Epilogue
Kurt heard someone walking near where he slept and he forced his eyes open. There was something he needed to do. And he heard beeping.
There was no beeping in his bedroom. There never had been. He forced his eyes open. And there she was. “Greer.”
Everything came rushing back—along with the fire in his shoulder. His head was a bit foggy right now; drugs, he realized quickly enough. But there she was. And she was next to him. “Greer. Damn it, woman. You are not allowed to scare me like that again.”
He reached for her. There were other people in the room now—but Kurt didn’t even look to see who they were. He only had eyes for her.
“I scared myself, actually. But you…he almost killed you, you toad. Don’t ever let that happen again.”
“What’s the damage?” His arm felt like it belonged to a mummy, no denying that. He was wrapped up pretty good. “Last I remember was a lot of blood. And a big thud.”
Followed by a man yelling out. Since it hadn’t been Kurt, he wasn’t sure exactly what had happened.
“That thud was…Gene. Yunderhall apparently tried to get away. Gene said he did his ‘duty’ to protect his family. With the pipe that guy had had in his truck,” a male voice said behind her.
It was her doctor brother. The guy was probably Kurt’s favorite of the brothers; he had come in so handy.
“Yunderhall is locked up in a secure ward at Finley Creek County. In traction. His legs will heal eventually. Both of them. Like the good big brother he is, Gene…really did his duty out there. While Gunn and I had our backs turned. We were busy taking care of our baby sister and her…Just what exactly are your intentions toward my baby sister, Mr. Chase?”
“Oh, just ignore Guthrie. He’s a lunatic.” Greer settled on the edge of his bed. “Except…just what are your intentions toward me, Mr. Chase?”
He just stared at her as her brother was led out of the room by that beautiful blonde woman who ran the ER.
Finally leaving them alone. “Whatever you want them to be. You are my world, Greer Hiller. The reason my heart keeps beating. You and my girls and the baby. You are my…family. The ones I love. My reasons for going on. Remember that, okay.”
“You came for me. With my brothers. You didn’t have to, but you did.” She was looking at him with an expression in her eyes he couldn’t quite figure out. But…it had his breath catching. This…was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The one woman he had ever truly loved.
“Nothing will ever stop me from getting to you. I will always come for you when you need me. Even if it means I’m crawling ten thousand miles. I will always come for you. No matter what I have to do, baby girl. I mean that. I love you—more than I have ever loved anyone else in the world.”
The truth was in his eyes. She couldn’t miss it. “I…love you, too. I think I have for a long while.”
Maybe even from the first time he had kissed her. She hadn’t slept at all. Just sat in the waiting room, thinking about what had happened between them. She never would have let him touch her if she hadn’t already been in love with him.
How she had felt in the moments she’d first realized that Kurt was hurt, could have been dying—all the outside trappings had fallen away. She’d seen her feelings for what they truly were.
She loved this toad—warts and all. And she always would.
“So…what are your intentions toward me?”
“Well, I’ve been planning for weeks to just capture you for my very own queen. Take you to my castle. I do already have two little princesses, though. So whatever happens between us, has to include them. Where…are they, by any chance do you know? Are they okay? How long am I in here for?”
“They are at the ranch. My parents are with them. The girls are safe.” Greer knew what she was about to say had real meaning.
And it wasn’t something she had would ever take lightly.
The girls…an immense responsibility. She knew that.
And she knew… “I will never do anything to hurt them, Kurt. You have my word. I will love them, just as much as I already love our baby.”
“So…about that captured and taken to my own castle…Are you ready to make that a reality? I’m willing to wait until you are. But…don’t take too long; I don’t think my heart can handle it. You’ve led me a merry chase. Now…will you marry this Chase? Or is it too soon for me to ask?”
He gave her a dopey grin. Her heart melted. Did he even realize what he was asking right now? Greer leaned closer, and kissed him gently. “I will answer that question when you are clear headed and able to go down on one knee like every romance novel hero that has come before you, okay?”
“Honey, I am no hero. I’m just the man who will love you until the day I leave this world behind.” But he was yawning, and drooping. He’d lost a lot of blood. She could have lost him. Before their life together had even begun.
Greer was never going to remember that.
He reached for her. She leaned closer, pressed against his good side.
Kurt kissed her and then whispered, “I’m just going to hold you all night now. Like I should have that first night. You scared me. Made me dream of things I was too afraid to try to have. And I panicked. You’ll never know how much I regret that.”
“Don’t regret it. That night made this baby. I think it was meant to be.”
Greer’s eyes closed, as his arm tightened around her.
She was right where she was meant to be.
They were going to be everything she wished they could be. She just knew it.