“I thought it was your dad,” I told Declan. “In the other car. I thought he was the one coming after me.”
Declan sat by my side again and took my hand, his lips turning down in a frown. “I know. I thought so, too, at first. But when we checked the GPS, I saw that the one following you wasn’t one of ours.”
“But then why was he acting like that in your office? Why did he want me to go with him?”
Declan sighed. “I think he was trying to protect you. I spoke with my father and he said he suspected Johnson was up to something.”
“Do you believe him?”
He started to respond, but the nurse came back into the room.
Xander gave me an amused smile. “Good drugs.”
I gritted my teeth. “I’d rather go home.”
The nurse patted my hand. “Once you’ve rested and the doctor’s been in again, you might be able to.”
Xander continued to grin. “In a minute, you’re going to be feeling really good and you won’t care anymore.”
I chuckled softly and then pointed at him when my lungs protested. “Don’t make me laugh, it hurts.”
He pressed his lips together in a thin line. “I apologize. But you were saying all sorts of things when they first brought you in here, and it was really funny.”
“What things?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
And suddenly, I remembered something else I had said. Something I’d told the policeman back at the car.
I love him. That’s what I had said, and I knew Declan heard it. I’d meant it too.
“All right,” the nurse said. “We should probably let the patient rest for a little bit.”
My father nodded. He reached out and patted my hand. “We’ll be here, waiting until you wake up again.”
“So you can spring me free from this place,” I asked him.
“We’ll see. We do give this place good business, don’t we?”
I swallowed. “We do.”
But I knew it could have been worse. My dad could have been killed. I could have been killed too. But instead, we were both here and safe, and I had Declan.
We knew the truth—well, most of it. I’d get the rest from Declan when I felt better. But now, as the drugs kicked into my system and I got warm and relaxed again, I realized how lucky I was, just like the nurse said.
“Get me something from the gift shop,” I told Xander.
“You got it.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Declan told the nurse.
She only gave him a look to say she didn’t have the energy to fight with him, and they all left. Everyone except for Declan.
“You can go,” I told him. “You probably have things to do.”
He seated himself next to me again and took my hand.
“Like I told the nurse, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Is Randy okay?”
Declan nodded. “I went to check on him. He’s fine. He broke his arm but seemed pretty cheerful about it considering. He and his wife kept saying what great insurance they had, so they might as well test it out.”
I laughed again, and then pressed a hand to my chest as pain bloomed there. “I bet. Was his son there?”
Declan nodded again and moved to brush his fingers on my cheek. “He’s a smart young man. Royal…”
My eyes drooped but I forced them open. “Yes?”
“Never mind, it’s fine. Rest for now.”
“No, I’m good. Talk to me. Tell me… all the things.”
He chuckled softly. “Please tell me you’re okay. Please tell me this didn't ruin things between us.”
His words surprised me, but I was too relaxed to show any kind of emotion. “Not ruined. I promise.”
He swallowed and rested his cheek on my hand again. “Okay.”
I wished I could reassure him more, but I could barely get the words out. Sleep sucked at me, trying to take away this moment with him. But there was still one more thing I had to say before I fell asleep again.
“Declan?” I asked.
He lifted his head and looked at me. “Yes?”
“You’re going to think this is the drugs talking, but I swear it’s not. I love you.”
His eyes filled with wonder and hope, losing the haunted look he had before. “I love you too Royal.”
I gave him a sleepy smile. “Good.”
And then I went to sleep again.
Chapter 36
“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Declan said as the black Bentley pulled onto the dirt turn-off we’d visited not too long ago.
“You know you needed to get out as badly as I did.”
Declan glanced around before opening the door. “Yeah, but somewhere…” He shrugged and then pointed to the seat. “Stay there I’ll come around and get your door.”
I did as he said, but only because he’d compromised with me this morning and I was actually finally getting out of the house for a little bit.
But I knew what else he wasn’t saying. He wanted us to go somewhere that involved less moving and more sitting. I figured he was thinking more like a movie or a quiet lunch, not a hike.
I didn’t know how far I’d make it, but for now, I was feeling good. My arm was almost back to normal as long as I didn’t try to lift anything heavy, and my ribs only ached when I overdid it.
So, I would just go slow and enjoy the beautiful day with the man I loved.
Declan opened my door and held his hand out for me. I took it, stepped out, and then lifted on my toes to kiss him.
His body responded the same way it had for the last three weeks. First, with immediate capitulation. And then
