“Are you going to do anything about it? Rowan could have died twice this year. If I had lost her…I would have had to live with knowing she’d died thinking I didn’t love her…what would my pride have gotten me? I’ll tell you where—alone and full of regrets.”
Stanton rubbed his hands over his face several times. “Do you know I’m considered a genius in some circles? But look at me…I’m a complete idiot. Katy is?—”
His epiphany was cut short by a loud thud and groans coming from inside Rowan’s room. Both men lunged for the door, the handle slipped through Hugh’s grasp as Stantonplowed into him from behind. He finally got the handle turned, shoving the other man against the door jamb.
“Move, you moron.”
“Screw you, O’Faolain.”
Stanton elbowed him hard in the side as Hugh slipped through the door first, only to see Rowan giggling on the floor.
Both men came to a sliding stop. The women they loved looked to be enjoying themselves. Immensely. Flat on their backs with a wheelchair tipped over beside them.
“Row?” He hated to interrupt the two women having fun. After what they’d survived together, they needed to decompress, but they were...on the floor. She was supposed to be recuperating and relaxing.
One of Rowan’s nurses rushed in. Hugh was relieved to have someone with medical authority join what was clearly the opposite of rehabilitation going on.
“Miss Byrne,” the nurse gasped, “what happened? Are you hurt?”
“No Becky, please don’t worry yourself. Both Mrs. Stan—or rather, Ms. Blake and I needed to use the restroom and had a small tumble. Kat is embarrassingly clumsy,” Rowan grimaced in faux concern.
“Ms. Blake?” Stanton asked.
Offended Without a Cause, Hugh inwardly sighed.
“I’mclumsy? Really?”
“Can we admit that peeing ‘in the wild’ isn’t your strong suit?”
Rowan air quoted ‘in the wild,’ causing Katy to gasp and lightly kick Rowan in the shin. Katy must have forgotten they were still injured because, even though the teasing kick was meant as a joke, it hurt them both. Each woman sucked in a pain-filled breath. The nurse tried to get to them, but he andStanton had the women scooped up and off the floor before Nurse Becky could take a knee.
The nurse righted the wheelchair and smoothed her uniform, attempting to bring order to the chaos. She told Rowan she would help her to the restroom.
“I also want to change the dressing on your wrist and work on your lower legs.” Turning to Katy, she told her that her nurse should be coming for her in a moment.
“Please put me in the chair, William. Tammy can take me to my room.”
“You don’t need the chair, Kate.” His ex-wife raised her brows in surprise at her old, but still beloved, nickname. “I can take you myself.”
Hugh noted that Rowan didn’t say anything to help Katy out of the awkward situation. She surely had her reasons, so he decided to stay silent as well.
“The chair. Now.”
Becky’s eyes were wide as saucers, but she was clearly a professional. “Mr. O’Faolain, if you could take Miss Byrne to the en-suite bath and set her on the bench closest to the, uh, toilet, that would be a great help. I will let you know when we’re finished, and you can carry her back to bed.”
Hugh shifted Rowan in his arms so he could look directly into her face. He quietly asked, “Will you let me stay with you?”
She cupped his face with her uninjured hand, leaning in enough to place her lips to his. “Only you,” she promised.
Hugh tightened his hold. “I love you.” As he straightened to follow the nurse into the bathroom, he was surprised to see William and Katy watching them. Honestly, he forgot they were still there.
“Do you need me?” Rowan asked Katy.
Katy was about to answer when her nurse walked in. “Oh, Tammy. Thank you for coming. If you could take me back to my room, I would appreciate it.”
“Of course, Ms. Blake. I want to try a different massage tonight and see if we can get rid of the last of that pesky swelling. I’ve requested that Dr. Davidson stop by in the morning. I hope you don’t mind, but some of the cuts above your ankles are quite deep. I don’t want to take any chances of infection.”
“Of course. I appreciate you being so diligent. I’m ready to go to my room.”
