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Stunned, I sat there for a second trying to get my bearings. The worried look on his face made me feel awful, just as it had earlier when I kind of freaked and didn’t really communicate my feelings.
“Y-you l-love me?” My voice quivered with both nervousness and happiness.
He softly caressed my cheek with the palm of his large hand, pushing my hair back along the way as he moved it to cup the back of my neck. Tingles raced through every part of my body.
“From the second I saw you, I think, but it’s been growing more and more. I’ll wait as long as you need, but, babe, I’m not letting anyone else have you.”
Once again, I wondered if I should be pissed at his possessive behavior, but it was kinda sexy. Oh, who was I kidding? It wasn’t kinda sexy, it was hot as hell. And it was all directed toward me.
That scared part of me that still wondered if someone would love all of me and put up with my illness, parents, and whatever else that came along, held me back from allowing myself to believe I could say how I truly felt and everything would be okay.
Laying my head on his shoulder, I sighed and Gyth tenderly rubbed my back.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, a catch in my voice from the tears hanging in the balance, ready to spill free. Holding them at bay, because I didn’t want to cry, and wanted the night to end on a happy note, I pushed them deep down.
“Don’t be, it’s okay, Sunshine. I’m not upset at all.”
I didn’t know what to do or say and I was stumbling ass over elbows through the moment, but today had been remarkable and I was beyond thankful to Gyth for giving that to me.
“Thank you for Ash, and for knowing what I needed, before I even did. She is so special and so are you,” I said, lifting my head to look him in the eyes.
“You're welcome, beautiful.”
I leaned in and softly brushed my lips against his. This wasn’t one of the heated make-out sessions like we had minutes before, this was telling him how I felt through a gentle kiss when I couldn’t speak the words yet.
But someday... the words would come, of that, I had no doubt.
Once my mouth left his, I curled back into his body, as he rocked me in the chair. I should be embarrassed, it was as if I was a baby, but I didn’t give a rat’s ass. It was special and soothing as heck.
We’d stayed like that for a while before he carried me into the house, right past Alley, who for once didn’t say a word. I had to look to make sure my friend’s mouth wasn’t taped shut or something. I chuckled inside at the thought, as Gyth strode down the hall to my bedroom, Ash trailing behind us.
Gyth laid me gently down on the bed and pulled my throw blanket over me, as Ash jumped up beside me and automatically rested her head on my leg. I didn’t know what the protocol was for dogs in one's bed, but she was mine and that’s where I wanted her.
I was so wiped out and downright exhausted that I paid no mind to the fact I had my dirty clothes on.
And when Gyth leaned over, kissed my forehead, and whispered, “Sleep, baby.”
That’s exactly what I did.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Summer
I was getting attachedto the big guy.
It had been three weeks since my and Gyth’s first date. We’d gone out several times and spent as much time as we could together. Everything had been fabulous with him and with Ash. My new medications and watching how I was eating seemed to be working okay since I hadn’t had any seizures or big Lupus flare-ups. Just some minor fatigue and a few body aches were about it from time to time.
I felt like I’d been walking on sunshine with how things were going until the day finally arrived that I had to meet with the board of directors at the hospital regarding the incident with Dr. Lawson.
Having to sit in front of a room of highly-respected doctors and others who helped run the hospital I worked for, recounting how the scene in the parking garage had played out had instantly zapped the good mood I’d been in.
By the time I was done that morning I was exhausted and yet I still had a full shift to do. At least I hadn’t had to work with Dr. Lawson. He had been put on suspension until the board spoke with each of us and a decision was made.
Knowing I would never be able to work with the man again, I prayed the outcome would make it so I stayed and he left.
When my shift finally ended, I grabbed my stuff and headed out toward the lobby doors, a little spring back in my step knowing the day was over and Gyth was picking me up. And also because of the news I had received.
I was looking forward to a nice evening. Gyth was bringing Ash with him and taking us to his house to make me dinner.
