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“Would you stay with me until I fall asleep?”
“Uh, sure,” he agreed.
Scarlett smiled shyly. “It probably sounds dumb, but I just don’t want to be alone in here, you know? My mother died at Cedar-Sinai, and I’ve hated hospitals ever since.”
“What happened to her?”
“Cancer.” Scarlett didn’t give any more details, except to say, “We visited her every day, and my fear of hospitals sort of became a phobia. I really hate them.”
“I understand. I rem
ember going to see my father at the hospital right before he died. I was nineteen at the time, but it was still frightening.”
“How did he die?”
“A car accident,” Carter said, his tone betraying no hint of emotion. “He held on long enough for my family to say goodbye, and I’m grateful I got the chance.”
“Were you close?”
Carter nodded once, sharply. “Very close. He was a wonderful father, and I only hope I’m half as good if I ever have children.”
“You want children?” Scarlett asked, mouth agape, she didn’t know how their conversation had taken this turn.
“You seem surprised.”
“No offense, but you don’t seem like the family man type. I can definitely see you as a captain of industry, leading your company into the future, but I can’t see you bouncing a baby.”
“What do you know of babies?”
“Plenty. I used to babysit when I was younger. I wasn’t going to let my dad pay for everything.”
“That’s admirable.”
Scarlett watched a glint of light play on Carter’s eyes. He was interested, she could tell she intrigued him. Why else would he stay?
5
Scarlett
Dr. Weiss arrived in Scarlett’s hospital room early the next morning. She blinked open sleep-heavy eyes, barely managing to focus on the clock hanging beside the television bolted on the wall. It read seven-forty, and she yawned, more of a reflex to the early hour than an actual tiredness. Her head was still heavy, and her thoughts fuzzy, but she wasn’t sleepy.
“How are you feeling, Ms. Terini?” Dr. Weiss shone a bright light into her eyes.
Wincing away from the light, Scarlett said grumpily, “I’ve felt better.”
“How’s the head?” He mercifully removed the light from her eyes and gently turned her head to examine the bump.
“Better,” Scarlett answered in a rush, not wanting to stay another minute. Even returning to Braxton’s home was better than staying in the hospital. “It feels kind of...” She searched for the word. “Um, full? Like there’s water sloshing around in my brain or something.”
“That’s to be expected—just a result of the concussion. I don’t see any cause for alarm, Ms. Terini. I’ll get started on those discharge papers while you have a light breakfast, then give Mr. Braxton a call.”
Scarlett’s stomach lurched with panic as she realized she didn’t know Carter’s number, and she had no other way to reach him. Was she going to be stuck in the hospital until he arrived? What if he decided to leave her there? Why hadn’t he stayed?
Taking a deep breath, Scarlett plastered on a fake smile and said, “I seem to have forgotten his number, Dr. Weiss. Would you be able to get it for me?”
The doctor agreed and left Scarlett to attend to his paperwork. Twenty minutes later, a nurse brought her a tray of bland hospital food and a slip of paper. “Here’s that number,” she said while drawing the bedside table forward for Scarlett.
“Thank you.” Scarlett grimaced at the poached egg glaring balefully up at her, then turned her attention to the runny oatmeal and barely toasted toast. The nurse left, and Scarlett ate as much of the food as she could tolerate. Then, feeling nervous, she took the phone off the side of the railing and dialed Carter’s number from the slip of paper.
