Just as I set my feet on the floor, I hear Mason bellow, “Sloane!” and then I hear shushing from the front desk area and whispered arguing.
My heart pitter-patters in my chest as I look toward the still-open double doors, “Mason?” He doesn’t hear me, the arguing with someone in the front is going from a whisper to a low growl, so I try again, but louder, “Mason.”
The arguing stops and I hear heavy footfalls in the hall right before Mason rushes into the room looking all around before his eyes fall on me. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days.
He starts to jog across the room and when he gets a few feet away from me I hold my hand up, “Stop.”
His boots squeak on the floor as he stops, he blinks and his eyebrows squish together. After a moment of me staring at him, he holds his hands out, “Sloane?”
Rolling my lips between my teeth to stop my chin from shaking, I stare at the big, gorgeous man in front of me, “The nurses said you weren’t happy when you found out about the baby, they said you couldn’t wait to leave.”
He starts to shake his head while I’m talking and I hold my hand up higher so I can finish, “If this isn’t what you want, that’s fine, but I need to know the truth, Mason.”
Taking a step toward me, he lowers himself on one knee and puts his one hand over his heart, “I already knew about the baby before we went to the hospital, I swear, so whatever the nurses said is not true. Kinley told me about the pregnancy test when we realized you were gone, which we are going to have a stern conversation about, by the way.” Anger flashes in his eyes and he points his finger in my direction.
“I was in a hurry to leave the hospital because I had a shrinking window of time to take care of the fuckers who took you before they knew I was coming. I told a nurse to tell you I was coming back but, obviously, that didn’t happen.
His face softens again, “But, darlin’, think about how you felt when you realized you were pregnant, you have to let me catch up with you. I’ve been through the fucking shock of it and questioned whether I’ll be a shit father or not. Now, the little nugget is growing on me.”
Some of my anger melts away as his blue eyes watch me closely, he’s respecting my space and waiting for me to putmy hand down. I can see the worry in his eyes and a little bit of guilt edges its way in, making my heart lodge into my throat and tears line my eyes. “I didn’t think you were coming back.” My voice is thick and I’m trying to swallow the lump down.
He shakes his head again, “There is nothing and no one that could keep me from coming back to you.”
He tilts his head, his eyes soft with affection, “Darlin’, will you put your hand down? Please. I would really like to touch you; I need to feel you with my own hands.”
My chin starts to shake anyway, and a tear escapes, leaving a wet trail down my cheek. I let my hand drop to the bed. It only takes a second and one step for him to drop to his knees in front of me looking me up and down like he is taking inventory of every wound, and then gently pulls me into him. “I was so worried; I couldn’t find you anywhere.” He says into my hair on my neck.
Fisting his coat on his back, I let my eyes slide closed as I tuck my cold nose into the warm skin on his neck and take a deep breath. I nod and mumble, “I’m sorry, I thought you left me.”
He shakes his head, his arms are like steel bands around my shoulders, “It’s my fault, I should have made sure you knew I was coming back.” He grips my shoulders and moves back so he can look me in the eyes, his face is hard as stone, “Let’s get something straight right now, I willnevernot come back for you.”
“I was worried that you would think I tried to trap you, I could have swore we used a condom every time, but then I remembered the shower.”
“The shower.” He says it at the same time as me. “What’s done is done, darlin’, but to be honest, I’m not sorry. Are you?”
I start to shake my head, “Really? You want this?”
He gently slides his palms across my temples and cupsmy head, his gaze moving over my face, he winces when he looks at the bruised and swollen side of my face and slides his thumb across my lip, “I do. I will always be here, for both of you, no matter what. What I hold dearest to me is right here.”
If my heart could grow wings and fly, it would right at this moment. A small sob breaks from my throat, and he pulls me in for another hug and holds me as he sets his chin on my head.
“Come on, darlin’, let’s get you home. Grab your crutches.” He whispers in my ear.
Reaching behind me to get my crutches off the bed, I think he’s going to help me stand but he puts his arm behind my legs and scoops me up. “I can walk with the crutches.” They are hanging from my hand behind him, and I grab his shoulder with my other hand.
“Opal said you’re hurting, so you won’t be walking on your own today.”
He carries me across the room like I weigh no more than a sack of beans, his eyes focused on the path in front of him. I lay my head on his shoulder and slide my hand around to squeeze the nape of his neck, he rests his cheek on top of my head.
“There she is.” Mr. Harlow’s scratchy voice has me lifting my head back up to look around until I find him. He walks toward us, “You okay, sweetheart?”
I nod, “I’m okay.”
“Good. Opal has agreed to come stay for a while since you’ll be in bed for a week or two.” He says, slipping his hands into his front jeans’ pockets.
“I won’t need that long, Mr. Harlow, I’ll be back up as soon as I can.”
He laughs and holds his hand up like he’s asking me to wait a minute, “Opal is coming to help until we can get someone to take your place, and when you feel better you can let me know what you want to do.”
