“Can we see her?”
“She’s asking to see Luke Haney.”
Neal’s heart sank. He watched his brother leave. Luke would see the woman he loved before he got a chance to make sure she was okay. His life was going to hell in a handbasket.
He sat down and waited. The only thing he could do.
* * * *
Sandy sat up in the bed staring at her plastered leg. The plan to move had just taken a drastic turn. She wouldn’t be driving with a broken leg when she struggled to move.
Someone knocked at her door. She glanced up and smiled. Luke stood on the other side. He opened the door, then walked over to her.
“You’ve been doing battle again.”
“I think considering my opponent was a car I did really well. I’m still alive.”
“And driving a man crazy with worry,” Luke said making her smile falter.
“Has he been out there long?”
“Long enough to start wearing out the tile on the floor but he’s holding himself together.”
She felt guilty for not asking to see him sooner. “They need some paperwork signed. I don’t have the head to be thinking about it.”#p#分页标题#e#
“You didn’t change your next of kin?”
“If you don’t want to, I’ll take them with me.”
“Don’t stress about it, I’ll sort through the paperwork. In the mean time, you’ve got to talk to Neal. He’s worried about you. This isn’t good for either of you.”
“I don’t know what to say to him,” she said.
“He’s still the guy you love. Neal is strange. He cares in his own way. Trust me when I say he loves you.”
Luke kissed her on the head before he moved out. She didn’t have time to even look in the mirror before Neal stood in the doorway.
Her throat tightened up. He looked good no matter what he wore. She licked her lips and turned away.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”
The only sound in the room was of his footsteps.
“You scared me.”
“I scared myself. I don’t know why I ran into the middle of the road.” The bed shifted. He sat down beside her.
“It was my fault. I shouldn’t have grabbed you. I scared you.”
Her heart melted at the concern for her in his eyes.
“Don’t blame yourself. This wasn’t all your fault. I’m to blame as well.”
“We’ve made a mess of this,” he said.
Sandy smiled and placed a hand to her head as a pain shot through her skull.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“The pain medication hasn’t reached every part of me yet.”
“My family stopped by.”
A groan escaped her. She reached for a pillow to lie across her front. “I hope I didn’t scare them.”
“Only the way you did me.”
She smiled.
“I want to talk to you about what I said.”
“You don’t need to explain yourself.”
“Yes. I do.” He took hold of her hand. From the small connection she felt a current pass through them—like they were both charged to be together.
Something that was far stronger, working to keep them together.
“I shouldn’t have said those things. I don’t think of you that way, Sandy. When that guy put his hands on you, I saw red. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I love you.”
He said the words with such ease, Sandy began to believe him.
“Okay, I’ll forgive you.”
“Great. I’ll take you back to my place as soon as you get discharged. I’ll take care of you.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. I said I forgive you. That doesn’t mean we’re getting back together,” she said.
You want him, honey. Stop trying to fool anyone else. You love him. You want to kiss him and have all his babies.
“I’m taking care of you, Sandy. You’re mine.”
“I got ran over by a car, Neal. That doesn’t mean you have to take care of me. In fact I don’t want you fucking near me. Leave,” she shouted, pointing at the door. She feared she’d give in at a moment’s notice. For too long she’d wanted this man and now he wanted her. The world had a nasty way of biting you in the ass with too many gifts.
“I’m here to help you. There is no way you’re going to be able to look after yourself with a broken leg. You’ve also banged your head real good. The doctors want you here for observation. After you’re released, I’ll take care of you at my home. Not to mention the fact you’ve sold your house,” Neal said.
“There are other people who can look after me. People who love and care for me.”#p#分页标题#e#