Abby finally lost patience, for real. For a tough, hardened cowboy, Riley Walker had no more gumption than...words failed her. Than Martin, she decided finally. She shoved at his chest, trying to free herself from his embrace.
“Untraditional or not, I want you to admit it, Riley Walker. I want you to tell me that you love me.”
His expression sobered at once.
“I am—” He kissed her softly.
“—absolutely—”
Abby’s pulse pounded.
“—crazy—” He touched his tongue to the seam of her lips until they parted.
“—in love—”
Abby thought her heart was going to slam straight through the wall of her chest.
“—with you.”
A sigh of pure joy whispered through her. He loved her. Riley Walker actually loved her.
With his words echoing in her heart, she knew without a doubt that no matter how much time or distance separated them, she would always do anything, anything, it took to get back to him.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“I’m not giving up on her, Mrs. Dennison,” Riley said late in the evening on Abby’s twelfth day in the hospital.
He was exhausted, frustrated and angry. His emotions had had so many ups and downs he felt as if he’d been on the wildest roller coaster ride of his life. He had felt so hopeful the day before, when it had seemed Abby had finally awakened, when it had seemed she’d been aware of his presence, when she’d whispered that she loved him. Since then, nothing. She hadn’t spoken one single word, hadn’t so much as blinked.
The doctors claimed, though, that there was some evidence that she was no longer actually in a coma, just sleeping very soundly. They’d said something about being able to rouse her, to get her to react to their neurological tests in a way she hadn’t before. Riley had paid scant attention to their claims, because the reality was smack in front of him. Abby was as still and silent as ever. He was determined, though, that he would not budge until that changed.
He clutched the phone tightly and paced as far as the cord would allow. “Mrs. Dennison, I promise you that I will be with her for as long as it takes.”
“Dear, I know you would never give up on her,” Abby’s mother responded with a touch of indignation. “You’ve never been a quitter. Do the doctors have any news at all?”
“None,” he said tightly. “Maybe I’ve made a mistake in not having her transferred back to the States.”
“Stop that,” she scolded. “You’ve done what you thought was best. Nobody could have been more loyal or patient.”
He raked his hand through his hair. “All I’ve done is sit here. Maybe she should have been getting some kind of more aggressive treatment. I’ll never forgive myself....”
“Riley Walker, stop borrowing trouble,” Mrs. Dennison ordered. “Abby will get through this ordeal. I know she will. And she is not going to blame you, so stop your worrying on that score, too. You know Abby was never one to hold a grudge against anybody, and she could always find it in her heart to forgive you anything.”
She chuckled. “Remember that time you accidentally tore up her precious flower garden when you and her brother were playing football?”
“Falling into a bed of flowers is not the same as risking her life,” he said, though he found himself grinning at the memory.
Abby had been ready to tear him apart limb from limb when she’d found her piddling, already wilting plants squished beneath him. She hadn’t cared a whit that he’d made the best pass reception of his life. She’d accused him of being a clumsy oaf and thrown herself on top of him. When she’d realized his shoulders were heaving with silent laughter, she had pummeled his back with her fists until her arms grew tired.
Legs straddling his waist, she’d demanded, “Say uncle.”
“Uncle,” he’d repeated compliantly.
“It’ll cost you twenty-two bucks to get up.”
“Why twenty-two?”
“That’s what the plants cost.” At his doubtful expression, she’d added airily, “Plus my labor.”
“You’re an expensive gardener.”
“Damn right.”
“I’m surprised you’re not more successful.” He’d glanced pointedly at the drooping flowers that were no match for the desert heat.
Abby had regarded him with such a hurt expression, he’d promptly said, “Okay, twenty-two bucks. Take it out of my wallet.”
She had done just that without a moment’s hesitation, then asked, “How long was that reception, anyway?”
“I’d say about seventy yards. Your brother was clear down at Marge Wilson’s when he threw it.”
“Not bad.”
Thoroughly indignant, he’d rolled over then, tumbling her onto the damp ground and crushed blossoms. “Not bad? Not bad!”
She had been howling with laughter when he’d finally let her up.
That had been the first time he’d ever kissed her, silencing those laughs by covering her mouth with his own. It began as a teasing gesture, but it hadn’t ended that way. It had ended with all the heart-stopping, breath-stealing passion possible between a man and a woman. She’d been seventeen. He’d been twenty-one and very much aware that she was too young to comprehend the kind of heat they’d generated.
When that kiss was over, they had stared at each other in stunned silence, both of them breathless, both of them shaken, both of them suddenly aware of possibilities they had never before considered.
Even now, years later, just thinking about the potent impact of that first, devastating kiss made Riley’s pulse run wild. He doubted Mrs. Dennison knew all of the memories she’d stirred by bringing up that particular incident.
“Riley? Are you still there?”
“I’m here, Mrs. Dennison.”
“Son, take care of yourself. I’m praying for both of you.”
His heart swelled with emotion. Why hadn’t he seen before that though he had lost his own family long ago, he had still had Abby’s? Her parents loved him with the unconditional acceptance of his own mother and father, the beloved parents he had lost too soon, at a time in his life when he had most needed guidance and support and love. Most of
