Stealing Hearts (Wild at Heart #1)

27. RHETT

27

RHETT

My phone rings. It’s Jace. I pause unloading a bale of hay. “What’s up?” He’s talking so fast, I only make out half of what he’s saying. “What’s wrong with Paige?”

“She’s throwing up. She went out for a run and when she returned, she was the color of a tomato. She hadn’t eaten, so I made her something and gave her some juice. I thought she was fine, but then she started puking.”

“Shit. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Keep an eye on her.”

“No prob.”

I give Beau a quick update, then take off on Apollo. Guilt for being an ass these last two days hits me hard. I got tongue-tied when Paige brought up having kids right after we fucked. Hell, my cock was still lodged deep in her body. She was so standoffish afterward, I didn’t want to crowd her. Amber always bit my head off after an argument, so I got used to giving women a wide berth if they were pissed. But now I’m not sure that was the right thing to do.

When I reach the barn, I hand off Apollo to Wayne and then run to the house. I don’t bother cleaning off my boots or washing up, just head straight to my bedroom where I find Jace putting a wet towel on Paige, who’s flushed and panting.

“Jesus. Are you okay?”

Her eyes flutter open, but she closes them again. “Fine. Just tired.”

Jace winces. “I’m thinking she has heat stroke. She had a hard workout, and she’s not used to this humidity.”

She waves a hand at us, like she’s trying to shoo a fly. “I’ve worked out in humid gyms my whole life.”

Her hair is wet. “You took a cool shower?” She nods, but that makes me more alarmed. That should’ve lowered her body temperature. I kneel next to the bed and place my palm on her forehead. “Darling, you’re burning up. Maybe you got dehydrated. It’s easy to do, especially on a day like today. Let’s take you to the ER.”

She groans. “I can’t afford that.”

“You’re on my insurance, remember? I’ve got you.”

“I’m fine. Just let me sleep.”

She’s not gonna be happy with me, but I don’t give a shit. We said “in sickness and in health,” and I’ll be damned if I let her get worse. I lift her into my arms, and she flails weakly. “Rhett, put me down.”

“We’re getting you fluids at the ER.” I skim her body. “After we get you dressed.” She’s wearing a tiny tank top and panties. “Jace, if you look at my wife right now, you’re a dead man.”

He chuckles as he heads for the door. “Call me if you need help.”

After I get Paige dressed, I scoop her up again. When I get her out to my truck, I recline the passenger seat and lay her on it before I drag the seatbelt across her chest. “Hang tight, wildflower. We’ll get you feeling better soon.”

Since I’ve been bossing her around, I expect more pushback, but all she does is curl up in her seat and close her eyes, which worries me.

I break all the speed limits to get her to the hospital.

When we get there, my truck squeals to a stop. I hop out, and a minute later, I’m carrying her in.

Dr. Joan Bixby, who delivered my boys, is manning the nurses’ station. “Whatcha got there, Rhett?”

“My wife got overheated today. I’m worried she got heat stroke and needs fluids.”

Joan directs us to a little room where I gently place her on a gurney. “What are Paige’s symptoms?”

It doesn’t surprise me that Joan knows Paige. I rattle off the reasons I’m concerned as I adjust the pillow behind my wife’s head.

Paige’s eyes crack open. “I’m just tired.”

Joan listens to her heartbeat, checks her pulse and blood pressure, then nods. “Let’s get some labs and start an IV to see if that perks her up.”

When a nurse jabs her, Paige is so drowsy, she barely flinches. Once the nurse gets the IV going, I pull up a chair next to Paige, who falls asleep again. After a while, her pulse finally slows down and her breathing looks more relaxed, which Joan says is a good sign.

A nurse closes the curtain around us, leaving me and my wife shrouded in a dim light. I thread my fingers through Paige’s and brush her hair out of her face. She’s so beautiful. Even a little sunburned and exhausted.

I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss it. “Baby, I’m so sorry for the other day. I know I’m an asshole. I’m just overwhelmed. I feel like I can’t think beyond getting the ranch’s finances figured out.” I shake my head. “I want to be more for you. I just don’t know how to get there.”

Why is it easier to say this to her when she’s asleep?

I love you. The thought whispers through my mind.

As much as I wanna tell her, it wouldn’t be fair to make that declaration until she’s made her decision about whether she wants to stay or go. I don’t want to sway her one way or another. I think Danny would approve of me putting her first.

I stroke her soft cheek and smile. This woman strolled right up and stole my heart out of nowhere.

Amber was my first love. We were young and dumb and horny. Had I any sense, I would’ve thought more with the big head on my shoulders than the little one in my jeans. But I was eager to have a family, to create what was always elusive for me and my brothers. A happy place where my kids didn’t have to worry about their father falling down drunk or yelling at us all the time.

Now that I’m older, I’m not as quick to dive off into the deep end of the pool, but I also recognize that Paige and I have the potential to be so much bigger than what I had with my ex.

I kiss the back of Paige’s hand again. I might not be able to say the words, but maybe I can show her how I feel.

Once the IV finishes, the machine starts to beep. Paige’s eyes flutter open.

“Hey, baby. Are you feeling better?”

“Better. I don’t know what happened. Why I got so weak.”

Joan and a nurse pop in to turn off the machine and check Paige’s vitals. The doctor smiles at Paige. “Missy, I know you’re an elite athlete, but the Texas sun and humidity don’t play favorites. I’ve seen triathletes go down in this August heat. Did you work out longer than you expected?”

She nibbles the corner of her lip. “I ran pretty hard on the way home, and I went farther than I planned. I’ve been rehabbing my ankle all summer, and I guess I’m not in the kind of shape I thought I was.”

“On the bright side, being as fit as you are is why you’re bouncing back so quickly.” She has the nurse remove the IV while she jots notes in Paige’s chart. “Just be sure to pace yourself. Before I forget, my daughter is your biggest fan. She and I watched your nationals competition. She wants to fling herself off human pyramids now.”

Paige chuckles. “I’m sorry.”

Joan pats her shoulder. “Great job snagging those back-to-back championships. And that news interview you did was spectacular. I think that was the year before last? You were so poised. I was really impressed.”

I turn to my wife. “You did an interview?”

A flush returns to her cheeks. “It’s nothing.”

Joan tuts. “Nothing? I beg to differ. Check it out for yourself, Rhett. It’s linked on the Broncos’ cheerleading website.” Then she turns to my wife. “I’m discharging you, but I want you to take it easy and drink plenty of fluids. Come back if you experience any more dizziness.”

I start to scoop up Paige, but she growls. “I can walk, Rhett. Jeez.”

Joan chuckles. “He just wants to protect you. Looks like you found a good one.”

Taking a step back, I offer Paige my hand. “Just in case you need the support, okay?”

She nods, presses her palm in mine, then slides to her feet. As we walk slowly to my truck, I wrap my arm around her slim shoulders. “Was worried about you back there.”

“I’m okay.”

“How do you feel about ribs? I was thinking of barbecuing when we get home. I can set you up on the couch, you can read that romance book that caught your eye, and I’ll fix us something to eat.”

She glances at me. “You don’t have to baby me.”

“But what if I want to?” I ask slowly. We stop to stare at each other. “I like taking care of you, wildflower. Will you let me?”

Her eyes get glassy, and she nods. I open my arms, and she tucks herself against me. Leaning down, I kiss the top of her head.

I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but one thing is certain. I don’t wanna fuck this up.