Chapter 18 Sully
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SULLY
Lynn regained consciousness sometime in the night. Autumn was dozing on my lap, her head on my shoulder. I looked over and met a set of blue eyes. They were confused and dull, but open. Inquisitive.
“Hello,” I murmured. “Don’t be alarmed. I’m Sully.”
Her voice was hoarse, thick, and tremulous. A small grimace of pain crossed her face, but she tried to smile. “The Irishman.”
“That’s me.”
Autumn stirred, and I brushed a finger down her cheek. “Look who’s up,” I told her, turning her face so she could see her aunt.
“Auntie Lynn,” she cried softly, pushing off my lap and bending over Lynn. “I am so happy to see you!”
I stood and went to find the doctor, giving them a few moments alone.
I stayed in the hall as the nurses went into the room, followed not long after by the doctor I had met after I’d arrived.
Autumn came out, her eyes filled with tears, but this time, they were happy.
She stepped into my arms, and I held her tight.
“Everything is going to be okay now, love. You’re grand.”
She half laughed, looking up at me. “Thank you for being here.”
I kissed her. “There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Things moved quickly once Lynn was checked and pronounced able to face surgery the next day.
“We’ll get you on the mend fast,” the doctor assured her. “Back home and feeling yourself in no time.”
“Home will look a little different now, I imagine,” she murmured.
“We’ll figure it all out,” Autumn soothed. “Let’s take this one step at a time.”
She held Autumn’s hand after the doctor left, looking distressed.
“I’m sorry I caused so much trouble.”
“Don’t be daft,” Autumn replied. “It was an accident. But you need to wear your alert button.”
“I hate it. It bothers my neck,” she said with a frown. “And listen to you, sounding all Scottish.” She glanced at me. “You teaching her that?”
“No. She is learning that all herself. I try to inject some Irish into her whenever I can, though,” I added with a wink.
“I bet you do, big man,” Lynn replied with a small grin. She looked at Autumn. “I like this one.”
“I do too,” Autumn said softly.
Lynn sighed, her eyes fluttering closed. “I know.”
“Rest, Auntie,” Autumn whispered. “I’ll be right here.”
This time, Lynn smiled. “I know.”
Surgery went well the next day, and we were waiting when Lynn was wheeled back into her room late in the afternoon. She was tired, drugged up, but smiled at Autumn.
“You look like hell, girl.”
Autumn laughed through her tears. “You should talk. Hospital colors don’t suit you.”
“I know. Brilliant colors are my best. I need to get out of here and back to my own things.”
“Soon,” Autumn promised.
Lynn sighed. “Sully? I need a favor.”
I bent over her. “Anything.”
“Take her and give her a good meal. Some sleep. Maybe an injection of Irish. I don’t want to see her back here until then.”
Autumn groaned in dismay.
I chuckled. “It would be my pleasure.”
“I bet it will,” Lynn mumbled, drifting toward sleep. “Go, Autumn. I’m fine.”
And she was out.
Autumn frowned and looked at me. I held up my hand, knowing she was going to fight this. “Niall and Anna are outside. They are going to sit with her. Finn and Una will take the later shift. You are going to stop arguing and do what she asked. You aren’t any good to her exhausted and ill.”
She shocked me when she nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I repeated.
She leaned into my side, and I snaked an arm around her waist. “Okay.”
I pressed a kiss to her head. “Thank you.”
“Sully,” she whispered, suddenly leaning harder. “I’m tired.”
“Then let me take you somewhere you can rest.”
AUTUMN
I was surrounded by warmth and comfort as I woke. I sat up, staring around the opulent room, the confusion lifting as my foggy mind cleared.
After Lynn had woken up and had her surgery and I knew she was recovering okay, Sully had brought me to the hotel.
Filled a deep tub and helped me into it as if I were a fragile piece of glass he was afraid would shatter.
He fed me bites of steak and tender asparagus, finishing off what I couldn’t eat.
There was something so innately sexy about seeing him cross-legged on the floor beside the tub, feeding me, whispering words of encouragement to keep my eyes open long enough to eat.
The room itself was big and plush, yet with him in it, it seemed smaller.
After, he dried me and laid me in a bed so plush and decadent, I was sure I was dreaming. He slid in behind me, holding me close. I nestled against him, and the last thing I heard was his voice whispering words of love in my ear.
He wasn’t in bed with me now, but I could hear his voice in the other room, the low cadence comforting.
I felt tired but not the bone-deep exhaustion that had hit me last night.
He walked in, smiling when he saw that I was awake.
“I was coming to check on you. Order in breakfast.”
“What time is it?”
“Ten.”
“Oh God, I didn’t mean to sleep that long.”
His smile was gentle, his voice tender. “You needed it—and more. You were shattered.”
“I have things to do.”
He took my hand. “I’ve called the hospital and spoken to her doctor.
She is doing well. We’ll go see her once you’ve eaten and gotten ready.
I spoke to Georgia at The Haven. We’ll see her later to go through options for Lynn, and you can discuss with her what you decide.
Then we’re having dinner with Finn, Niall, and their wives later.
I have also arranged someone to sit with Lynn to give you a break.
Georgia helped with that. Lynn is fond of one of the staff at The Haven, and she was looking to make extra money.
I hired her and she is trained, so you can’t argue about it. ”
I blinked. “I see. You’ve been very, ah, productive while I slept.”
“Your aunt asked me to look after you, and I am.”
“You are,” I agreed. “Above and beyond.”
He grinned. “Not really, lass. I can’t go back and tell her I followed all her instructions now, can I?” He held up his fingers, counting. “I got you a good meal. Some sleep. Took care of important tasks. But you’re still lacking the Irish injection. She’ll not be happy about that.”
I stared at him, unable to resist the smile pulling on the side of his full mouth.
He looked sexy and irresistible. His scruff was thick, his hair tousled, and he only wore sleep pants, his chest and torso on display, the muscles taut.
Tempting. His gaze was warm. Hot. Smoldering, almost. It made me feel warm all over.
Tingly.
“We can’t have that,” I said, sounding breathless.
He leaned over, pulling me onto his lap.
I felt his erection pressing against me.
“You need that injection,” he muttered. “You going to take your medicine like a good girl, Autumn? Take it all with a smile and thank me for it?” He ran his hands up my legs, cupping my ass and pulling me down tight to him.
“I think it may take more than one to be effective. Can you handle that?”
“Oh God, yes,” I whimpered.
“Good,” he grunted, rolling us over. “Good girl.”
Our visit with Lynn was short and sweet. Anna and Una were there, fussing over her. Lynn looked better than she had, her eyes clearer, the bandage around her head gone and replaced by a neat square covering the jagged cut she’d gotten when she’d hit her head on the table edge.
“I look like a tough old lady now,” she quipped as I bent to kiss her.
“You always have,” I teased, relief almost making me giddy.
She studied me. “You look better.” Glancing at Sully, she smirked. “Took my advice?”
“I always listen to my elders,” he replied, lifting her hand and kissing it. “Irish injection administered.” He winked. “A double dose.”
“Oh, keep this one,” she informed me.
“I plan on it.”
Sully sat with her as I spoke to the doctor and the girls. Lynn made him laugh often, and he met my eyes more than once, winking at me as if to say, “I’m in.”
We stayed until Lynn fell asleep. Una encouraged us to leave.
“We know you have things to take care of,” she said with a smile. “We have this. They are managing her pain well, so she’ll sleep most of the day.”
I hesitated, and she squeezed my hand. “Go. Make the arrangements you need to make. She’ll be fine. We’ll make sure of it. We’ll see you tonight.”
It was hard to leave, but I knew she was right.
Georgia showed us a suite in the upgraded, next-level care section of The Haven.
It was bigger, equipped with more safety features, including handrails and an intercom, plus the additional hands-on care Lynn would require.
But the view wasn’t as nice, and I didn’t like the layout.
I wasn’t sure I had much say in it, though.
Lynn liked it here—she liked the staff and had many friends.
I didn’t want her to have to try to deal with a new place and people, as well as her diminished capabilities.
“When is she returning to us?” Georgia asked, her eyes following Sully with admiration.
I tried to hide my amusement. Georgia was lovely and cordial to deal with, but she never took this much time out of her schedule for me.
But a personal tour and endless time for any questions was fine for Sully.
She was at least twenty years older than him and married, but I couldn’t blame her.
He looked especially sexy today in jeans and a cable-knit Irish sweater in a green that set off his dark coloring.
His overcoat was a deep black, completing his compelling look.
His accent seemed thicker, richer today, making him totally irresistible. And not only just to me.
I opened my mouth to speak, but Sully beat me to it.
“She is being transferred to Garrison Physio first for three weeks once she’s discharged,” he stated. “Then she’ll come here, and I’ve arranged private physio daily.”
“Ah, Garrison has a great reputation. We have worked with them before.”
Sully nodded, then crossed his arms, pursing his lips. “This room will not do.”
“Oh?”