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"Have you ever told anyone what happened over there?"
His head whipped around so fast, and his look was so fierce it startled her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean–"
"No."
"No, what?"
"No, I haven't told anyone."
"Can I ask why?"
He turned away from her and was silent for the remainder of the drive, which wasn't long since they were only about a mile from the park. It wasn't until she'd parked, gotten his crutches and wheelchair from the back, and opened his door that he looked at her again.
"I don't remember. Not all of it, anyway. Parts of it are–I don't know how to describe it—flashes of images and bursts of sounds. Nothing makes sense. I know why we were there, and I know it was my fault that I ended up in this chair, and two of our men ended up dead."
That's not what she'd heard, but to be honest, she hadn't heard the entire story. Still, she wanted to believe he wasn't at fault for getting people killed. "How was it your fault?"
"I–fuck, why can't I get it straight in my head?"
"You suffered TBI in the explosion. That's why they ran all the scans on your head, remember?"
"Yeah, at least I remember that." He swung around in the seat to face her, and she stepped closer, between his legs. "I want to remember all of it. I need to know if those men died because of me."
"Give it some time." Without thinking, she put her hand on his leg, the one he'd lost part of. When he looked down at her hand, she snatched it away, quickly apologizing. "Sorry, I didn't–"
But by then, he had hold of her wrist and moved her hand back to his leg. "Please don't pull away. Don't make me feel broken."
"Oh, Riggs, I'd never think of you that way. You survived something most people wouldn't have, and despite what you fear, you those children. Innocent kids are alive today because of you. I don't see you as broken. Just a little banged up and in need of a little care."
"And is that what this thing between us is, Georgie? You being a good caregiver to a man needing a little?"
"Well, yes–I mean, Iamyour PT, and my goal is to see you on your feet and living a normal–"
"So that's it? You're just my PT? Funny, but I thought it was more. Maybe I do have TBI because I could have sworn that, if nothing else, we'd started to become friends."
"You know it's more than that." Georgie knew she'd screwed up the moment the words were out of her mouth.
"Do I?"
Damn. She'd really backed herself into a corner. For a moment, she panicked. She didn't know what to say. Then she heard a voice in her mind she hadn't heard since she was a child—her mother.Always go with the truth, Georgie. No matter if the truth hurts, it's the right path to walk.
"Yes, Riggs, you do. We are friends, and I care about you. Maybe more than I should if you were just a patient or friend, but something is happening, and I don't even know what to call it. All I know is that it's there and could be either something wonderful or a big mistake. I'm engaged, you know, and until six weeks and four days ago, I thought I was in love with the man I'm engaged to. Then I met you, and everything started to change, and now…I don't know how I feel about him or you."
"Do I sense a but in there?"
She smiled at him. "Yes, I suppose you do. I guess I want to find out if this–whatever it is between us–is real and can last beyond the hospital and your recovery. And I want to figure out if I love Josh or ever did, but that's a lot to deal with, and I have to make your recovery more important."
"Why?"
"Because I want you to know through and through when it's all done and you're back to being a badass SEAL, that it's me you like, and not just someone who was there when you needed someone to hold onto."
He looked into her eyes, and God as her witness, she felt herself falling. It was bigger than her, and at the moment, she didn't know if she could fight it or even wanted to, which prompted her mother's voice in her mind again. Don'tstart lying to yourself now, my girl. That's the sure path to misery.
"Then what do you say about taking it slow?" Riggs took her hand. "As in one day at a time, and see where we end up?" he asked.
"I'd say that sounds perfect." She shoved aside thoughts of her engagement and the man who'd put the diamond on her finger. Later, when she was alone, she'd give herself a good hard look and try to figure out if this thing with Riggs was one huge mistake.
Chapter Seven
