Chapter 27
She was sitting in a hospital bed, staring at him like he was a little green alien or something.
The woman he wanted more than any other on the planet had been in a car accident.
Where else would Kurt be? “I’m here to be with you.
I would have been here earlier, but I was in Fort Worth today.
Dealing with the rest of my girls’ parents’ estate. How are you feeling, sweetheart?”
And he and Lassiter had had a meeting with a contact of Lassiter’s. Kurt hadn’t given up on finding out why Kevin’s file had been so…spotty.
“Not your sweetheart, remember? Your biggest mistake, I believe is what I am. I am sore. But the baby is okay, and that’s what matters. You can go home to the girls now.”
“What happened?”
She eyed him suspiciously.
Well, maybe he shouldn’t have tried to kiss her before he and the girls had left the barbecue Saturday.
He’d just not been able to resist. She’d been helping Bristol with her ice cream cone mess and Kurt had just looked at Greer and fallen even more in love.
He’d kissed Bronte, then Bristol, and then…
before she could escape…he’d kissed Greer Katarina.
For real kissed her, while Bristol had giggled between them.
He hadn’t imagined it either—Greer Katarina had kissed him back.
Until her daddy and two of her brothers had interrupted instead.
Asking just what he thought he was doing and all.
He’d merely told the mayor the man should know what he was trying to do, since the mayor’s wife was pregnant with their fifth and all.
“A truck ran us off the road. I was coming to the doctor today. George and Ronnie were driving me. I am going to go to the same obstetrician she goes to.”
“What did the doctor say?”
“No signs of distress or anything like that. The baby looks healthy.” She reached for something on the tray next to her bed. “Here. I suppose you do get to see him-or-her. I’m scheduled for another ultrasound in the morning.”
She reached out to him. With something in her hand. He took it automatically and looked down. At ultrasound photos. “Well. He or she…looks…like a blob?”
He tried, but well…he wasn’t all that certain what he was looking at here. Except…that was… “It’s our baby. For real.”
“Yes.”
And big, beautiful hazel eyes were watching him right now. He really hoped she didn’t still think he had gotten her pregnant on purpose. He hadn’t. This time, anyway. Their next one would be a totally different story, if she wanted another when the time came.
Kurt stepped closer to the bed. He snagged her hand quickly. He wanted to touch her all over, to make sure she was in one piece. He’d heard about the wreck from news alerts on his phone, stating the mayor of Value and his pregnant sister were in an accident. He’d known immediately that it was her.
“I got here to you as soon as I could. I drove straight back from Fort Worth, and got the girls settled with Marie, and now here I am.”
“You could have called. I’m sure one of my family members would have given you an update. If you asked nicely enough. Genny would have, probably. Maybe. She’d be the most likely.”
“I didn’t want to just call. I needed to be here. With you.” Kurt settled into the chair next to the bed, his heart finally settling back in his chest. She had a slight bruise over her eye, and she moved a bit more gingerly than he wanted to think about. But she was okay. He could breathe again.
“Playing the part, darling?”
“I couldn’t breathe right until I knew you and the baby were okay. Please, don’t make me leave.” He settled into the chair next to her. He just wanted to look at her. “How are your brother and sister-in-law?”
They were the ones expecting the baby, he thought she’d told him. The mayor and his wife. With all the kids. Girls. Kurt had met George Hiller and his family before. “How is their baby doing?”
Anything could have happened out there today. Hell, Kurt knew just how that man would have felt.
“Babies. Ronnie had twins. Boy and a girl. They are beautiful and perfect and healthy. Just a little small. They are okay. Thank God. We…it was close for them.”
“I’m glad to hear that they are healthy, honey. I’m sorry this happened to you today.” He wanted to hold her. To get that scared look out of those eyes.
She yawned and just looked at him. “So…you can leave now. You have done your duty. Now, git.”
He looked around. There were signs someone was in with her; the chair had a blanket in it. Kurt just settled himself right in for the night. Well, that was his spot now. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She tried to argue quietly—her sister-in-law was in the room next door, she said—but Kurt was very stubborn when it mattered. His woman was in the hospital. He wasn’t leaving her when she needed him.
Kurt just wasn’t.
He stood again, then stepped up to the bed. “I’m not leaving you here alone, honey. I’m just not.”
“Oh, go soak your head.”
He knew she could have security kick him out. But he suspected she wouldn’t do that. Greer didn’t like to make a scene, for one thing. Dirty of him to play on that when she was obviously tired, but…
His woman was in a hospital bed. He wasn’t going anywhere.
Kurt took the boldest move of his life—and slipped his arm beneath her back. And just held her. “I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere. It’s going to be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”
She didn’t push him away.
Her arms tightened around his neck.
Kurt just held her tight, for as long as she would let him.
He never wanted to let her go.