by Carrie Elks
“I’ll eat her McMuffin if she doesn’t want it. I’m starving.”
“Get your hands off Becca’s breakfast. You’ve already eaten two of the damn things.You don’t need a third.”
“I’m having a baby. I’m eating for two.”
“Van’s the one eating for two, not you, numbnuts.”
“Well she’s not keeping anything down. So really I’m eating for three. Give me that damn McMuffin. The baby needs it.”
It took two blinks for Becca’s eyes to open. They were stuck together with what felt like glue. She ran her tongue along her dry lips and tried to sit up, her muscles aching from being curled against plastic for hours.
All four of her brothers were leaning over her. Gray was holding a McDonald’s bag, and Logan had a tray of coffees in his hands. Tanner was leaning over his shoulder, staring at Becca with wide eyes.
And Cam was Cam. Silent and strong.
“What are you all doing here?” she asked, her voice raspy from sleep. She managed to sit up, her socked feet hitting the cold tiled floor.
“We heard you’d decided to hang out at the hospital. Thought we’d bring you some breakfast.” Gray held the bag out to her.
“What time is it?”
“Seven.”
“How did you guys get here so early?” The room was flooded with early morning light, forming a halo behind her brothers’ heads. It made her want to smile, because those four definitely weren’t angels.
“Gray drives like a maniac.” Logan shrugged. “We stopped to get some breakfast though, because none of us can stand Tanner’s bitching.”
“Cam was hungry, too,” Tanner protested.
“Yeah, but he was silently hungry. We like that in a brother.” Logan jabbed Tanner with his elbow.
“You okay, kid?” Gray asked softly, ignoring their brothers’ bitching as he sat down next to Becca.
“Yeah.” But her stinging eyes said otherwise. So did her aching body, her tight chest, and the throbbing in her head.
“Come here.” Gray pulled her into his arms, resting her face against his chest. He kissed her hair. “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”
She could feel hands patting her back. Her brothers. They’d come all this way to be with her. That made the tears start to flow, because she’d been so damn alone for the past few hours.
“What happened?” Gray asked, stroking her hair. Becca gave them a brief rundown of the doctor’s report from the previous night.
“And have they been in to update you since?”
She shook her head. “I went to the desk a couple of times and they promised to send somebody to update me, but I guess they’re too busy.”
Gray’s jaw tightened. “Cam, can you come sit here?” He stood and Cam took his place, folding Becca in his arms. Everybody knew that Cam gave the best hugs in the family. He didn’t ask questions, didn’t give advice, he just held you hard until you felt better.
“Where are you going?” Logan asked.
“To use a little of the Hartson charm on the medical staff. Becca needs an update.”
Cam chuckled, and it made her body shake. “Try not to dazzle them too much. They have a job to do, remember?”
Of course he would. Gray dazzled everybody. He’s been known to make grown women become mute. And right now she was so happy he was here. If anybody could charm some information out of them, it was him.
Five minutes later, he was walking back into the waiting room, closely followed by a different doctor who was staring up at him with wide eyes. “Miss Hartson?” she said breathlessly.
“Becca.” She stood, Cam and Tanner flanking her.
“I’ve just come on shift, so I haven’t had much time to see Mr. Carter yet, but everything I’ve seen is looking good. We’ll be giving him some breakfast soon, then we’ll take him for a scan. If all is clear, he’ll be released to go home.”
“Can Becca see him now?” Gray asked.
“Let me see what I can do. We don’t usually allow visitors in before rounds.”
Gray smiled, and the doctor’s chest lifted. “I’d be so grateful if you could help my sister,” he said, his voice low and graveled. “She’s been here all night waiting to see him.”
The poor woman put her hand on her chest. “Of course,” she said breathlessly. “Give me five minutes.”
Gray’s expression was smug as the doctor hurried out of the door. “And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you get what you want.”
“It’s how you get it,” Tanner said. “The rest of us have to wait our turn.”
“I don’t.” Cam shrugged. “Gray’s way has always worked for me.”
“And for me.” Logan grinned. “We learned it from the best.”
Becca patted Tanner’s arm. “Don’t worry, it doesn’t work for me either.”
Tanner huffed. “Hey, are you going to eat or what? That McMuffin must be freezing by now.”
“You have it.” Becca passed him the bag. “Your need is greater than mine.” She rolled onto her tiptoes and pressed a kiss against his cheek. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She looked around at them, circling her like they were her bodyguards. “I’m so glad you’re all here,” she told them. She hadn’t known how much she needed her brothers until they turned up.
“Yeah, well we wouldn’t let you do this alone. And we’re worried about Daniel, too.” Logan shrugged. “Who’s gonna herd my pigs for me if he’s not around?”
Cam sniggered, and Becca arched an eyebrow at him.
“Seriously. If he’s the guy you want, that means he’s one of us.” Gray rubbed her shoulder. “And we’ll be here for as long as you need us.”
The first thing Daniel noticed was the piercing light. Quickly followed by the dryness in his mouth and the constant tugging on his arm. It took him a moment to realize he wasn’t in his own bed, and that the person tugging was a nurse, taking blood from the catheter on his hand.
The nurse smiled as he tried to pull his arm away. “Mr. Carter, you’re awake. Let me go tell the doctor. Don’t move, okay?”
“Wasn’t planning on it.” He reached his hand up to touch his face, wincing as pain shot through his cheekbone. He’d been driving, he could remember that much. Had he been in an accident? Was anybody hurt. He tried to sit up, but his head was too dizzy.
“Mr. Carter,” a warm voice said. “I’m Doctor Reynolds. It’s good to see you awake.”
“How long have I been here?”
“You were brought in last night. Do you remember anything from then?”
He shook his head, and immediately regretted it.
“You were in an accident on the highway. From your glucose levels when you were brought in, we believe you were having a hypoglycemic episode which led to you losing consciousness. The good news is that you were already driving toward the shoulder, and that no other vehicle was involved.” She gave him a tight smile. “The bad news is you drove into a tree at around twenty miles an hour. According to the police, your car didn’t make it, but I’m glad to say that you did.”
Was that her attempt at humor? Daniel wasn’t sure if he was supposed to laugh.
“We just ran your blood, and your glucose levels are normal now. We’ll be taking you down for a brain scan to make sure nothing was affected by the hypoglycemia and the crash. You’re a little beaten up, and needed some stitches to your face, but all in all you had a lucky escape.”
“I can go home?” Damn, he needed to leave now.
“If we’re happy with the results of your scan, yes. But you’ll need to take good care of the wounds and come back if there are any problems.”
“Can I call somebody? My… friend was expecting me last night. She’s probably worried about me.” Damn, he hoped she was.
“Is her last name Hartson?”
“Yes.” He didn’t try to nod, assuming it would hurt.
“She’s here. Been here all night according to the nurses. Kept asking about you. Her brothers
are here, too.” The doctor blushed. “Would you like to see her?”
His throat tightened at her words. “I would. Please.”
As he waited for Becca to come up, memories of last night flooded into his mind. Becca’s discovery of his loss, her reaction to it. His reaction to her understandable shock. He’d been an asshole. So afraid that she’d find out who he really was. The man who couldn’t even be there when his girlfriend was losing their child.
The self centered sonofabitch that pushed everybody away, because his father had taught him he’d never be good enough. He’d fulfilled that prophecy himself, thanks to his stupid decisions.
He should have told her about the baby. Not because he was ashamed, but because that loss was part of him, and he wanted her to know all of him.
Even if he’d lose her when she did.
“Here he is,” he heard a voice echoing from the hallway outside his door. “He’s awake but a little beaten up. There are bruises and cuts on his chest and face. They should heal quickly, but he’ll need to rest today. We’ll do a scan and release him as soon as we can.”
“You think he could have brain damage?” Even though Becca’s voice was asking that question, his body stilled at the sound of her. She was close. It was all he needed to know.
“All indications say no. But it’s prudent to check.”
“He has an emergency pack. There are glucose tablets and raisins in there. Wasn’t it in the car?”
“Nothing was found on him apart from his wallet and phone. There’s an emergency card in there. That’s how we contacted his mother. I’m glad he has a pack, though he needs to remember to take it with him.”
“He will,” Becca growled. He smiled at the vehemence of her words. Smiled even wider when she walked into his room, the light of the morning streaming in with her. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, her face free of makeup. She looked about twenty standing there with her hands pressed to her hips, a mixture of relief and anger washing over her face.
“Hi.”
She exhaled heavily. “Hi.” Walking over to his bed, she grimaced at the sight of his face.
“Is it bad?” he asked.
“You’ve looked better. But to put it in perspective, you’re still the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”
He tried to laugh but it hurt. She grimaced in sympathy.
“I’m sorry,” he croaked, when she took his hand in hers. “So damn sorry.”
“You should be. You know better than to go anywhere without your emergency pack. You could have been seriously hurt.” Her eyes shone as she looked at him. “You were lucky.”
He was just so glad he hadn’t hurt anybody else. He was a goddamned idiot, he knew better than to mess with hypoglycemia. “I don’t care about me. I’m sorry about last night. About not telling you the truth. About pushing you away when I should have pulled you closer.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
A nurse walked in and pulled a thermometer out. Becca swallowed, but the pain didn’t leave her eyes. He hated that he’d put that there. “Maybe we should talk about this later?” she said, glancing warily at the nurse.
“There’ll be a later?” Something like hope lit up inside of him, mixing with the exhaustion he felt.
Becca nodded slowly. “Yeah.” She looked as tired as he was.
“I can’t believe you were here all night.”
“Just because we argued doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.” Her eyes were soft. As though there was so much more she wanted to say.
He knew how that felt.
There was that hope again. Lighting a little fire in his chest. “I care, too,” he said, his voice graveled. Becca ran her tongue across her lip, her eyes catching his.
Even without sleep and wearing rumpled clothes she looked beautiful. He couldn’t believe he’d hurt her. Not only because he’d pushed away the one perfect thing in his life, but because she was such a good person. She didn’t deserve to have red rimmed eyes or lips that trembled when she looked at him.
She deserved to always be happy. And he wanted to be the one to make her that way.
“I know you care.” Her voice was soft. “But now you need to concentrate on getting better. You scared me last night. Scared all of us.”
Daniel nodded. “I know.”
“We’ll be taking you for your scan in a moment, Mr. Carter,” the nurse said. “And your mother called to say she’ll be here in an hour. She’s delighted to hear you’re awake.”
“Thank you.” Daniel smiled at the nurse, and a blush stole up her cheeks. “I appreciate that.”
“We’ll be in to get you very soon.” The nurse glanced at Becca with an embarrassed smile, then scurried out of the door.
“Still got it,” Becca murmured.
Daniel shook his head at her. “Will you stay?” he asked. “Until I’ve had the scan.”
“Of course.”
He slid his fingers between hers. “Thank you,” he said softly. “For being here. For caring.”
She pressed her lips against his brow and he closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the feel of her mouth against him. He wanted more, but not yet. Only once he’d apologized properly. Told her everything she needed to know.
Maybe then she wouldn’t want him. It was a risk, he knew that much. But one he had to take.
He’d fight until he had no fight left inside him. Do whatever it took to be worthy of this beautiful woman with the mossy green eyes.
Last night he’d pushed her away. Now he needed to figure out how to get her back again.
Chapter Thirty
It was almost nine by the time her brothers left the hospital and headed back to Hartson’s Creek. Becca had insisted they go spend time with their families. “I don’t think I need your dimples and sexy smile any more, as useful as they were,” she told Gray with a smile. “Go home and give those twins a huge kiss from me.”
One by one, they’d hugged her and told her to call them as soon as she got home. She rolled her eyes at their protectiveness, even though it secretly made her feel warm inside.
When they’d finally walked out of the hospital, Becca returned to Daniel. His mom had arrived around when he was due back from his scan, and she’d insisted on Becca going to get some breakfast and a coffee while she took over.
“I think you’ve aged me ten years.” Eliana’s voice echoed out of Daniel’s room as Becca approached it. She slowed her steps, they were obviously in mid-conversation. No need to interrupt them.
“You still look about forty. I saw the way that technician was looking at you,” Daniel teased.
A Daniel that teased? That was new. Becca smiled at the development.
“Don’t try to win me over with flattery. I’m your mother, I know how you work. You have to take better care of yourself, or god help me I’ll start calling you every hour.”
“Becca’s already read me the riot act.”
Eliana laughed. “Good for Becca. Somebody needs to take care of you.” Her voice lowered, and Becca had to lean closer to the door to hear. Yes, eavesdropping was wrong, but they were talking about her now.
And she really wanted to hear what they had to say.
“Speaking of Becca, have you two made up?”
There was silence, save for Eliana’s high breaths, and Daniel’s lower ones. “We’ve agreed to talk. Later.”
“Oh, darling. Does that mean there’s hope for you two?”
“If I stop being an ass, then maybe.” He cleared his throat. “I hope so, anyway.”
Becca held her breath. She hoped so, too.
There was another silence, as though they were communicating silently. “What happened with you and Melissa, it was heartbreaking. But you two were never meant to be.” Eliana’s voice was soft.
“I know that. I think I knew it all along. It was easy to get swept up in everything, and then she got pregnant and there was no choice…” Daniel sighed.
“I can’t lo
se you again, darling. Not the way we lost you when you left for Scotland.”
“I didn’t leave because of Melissa. I left because of me. I’d failed everybody. I could barely stand to look myself in the mirror, let alone have you look at me.”
“You didn’t fail me. You never have. I love you. And I know you and Melissa weren’t supposed to be because you never looked at her the way I see you look at Becca.”
“Is that right?”
“You think you’re being so damn clever walking through the still room looking at her when you think everybody is busy. But these things don’t escape me. I know you too well. You’re in love with her.”
Becca’s eyes widened. She could feel her spine tingle.
“Yeah, I am.”
Her breath caught in her throat. He loved her? It felt like the sun bursting through the clouds of her heart.
“You should tell her.”
“I will. But not when I’m wearing a damn gown in a hospital bed.”
Eliana laughed. “Okay, then. Do it your way. You always do.”
Trying to rearrange her features, Becca made a show of stomping the last few feet to Daniel’s room, smiling nonchalantly as she walked inside.
“You’re back. How was the scan?” She kissed Eliana’s cheek, and his mom hugged her back.
“So are you.” He smiled and it made her heart skip. “And the scan was fine. The technician saw no problems, but the doctor will look at it before I’m discharged.”
“That’s good.” She shot him another smile.
All she could really think about was that he loved her. And she loved him too, and she needed to tell him soon.
Some secrets weren’t meant to be kept.
“I wish he’d let me take him home,” Eliana said to Becca as they waited outside for Daniel to dress. “He’s so stubborn sometimes.” She took one look at Becca’s amused smile and added, “Actually, he’s stubborn all the time. He hates being sick, he always has. He makes the worst kind of patient.”
“I’ll stay with him,” Becca said. She’d already said she would to Daniel. Neither her nor Eliana wanted him to be alone.
