She nodded. “Before I release you, I’d like you to get a CT scan.”
Up close, he could readher name tag topped by the logo for Wilmington General. The same hospital as Evan. His heart skipped. “Can someone get a message to my dad? Let him know I’m okay. He’s upstairs with my son. Room 314.”
Her eyes widened. “Of course.”
An hour later, Jeff was released with a clear scan, pain meds, and a prescription for plenty of rest, along with his cell phone, wallet, and keys. A man and a womanin black uniforms with gold badges pinned to their chests rose when he was wheeled into the lobby. “Mr. Patarava?” the woman asked. “We’d like to speak to you.”
He continued through the double doors to the portico, where the orderly helped him out of the chair and wished him a good day.
Jeff followed the man right back into the ER lobby.
“Jeff!”
He turned toward the familiar voice, hisheart slamming against his sternum. Tara swiftly closed the distance between them, her face lit with a huge smile that made his knees weak.
She walked straight into his arms and wrapped herself around him. He inhaled deeply, finally able to take a full breath now that he could see she was safe, now that he could hold her again, warm and whole in his embrace. “Thank God,” he whispered againsther hair. “I was going out of my mind.”
“That’s the concussion,” she murmured against his chest.
He chuckled. He’dmissedher.
She looked up at him and caressed his cheek. “I was so worried about you.” Her espresso eyes filled with tears.
Before she could make them both cry, he kissed her. Fuck the cops and the dozen or so people in the waiting room. They were alive and more-or-less unharmed.That alone deserved a celebration.
Her lips were soft and warm and so goddamned sweet he never wanted to stop.
Instead, he forced himself to break away.
The guy in uniform cleared his throat and Jeff nodded.
Unwilling to let go, he took Tara’s hand and faced the officers. “I know you’ve been waiting a while, but there’s something I need to do first.”
Tara’s stomach did a full danceroutine as she and Jeff approached Evan’s hospital room hand in hand. They’d declared their love for each other in the RV, but that didn’t mean anything about their future had changed.
But she was finally going to meet Jeff’s son. That meant something, right?
Inside the room, the little boy she recognized from the photos leaned against a pillow under a stack of blankets, eyes closed, a tubesnaking from his arm to IV bags hanging on a stand. Dark smudges underscored his eyes, a purple bruise peeked out from beneath his hospital johnny, and a stuffed dog snuggled firmly in the crook of his arm. He was adorable.
An older version of Jeff stood to the side of the hospital bed, his brown hair shot through with gray, his tall, thin frame athletic and upright. “Jeff. Oh, thank God.”
Jeff released her to hug the man. “I’m fine, Dad. I promise.” Pulling away he asked, “Did you get my message from the doctor?”
“Yes, but...”
Jeff rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. I’ll explain everything as soon as I can.”
“It had to do with this business you mentioned before?” The older man’s gaze flicked to Tara.
Her stomach jumped under his father’s gaze. Did he blame her forgetting Jeff involved in her mess? How much did he know?
Jeff sighed. “Yeah.” He reached for her hand again, the red marks on his wrist peeking out from beneath his long-sleeved shirt. “Dad, this is Tara Fujimoto.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Tara,” Jeff’s dad said, shaking her hand with a firm but gentle grip. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Uh-oh. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Patarava.”
“Bill, please.”He released her hand with a smile. “Can I get you a coffee or something?”
