Taking a breath, I held back the giggle about to let loose because I did hurt like hell. Thankfully, there was no internal damage from the blows to my stomach, along with no broken bones—I was just banged up.
Sure, there would be bruises, but those would heal, and I was determined to make sure my mind did as well. I’d spent enough time letting darkness consume me, I wasn’t going back there.
I looked around the room at the last of the visitors. Lake and family, minus Stormi, Huntley, Ruby, my kids, and Val.
Val hadn’t blinked an eye about coming back to the hospital when Huntley called her to tell her what happened. She had been mothering me once again since she arrived.
And I was soaking it all up.
Then my eyes zeroed in on my children. Bre’s tears had finally subsided and she was tucked against her protective brother’s side. My daughter and I may have gone through hell together, but it was clear that Lennon was right there with us.
Huntley too.
They were both blaming themselves for not being there, especially my son. He held the weight of the world on his shoulders and I hated it.
“I’m okay,”I mouthed, staring him straight in the eyes.
Huntley caught on and glanced back toward Lennon, who sat rigid in one of the chairs. I blew out a breath praying he would stop kicking himself sooner rather than later.
My man leaned down close. “I’ll talk to him. I promise he will be okay.”
Letting out a sigh, I relaxed a bit, knowing my fiancé would make things right. Just like with Bre, Huntley loved my boy too.
Just then, the door swung open and in walked…
Dr. Solace.
“Hello again,” he said to the room, but his gaze was on me. “I’m sorry to hear about the trouble you had and just wanted to check on you while I was making my rounds.”
Gemma had been right. The older man was a hottie. Not only that, but he also had a voice so smooth it could melt butter.
“How are you feeling, Miss Roberts?”
There it was again. That dreaded name.
Once again Huntley leaned down and whispered next to my ear. “Not for long,” he said, reading my mind.Again.
My belly fluttered as his words and warm breath washed over me.
“I’m doing okay, thank you,” I managed to respond to the good doctor even though my body was tingling from the effect my man had on me.
The doc nodded in reply. “Good to hear. Please don’t hesitate to have the nurses reach me if you need anything this evening.”
Wow, the man was nice too.
I felt my eyes drift over to Val. She was watching the exchange, her cheeks as rosy as they had been earlier today when she saw the man the first time.
“Well, I’ll get out of your way and let you guys finish talking, but you get some rest real soon, okay?”
Turning back to the doctor, I said, “I will, thank you.”
He began walking out of the room but turned back one last time. “It was good seeing you again,” he said.
Funny thing was, his gaze was on Val only. Desire and interest sparked in his eyes before he left the room.
When the door shut, Huntley said, “What the hell was that?”
Hurting or not, I couldn’t stop the giggle that time. “I told you.”
