He rubbed a hand through his hair and looked out into the hallway. “My Grams called and said something about the hospital and to get here right away. Where is she?”
His grandmother lived in Silverville, and it had a hospital there. What was she doing in town? “Huh?” I said again.
Nick pinned me with a frantic gaze. “She said she was with you and that you were both in the hospital.”
Tessa cut her eyes to me. “She wouldn’t have.”
Donna covered her mouth with her hand. “Theywould have.” The sound came out muffled.
“What is going on?” Nick roared.
I winced. “Hey. No shouting. Headache here.” Before he could yell again, I held up a hand. “Call your grandmother. She wasn’t with me tonight, and I have no idea what you’re talking about.” There was a chance she was in the hospital, but he should at least call her first.
He whipped his phone from his back pocket and pressed a button. I could hear it ring, even though he held the phone to his ear.
“Hello?” Gerty asked.
Nick sagged against the wall. “Grams? Are you okay?” He set the phone on speaker. That was decent of him, considering none of this made sense.
“Of course I’m okay,” Gerty said. “Did you get to the hospital?”
Nick frowned. “Yes. I’m here. Where are you?”
“I’m at home, silly. Did you check on Anna for Elda? She’s so worried, but there’s a summer storm over the pass, and I didn’t want them to drive over. I said you’d check on her,” Gerty said cheerfully.
Nick’s chin lowered. “Grams? You said you were in the hospital with Anna.”
Gerty chuckled. “No, I didn’t. I said I was worried andwishedI could be there with Anna. You really must start listening better, sweetheart. How are you ever going to be governor if you don’t listen to people?”
“Grams—”
“How is Anna?” she interrupted.
Nick swung his gaze to me, looking more bewildered than he had when he’d run inside.
“I’m fine, Gerty,” I called out, pressing a hand to my forehead. “Just a little headache. Please tell Nonna not to worry.”
“Good. I’ll call her right now. Bye.” Gerty knew when to get out of a conversation.
Nick stuck the phone in his front pocket. “I cannot believe this.”
Tessa blushed a bright red. Like cherry tomato-red and not the lovelier damask shade she often blushed.
Nick swung his gaze to her. “We should just give in right now. I can call a magistrate and have us married by morning. What do you say? We can give them their first great-grandkid by next spring.”
Tessa blinked. I swear, she blushed even more. “You’re not my type,” she retorted.
Nick paused. He turned his body to face her completely. “Excuse me?”
Donna set the magazine down to watch them, and I have to admit, I gazed on totally enthralled.
“Breathe,” Donna whispered from the corner of her mouth. “You have a head injury.”
Oh. I was holding my breath. In and out. That’s right. I watched rapturously, but I remembered to breathe. “Thanks,” I whispered.
Donna leaned forward.
Tessa smiled at Nick, and it was the slightly smart-ass—totally in control—sexy smile that I’d never been able to duplicate. “I said that you’re not my type, Basanelli. Our grandmothers are adorable, but they’ll move on to another project. You’re tough enough to wait this out.”
