by Desiree Holt
Tyler gave her a hug. “Sure you will. And Alex will forgive you, too, because he has enough of a brain to pay attention to where he’s going.”
“So let me ask you this,” Josh broke in. “Do you love him. I mean, really love him? No holds barred? Because I know how he feels about you and if you don’t return that it would be better for you to just walk away now. I can always take his place at the business meetings.”
“No! I mean, yes. Definitely yes. I do love him. I just…”
“Need to take that leap of faith?” he finished for her.
There was that phrase again.
She nodded, blotting away a fresh spate of tears. “I do. But…do you think he’ll still give me a chance?”
“As much as he loves you?” He looked at Tyler and they both nodded. “If he doesn’t we’ll beat him up.”
She choked out a laugh. “When will we know what’s going on?”
Tyler stood up. “Here’s comes the trauma doctor right now.”
A lean man in jeans and a polo shirt with a white coat over it approached them. Livy couldn’t tell a thing from the expression on his face.
He studied her. “You must be Livy.”
She stared at him. “How did you know?”
“My patient’s been calling for you every time he comes to. He even mumbled your name after we pumped him full of painkillers.
A ray of hope shot through her. He’d asked for her. Wanted her. Oh, please, please, please let him be all right.
“How is he? Will he be all right?”
“They’re taking him up to surgery now. Fortunately the cracked rib didn’t puncture a lung but there is some internal bleeding and the break in the leg is a compound fracture. We’ll set it while he’d under the anesthetic.” He looked at all three of them. “I expect he’ll be here for about a week but then he’ll need care at home. We can arrange for home nursing to help but…does he live alone?”
“He lives with me,” Livy put in before anyone else could answer. “He’ll be coming home with me. I’ll be taking care of him.”
The two brothers stared at her.
“Are you sure?” Josh asked at last. “He’s going to require a lot of attention, and you have work—“
“No,” she interrupted. “Alex comes first. I can make arrangements with Frank.”
And quit my job if he gives me a hard time.
Quit my job?
Yes, yes, yes. I’ve been so blind. I just want Alex. Everything else is secondary.
“Okay,” Tyler told her. “We can help, too. You know that.”
“He’s going to be in surgery for a while, then in recovery. There’s a waiting room on the surgical floor but if you want to go get coffee or leave for a while, the nurse can call you.”
“I’m not leaving.” Livy looked at the two men on either side of her. “I’m staying right here.”
I’ll never take the chance of losing him again.
“Fine.” The doctor gave them a tired smile. “I’ll find you when he’s out of surgery and give you a report.”
“Let me at least get you some coffee,” Josh said as they waited for the elevator. “I think we could all use some.”
She nodded. “Thank you. I’d appreciate it.”
When they reached the surgical floor she excused herself and walked away a few feet to call Frank, who shocked her by being surprisingly understanding.
“Livy, you’re the best I’ve got,” he told her, “but you need to have a personal life or you’ll burn yourself out. You deserve it. I’ve just been waiting for the right man to come along for you.”
“But the project. The meetings.”
“Have one of the brothers call me on my direct line. We’ll work it out. And Dan can stand in for you on any meetings you can’t make.” His voice sounded so kind she wanted to cry again. “Take care of your man. Guys like him don’t come along too often.”
And wasn’t that the truth.
“Thank you, Frank. Really.”
Waiting in a hospital was never easy. Every second seemed like an hour and every hour like a day. Livy’s imagination ran wild and the images of Alex she conjured up, hurt and broken, were probably much worse that the reality. She just wished they knew more.
They sat, they paced, they drank bad coffee from the machine against one wall. Finally a man in green scrubs walked into the room and asked, “Family of Alex McMann?”
Livy and the brothers stood up and the doctor walked over to them.
“Dr. Burton,” he told them, shaking hands. “Well, the surgery went well. We set the leg and tied off the bleeders in his abdomen. Fortunately all his vital organs are still intact.”
“What about the concussion?” Tyler wanted to know.
“It was pretty severe but we did a CAT scan of his skull and there are no cracks or hematomas. He will, however, need to be awakened every couple of hours once we get him into his room. The nurses on the surgery floor are very good but we’re a little overbooked at the moment.
“I’ll do it,” Livy told him. “I’m going to stay with him every minute.”
Josh chuckled. “We’ll be there, too. We can help.”
“I’d say he’s in good hands.” The doctor gave them a tired smile. “It will be at least an hour before they take him to his room.”
“Thank, you Dr. Burton.” Livy grasped his hands as if they were a lifeline. “Thank you so much.”
“It’s nice to deliver good news.”
When the doctor left Josh turned to Tyler and Livy. “I took care of him at Admitting when they brought him in, but I want to make sure he gets a private room.” He looked at Livy. “I’ll see if they’re willing to put a cot in there for you.”
“Oh, thank you. Will they do that?”
He winked at her. “I’ll make sure.”
The afternoon dragged on interminably. She told Josh and Tyler they could go back to the office if they wanted but she was hugely relieved when they said they were staying right there. She needed their strength. Needed them telling her everything would be all right and Alex would forgive her. Livy had just checked her watch for what seemed like the thousandth time and noted it was six o’clock when a nurse came into the waiting room asking for Alex McMann’s family.
“We just took him up to his room.” She smiled at them. “He’s still very groggy but he’s asking for someone named Livy.” She looked at Olivia. “I’m guessing that would be you.”
“Yes, yes. Can we see him now?”
“Yes. He’s on the third floor. Someone at the nurses’ station there can direct you.”
Livy thought her heart would stop beating when she walked into the room and got her first look at Alex. His left leg was in traction, a cast extending from hip to ankle. A nurse standing beside his bed was just checking his dressing, which apparently covered his entire midsection. And he was hooked up to machines that clicked and beeped and whirred. An intravenous needle was taped to the back of one hand so he could receive whatever fluids were in the plastic bag hooked to a pole.
And he looked paler than the white sheets on the bed.
She wanted to throw up. Only Josh’s steadying hand at her elbow kept her from crumbling to the floor.
“He’s pretty out of it,” the nurse told them, repeating what they’d already heard. “They’re giving him a stiff dose of painkillers to keep him comfortable. You know he has to be awakened every hour until tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll be doing that,” Livy told her. She moved to stand beside the bed, taking Alex’s hand in hers, the one without the needle in it. He felt so cold it alarmed her. “He’s freezing,” she told the nurse.
“It’s common after surgery. I’ll get him another blanket.”
It didn’t help that they couldn’t cover his entire body because of the leg, but Josh and Tyler helped her move the bedclothes around carefully. Then Tyler pulled a chair from the corner and placed it next to the bed.
“Sit,” he told her. “It’s goin
g to be a long night.”
She sat beside the bed, holding his hand as day passed into night and then began lightening into morning. Josh and Tyler found extra chairs and maintenance brought in a cot for her but she couldn’t sleep. All she could do was stare at Alex and pray.
They woke him every hour but he roused only enough to mumble something before falling asleep again.
“It’s the medicine,” the night nurse assured them as she gave him another dose. “As long as he wakes at all we’re good.” She checked his eyes, lifting the lids one at a time. “The pupils aren’t dilated. I think we’re out of the woods as far as the concussion is concerned.”
That was good news but Livy wanted him fully awake and talking to her.
She had her hand snaked through the guard rails on the bed and at some point she took the pillow from the cot, stuffed it against the rails and laid her head on it. She hadn’t meant to doze off, hadn’t realized she’d done it until she felt someone nudge her.
She looked up through bleary eyes to see Tyler smiling at her.
“Wake up, sleepyhead. Someone wants to talk to you.”
She blinked hard to clear away the cobwebs. “Huh?”
“Livy?” The voice was slurred from pain and narcotics but it was definitely Alex.
She stood up so quickly she knocked back the chair.
“Alex? Ohmigod, Alex? Are you really awake?” She lifted his hand and pressed kisses to it. “You’re awake. I mean, really awake.”
His pain-dulled eyes shifted to look at his brothers. “Ty? Josh? What’s everyone doing here?” He tried to shift in bed and groaned. “Damn. I feel like a truck fell on me.”
“Only a car,” Josh teased. “Next time look both ways before crossing the street, just like Mom always told us.”
Alex’s eyes shifted back to Livy. “Are you really here?”
“Yes. Oh yes. And I’m never leaving you again. I love you, Alex.” Again she smothered his hand in kisses.
“Damn. It was almost worth getting hurt to hear you say that.”
“Don’t do it again,” Tyler told him.
The brothers stayed long enough to assure themselves that Alex would be okay. They told Livy they’d be back later and she should plan on taking at least an hour to run home and change. She’d feel a lot better.
But all she could focus on was Alex. She held his hand as he dozed off again. Every time he opened his eyes she smiled at him and told him again she loved him. By afternoon he was able to stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time. When he opened his eyes and looked at her he smiled despite the pain that etched lines on his face.
“You’re still here. I didn’t dream it.”
“I’m still here and I’m not going away. Oh, Alex, I was so foolish. I’d been hurt so much in the past I was afraid to trust my heart again. But I just have to take that leap of faith you and your brothers believe in so strongly and trust you to take good care of my heart.”
He closed his fingers around hers. “You know how much I love you. I’d never do anything to hurt you. Ever. You’re everything to me.”
“As you are to me. I’m sorry it took so long for me to realize that.”
“Here’s the big question. Will you marry me?”
Her heart squeezed at the words. Do it, you idiot.
“Yes, I’ll marry you. Just as soon as you’re better.”
“That’s the best medicine you could give me. Put down that rail for a minute and let me kiss you.”
She bent over him carefully and pressed her mouth to hers. He lifted his free hand to tangle his fingers in her hair and hold her to him. Even in his debilitated condition, the kiss he gave her was scorching. And full of promise. A promise for the future.
About the Author
I always wonder what readers really want to know when I write one of these things. Getting to this point in my career has been an interesting journey. I’ve managed rock and roll bands and organized concerts. Been the only female on the sports staff of a university newspaper. Immersed myself in Nashville peddling a country singer. Lived in five different states. Married two very interesting but totally different men.
I think I must have lived in Texas in another life, because the minute I set foot on Texas soil I knew I was home. Living in Texas Hill Country gives me inspiration for more stories than I’ll probably ever be able to tell, what with all the sexy cowboys who surround me and the gorgeous scenery that provides a great setting.
Each day is a new adventure for me, as my characters come to life on the pages of my current work in progress. I’m absolutely compulsive about it when I’m writing and thank all the gods and goddesses that I have such a terrific husband who encourages my writing and puts up with my obsession. As a multi-published author, I love to hear from my readers. Their input keeps my mind fresh and always hunting for new ideas.
Desiree welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email the author directly or you can email us at [email protected] (when contacting Comments, be sure to state the book title and author).
Also by Desiree Holt
1-800-DOM-help: Delight Me
Cougar Challenge: Hot to Trot
Cupid’s Shaft
Dancing With Danger
Diamond Lady
Double Entry
Downstroke
Driven by Hunger
Eagle’s Run
Ellora’s Cavemen: Flavors of Ecstasy I anthology
Hard Lovin’
Mistletoe Magic: Elven Magic with Regina Carlysle & Cindy Spencer Pape
Mistletoe Magic: Touch of Magic
Emerald Green
Erector Set 1: Erected
Escape the Night
Hot Moon Rising
Hot, Wicked and Wild
I Dare You
Journey to the Pearl
Just Say Yes
Kidnapping the Groom with Allie Standifer
Letting Go
Line of Sight
Nemesis 1: Until the Dawn with Cerise DeLand
Nemesis 2: Until Midnight with Cerise DeLand
Nemesis 3: Until Twilight with Cerise DeLand
Night Seekers 1: Lust Unleashed
Night Seekers 2: Lust by Moonlight
Night Seekers 3: Lust Undone
Night Heat
Once Burned
Once Upon a Wedding
Phoenix Agency 1: Jungle Inferno
Phoenix Agency 2: Extrasensory
Phoenix Agency 3: Delicious Danger
Phoenix Agency 4: F-Stop
Riding Out the Storm
Rodeo Heat
Seductive Illusion with Allie Standifer
Skin Deep 1: Bedroom Eyes
Something Wicked This Way Comes anthology
Switched
Teaching Molly
Trouble in Cowboy Boots
Turn up the Heat 1: Scorched with Allie Standifer
Turn up the Heat 2: Scalded with Allie Standifer
Turn up the Heat 3: Singed with Allie Standifer
Turn up the Heat 4: Steamed with Allie Standifer
Wedding Belles: Something Blue with Cerise DeLand & Allie Standifer
Wedding Belles: Something Borrowed
Where Danger Hides
Print books by Desiree Holt
Age and Experience anthology
Candy Caresses anthology
Cougar Challenge: Tease the Cougar anthology
Demanding Diamonds anthology
Downstroke
Ellora’s Cavemen: Flavors of Ecstasy I anthology
Erotic Emerald anthology
Mistletoe Magic anthology
Night Seekers 1: Lust Unleashed
Naughty Nuptials anthology
Night Heat
Once Burned
Rodeo Heat
&nb
sp; Tease the Cougar anthology
Turn Up the Heat anthology
Sequins, Saddles and Spurs anthology
Something Wicked This Way Comes, Volume 1 anthology
Wedding Belles anthology
Where Danger Hides
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Hammered
ISBN 9781419938559
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Hammered Copyright © 2012 Desiree Holt
Edited by Raelene Gorlinsky
Cover design by Dar Albert
Photos: Fotolia.com
Electronic book publication August 2012
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