better tell me what the hell is going on before I call the cops.”
    “That’s enough. Both of you.” Her voice lowered. “Keep it down.”
    “Then start explaining.” He was past caring it was a demand he had no right to make.
    Sophie turned to Marnie. “Marnie stay with Kellie. I’m going to talk with Caleb.”
    “No cops.” Her demand hung in the air. She shoved her hands under her armpits and rocked on the balls of her feet.
    “No cops.” Sophie took a step back, her tongue did a quick swipe over her lower lip. “But you have to know I’ve called for an ambulance and—”
    “What?” Marnie’s scarred face twisted. “I trusted you.”
    Sophie’s chin went up. “You brought her to me. She’s my patient. It’s my call.”
    “You had no right—”
    “I had every right.” Sophie shoved a hand through her short, dark hair. “Anyway, it’s irrelevant. According to the dispatcher, it’ll be hours before they can get here. There’s a storm outside, remember?”
    Caleb didn’t want to add to the bad news but he had no choice. “It’s a mess across the city. Accidents everywhere. Marine Drive is closed. So is the Trans-Canada Highway at Memorial Bridge. Huge accident. Lots of smaller ones. The authorities are asking people to stay home.”
    “So, right now I need you to go sit with Kellie while I talk to Caleb.”
    As soon as the door shut behind Marnie, Sophie leaned back against it and brushed a hand across her forehead. “You practice family law, right?”
    “Right.” Not sure where she was going with it, Caleb nodded at the unexpected question. “Why?”
    “I have a patient in labor. I’ve only managed to get a bit of her story. But…it seems she’s on the run and terrified of the father finding her. Marnie is frantic I don’t call anybody. I don’t know what’s going on, other than its messy. And I’ll be honest. I’m worried. We’re trapped here.” She shook her head, her beautiful eyes showing signs of fatigue. His fingers clench into fists.
    “You think he’s violent. Is there a chance he’ll show up here?” All the protective instincts he possessed snapped at their leash. The junkyard dog compulsion so extreme his vision blurred.
    “I doubt it.” Sophie’s lip curled. “Getting his hands dirty isn’t his style. Then again…”
    “If he’s a problem, I need a name.” He tried to focus. This was crazy. He didn’t know what to do with the adrenaline dump. Except pull her close, then drag her out of here. To protect and def—
    “Jason Drummond.” Sophie’s head bobbed in reaction to his slack-jawed disbelief. Her eyes wide with understanding. “I wish I were kidding. But she’s insisting Prince Charming and the heir apparent to all those lovely shopping malls and luxury hotels is the father of her baby.”
    Now she had his attention in a whole different way.
    “No.” Caleb shook his head. Not possible. The idea was ludicrous. “No way.”
    Sophie grimaced at him. “Please tell me he’s not one of your country club buddies.”
    Close enough, they belonged to the same gym, were friends of a sort, not information he cared to share at the moment. He hedged. “We know each other.”
    “Oh, Caleb.” She looked straight at him, disappointment taking the lush out of her generous mouth. “Tell me if this is going to be a conflict of interest for you? If it is, you have to leave. Now.”
    “It’s not.” No way in hell he was leaving her to deal with this situation all alone. He sidetracked her. “Who’s the other woman? Marnie?