Chapter 20
Duncan had barely spoken with Ms. Davidson since she’d arrived at the hospital not long after Solace had been brought into the emergency room.
And that had only been a short, tense exchange when he’d explained she’d been shot protecting him.
After sharing that news, her mom had been quiet, refusing to talk with anyone, while they’d waited for Solace to get out of surgery.
Since then, she’d been a permanent fixture in Solace’s room.
And from her refusal to look at him, it was clear more than the hospital bed divided them.
Except for when the team and his family had stopped by, the silence in the room the rest of the time had been downright frosty.
If she hadn’t been forced to leave the previous evening due to a water main breaking outside her house, she would have been in the room when Solace had woken up.
Which probably added to the anger now rolling off of her.
“You think I care that it’s classified?”
Perhaps he should have found a better way of saying that. Thankfully, he still had connections who could fix things that couldn’t be explained, and now the whole incident had been deemed as need to know. Which wasn’t helping him now.
“Whatever your reason for faking your death might be classified. But my daughter getting shot is not.”
Would grinning at her go over well? He doubted it. But now he saw where Solace got her fire. The same unshakeable spirit he’d seen in Solace was right there in eyes so much like her daughter’s.
And it was probably better he let go of Solace, especially if Ms. Davidson’s hard stare burning a hole in his hand resting on her daughter was anything to go by. It was clear she didn’t like it.
It was even clearer she didn’t like him. This was going to be a problem.
“I understand,” he said, meeting Solace’s mom’s narrowed gaze across the bed. “But…” He raised his hand when it was obvious she was about to say something. “Wait. Let me finish.”
“Duncan, I wouldn’t…” Solace didn’t finish what she was about to say. Her wide-eyed, pointed look and the way she shook her head said it for her.
“Oh, no,” her mother said. “By all means let him finish.”
“The man who was killed at the chapel had put a bounty on my head.” Ms. Davidson’s eyes widened and brows rose.
“He’s dead?”
“Yes, angel,” he answered focusing on Solace as she slowly nodded. Then he raised his gaze back to her mother.
“He wanted my daughter to suffer because his son had died.” He needed her to understand and maybe, just maybe, forgive him.
So, he came around the bed and stood in front of her mother.
He refused to use Solace lying in her hospital bed as some kind of shield to protect him.
“And please, believe me, this wasn’t my plan, and never would have been.
But once it had been set in motion, it became the only way to force whoever wanted me dead out in the open. ”
“Well, you certainly accomplished that, didn’t you.” Bitterness accompanied every word, while a deep anguish he’d regret causing for the rest of his days filled her eyes.
“We thought we had the situation under control.” He glanced at Solace. “You have to know, I would never have put the woman I love at risk. I?—”
“You love me?” The heart monitor that had been giving away Solace’s feelings since she’d awoken went wild.
“More than my life,” he said, reaching for her hand.
It hadn’t been his intention for her to find out this way, but now that he’d said it, a weight lifted from his heart.
“And because I love you, when you’re better, we’re going to have words about your risking yourself like that. I could’ve taken the hit, angel.”
“I couldn’t help it,” Solace said, while her mother pressed both hands to her mouth. “All I could do was react when I saw the man I love in danger and?—”
“You love me, too?” His chest heaved and heart nearly beat out of his chest to hear the words he’d longed to hear during those months without her.
He needed to kiss her but didn’t want to push it in front of her mother.
He was already skating on thin ice. So, he held back, only bending over and brushing his mouth across hers.
“More than my life,” she said, her words breathing across his lips
“But it’s not just your life anymore,” he whispered. “The baby?—”
“You’re pregnant?”
The near shout made him jump. He’d been that focused on Solace.
But when he flashed his gaze over his shoulder at Mariana Davidson’s face, her look of pure joy made him smile.
Maybe there was hope for him yet. But then she skewered him with eyes frantic and full of fear. “The baby wasn’t hurt, right?”
“I’m positive,” Solace said, sniffling slightly as Duncan pulled away from her and he faced Ms. Davidson. “We even got to see an ultrasound.”
“He’s great,” Duncan added.
“He? I’m having a grandson.” Ms. Davidson’s ecstatic exclamations gave him no warning before she launched herself at him and wrapped him up in an anaconda-like hug. Stunned, he automatically caught hold of her, then turned with his arms full and stared at a smiling Solace.
“Well, I’m actually the one having him, Mom,” Solace said, her grin going crooked, while all Duncan could think to do was pat the woman’s back. “But yes, his name is Hunter Alexander Sheppard.”
“Hunter Alexander,” her mom said, tugging herself from his hold and stepping away. But then he braced himself when her expression went from joyous to one that promised bodily harm. “Sheppard?” She shook a finger at him. “You’re the father? And you left my?—”
“He didn’t know, Mom,” Solace said in a rush. “I didn’t know until after he’d gone.”
“Well,” her mother said. “I guess that couldn’t be helped, then.” Thankfully for him, that seemed to mollify her. Honestly, he’d been in fear of his manhood for a second. The look she’d given him had promised severe retribution. “So after…”
Ms. Davidson’s eyes narrowed again as her words trailed off, but this time landing on her daughter as she threw her fists on her hips.
“And just exactly when did you know, young lady?”
He shouldn’t have breathed a sigh of relief, but having Ms. Davidson’s ire focused on Solace was most assuredly a relief.
“Umm…” Solace’s eyes widened, going to him like he would be able to save her from her mom. All he did was shrug, which she rolled her eyes at, before turning her hesitant, guilty gaze on her mom and grimacing as she said, “A little over two months.”
“Solace Davidson.”
“I’m surprised your mom went home,” Duncan said much later, his arm hooked above Solaces head so he could run his fingers through her hair.
“I’m surprised she didn’t disown me,” she said, chuckling, her body slightly shaking against his. She’d finally talked him into lying in the bed beside her.
“There’s plenty of room,” she’d said, patting the left side of the bed once her mom had gone. There wasn’t. “Besides, it’ll help my healing.”
He’d been unable to say no after that. And his angel had known it. But he was still afraid of hurting her. God knew she’d been hurt enough. That’s why, so far, he’d only held her hand and laid on his side with his body pressed to hers. It was uncomfortable as hell, but he didn’t care.
Besides, it would be better tomorrow. He’d already put in an order for a bigger bed for them until she was discharged.
Nurse Janice is going to love that.
“She would never do that,” he said, then gave her cheek a soft kiss. “She loves you too much.”
“Duncan?”
“Yes, Angel.” Just then he noticed her frown. “Do you need some pain medication? I can?—”
“No.” She barely shook her head. “I mean, I’m feeling it, but not to the point I need something.”
“Angel—”
“Don’t go all colonel-y on me,” she groused. “I’ll know when I need a painkiller.”
He couldn’t help but grin at her grumpy attitude. He’d missed it, along with everything else about her.
“God, I missed you,” he groaned, pressing his nose to her cheek, while a little trembling breath left her.
“I missed you too,” she said, lifting her left hand to cup his cheek.
“I didn’t want to leave you,” he murmured. He’d hated having to make her think she meant nothing to him. But putting into words how much he’d hated it was impossible. “I didn’t know if I would be coming back or not and I couldn’t put you in direct danger.”
“Colonel Duncan Sheppard,” she said, turning her head until their lips almost touched and her eyes held his. “You need to learn to rely on those closest to you.”
“Oh, really?” He barely touched his lips to hers. “And who will help me learn that?”
“Well,” she whispered, then licked her lips. “I think I would be a great teacher.” Of course, her tongue touched his, sending heat spiraling straight to his cock.
And his little angel knew that too, if her mischievous grin was anything to go by.
“I’m sure you would be,” he managed to choke out.
“Duncan?” Her leg shifted and brushed over his painful dick. “Please kiss me.”
“I have,” he said, giving her lips a feather-soft kiss, then lifting his head away.
“Yes,” she said, frowning again, while her hand still on his cheek tightened. “I was shot.”
“Yes.” The idea of her almost dying because of him doused any arousal he might have felt.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t need you,” she said, the pressure on his cheek drawing him back toward her. “It doesn’t mean I don’t need a real kiss.”
“Angel—”
“I need.”
The heat in her gaze overtook most of the pain he’d been monitoring in her expressive eyes.
She had a tendency to be stubborn, and he’d had to encourage her to take her pain meds more than once.
And right now, the pain was still there, just banked by her need.
It was a need he had to ignore, no matter how much he wanted to give her?—
“Please.”
“You never have to beg,” he murmured grazing his mouth over hers. “You’re the woman I love, and I’ll always give you anything you need.”
“Then give me you.”
The kiss was everything he’d longed for over the past months.
Desperate, searching, giving, but most of all loving.
It was also loud. Not them personally, but Solace’s heart monitor had gone wild again.
But from the way her hand slipped behind his head and held him tight, she didn’t care. And if she could?—
“Colonel Sheppard.”
Solace broke the kiss, while her light laugh vibrated against his lips.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Nurse Janice demanded from behind him.
“Only what the patient ordered, Nurse Janice,” he said, chuckling, his mouth still touching Solace’s. “Only what the patient ordered.”