by Lexy Timms
And I had enough to worry about without worrying about the press finding us suddenly. What’s more, Daniel knew just how much was on my plate right now, with this. He knew, I was sure, just how worried I was. I hadn’t exactly been subtle about it.
So I had to trust him. If he thought there was any danger of him being there with us, then I had to believe he would have told me. If nothing else, he had been careful ever since we had started dating again. No, I had to trust him.
And at the same time, I found I didn’t want Daniel to be a secret in my life. Maybe things were complicated, and maybe I wasn’t sure what the long-term plan was for the two of us. But I wanted Leanne to know him, and I wanted the kids to know him. He was important to me. And not just because he was my boss.
I watched him with Zach and Layla, and I couldn’t help thinking of just how important he was to me. He had been so sweet to me on our aborted weekend trip. And as soon as he saw my distress, he’d been quick to formulate a plan. He hadn’t even made it seem like a question; he was here for me. Whatever happened. He was my support, if I so much as glanced at him.
Not only that, but he was good with the kids. Really good with them. Neither Leanne nor I had asked him to distract them or to be involved with them at all. He could have just taken a seat and waited for me to tell him I would take a cab home or something.
But instead, he was there. For all of us. If I hadn’t already realized what a keeper he was before, if I hadn’t realized that the press had gotten him all wrong in their stories about what a player he was, about how a woman would be lucky to get more than a one-night stand with him? Well, this was the real story about Daniel McGregor. He was the nicest guy I had ever met.
Watching him laugh at something that Layla had said, I couldn’t help but feel my heart swell with feelings for this man. He glanced over at me, quirking an eyebrow, a clear question there. Was I okay? Matt was still in surgery. I didn’t have any idea how bad his situation might be. I could barely bring myself to think of what the consequences would be if he didn’t pull through.
But I was starting to feel like maybe, somehow, everything really was going to be all right.
Except I knew that I was in big trouble. Because the foundation of that feeling was based on my feelings for this man. He was the cornerstone of my universe at the moment, and not just because of my job.
No, I was pretty sure that I was in love with this man. And the more time I spent with him, the more hopelessly in love I found myself.
Fuck, I thought. What the hell was I going to do about that? There were enough complications in my life without adding those feelings into the mix as well.
But for now, I smiled back at him, hoping he couldn’t see how tremulous the expression truly was. One thing was for sure: however this ended up for Matt and Leanne and the kids, Daniel and I were going to have to have a serious talk of our own when all was said and done.
I found myself dreading the moment we left the hospital.
Chapter 19
Daniel
I FROWNED DOWN AT THE bags in my hands, trying to think if there was anything I had forgotten. But I was pretty sure I had covered the family’s needs for now. More than, really. I felt almost embarrassed about the amount of food I’d brought back. But it had been an easy way for me to help out, and I had found that I really wanted to help out.
Matt had been in surgery for three hours now, and the kids had started complaining that they were getting hungry. And bored. They understood, in some sense, how serious the situation was. But I think they couldn’t really understand it. I had noticed the pinched look forming around Leanne’s eyes, and I realized I should have volunteered to do a food run a long time before that.
But from the grateful looks that both Leanne and Abby had given me, it seemed like they’d only just realized that there was something that I could do to help them.
I smiled to myself as I headed inside. I really hoped things were going to be okay for the family. I could tell just how closely knit they were. But at the same time, I didn’t really feel like I was an outsider. They opened up and let me in, so easily. From entertaining the kids to lending silent support to Abby, I felt like this was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Sure, I would have loved to have the romantic weekend Abby and I had been looking forward to. But those things could be rescheduled. This was important. I just hoped everything turned out all right in the end. But either way, I hoped Abby understood that I was going to be there for her.
Of course, hanging around the hospital with her family brought back some other memories of my own, ones that I was trying not to think too hard about. Losing my father had been difficult. And I hadn’t lied when I had told Abby, what seemed like forever ago now, that I had never really grieved him properly. I had been so busy taking over the business that I hadn’t really allowed myself time for my feelings.
Those feelings of helplessness and grief were definitely coming back to me now, albeit in a muted sort of way. So it was nice to feel helpful, to come back into the waiting room bearing bags full of sandwiches and drinks plus coloring books and games for the kids. And a pair of soft stuffed animals for Abby and her sister.
I didn’t know what they would think of these last, but when I’d seen that soft, stuffed giraffe, I just hadn’t been able to help myself. Abby would love it, I was sure.
“Just as gangly and clumsy as someone else I know,” I teased as I handed it over to her.
Abby immediately wrapped her arms around it. Then, she looked embarrassed. But I kissed that away from her.
“And I brought food for everyone. Whatever we don’t eat now will keep for later.” I sat on the floor next to the two kids and started pulling out the booty. “Let’s see, there’s sandwiches and chips, some macaroni salad and some other Southern comfort food, and then a pizza and a couple salads. And a few other things too; I don’t even remember what.”
Abby laughed, shaking her head. “Were you planning on feeding a small army?” she asked, and honestly, it was worth all of it just to hear her laugh again. I could still see the pain and worry in her face and in the way that she clung to that stuffed giraffe, but at least I had done something to make her laugh.
I shrugged. “Just wanted to make sure everyone got what they wanted.” I paused and held out the last bag to Leanne. “There’s also a toothbrush, toothpaste, other toiletries, and some pajama pants in there,” I said. “I don’t know how long Matt’s going to be in here, and I had to guess at your size, but I thought those might come in handy. And if not, well, all the better.”
Leanne actually looked like she might cry at that. “Thank you,” she whispered, hugging the stuffed elephant plushie I had brought her, a match to the giraffe for Abby.
We all ate in silence, the kids enthusiastically while their mom and Abby merely picked at their sandwiches. But I could tell everyone felt a little better by the time we were done and I was packing everything up again. I pushed the bags over toward Leanne’s bag. “Like I said, the rest of that stuff will keep for later. The nurses have already told me that you’re welcome to use the microwaves in the cafeteria when you need to.”
“Thank you,” Leanne said again. She cleared her throat and glanced over at Abby. “You know, I owe you an apology,” she finally said.
I frowned. “What for?” I asked. I really hoped she wasn’t going to try to apologize for dragging Abby away from our weekend away. It wasn’t her fault that her husband had been in a car accident, and it wasn’t like there was any question about whether I’d be there for Abby.
But Leanne surprised me. “When you and Abby first started dating, I tried to talk Abby out of it. I was afraid that you might hurt her.” She paused. “You know, I’ve read a lot about you. And I hate to say it, but I believed a lot of it. But you’re not the man I thought you were.”
I sighed, but I didn’t know what to say in response to that. I knew what this apology must mean to Abby; I knew that it had hurt her that he
r brother and her best friend hadn’t accepted me. Nor was any of this news to me; Abby had been up front with me about the fact that her brother was worried about her reputation now that she was working for me, and I knew Leanne didn’t exactly approve of me, either.
Leanne continued, though. “I just wanted to say thank you for being here for Abby and her family.”
I smiled at that. “Seriously, it’s the least I could do,” I told her. No point in telling her how much it hurt me to see Abby hurting like this. And I definitely couldn’t tell her that if anything did happen to Matt, if there were any complications, then I just wanted to make sure I was there for Abby. Whether she needed to cry or whatever else. I wanted to be there for her.
Leanne seemed to see all of that in my eyes, though. She nodded approvingly at me. But then her attention was drawn away by the appearance of one of the doctors coming through the swinging doors at the far end of the room. He hurried over to another family, though, bringing them the news that they had been waiting for while Leanne and Abby continued to wait for news on Matt.
I wondered if there was anything I could do about that. If there was any more information we could get, somehow. But I tossed out that idea as soon as it entered my head. No, if there was any news, it would be brought to Leanne first. She was the man’s wife, after all. I wasn’t even family.
But I couldn’t help feeling comfortable there, almost like I was one of them, I reflected as Abby smiled over at me. And I would never go so far as to say I was happy that this was the way the weekend had gone, but at the same time, I couldn’t help feeling glad that I had been able to show Abby, and her best friend, just how much I cared about her. That I was dependable, that I could be there for her. No matter what.
I hoped that would help things between me and Abby in the future. But for now, I just settled onto the floor at Abby’s feet, leaning against her legs. “All right,” I said to the kids, “have either of you ever played crazy eights before?”
Abby’s fingers stroked through the back of my hair as I explained the rules to the kids and then dealt the cards. At that moment, I wouldn’t trade my position for anything in the world.
Chapter 20
Abby
I JERKED AWAKE YET again as my head fell forward. I rubbed at the back of my neck, frowning. I was exhausted, but I wasn’t ready to go home just yet. I wanted to know that Matt was okay first. And besides, it wasn’t like I could leave Leanne here on her own. One of the kids’ babysitters had come by a little while earlier to pick up Zach and Layla and take them home for the night, and Leanne looked like a ghost now that she didn’t have to put up a tough front for the two of them.
In fact, she had cried for nearly twenty minutes after the kids had left. “I just wish there was something that I could do,” she sobbed into my shoulder.
“I know, I know,” I told her, stroking her hair. “But the doctors will be out anytime now, and I’m sure you’ll have good news to tell the kids when Hannah brings them back in the morning.”
Leanne had finally nodded and pulled away, clutching that silly elephant stuffed animal against her chest. I had been surprised when Daniel had pulled them out earlier, but I really did feel comforted by the soft fabric against my cheek as I held my stuffed giraffe closer to my body. It was another on the list of sweet things he had done that day which I was going to have to remember to thank him for.
But as I glanced over at him, while Leanne still clung to me, I realized that he didn’t appear to need any thanks. He was looking at me with such raw emotion on his face that I was momentarily taken aback. I remembered what I had thought earlier, about how I was starting to love him, and I realized that he might feel exactly the same way about me.
“You can go home anytime, you know,” I told him softly as Leanne quieted down.
Daniel simply shrugged. “I know,” he assured me. But he made no move to leave.
Now, as my chin fell down against my chest again, Daniel made a noise of exasperation and pulled me over toward him, maneuvering my head so that it was resting against his shoulder. I wanted to protest, knowing that the angle of his body couldn’t be comfortable, that the arm of the chair must be digging uncomfortably into his side. But I was so damned tired, and he had been the one to suggest this, after all.
I took a deep breath, inhaling his calming, familiar scent, and closed my eyes.
It felt like I had barely drifted off to sleep before Daniel was lightly shaking me awake again. I started, trying to figure out where the hell I was. Then, it all came rushing back at once. I lowered my eyes, trying not to start crying.
“Doctor’s here,” Daniel said, nudging my shoulder lightly. “He’s talking to Leanne right now.” He pointed toward the two, and I watched them, my heart hammering in my chest.
“It looks like good news, doesn’t it?” I asked Daniel hopefully.
Daniel smiled over at me. “You’re family,” he reminded me. “Why don’t you go over there and ask?”
I swallowed hard and stood up. But I looked back over at Daniel and reached out my hand to him. Even though he had already done so much for me, I craved his silent support there at my side while I heard the doctor’s news, whatever it was.
Daniel didn’t seem to question it, grabbing my hand immediately and following me over to where Leanne and the doctor were just finishing up their conversation. Leanne’s eyes were shining when she turned toward us. “Matt’s out of surgery, and he’s awake now,” she told us. “The doctor says we can go in and see him.”
A rush of relief burst through me, and I clung tightly to Daniel’s hand. Matt was going to be all right. He was out of surgery, and he was going to be all right. For a moment, I couldn’t find any words.
Daniel stroked some of my hair back behind my ear, bringing me back into myself. “Why don’t I wait out here while you guys go in there?” he suggested.
I stared blankly at him for a moment, hardly able to process what he said. Then, I shook my head. “Nonsense,” I told him. “I want you there.”
“We don’t know what kind of room he’s in,” Daniel reminded me. “I don’t want him to feel crowded.”
“But I want you there,” I said, tugging on his hands. “And besides, it won’t be any more crowded now with you in there than it would be tomorrow with the kids in there. At least Matt can trust you not to jump on top of him.”
Daniel grimaced, though, glancing over at Leanne. He leaned in close, lowering his voice. “I just want to make sure...”
I knew exactly what he was about to say. Leanne had come around to him today, even going so far as to apologize to Daniel for trying to tell me not to date him. But Matt didn’t know about any of that. Daniel didn’t want to rock the boat, and I appreciated that. But at the same time, I wanted him there with me. And with all the help he had given me throughout the day, he deserved not to be pushed aside and left out in the waiting room.
So I cut him off with my fingers against his lips. “Please,” I said quietly. “Come with me?”
Daniel smiled behind my fingers and nodded at me. “All right,” he said.
With that sorted, we followed Leanne down the hall in the direction that the doctor had indicated, and soon we were clustered around the foot of Matt’s bed while Leanne stood near him, tears trailing down her cheeks as she stroked her fingers over the back of his hand.
I swallowed hard, leaning in to Daniel. There were the surface marks that showed that Matt had been in an accident, from the small cuts on his face and arms to the dark smudges beneath his eyes. He was pale, and his left arm was wrapped in a heavy cast. But the look in his eyes was really the most marked change. I was used to Matt smiling and laughing, almost constantly. Now, though, there was a pain in his eyes and a darkness. When he looked up at Leanne, it was clear that he knew exactly what he had almost lost.
“I’m going to be all right,” he said quietly, smiling around at me and Leanne. “I’m sure the doctor’s told you, but I have a tricky recovery ahead
of me. But I’m going to be all right.” His eyes paused on Daniel. Then, he frowned over at me. “What’s your boss doing here?” he asked. “Were you at work?”
I blushed and ducked my head, trying to think of a way to respond to that. But it was Leanne who responded. “Of course she wasn’t at work,” she said matter-of-factly. “They were out together, and Daniel brought Abby back here. He’s been helpful all day too. And great with the kids.” She looked over at me, a smile dancing in her eyes.
Matt gave me a look of surprise. But then he smiled, his eyes slipping shut as he stroked his thumb gently across the back of his wife’s hand. “Then I suppose I should say thank you, Daniel,” he said.
“I sent the kids home with Hannah tonight,” Leanne said to Matt as she settled into the seat at the head of his bed. “But as for me, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I,” Matt said gravely. “Neither am I.”
Chapter 21
Daniel
I STAYED OVER AT ABBY’S apartment on Saturday night, just holding her close after everything she had been through with her brother. She was exhausted, and I could tell that even the smallest of touches did wonders to make her feel a little better. I felt lucky to still be there next to her.
I was falling hopelessly in love with her. I didn’t know what I was going to do if she chose not to be part of my life anymore because of the whole media thing. But I was putting off having to think about any of that. Just get through the weekend first, give her everything she needed. I had already promised her I would drive back out to the hotel the next day and collect all our things from the suite. As much as I wished I could be bringing her back there, I knew that the timing just wasn’t right. We would have to have our romantic weekend away some other time.
