“Are you okay?” I don’t care about myself. I just need to know that Ry is okay.
“Don’t worry about me. I have a concussion, and my knee is going to be fucked for a while, but nothing that won’t heal. They wanted to admit me for observation, but there was no way I wasn’t going to be at your side.”
“If the doctors think you need—” He silences me with a kiss.
“Ineedyou, Aspen. You’re all that matters. The restaurant. The club. My life. They don’t make sense without you.”
“John?”
“Is in jail. He wasn’t exactly stealthy. Flex has already pulled all the camera footage we need to put him away for a while. How did you know?”
“I saw him in the lobby of my building. He knew about me being an escort. He called me Danielle. I don’t understand why he took such a dislike to me.”
“The police said he confessed that his wife had looked similar to you. He had a breakdown after she died in a car accident.”
“That’s awful.”
“I still don’t know how you knew to come to the restaurant.”
“He said my favorite flowers are Dulips.” It sends a shiver down my spine at the memory of his twisted smile.
“Fuck. I should have been with you. You weren’t even supposed to be there. If I hadn’t pushed you about the escort thing, you’d have been safe in our apartment.”
“And maybe John would have targeted you at the club. You were in danger no matter where you were.” His shoulders sag, the strong planes of his face marred by sadness and anger.
“I can’t believe you ran into a burning building for me.”
“Why? I love you. I don’t care about any of the other shit. I’m not going to be an escort again.”
“Are you sure?” There’s hope in his voice, and I can’t blame him for that.
“Even if I wanted to, I’m scarred for life now. No one would want me on their arm.”
“I do.”
I hate seeing the pain that mars his perfect features. “You don’t need to stay with me tonight. Go home. Get some rest.”
“One of the guys will bring me a change of clothes. I don’t want to leave you.” That’s what he says now.
“I just want to rest.” I turn my face away from him, the burn on my shoulder protesting with the smallest of movements.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Before I protest, a nurse appears in the doorway. “Hi, Aspen. I’m Theresa. It’s time for your dressing change.”
She takes a step toward me, and I see Ryder’s jaw tighten. It tells me everything I need to know. This is going to hurt.
“Ryder, you should go.”
“I’ll be here to hold your hand.”
“I don’t want you here for this.” I’m not ready for him to see my burns. I’m not sureI’mready to see them.
“Baby girl…”
“Ruby.”
“Aspen.”
