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sp; “Well, maybe. I am feeling a little gaunt.”
“You look absolutely beautiful.”
“So do you.”
She glanced down at her wrinkled clothes and shook her head. “I’m a mess. Thank God Sam brought me a toothbrush and enough underwear so I could change every day.”
“Maybe they’ll let me out of here come morning.”
“Don’t bet on it. You were very sick, Zach. You had a really high fever for several days. And surgery. I was so scared.”
“I’m sorry.”
She laid her fingers over his mouth. “Stop saying that. None of this is your fault. It’s all mine.”
“You stop saying that, too. And kiss me again.”
She lifted her lips to his. After another long kiss, she said, “Do you feel like you can get out of bed? I’d like to change your linens. They’re soaked from when your fever broke.”
“I might be able to. I have to piss like a racehorse.”
Dusty rose from the bed to help him. “That’s probably just irritation from your catheter. The nurse just took it out.”
Zach winced.
Dusty smiled and looked around. “I don’t see any crutches in here. I’ll get some from the nurse, but for now, don’t put too much weight on your leg, sweetheart. You’ll have to lean on me.”
“I like it when you call me that. Sweetheart.” His face was pale and his eyes sunken, but his smile still made her heart leap. Breathtaking.
“Me too. Come on, now. I’ll help you to the bathroom.”
While Zach took care of business, Dusty hurriedly stripped the bed and replaced the soiled linens with the clean ones the nurse had left. When she finished, she knocked on the bathroom door.
“You can come in, darlin’.”
He was sitting on the toilet seat putting toothpaste on a toothbrush.
“Do you want me to help you wash your hair or anything?” she asked.
“I know I must look like hell, but I don’t feel up to it right now. I just want to brush my teeth.”
“Okay.”
When he had finished, she helped him back into bed and lay down next to him. “Go to sleep now, sweetheart.” She kissed his lips lightly. “I’ll wake you when the food gets here.”
She snuggled into his chest, and he was already breathing steadily in slumber.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Chapter Fourteen
A little less than forty-eight hours later, Zach was back in his hotel suite, freshly showered and shaved. Chad was competing in a bull riding competition, and his mother had gone along to watch. Angelina hovered about, begging to help him. He finally sent her out to fill a prescription and hoped she’d take her time about it. He wanted Dusty, but she had left as soon as he got back to his room, and he hadn’t seen her since. He had called her hotel, but she hadn’t been in. If only she had a cell phone. He was pretty sure Sam would be at the rodeo for Chad’s ride.
Dusty was still hiding something from him. She hadn’t said she loved him yet, but he was pretty sure she did. At this point, he didn’t much care if she ever said it. He wanted to be with her and that was that, but they needed to settle a few things. The stock show would be over in two days, and he planned to take Dusty home with him.
Angelina returned with his medication, and he sent her away again for some food. He reached for his cell from the night table and dialed the Holiday Inn again, asking for Dusty’s room.
