Chapter 44
44
The three most precious people in her world were right there next to her when Aubrey opened her eyes. From the light coming in the window, it was late out. Far later than it had been. She was in one of the private rooms on the second floor, she thought.
And they were there, right next to her.
But… "Ayla can't sit in that chair forever…She'll be hurting…"
That was all it took to have Genny popping up like a toaster strudel. "You are awake. Good. I was about ready to start poking you with catheter needles just to get you to open the peepers. But Guthrie wouldn't let me. He's a bit overprotective of you."
"You would do it, too…" She was foggy, but not too bad. Not so bad that…she looked at him. He was there, and just watching her. And beautiful. Tears hit her eyes. "I knew you would come for me. I trusted you would."
Trusting him…was more…it mattered. So much.
"I will do my best to always come when you need me, Aubrey Fisher. You can count on me. Forever." He leaned forward, brushed the hair off her head. "How do you feel? It wasn't too bad of a break. Caine says back to good as new in six weeks. Eight tops, if we need to give you vitamins first."
"Hurts. But…not too bad. I remember…what happened. Where is Howard?" It had been around five when Howard had yanked her down to the basement. She'd been meeting Ten and Caine at five-fifteen. It was obviously well past that. More like closer to five in the morning.
"County lockup. He's not going anywhere for a while. Laughlin is saying federal charges may stick for the drugs and the billing fraud, on top of the assault and whatever else today earned him. He was apparently well aware of what Henedy had been doing in Garrity and had been doing the same here for all those years. But it's over now. We'll worry about you running this place later. For now…" Guthrie leaned forward. He kissed her so gently. "Let's just focus on getting you out of here. And back to my family ranch where Ayla, Genny, and I can take care of you. The way you deserve to be taken care of. I'm not letting you go, just so you know. I'm keeping you forever. But we can talk about that when you are out of this place, I promise."
"I want to talk about it now. I don't want to wait any longer. I'm tired of being afraid. I want to take chances…as long as they are with you.”
Ayla was awake, listening. Genny helped Ayla up, and then they were just headed out the door, Genny fussing over Aubrey's little sister worse than Genny fussed over Greer. Ayla was crying softly.
And just there…in the hallway were Gunn Hiller and Dr. Chad Fields. Ready to take Ayla and Genny home. To take care of them.
They had all waited…for her.
Never had Aubrey ever felt like she belonged with anyone more.
But mostly… "I was going to seduce you tonight. Last night. Howard interrupted."
"I should have kicked his ass even more than I did. I will always kick ass for you, Dr. Beautiful Woman Who Stole My Heart And Soul. Just so you know."
"I would like that. I would like that very much." Aubrey was getting tired again. His hand wrapped around hers.
"Go back to sleep; I am not going anywhere. Even if there is another twelve pound baby in need of me to bring him or her into the world. I am yours. For as long as you will keep me."
"Forever. I want forever." Her eyes closed. She didn't have the energy to open them. But…she forced her eyes to open. She had waited long enough to tell him. "Guthrie…"
"Yes, babe?"
"I want to take a chance."
"Good. Because I want to, too. And well…I was going to carry you away to my cave if you made me wait too much longer. I am not a patient man where you are concerned, you know. And my daddy always says 'when it's right, it's right'. You are right. For me. Forever."
"I like that…and…four. The answer is four…No. Five…"
"What is five?"
"The number that I think is one too many…five. We should probably only have four…"
That was the last thing she said for a very long time.
But she felt his hand wrapped around hers. And she knew…
Guthrie Hiller wasn't going anywhere.
She could trust in that.
Keep Reading for an Excerpt from George and Ronnie’s story, when we go back in time a decade!