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I sighed and leaned back against the pillows. Honestly, I knew I’d gotten a break. An uncontrolled fall from that height could have done a lot more damage if I’d fallen on my head. “I’ll live,” I joked. “It’s not the first time I’ve banged myself up.”
“It’s going to be the last,” he grumbled.
“I’m sorry you were worried,” I said. “Have you slept at all?”
“Yeah. Some. I had to fight your brothers and sister to sleep in the other bed, but I did sleep until you woke up.”
“My family was here?”
“Did you really doubt it?” he teased. “The whole damn clan has been here, including your sister, Brooke.”
“Brooke’s here?” I asked excitedly.
“I doubt there was much that would keep her away when she heard you’d gotten hurt. She and Liam have been here since you got to San Diego. They only go home to sleep. I think your half-siblings and cousins would be here, too, but Noah talked them out of coming since you were stable. He said the room was full enough already.”
I smiled. “That sounds like him,” I acknowledged. “I feel bad that they’ve had to stop their lives to be here with me.”
“Are you kidding? You know you would have done the same.”
Eli was right. If any of my siblings were in the hospital, I would have camped out with them. “I guess I would.”
“Honestly, I’m not sure we can get them to leave. My mom has been feeding them every single day. I have no idea what’s on the menu for tomorrow, but I guarantee your brothers will be there when it gets here.”
“Your mom was here?” I said, feeling slightly embarrassed that even Eli’s mother had been hanging out in the hospital. “She probably hates me for making you so sleep deprived. You really don’t look good.”
“I feel a lot better now,” he said huskily. “You scared the shit out of me, Butterfly.”
If our positions were reversed, I knew I would have been terrified, too. “I’m sorry. I missed my last day in Montana. And I’ve pretty much spaced most of the last several days. All I can remember are images.”
“You’re probably better off that way,” he said in a pained voice. “I’d like to forget. And Montana will still be there when you’re feeling better. Although I’d much prefer you avoid it. You had way too many bad things happen there.”
My heart ached as I saw the strain on his face and heard it in his voice. Eli looked like he’d been dragged through hell and back.
“How long do I have to stay in the hospital?” I asked.
“Until the doctor discharges you,” he said firmly. “You’ll probably be transferred to a regular room tomorrow. But your gorgeous ass is staying put in the hospital until you’re ready to go home.”
I knew I was going to have to be able to take care of myself. I refused to have my brothers babysit me. They’d eventually drive me crazy. “How long will I be in a sling?”
“At least a few weeks. And you won’t have full use of that arm until the immobilizer is gone. Maybe longer. But it doesn’t matter. You’ll be staying with me.”
“In San Diego?” I asked.
“Yes. And don’t argue. You’re going to need rechecks, and possibly physical therapy. It would be better if you’re here.”
My head was still fuzzy, and I wasn’t sure whether I should disagree with him or not. I wanted to be with him, but I wasn’t entirely sure that it was a good idea. “Our ten days are over.”
“We’re extending,” he said roughly. “And I postponed the fund-raiser for your charity, but I didn’t cancel it. It can wait until you’re better.”
I smiled at him. Well, as much as I was able to curve my lips. I was pretty sure I’d split my lip and it had been sutured.
Honestly, Eli’s offer was so . . . unexpected. I wasn’t sure what to say. True, he’d started out trying to get me into bed, but I’d never imagined that he’d turn out to be such a good man all the way around.
I knew he wasn’t thinking about sex, considering the way I had to look at the moment.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
“You can thank me when you’re recovered,” he grumbled.
“I think you should get some sleep,” I said, worried about the lines of stress on his face.
He might be as gorgeous as ever, and he rocked the scruffy look with the stubble on his jaw, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t intentional.
However, I hated the tormented look in his eyes, and the dead-tired lines that were scattered all over his face.
“I’ll wait until you fall asleep,” he rumbled.
“Stubborn,” I said.
He smirked. “Been accused of that before.”
“Will you really sleep after I do?” I asked skeptically.
“I promise.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Eli,” I said as I closed my heavy eyelids.
“I’ll always be here, Butterfly,” he vowed.
I knew we were in extenuating circumstances, and people sometimes made promises they didn’t mean, but I sleepily hoped he was right.
CHAPTER 18
JADE
I was out of the hospital in two days, but it took two weeks for me to be free of the sling on my arm.
I’d gotten it off earlier in the morning, just in time for the gala that Eli’s mom had rescheduled for my charity, SWCF.
I’d been staying at Eli’s waterfront home in San Diego, a sleek, contemporary house with a ton of bedrooms and bathrooms. But what the house lacked in character was made up for by the stunning walls of windows and the water views.
I might hate the traffic and the city, but Eli had an amazing home.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Eli bellowed from the open door of the sitting room that was attached to the bedroom he’d put me in.
I was sitting in an awkward position on one of the small chairs, one leg bent up, and my foot on the edge of the seat. “Painting my toenails,” I informed him without looking up.
We were due to attend the gala tonight, and I was making a special effort to look good. I’d spent most of the day with Skye. She’d come to San Diego for the day, and we went to have lunch, and then went shopping. She’d helped me pick out a new outfit since I had nothing appropriate for a party with a ton of rich people.
“You’re supposed to be watching that shoulder. You’re bending too much,” he said in an annoyed tone.
As usual, Charlie was at Eli’s heels, but he plopped down in the corner and proceeded to close his eyes to get a nap.
Honestly, I was getting used to Eli disapproving of every single physical thing I was doing. “I was cleared to resume normal activities,” I reminded him.
He moved into the room and grabbed an ottoman, plopping it down right in front of me before he sat down. “Give me that,” he ordered as he reached for the polish in my hand.
“Seriously?” I asked, putting the brush back in the bottle. I’d never had a guy offer to polish my toenails.
“Give it,” he said as he pulled the bottle of Blackberry Red polish from my hand.
