Ryker grinned at that as they walked down the long hallway toward the private exit. “There is something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Yes?”
“There was a nurse who saved my life at the fire. Turns out she’s a nurse on the night shift here. Kenzie Carys. I want her to get recognition for going above and beyond. She didn’t just save me. She set up triage and worked until the last person was taken to the hospital.”
“Kenzie is one of our top ER nurses. I’m not surprised to hear this. I didn’t know she saved you, though,” Mark said, pausing as they reached the door.
“I know she physically pulled at least three people, including me, from the fire. I know she performed CPR and bound wounds until EMTs could transport them. She was the real hero. It would have been a different night if she hadn’t been there.”
Mark nodded and pursed his lips. “Would you honor her with an award? I’m sure the fire department would like to honor her as well if she did all that. It would also look good for the hospital, and we could ask for donations to the pediatric wing you’ve been helping us raise money for.”
“You better not name that after me, too.” Mark blinked innocently at him and Ryker groaned. “One wing is enough. One wing says I’m generous. Two says I’m an arrogant ass.”
Mark laughed then and pushed open the door. “We’ll talk about it. I’ll call Mary Alice to set up the recognition ceremony. If you need anything, call me.”
Ryker turned and shook his hand. “I appreciate it. Pudding aside, you’ve done a great job here.”
Mark walked him to where Olivia waited and waved goodbye. Ryker sighed as he sunk into the leather seat. “So, Mr. Townsend?”
Ryker chuckled. “I’ve gotten so used to everyone knowing who I am that I never thought she didn’t realize who I was until she threatened to drag me to the hospital.”
“That’s a woman I can like,” Olivia laughed as she pulled out of the hospital parking lot.
Yes, she was the kind of woman Ryker could like, too. Ceremonies were never his thing, but suddenly he couldn’t wait. The idea of surprising her made him smile. He couldn’t wait to see her face when she realized he was Ryker Faulkner.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Olivia asked suspiciously. “I’ve never seen that smile . . . Is it the nurse? It is! You like the nurse.” Olivia laughed then. “Thank goodness!”
“Thank goodness?” Ryker asked, not denying liking Kenzie Carys. He wouldn’t say he liked her—he was more intrigued than anything.
“My eldest brother is coming soon. If you’re married before then, maybe I can get them to stay where they are. What can I do? Send the nurse roses? Buy her a new car? A trip to Bora Bora for just the two of you?”
“Kenzie,” Ryker said, correcting her. He liked her name. It fit her. It wasn’t stuffy, just like the woman he saw. She wasn’t stuffy or hung up on him being Ryker Faulkner. Well, that was because she didn’t know. Suddenly the giddy excitement he felt at the idea of seeing her again dimmed. What would she do and how would she act toward him when she found out who he was?
“Hmm.” Olivia looked at him quickly before turning back to the road. “I’m not good at these feelings talks, but I could try if you need.”
Ryker sneered at her in disbelief. “Feeling talks? I don’t do feelings.”
“I totally understand. I don’t either. But . . .”
“But nothing. Is everything set for New York?” Ryker asked, ending any talk about feelings.
Unfortunately, feelings were exactly what was happening as Olivia talked about the New York trip. His mind kept wandering to Kenzie. You’re safe. I’ve got you. Her voice had come through the darkness to save him. Then he’d opened his eyes and it was as if even in the midst of chaos, he knew her. His attention had snapped straight toward her commanding presence as she administered first aid, ordered others around, and comforted others. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. It wasn’t because she’d saved him. Well, that might have gotten his attention, but it wasn’t gratitude he was feeling. It was respect. Watching her save lives had been a privilege. However, those feelings were still churning in his chest. It wasn’t just respect he was feeling. It was a lot more, which was a problem because Ryker Faulkner didn’t do feelings.
“We’re sure?” Ryker asked his head of security.
“Yes. It was a bomb. Not only that, but someone hacked our system.”
Ryker slammed his hand on his home desk. This is what happens when you take twelve hours off. Everything goes to hell.
“Could you tell what the hackers were after?”
His head of security nodded. “They were after six cargo containers. They hacked in and tracked them. Now they’re gone.”
“Was the bomb a distraction to get them?” Ryker asked.
“Don’t know. We don’t know if it’s related to the bombing, but the six containers are gone.”
“Thank you,” Ryker said, dismissing him. This was a nightmare, but he lived in those nightmares day and night and he knew how to handle them.
Ryker picked up his cell phone and called a friend of his Kentucky cousins. The Davies family and the Faulkner family had grown very close over the last couple of years. His cousins, aunts, and uncles had introduced Ryker and his family to all their friends, including Bridget Mueez. Bridget trained police and military dogs and that was just what Ryker needed right now.
“Bridget, Ryker Faulkner,” he said into the phone. Ten minutes later he had six dogs ordered. Two for explosives and guns, two for drugs, and two for people. He didn’t know what was going on that caused the bomb or what was in the stolen cargo containers, but he was damned sure it wasn’t pudding. It had to be something very bad and trafficking weapons, drugs, and people were the top three possibilities.
“Ryker!”
Shit. Ryker ground his teeth as his former office assistant, Bianca, pushed by Mary Alice and rushed into the room with a giant get-well basket complete with a balloon.
Mary Alice pulled a ruler from her sleeve and smacked Bianca’s knuckles. “Out!”
Bianca dropped the basket and glared at Mary Alice. Bianca had always been disrespectful to his long-time executive assistant and that should have been the first red flag. However, she’d been very attentive to getting Ryker his coffee and all the other little things that he needed done that he’d ignored those red flags.
“I just wanted to make sure Mr. Faulkner was okay.”
“I’m fine, Bianca. Thank you for checking on me. How did you get into my house?”
“The gate was open,” she said sweetly. She must have been waiting for his head of security to leave and had darted into his property when the gate opened.
“I appreciate you checking on me. Mary Alice will show you out.”
“But you need help!” Bianca cried. “I can help. I can drive you to the doctor, get you your favorite lunch order and that coffee you love so much!”
“Bianca, I don’t know how many times I can tell you this, but you don’t work for me any longer.” Ryker had had enough. “Now, leave or I’ll call the sheriff and file charges.”