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‘Khaled, mate.’
He looked up. Nate stood beside him.
‘She wants to see you.’
He was out of his seat and halfway to her room before a firm hand to his shoulder stopped him.
‘Wait. I need to say something. I know you love her. I’ve never seen you like this before. And I’m pretty sure she feels the same way. But whatever you did, I don’t think she’s forgiven you yet. If you can persuade her otherwise, you have my blessing. But I give you fair warning: hurt her again and I’ll shoot you myself.’
He wouldn’t argue with that. When the time came, would he demand anything less of those courting Amal or Hanan?
The last hurdle was the Sister, standing sentinel on the threshold, watching his approach with undisguised disapproval. ‘We’re right outside if she needs us,’ she warned him, before reluctantly letting him pass and closing the door behind him.
The afternoon sun glinted towards him, gilding two armchairs set by the window. In one of them, dressed in a satin robe, her hair falling loose about her shoulders, a blanket over her knees against the chill of the air conditioning, Lily sat watching him.
She was porcelain-pale, except where faint bruising still marred her jaw and temple. Her right arm was cradled in a sling. His heart clenched tight. God, how close he’d come to losing her completely.
‘Hello,’ she said, sending him a watery smile.
It was a slug to the gut. She’d been crying and he knew it was his fault.
‘Hello,’ he answered, unable to move or remember any of the heartfelt speeches he’d planned to give.
‘I’m sorry about the other day,’ she said.
‘You had every right to kick me out. I understand completely.’
‘You do?’
‘I offered you a role in my life that was shameful. You think I put you second.’
She chewed on her lip and her free hand plucked at the blanket. Yeah, that was exactly what she’d been thinking.
At last his legs propelled him forward. The Sister had placed the empty chair at least six feet from her precious patient. Well, to hell with that. He dragged it closer, so that when he sat his splayed knees encompassed hers.
She promptly shrank back.
To hell with that, too.
He leant forward, his elbows propped on his knees, and reached for her good hand, gently loosening its grip on the blanket and folding it in both his own.
‘How are you?’ he asked.
She blinked at him with big owl eyes. ‘Getting better, thank you.’ She studied their clasped hands. ‘Nate said you’ve been here all the time.’
‘I have.’
She peered up at him from beneath her lashes. ‘There was no need. You shouldn’t feel guilty for what happened.’
‘After what you’ve been through because of me? I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling guilty.’
In a small voice she said, ‘I thought he was going to kill you. I was so scared.’
The bile rose in his throat. What she’d endured because of him...
‘But you prevented it,’ he said, squeezing her hand.
‘Are you safe now? From the Hyde-Wallaces, I mean?’
