Then, she turned her attention back to Roan. The man who would soon be her husband had drifted off to sleep, his rugged features soft in slumber. And she said a silent prayer of thanks.
Thank you for bringing him back to me.
The hospital was bright and sterile after the romantic glow of La Danza. They took Roan back immediately, hooking him up to monitors, starting IV fluids, piling heated blankets on him.
Reese stood next to his bed, still in her gala dress, holding his hand, staring at her ring.
The doctor came in after about an hour. “You’re incredibly lucky. No frostbite. Your core temperature is coming up nicely. We’ll keep you overnight for observation, but you should make a full recovery.”
“Told you I was fine,” Roan said to Reese after the doctor left.
“You fell through ice.”
“Just a little ice.”
“You walked two miles in a snowstorm.”
“I’ve had worse on movie sets.”
She laughed, despite herself. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Come lay next to me,” Roan said.
“Is that allowed?”
“No one, not even a moose, is keeping you from me for one more minute.”
“When you put it that way ….” She kicked off her pumps and carefully got in next to him. “This bed is not big enough for two of us.”
“Don’t leave.”
“I won’t.” She turned on her side to give him more room, nestling into his chest. “Anyway, what’s better than my body heat to get you warmed up.”
“You warm me up, baby. Always have.”
“I was so scared.”
“I’m okay.”
“Thank God,” Reese said.
“Thanks for saying yes,” Roan said.
“You knew I would.”
“I hoped you would. Although Cody was worried I’d be embarrassed if you said no in front of half the town.”
“Well, fortunately, I answered correctly.” She leaned over to give him a peck on the mouth before climbing in next to him. “What a night.”
He squeezed her hand. “Best night of my life.”
“You nearly died.”
“But I got you. Worth it.”
She watched him drift off to sleep, her body tucked in next to him. The monitor beeped steadily. Outside the window, snow continued to fall, but not with the ferocity that had almost taken Roan from her. The storm had passed. Finally.
16
