Trisha carefully reached to put her hands next to Slade’s head. He suddenly moved, holding out his hands to her.

“Put your hands inside mine. There’s glass. I’ll lift you over as much of me as I can. Then keep your hands on my legs. Watch the knees, Doc. Seriously.” He winked at her. “As much as I know you want to see how big I am, I’d prefer you feel me with your hands.”

“Bastard,” Trisha whispered, not really meaning it.

She gave him a brave smile, knowing at this point he was being an ass just to distract her. She’d be freaking out over their dire situation if it weren’t for Slade. They’d just rolled down part of a mountain, men with guns might be on their way to the crash site, and Slade tried to focus her attention on him instead of the danger.

“Thanks,” she whispered softly, putting her hands inside his large ones. She curled her fingers through his, their fingers locking, palms together, as Slade took her weight. He started to pull her over his body. Trisha lifted her lower body with her knees. She tried not to notice when her br**sts rubbed over Slade’s face and how her stomach moved close enough to feel his hot breath through the thin layer of her shirt.

“You might want to consider a diet when we survive this,” Slade suggested softly.

“Kiss my ass.”

He chuckled. “It’s not your ass over my face right now, Doc. That’s as far as I can pull you. As much as I enjoy where you are, move it, sweet thing.”

Her knees reached his shoulders. She gripped his thighs with her hands, knowing she’d have to either pull her body down his body toward his feet by her hands or crawl over him with her knees.

“Hurry, Doc.”

She carefully put her knee on his shoulder. His hands suddenly gripped her h*ps as he lifted her lower body similar to a pushup off his body. He shoved her forward. Trisha was nearly thrown into the gap between the front seats but instead it was just her head that ended up between them with the center console above her. She squeezed tighter into the narrow space. She could see Bart now. Slade moved from under her legs, which were still on him.

“Stay put, Doc. I’m going outside. It was nice knowing you if you hear gunshots.”

“Be careful,” she warned.

Chapter Three

Trisha’s gaze turned to Bart, studying him. He was still strapped into his seat where the belt held him in place. He appeared to be unconscious now and his hands hung limp against the roof. She saw blood covered his left hand and she reached for it carefully. It was hard to do since it was on the other side of his body.

She inwardly cursed, realizing it appeared to be a crush injury. The skin was torn and she guessed his hand must have been thrown through the window that had been smashed out when they rolled. Her fingertips brushed up his arm, feeling for injuries, and she determined his wrist had also been broken. He’d caught a break there, no pun intended, since the bone hadn’t popped through the skin. He jerked awake.

“Bart?” She swallowed. Her voice kept breaking on her. “Where does it hurt besides the seat belt and your arm?”

“My leg,” he gasped. Tears drowned out the brown of his eyes when he started to cry.

Crap. Trisha couldn’t get any farther into the driver’s area since his body was in the way and the steering wheel was above. She could have seen better if she’d had a flashlight since the sun was going down, making the interior dim.

“Can you move both feet?”

“It hurts,” he cried softly.

“Do it, Bart,” Trisha snapped. “Those men could be coming after us. Move your feet. I need you to work with me.”

He moaned in pain. “I feel them and I think they moved.”

Trisha nodded, looking up at where his feet would be. No drips of blood were coming down to hit the roof she lay curled on. Another good sign. She forced herself to remain calm and think. Her head throbbed, her body ached and she was in pain. She still tasted blood and didn’t even want to guess the cause. She’d assess her own injuries later but right now it was all about the younger man in front of her.

“Listen to me, Bart. I need to find out if your legs are pinned or if we can get you down. I need you to move your legs to see if they are free. Do you understand me?”

“It hurts,” he whined.

Trisha clenched her teeth. “I’m in pain too. Come on. Did you hear me about those men who ran us off the road? They could climb down here and kill us. You need to work with me. I can help you better if we can get you free. I can’t do much for you right now since there’s not enough room to treat you where you are. I have to assess your injures but I need you out of that seat to do it.”

“Okay,” he hissed softly, “I’ll try.”

Trisha strained to listen for any sign of Slade but she hadn’t heard any gunshots. Where is he? She experienced a little fear suddenly. She and Bart weren’t New Species. Would Slade just leave them behind to save his own ass? She really hoped not. Maybe he’s gone for help but wouldn’t he tell me first? She just didn’t know and that really bothered her.

“I can move them.” Pain sounded in Bart’s voice.

“Terrific. I know you only have one usable hand but you need to use your good arm to try the door. See if it will open.”

“I can’t.”

Trisha twisted, looking at the passenger side. The glove box had snapped open and things had fallen out. She inched her way to the small area under the passenger seat. The window remained intact on the passenger side but it was cracked and spider-webbed. She used the paper that had spilled out of the glove box to cover the broken glass that had flown around the interior when the SUV had rolled to protect her body. She reached for the door handle. It moved but the door didn’t.