He got out and began firing questions at Ben, feeling his old self rise up and insist on being in charge. “What’s the status on Bella’s father?” He had to know what they were up against, get the lay of the land before choosing his battle.
“He has pneumonia, and with his weakened heart, the doctors aren’t optimistic.” Ben’s long legs had no trouble keeping up with Adam’s pace as he cleared the house and headed towards the east study. “I’ve packed a bag so you can stay with her.”
“I’ll not be going to the hospital.” The idea of spending any time in a hospital room made his stomach churn. It wasn’t his aversion to hospitals that kept him away; it was the understanding that he was more valuable to Bella here than he was there. She was strong and capable. And he was the last person Martin would want to see when he woke up, especially since he’d had him blocked at the gate. Yes, that had been him. He’d sent off an email that first night without even thinking about it. Keeping Bella to himself hadn’t been his motivation at the time, but as he marched through the castle, he realized that he’d come between father and daughter. Bella adored her dad, and rightly so. The man had given up everything for her. When had Adam ever made such a sacrifice for anyone? Never. The answer was never.
“The Cove needs to be finished, and Bella won’t be here to do it.” Adam shrugged out of his tuxedo jacket and tossed it onto a chair. He unhooked his cuff links, dropping them on the bookcase, and rolled up his sleeves. Bella’s desk was in perfect order. Her filing system was easy to navigate. Her computer was a log of activity. With only a few seconds to orient himself, he was ready to send off a final occupancy letter.
“Sir, if I may.” Edward strode into the room, Adam’s overnight bag rolling behind him. “When the family is in crisis, the family should be together.”
“What in my life has ever taught me that?” Adam snapped.
Edward dropped his head in shame. Mrs. Poole hovered in the hallway, her arm around Corbon, who had snuck in as they watched him fall apart. Ben stood like a statue, his lips moving but no words coming out. Adam’s family, his father, his grandparents, they’d all had their own lives and left him to find his. These people were as close to family as he’d had, and they were on the payroll. So was Bella.
Adam’s frustration with himself grew. Bella had been gone for less than an hour, and already his head was filled with doubts and his confidence shaken. Since when did he need a woman to feel like a complete man?
Since the day she appeared in your study,came a voice in his head.
The voice was right. He’d fallen for her the moment she’d stood behind this very desk, her eyes burning with determination. Man, she was beautiful!
And he was weak.
The knowledge was like a bowling ball to the chest. He ran his fingers across the scars on his cheek. He’d been vulnerable, and he’d allowed himself to become weak. That was unacceptable. As much as he loved Bella—and he did love her—he needed to find his strength once again. He needed to find the Beast.
“Bring me something with caffeine. I have a late night ahead of me.”
“Adam?” asked Ben.
Adam sighed. His thoughts and feelings tumbled into a recognizable pattern. He spoke low, the weight of the words bearing down on him. “If I can release her from the contract and she comes back to me, then I know it’s love.”
Ben’s, Edward’s, and Mrs. Poole’s eyebrows shot up. Then Ben began to nod, slowly. “I see where you are going, and I like it.”
“She’ll be back,” insisted Mrs. Poole.
Adam took heart from her conviction, because he wasn’t so sure. Yes, they’d shared some beautiful moments together, and he’d shown a side of himself to Bella that he hadn’t known existed. She brought out the best in him. He only hoped he did the same for her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bella
Several days had passed since the ball, and instead of waking in a four-poster bed with soft sheets and a warm comforter, Bella woke up on the blasted chair the nurses had transformed into a “bed” in her father’s hospital room. Yes, she used air quotes around the word because, while the surface may be horizontal and covered in scratchy cotton, it did not resemble a bed in any other way. Her neck was sore and her hip was numb, and she was in a foul mood to start off what appeared to be another day of watching her father’s health fail. Pneumonia had settled into his lungs. This wouldn’t be such a bad prognosis, but having had surgery so recently, he was at risk for a number of complications.
The morning nurse, Judy, who had hair the color of a Valentine’s heart and a heart the size of Washington, took his vitals.
“Any change?” Bella croaked. She reached for the lukewarm cup of water she’d set out last night, and grimaced at the mineral flavor. The scrubs the staff provided were thin, and she shivered.
“His blood pressure and oxygen levels are up. It’s a good sign.” Judy patted Bella’s arm before quitting the room.
Bella stretched her arms above her head and reached for the phone Adam had thrust at her before he’d thrown her out of a helicopter. She’d fired off text after text of updates the first day and then stopped when she realized she was getting one-word answers. Maybe Adam wasn’t a texter; some guys just weren’t. Still, she missed his charm. She missed him.
She had a new text from Adam.I’m herewas all it said.
She typed quickly, scrambling for the toothbrush the nurses had given her. He’d sent the text ten minutes ago.Here, where?
Waiting room. They won’t let me up. Not family.
She rolled her eyes. Stupid hospital rules.I’m coming.
I’m comingrepeated over and over in her head.
