Her Loyal Seal(13)
“Oh God. Are you going to be in trouble?”
He didn’t meet her eyes.
“Clint, you’ve got to go back.”
“Nope. I left a message for Mason. He knows where to find me if he needs me. I can be back in San Diego in four hours if I have to. Right now, I’m where I need to be.”
More tears leaked. “I can’t seem to stop crying.”
“It’s okay, Baby. I couldn’t stop swearing when the computer pinged and you were back in the hospital.” He lowered the bedrail and sat down next to her hip.
“How did you find me? They didn’t even use the same alias as the last time.”
“I have certain parameters set up. There have been a couple of false reads, but when a beautiful girl with pneumonia in the DFW area showed up in the hospital, I checked her out. I had a gut feeling, don’t ask me how, but I knew it was you. God dammit, they had you in ICU! Do you know how fucking serious that was?” His face was so close to hers she could smell the toothpaste he used.
“But Papa-”
“I don’t give a shit. Lydia, you’re more important than him.”
“But I’m not more important than putting those animals away.”
“Yes. You. Are.” He was serious. He sat up and raked both hands through his short sandy hair.
“Clint, we haven’t seen or talked to one another in over a month. I’m going to go into the Witness Protection Program. You can’t allow me to mean that much to you.”
“Really? Are you saying I don’t mean that much to you?”
There was a buzzing sound. He pulled out his phone and winced and answered it.
“Yeah Mason, I’m here in Dallas.” He paused. “Yeah, I’m with Lydia.” He paused again. “Yep, you got it in one. It’s not good, but she’s got good doctors, and she’s going to get better. She doesn’t seem to have the sense God gave an ant.” He gave her a hard stare. She gulped. He listened for long minutes. “I appreciate the choice, Mason. Thank you.” He sighed. “So I wouldn’t have to be there until tomorrow night?”
Lydia couldn’t believe how much it mattered to her. It shouldn’t matter. Nothing would ever come of their time together.
“Yeah, now I’ve seen her for myself I can breathe again. I’ll take a flight back to San Diego tomorrow afternoon. Thanks man. I’ll be there for the team.” He pressed end on the phone and dropped it back into the side pocket of his cargo pants.
“You should go back today.”
“I’m staying Lydia.”
He cupped her cheek and stared down at her. She finally looked away, embarrassed by his scrutiny.
“Baby, please don’t scare me like this again.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
The lines in his forehead eased. He smiled. “I didn’t bring my computer, I knew you were too sick to play video games. Hell, look at you, you can barely keep your eyes open. Just sleep beautiful.”
He was right, all of the conversation had worn her out. But she didn’t want to sleep when he was actually there with her. He was going to have to leave on some secret mission, and then she would be going into hiding again.
He must have seen the angst on her face. His other hand came up and cupped her other cheek, his thumb tracing her dry bottom lip.
“Rest baby. I’ll be here when you wake up. I promise.”
****
“Clint!” Lydia looked around the darkened room, and then saw him sitting with his e-reader.
“I’m right here, baby.” He got up immediately and came to her. He grabbed her hand and brushed back her hair. “Damn, you still feel feverish.”
“I’m feeling better. It must be the rest.” She gave him a grin.
“I’m glad one of us can smile about this.”
“How soon before you have to leave?”
“I have another hour.”
“Were you going to leave without saying good-bye?” She felt the damn tears welling. God dammit, when was she going to stop being so weepy and needy?
“Absolutely not. Lydia, I promised I would be here when you woke up. I keep my promises. So even if I had to wake you up before leaving, that’s what I was going to do.” He squatted down beside the bed so they were eye level. “You believe me, don’t you?”
“Yes. Your word is golden.”
“Okay, no more tears. They kill me.” She looked at him, and realized he was telling the truth. Her pain was his pain. Oh God, she couldn’t let him feel this way. This was the last time they were ever going to see one another, maybe she could make him hate her.
“So what do you want to talk about, the fact this is going to be the last time we’re ever going to see one another?” She bit her lip and tried not to gasp for air. This time she couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Clint looked as anguished as she felt.