Chapter 20 #2
“Just get to what you want to know so I can go see Lila. I’m assuming this soft interrogation is about that.”
“You should mind your manners, boy.”
“And you need to understand that not you or anyone else will stand in my way.”
“She’s not an easy woman to love.”
“If I wanted easy, I would have never fallen in love with your granddaughter.”
She pressed her lips together and he got the feeling she was trying not to smile. “Indeed?”
“She has a chip on her shoulder, I’m sure you put it there. Irritating as hell that she wants to take care of everyone but herself, but she is going to start doing that right now. Also, she is getting a dog. ASAP.”
“A dog?”
“Yes. She wants one, but since she’s been on the run, it’s kind of hard to keep one.”
He knew it was an insane thing to throw out there, but right now, he didn’t care. All he wanted to do was see Lila. He knew the doctors had assured him that she was okay, but he wanted to see it with his own eyes.
“Ian Charles Smith,” she shook her head. “Come.”
She turned and walked out of the room. He hurried to follow her.
“If anyone asks you, you are her fiancé.”
He nodded as he followed her into ICU. They arrived at a door. “She’s tired, so make sure she gets some rest.”
She turned to leave but stopped. “You are just the kind of man I would have picked for her. Thank you for keeping her safe. She might not believe it, but she is the most precious thing in the world to me.”
He watched for only a moment, then went into the room. He shut the door and leaned back against it. Her bed was up, but her eyes were closed as if she were dozing.
His heart settled as he watched her. She was pale, but breathing, and hopefully, they had gotten rid of everyone after her.
“Are you going to stand there and stare at me like a weirdo?” she asked, without opening her eyes. Her voice was hoarse.
“Maybe.”
Her eyelashes flickered, then her eyes opened. “Hey.”
Ian pushed away from the door and walked to her bed. He took her hand, needing the connection.
“I see my grandmother bullied the staff to get you back here.”
“Yes. Well, she lied.”
“She often does,” she said with affection.
“I’m sorry.”
“About what?”
“Vivian.”
“Did you try to seduce her?”
“Uh, no. She was a trainee. Plus…kind of boring. She never gave me hell.”
“Is that a fact?”
“Yeah. She’s also boring.”
“She’s a nut job who broke multiple laws trying to gain your attention.”
“Yeah, but she was predictable. I mean, who wouldn’t obsess over me?”
“Anyone with a brain.”
“And she had some very boring eyes.” He leaned closer to her as if sharing a secret. “They were both the same color.”
She pressed her lips together as he watched those tears fill with tears.
“Don’t cry, love. You know how I feel about that.”
There was a knock on the door, and he kept hold of her hand as he straightened to face whoever was there. A man in scrubs stood there. He looked to be in his twenties, with short blond hair and dark eyes.
“I’m Jon, one of the nurses on duty,” he said pointing to a white board hanging by the door. “We will all have our names there and will change them each shift, so you know who to expect. Just wanted to check her vitals and make sure you didn’t need anything.”
Ian kept hold of her hand. “No worries.”
“You must be the fiancé,” he said, looking over her chart. Lila’s hand jerked in his. The woman was going to have to get used to being called that, because it was going to happen. Even if it took him years to prove himself to her, he wanted her as his.
Ian avoided her gaze as Jon went about his work.
“You’re looking good,” he said. I think they’ll move you to another room in no time. That way you can have more people visit.”
With a wave and a smile, the very helpful Jon made his way out of the room.
“Just what did he mean by fiancé?”
He finally looked at her. He could demand that she be his, but he knew better. “It was the only way I could get back here. It was your grandmother’s idea.”
Her pensive look eased. “Oh, okay.”
Still keeping his hand in hers, he grabbed a chair and pulled it over. “You look really tired. You might want to take a cat nap.”
“For once, I will not argue with you. I am seriously exhausted.”
He pulled her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips over her fingers.
“I’ll be here. Rest.”
“Thanks for coming for me. Again.” Her eyes were barely open.
“I’ll always come for you.”
She gave him a little smile, then he watched as slumber took her over.
She was still in hospital twenty-four hours later.
It was annoying, but she was starting to realize just how tired she had been.
If she were getting good sleep while in the hospital, she definitely had needed it.
At least they were letting her walk around, which had been something they had not let her do in the ICU.
“You have more color in your face,” Autumn said from her seat beside Lila’s bed. Her grandmother had stationed herself in the chair in the corner and she watched everyone with what Hawaiians called the stink eye.
“Thanks. I’m feeling a lot better.”
Autumn shifted in the chair and glanced over at Lila’s grandmother.
“I find your ability to fake a death to be pretty cool.”
And from her voice, she definitely did. Seth was outside the room. Lila hadn’t seen him, but she knew he was there. Over the few hours she had actually been in her room, the TFH and Dillon folks had been in and out of the room.
First had come Rami and Nikki, apologizing for leaving her and Autumn.
She kept telling them it didn’t matter, but they definitely felt guilty.
Then Miko had spent some time with her. As soon as one person left, another person showed up.
It was a lot. Even before she had gone on the run, she’d had problems with crowds and people in general.
Still, she put up with it because she knew Ian was behind it.
Even thinking his name made her sad. He had stayed by her side in the ICU, then he said he needed to grab a few things from his apartment.
She knew she had told him she loved him and he had yet to reciprocate.
God, it was so embarrassing that she just blurted it out like that.
Now he had to deal with a lovesick woman he felt he had to take care of.
“What is going on in your beautiful mind there, Lila?” Autumn asked.
Oh, I just embarrassed myself in front of your brother and he’s too nice to tell me to bugger off.
“Nothing. I’m just getting tired again.”
She looked like she didn’t believe Lila, but she let it go. Mainly because the door opened revealing the man in question.
“Did you bring any snacks?” Autumn asked. No hello, or anything. Of course, Autumn did have a weird connection to food.
“No. Your husband is in the hallway. Tell him to take you somewhere to eat.”
Autumn glanced over at Lila. “Are you okay with that?”
A lot of people looked at Ian’s sister and thought she was an idiot. She was different, but there was a very perceptive mind in that head of hers. She sometimes noticed things other people didn’t.
“I’m fine. I told you. I’m just tired.”
“Okay.” Autumn stood and looked at her brother. “Keep it together, bra.”
He rolled his eyes. “Go eat.”
“Definitely. Bye Memaw Judy,” she said with a wave of her hand.
Lila shared a smile with her grandmother. She pretended she didn’t like the name, but the fact that several of the Dillon folks now called her by that name seemed to tickle her grandmother.
“Well, I think I will do the same. I need some rest because that jet lag is catching up to me.”
After giving Lila a kiss and promising to rest, she was on her way.
“Finally,” Ian said.
She smiled. “You know you don’t have to hang out here all the time.”
His eyes narrowed as he approached. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No.”
His expression cleared and his shoulders relaxed. “I talked to your doctors, and they are going to keep you for at least another day.”
“Ugh, I want out of here.”
“You will survive.”
“I guess it gives me time to find a place to stay.”
“You have a place to stay.”
“I do?”
“With me. You are staying with me.”
“I can’t put you out like that.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at her. “You need someone to be around just in case. I will take care of you.”
She wanted to argue with him. Her heart was still a little broken.
She had proclaimed her love, and he had yet to respond, and beyond the embarrassment was pain.
It always seemed she loved people more than they would ever care for her.
But, at this moment, she could accept his help.
She knew she needed a few days to regroup before she decided what to do.
“Fine. But I will be looking for another place.”
He rolled his eyes and sat in the chair his sister had vacated.
“Get some rest, or the doctors will never let you out of here.”
With a sigh, and because she was exhausted from all the human interaction, she did as he ordered. As she drifted off to sleep, she felt his hand slip into hers. She didn’t know where they were going to go from here, but at least she had this…for now.