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“Better now.” Mace saw the angst reflected in her green eyes, saw the unsureness within them. How he wanted to tell her he loved her. The words almost tore out of his raw, burning throat. But what kind of life could he offer her? “I’m sorry to put you through this, Sierra.” And he was. More than she would ever know.
“I’m so glad Nate called me from the hospital. Listen, you need to rest. You look so tired.”
He heard the tremble in her smoky voice, saw the hurt he caused her. It took him down hard. “I’ve never felt this weak,” Mace admitted gravely as he searched Sierra’s strained expression.
“You look like hell warmed over.” Sierra managed a thin smile. “All I want to do is get you to my cabin where I can cook for you, care for you, and help you regain your health, Mace. I just need to get the doctors here to release you sooner, not later.”
Her grit stunned Mace. There might be tears in Sierra’s eyes, she might be hurt by his inability to make a decision about them, but she had a steel-like stubborn streak inside her he was just beginning to fully see. “That sounds pretty damn good to me, Sweetheart. You don’t have to do this, though. You do know that?” and he searched her darkening eyes. Even in his present state, Mace could feel the grief and joy entwined within Sierra. He knew she loved him. It was right out there in plain sight. And she too, was fighting back the words, the admittance. He’d given her no hope. He’d not given her a commitment. He couldn’t, as much as he wanted to. Another kind of misery flooded him. Sierra had opened her heart to him and was now opening her home to him as well. Willing to sacrifice her time to help him through this.
“I WANT to do this for you, Mace. Look, you need to rest. Alex and Lauren wanted to see you. Are you okay with that? Or do you want them to visit at another time?”
“I’m not operational yet. Maybe later? Thank them for coming, though.” He held the green gaze of her eyes, saw love shining in them, gold in their depths, and felt his heart opening wide to her. “I guess you already know I put you down as my POA?”
“Nate told me,” Sierra offered quietly. “It’s all right, Mace.” She reached out, sliding her hand down his hard jaw. “Right now, you need to rest. All I want is any part of you that you’ll share with me. And I’m fine with however much or little that is. That’s what this time apart from you has taught me.” She swallowed, her eyes darkening.
Mace felt tears burning in his eyes. Ever since he had regained consciousness; he’d been so damned emotional. He’d nearly died. Exhaustion was stalking him. The plane flight had been stressful, taking him further down. His eyes started to droop closed even as he fought to keep them open, wanting to talk further with Sierra. Just to hear her voice. Like the starving beggar he was, he absorbed her every light, warm touch. He wanted so much more. He wanted to love her. But it wasn’t going to happen.
Sierra slipped off the bed and pulled the covers up to his waist, smoothed out a few wrinkles in the blue gown across his broad shoulders. “You need to sleep, Mace. I’ll let Alex and Lauren know. They’ll understand.” She pulled a cell phone from her purse and placed it on the bed stand so he could reach it. “This is a cell phone for you. I put all our phone numbers in there. If you need anything, call one of us?”
Mace felt the massive weight bearing down on his eyelids. He fought to stay awake, to absorb Sierra’s face, those eyes that shined with so much hope for both of them. “Will you come back?”
“That’s a promise, Kilmer. You’re not getting rid of me anymore. Those days are over.”
Sierra collapsed just outside the door. Pressing her palms against her face, she felt Lauren’s hand slide across her shoulder. Looking up, Sierra saw her tall friend looking down, giving her a concerned look.
“Is he okay? Are you?”
Nodding jerkily, she whispered, “He looks awful, Lauren. Like death…,” and she choked, pressing a hand against her mouth, trying not to cry.
“Come on,” Lauren urged, effortlessly easing Sierra to her feet, and tucking her under her arm. “Let’s go back to the lounge. Alex is waiting there for us.” She patted Sierra’s arm as they walked. “Mace is alive. And that’s all that matters right now. Things will sort themselves out over time,” she soothed.
Alex stood when they walked into the lounge. He opened his arms to Sierra, seeing the devastated look on her face, the shock. “Come here,” he murmured. “You need to be held for a moment.”
It was as if the world had been holding its breath and now the blast of its exhale suddenly avalanched down upon Sierra. The moment Alex’s large, strong arms enclosed her, drawing her gently against his giant body, she released the backlog of tears she’d fought not to reveal to Mace. She hadn’t cried until now, not since Nate had called her that morning to tell her Mace had been bitten. Alex spoke to her in awkward English, patting her back as if she were a scared child. Wasn’t she? Yes. Scared of losing Mace. Scared of their unsure future. Loving him so much it hurt. Not knowing what he was going to do in the future. The last time in her life Sierra had felt so pulverized by so many disparate emotions was when Jeb had died in her arms.
Lauren offered her some tissues, gently placing them in her hand as Alex led her over to the red plastic couch where the couple sat down, seating Sierra between them.
Sierra shakily wiped her eyes, sniffling, and blowing her nose with the wads of tissues that Lauren continuously provided. Clutching another sodden bunch in her hand, her voice trembling, she told Alex, “He looks terrible. It scared me so much.”
“Yes,” Alex said, sympathetic, his arm around her shoulders, “his hematocrit is low, and he’s had several platelet transfusions. He has gone through a special hell, Sierra. And Mace knows he could have died several times in the last five days. I am sure he is feeling as unsteady as you are feeling right now. But that will pass. While you were in with Mace, I got the lead doctor to give me his latest lab readings. His platelet count is now stabilizing, so the worst is over.” Alex stroked her hair gently. “He is going to make it, Sierra. I promise you that.”
“G-good, because he scared the hell out of me. He was so pale. Alex, his skin is almost translucent. His eyes looked so dark. He’s so tired…”
Lauren sat close, her hand on Sierra’s thigh, patting it, giving her comfort. “Alex said that viper is the worst of all of them. He said Mace has a long recovery in front of him. At least he’ll be with you, Sierra. He won’t be alone. He has a home with you.”
Nodding, Sierra blew her nose again. “He said he’d come home with me. I have so many things to talk with him about, about us, what he wants, what I want… But he’s so groggy. I’ll table it all until he’s better.”
“That is wise,” Alex offered. He smiled a little. “You need to make Borscht. Did you know red beets help build red blood cells in the body? You should make a big pot, have some sour cream on hand—”
“Alex,” Lauren warned him gently, giving him a pleading look. “Sierra’s in overwhelm. Not right now, okay?”
Contrite, Alex gave Sierra an apologetic look. “I will make Borscht for Mace. In fact, I have several strong, fortifying Ukrainian soups I will make for him, and we will drive them over to you. Is that all right?”
Grateful, Sierra nodded. “Thank you, Alex. I’d love that. You’re such a life saver.” And she gave them a warm look. “Both of you. I couldn’t get through this without either of you.”
“Mace will revive now,” Alex predicted proudly. “He loves you. And you love him. A man in his shape just needs his woman around him. She infuses him with laughter, a smile, a touch, and he will get well much sooner than being anywhere else.”
“You’re a hopeless romantic, Alex,” Sierra joked softly, loving the big medic. She was so glad Lauren and he had fallen in love. Lauren deserved someone as kind and good-hearted as Alex was.
