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Bluestar’s medical center was much smaller than a San Diego hospital. With ten hospital rooms, it was bigger than a doctor’s office but not a whole lot. They had a surprising amount of diagnostic equipment, and he’d used most of the machines. He was told if something serious arose, he would be medevacked to a Boston hospital. He hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.
His gaze moved to Jo, who was in the chair next to his bed. He’d told her numerous times to go home, but she’d insisted on staying with him. He’d asked a nurse if there were some dry clothes they could give her. They ended up with matching scrubs.
He’d been X-rayed and scanned. They’d poked and prodded him. And now he was waiting for the doctor to give him the results. His one foot was still swollen and an ugly purple color. It was quite possible it was broken.
He once again glanced over at Josie. She looked utterly exhausted. There was no way he was going to end things with her now. It would be cruel, and that was the last thing he wanted.
And yet he couldn’t let her sleep in that uncomfortable chair. He cleared his throat. “You should go home.”
Her eyelids were heavy with exhaustion. “I’m not leaving you.”
No one had ever said that to him before. It touched a sensitive spot in his chest. “It’s okay. I’m fine now.”
The worry shone in her eyes. “You don’t know that. The doctor hasn’t returned with your results yet.”
“Trust me. I feel fine, and it’s all thanks to you. Besides, you know how these places are. It could be hours until I get out of here.” He let out a yawn.
Her eyes briefly widened. “Oh. You want to get some sleep. I could wait out in the waiting area.”
He shook his head. “Go home.”
“But how will you get back to the bungalow?”
“If they let me out of here tonight, I’ll find a way. Don’t worry. After all, this is Bluestar Island. It’s not that big and everyone knows everyone, remember?” He made sure to yawn again. He really was tired, although he didn’t think he could sleep here. There was just something unnerving about being in the hospital.
“Well, if you’re sure.”
“I am.” He was quick to reassure her.
When she stood, she turned to him. An awkward moment ensued as though she wasn’t sure what to do. Her gaze didn’t quite meet his. When she leaned over to kiss him, he wanted nothing more than to feel her soft lips pressed to his. And yet he knew that would be a mistake. At the last possible moment, he turned his head away. Her lips brushed his cheek.
When she pulled back, her eyes flickered with confusion. Her cheeks were stained with pink. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Thank you…for everything.”
As much as he wanted to hang on to her, he couldn’t. Because in the end, it would be a disaster for both of them. The incident out on the rocks was a warning. If he didn’t heed it, they would both end up hurt.
She should have stayed.
She shouldn’t have left him.
The following morning before Josie even had her first cup of coffee, she called the medical center. Thankfully, her apartment had a landline because her cell phone had died during the run-in with the waves. When she asked the nurse to speak to Lane, she was told he’d been released. Josie released a big sigh of relief.
She rushed to get ready for the day. She wanted to call Lane, but his phone had also been ruined by the sea water. She’d have to deal with her phone later. First, she needed to get to the inn and make sure everything with the bicentennial was on track.
As she rushed through the shower, she couldn’t help but think about the day before. Everything had been going so well with Lane. Her plan had been working. He was really starting to enjoy his time on the island. Why hadn’t she stopped him from going up on those rocks?
She hoped the incident wouldn’t turn him against the island. A memory flashed in her mind of when she’d kissed him goodbye at the hospital, and he’d turned his head so her lips landed on his cheek. Had it been accidental or intentional? She brushed off the moment as accidental. Everything would be fine today.
She was so close to convincing him of the charms of Bluestar Island. And if he liked it here, he would want to hold onto the inn. It was her fondest wish. Well… Maybe it wasn’t her fondest wish, but it was up there.
Her fondest wish was finding out where this thing between them was headed. She knew he had his business in San Diego, but maybe he could start a business here on the island or he could help her run the inn. This was all new to them. They had plenty of time to figure it all out.
On her way to the inn, she was stopped numerous times by friends wishing her well and inquiring about Lane’s condition. She assured them she was fine, and Lane had been released from the medical center.
A block from the inn, she ran across Agnes Dewey. The woman was speaking to someone and hadn’t spotted her yet. Josie wasn’t up for one of her horoscopes today—not even a good one.
Josie glanced to her left for an escape, but the shop was closed. So much for ducking inside to avoid the town gossip. Too late. She’d been spotted. Agnes moved quickly in her direction.
