Jack sank into the chair and shuddered in pain. He swallowed hard. What did she mean? Surely she didn’t mean it. She couldn’t … could she? He rose and gathered his coat and helmet, pausing at her stifled sob.
“Can’t hurt him. I won’t let you, Michael, I won’t.” Gillian’s broken whisper wrapped around Jack’s wounded heart. “I want him too much.”
Jack rested his head against the door, closed his eyes, and sighed. He wasn’t going anywhere. The pure terror in Gillian’s voice held him captive with a grasp stronger than steel chains. He tossed his things aside, settled into the cold hard plastic of a chair, and reached for Gillian’s hand. Ignoring the tremble in her fingers, he smoothed her hair away from her forehead and listened to her soft sobs.
Chapter 23
Over the days he’d sat in her room, the sound of the hospital was a far too familiar echo he’d tried to drown out repeatedly. Gillian hadn’t tried kicking him out again, but she hadn’t responded to him either. Jack stared out the window as the doctor moved around the room, taking readings and checking Gillian’s vitals. He listened with half an ear as he went over her injuries. The desperation in Gillian’s voice every night haunted him. Nightmares plagued her sleep, costing her precious hours of rest. What was so bad she’d be terrified to have him there?
“You’re very lucky, Miss Hilliard. All your vitals are normal, the broken bones will heal, and the stitches will dissolve on their own. The staples in your forehead will need to be removed in a few days and will leave a minor scar. However, you’ll be able to go home today. I’ll process your discharge within the hour. You’ll need to pick up a prescription for pain medication and see your family doctor within twenty-four hours.”
“Thank you.” Gillian offered a weak smile.
“Yes, thanks, doctor.” Jack grinned at her. If it was a little shaky she didn’t appear to care. “I’ll be with her, so you won’t have to worry. I’ll keep an eye out for further symptoms.” Ignoring Gillian’s gasp, he watched the doctor leave. As soon as the door was clicked shut, he turned to Gillian.
“I don’t want to impose upon you.”
“Gillian.” Jack heaved a breath when she refused to meet his gaze, her eyes skittering away from his nervously. “We need to talk, and we will as soon as we get you home.”
“No!” Gillian bolted upright, all color draining from her face. “Please, I can’t go back there! Please. Just take me—”
“To my place.” Jack grabbed her hand. “Relax, it’s going to be okay.”
Gillian shook her head, fear in her eyes. “I need my glasses.”
Jack chuckled. “I’ve got Sally getting you a new pair. Yours were a little broken. Sally’s bringing your bag as well. We managed to get it out of the car.”
Gillian nodded shakily and sat hunched over as Jack wrapped her in his coat. He sighed as the nurse rolled a wheelchair into the room. Guiding Gillian into it, he ignored her attempts to physically brush him off.
“Here’s the prescription.” The nurse held out a slip of yellow paper. “You can fill it at the drug store or the pharmacy on the way out.”
“Thanks, I’ve got it.” Jack slipped the paper from Gillian’s fingers with a grin. Leaning down, his lips brushed against her ear, the shiver she couldn’t hide warming his heart. “Relax, let me take care of you.”
Gillian glanced at him, pain in her eyes. “It’s not safe to care about me, Jack. You’re going to regret—”
“Nope.” Jack straightened and began pushing the chair toward the exit. “I doubt I’m ever going to regret taking care of you.”
* * * *
Gillian winced as she eased onto the familiar leather of Jack’s couch. She could hear him moving around in the bedroom, the sound comforting even as nerves gnawed. If Mike found out, there’d be hell to pay. To keep Mike from hearing, she’d need to keep her whereabouts a secret from her mother. There was no doubt if Barbara knew, she’d tell. There was no other alternative, and Barbara had already admitted to seeing him, talking to him. But keeping the secret would prove difficult. Sliding down into the plush seat, she sighed. Her mind raced with plans, schemes she quickly disregarded. Drumheller wasn’t a huge town, but it wasn’t so small she couldn’t disappear at least for a while. She’d just have to figure out how to do it.
Exhaustion wrapped around her, sapping her strength. She smothered a yawn and glanced up at the softest touch of a hand on her shoulder. “Here, lean forward, hon.” Jack slid a pillow behind her. “This’ll help. Sally’ll be here in a few minutes with your purse. She said she got your glasses patched and a new pair on order.”
“She didn’t have to.” Gillian swallowed, the expense of new glasses would drain her limited cash stores. Having to purchase a new car, new glasses, pay rent on her new place meant she’d be lucky to have enough for groceries.
The sounds of Jack puttering in the kitchen drifted through the archway. She could feel her nerves stretch, worry biting at her. “Did my mother know you were going to take care of me?”
“Don’t worry about your mother.” The clanking of pots and pans reached the living room along with Jack’s voice. “You hungry?”
“No, no thank you.” Gillian shuffled down into the cushions. Closing her eyes, she listened to Jack moving around. Fear raked at the back of her mind. If Barbara knew, she’d be by sooner or later. She’d never questioned Barbara’s lack of emotion, never forced herself to think on it, but now? Now she had to.
She licked at her lips, the memory of her mother’s voice in the hospital room a physical blow. How could Barbara, a married woman, proposition Jack? Did she really see Gillian as a cold, useless blob?
