“He’ll be fine.” His mother patted Cal’s hand, snapping him back to the present. “He’s strong and stubborn.”
Cal snorted. “Hell yeah.” That was Dec through and through.
Down the hall, Hale and Morgan were pacing. Logan was leaning against the wall. He looked relaxed but Cal felt the tension vibrating off the big man. He was like live explosives and could go off at any second. And when Logan O’Connor lost it, lots of things got broken.
But Cal’s gaze drifted to the small form huddled in a plastic chair. She was probably attractive, he’d seen a hint of it during the rescue, but right now she just looked tired, dirty, and afraid.
The way Declan had watched her, like she was his very reason for breathing… It made Cal’s chest tight.
A buzzing sound made him look down. His mom pulled her phone out of her pocket. “It’s your father.” She flicked it open. “Go see Layne. She’s hanging on by a thread.”
As his mother moved away, Cal dropped down in the chair beside the archeologist. “You okay?”
“It’s taking so long.” Her lips trembled but Cal watched as she straightened and pulled herself together. “He was so hurt.”
“My brother’s tough.”
She glanced sideways. “He’s not a superhero.” There was the tiniest snap to her voice.
Cal fought a smile. Good, Dec didn’t need a pushover. “No, but he has something worth living for.” Cal reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. He knew without a doubt that this was the woman his brother had chosen. “He’ll fight tooth and nail to get back to you.”
She gave Cal a watery smile. “He promised to take me to the beach.”
“Well, Dec is a man who always keeps his promises. It was annoying when we were kids. He could never let anything go.”
“I am so in love with him,” she said quietly.
God, his brother had gone and taken the fall. Cal shook his head. It sure as hell wasn’t for him, but he liked the idea of his brother having a pretty, smart woman by his side. Going on instinct, Cal pulled her in for a hug. She was stiff at first, then relaxed against him. He got the impression she wasn’t used to easy affection.
“Did someone say something about the beach?”
Cal’s mom dropped down on Layne’s other side and put an arm around the archeologist. He saw Layne blink in surprise.
“I love the beach.” Persephone bumped her shoulder against Layne’s. “Actually I like those frou-frou drinks with the little umbrellas in them best of all.”
A surprised laugh escaped Layne.
“Declan and Callum love the beach too. As does their father.”
Cal rolled his eyes. “Mom, I’m pretty sure Dec had a different kind of beach vacation planned with Layne. You know, the private kind.”
“I don’t care.” His mom sniffed. “I’m his mother. He deserves to have his plans disrupted after causing us this worry.”
Cal softened. His mother had never been one to cry or show her worry. Growing up, she’d been the one to pick them up when they fell as kids and tell them to try again. Their father had been the one to hug them and kiss any skinned knees. But he could see she was worried now.
Reaching over, he grabbed his mom’s hand and then pressed it over Layne’s, the three of them joined in their love and concern for Declan.
“Someone say beach?” Logan loomed nearby. “I like the ocean.”
“You like something?” Morgan muttered from down the hall. “It’s a miracle.”
There was a squeak of shoes on the linoleum floor. Cal turned his head and saw a doctor headed their way. A surgeon, by the look of him.
Cal swallowed and saw his mother lift her chin. Layne straightened and her hand clenched on Cal’s. He squeezed back.
Declan lay on his back, the sun warm on his face.
This was his idea of heaven.
He opened his eyes and stared at the gentle waves lapping at the pristine white sand beach. No, he corrected himself, the beach might be idyllic, but heaven was coming toward him now.
Layne swept out of the waves, her dark hair slicked back, and her toned body looking mouthwateringly fine in her red bikini.
As promised, it was tiny.
She sauntered over to his lounger, grabbed a towel, and wiped down her face and body. She took her time, long sweeps down those slim limbs and toned curves.
Then she sat at his hip. “Hello.”
Declan slipped a finger into the side of the bikini bottoms. “Have I told you how much I love this bikini?”
She tilted her head, a smile on her lips. “No, I don’t think you have.” She pressed her hands to his chest and lowered her voice. “But you’ve showed your appreciation a few times.”