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“She’s awake and her injuries seem minor so far, except for the possible concussion,” he said without Logan’s prompting. “The doctor is heading toward us now though, so I need to hang up. We’ll see you soon.”
“Thanks.” At least Shane hadn’t reamed him for not being there. He’d have deserved it.
The drive seemed to take forever. Kyle must have sensed his desire for silence because he didn’t speak or play any music. Self-recriminations flew through Logan’s mind. If he’d gone straight home from work, this might not have happened. If he hadn’t felt the need to ride the waves, he could have been there for Gabby when it happened. Who knew how long she’d been alone and in need of help before she’d managed to call Shane? What if she’d fallen unconscious and drowned in the tub? He’d never have been able to live with himself.
You let her down. You’re just like Jonathan.
Kyle pulled up outside the small hospital in Te Awa Tui and Logan threw the car door open and raced to the entrance. He asked for directions from the woman at the reception desk and took the stairs two at a time. When he reached the right corridor, he scanned the door numbers. He’d only gone a few steps when a familiar figure appeared in front of him. Cool blue eyes, wavy brown hair, clad in scrubs.
“You’re here,” Tristan said. “Good.”
“I came as soon as I heard. Where is she?” He needed to see her. Until her beautiful face was in front of him again, he wouldn’t be able to let go of the sense that something very bad had happened.
Tristan’s pale eyes skimmed down Logan in a way that made him feel as though he’d been judged and found wanting. He couldn’t blame the guy. Tristan was a doctor. If he and Gabby had been together and this had happened, he’d no doubt have been able to help her. He’d probably have been home with her, rather than trying to outrun his emotions, so they could have gotten here faster.
Don’t waste time feeling sorry for yourself. Gabby needs you.
“Where?” Logan demanded.
“I just checked on her,” Tristan said. “It seems like nothing is seriously wrong, but you’ll want to speak to her personal doctor to confirm that.” He pointed at a door a little further along the corridor. “She’s in there.”
“Thank you.” He beelined toward the door without saying goodbye. He grabbed the handle and froze, suddenly afraid of what he might find on the other side. He opened the door slowly, revealing a small, private room with a single bed in the center. Gabby lay on the bed, her face deathly pale and a bandage wrapped around her head. His stomach plummeted as fear took hold. She looked terrible.
* * *
Something tightenedaround Gabby’s hand and she lifted her heavy eyelids, peering out from under them.
“Logan is here,” Corinne said. Her hand eased from Gabby’s and she moved out of the seat beside the bed. A moment later, another hand clasped hers. One that was larger, manlier, and more welcome than Gabby could ever have imagined.
“Hi.” She forced herself to focus on his handsome face. “You’re here.”
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “I should have been here all along. I’m sorry I wasn’t home sooner.” He sounded awful. As though he’d chewed gravel. His voice dripped with emotion. She opened her mouth to reassure him that everything was okay, but then, without her permission, tears began to spill down her cheeks.
“I tried to call you,” she sniffed. “But you didn’t answer.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He bent to kiss the uninjured top of her head. For some reason, the tender gesture just made her cry harder. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I’m here now.”
She wanted to ask if he’d been with the pretty young bartender. She’d overheard Corinne suggest to Shane that they try to get a hold of Logan by calling Peach since apparently he’d stormed out of the bar earlier and she’d followed him a few minutes later. Gabby wanted to trust Logan, but her thoughts were muddy and her fears were getting the better of her. She ached for him to comfort her but she also wanted to shove him away and demand to know where he’d been.
“What did the doctor say?” Logan asked one of the others.
“The babies seem to be fine, but she needs to be monitored overnight in case the concussion worsens,” Shane said. “Someone has to wake her up every hour or two and get her to answer questions.”
“I can do that.” His hand tightened around hers. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation, trying not to wonder if that same hand had been on another woman earlier today. “Did they say why she fainted?”
“A sudden drop in blood pressure,” Gabby said, not liking the way they were talking about her as if she weren’t there.
“That’s right,” Shane said. “Possibly caused by the rapid change of temperature when she got out of the bath, or by standing too quickly, and potentially exacerbated by the fact she hadn’t eaten enough.”
“You need to make sure she avoids hot baths, eats regularly, and moves slowly so it doesn’t happen again.” Corinne’s voice was tight. Unusual for her when she was typically so warm and open. Perhaps she truly did suspect that Logan had been having an assignation with the bartender. Gabby’s heart sank. If his own mother believed it, what hope was there?
She should have known not to fall for him. They’d only gotten together because of the pregnancy, and she’d always known she wasn’t the type of woman that men changed for. Not Henry, and not Logan.
“I’m on it.” Logan’s lips brushed over her forehead. “I’m so sorry that I wasn’t there. I’ll do better.”
“I thought I might lose the babies,” she whispered, tears threatening once again. She already loved the little ones growing inside her. If she’d lost them, she’d have been devastated. Especially when she was so close to having the family she’d dreamed of. Fortunately, fate hadn’t been that cruel. But it was still a wake-up call.
If she’d lost the babies, would she have lost Logan too? Without children to tie them together, he could theoretically go back to his carefree bachelor lifestyle. Would he want her if he had other options?
