He heard the elevator open down the hall but didn’t look up. Not until someone sat beside him and placed their hand over his.
He looked to his left.
Blair.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for you.”
“How did you know?”
“Celine called me. Kian filled Killian in.” She looked at him steadily. “I got here as fast as I could.”
“He can’t die,” Hud said.
“I know.” She kept her hand over his and didn’t try to fill the silence with anything else.
After a moment she said quietly, “I’m sorry I didn’t let you explain tonight. I was so hurt I just shut everything out.”
Hud turned his hand over and laced his fingers through hers. “I should have led with it the minute I walked through your door. I was too caught up in the case and then you were there and everything else went out of my head.” He looked at her. “I planned to tell you after tonight.”
“I know that now.” She leaned her head against his shoulder.
He let out a slow breath. “I’m glad you’re here, Blair.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” she said quietly. “I’m here for as long as you need me, Hud.”
“You’d better be damn sure about that.”
Blair lifted her head from his shoulder. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll always need you. It just took me longer than it should have to see it.”
“Always is a big word.”
“I know what I’m saying.” He looked at her. “I’m in love with you, Blair. I know this isn’t the time or the place, but I needed you to know.”
She searched his face. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I know where it all comes from, the walls and the leaving and all of it. And I know you’re nothing like her.” He held her gaze. “I want to be with you for as long as you’ll have me.”
Blair was quiet for a moment, then the corner of her mouth turned up. “Well. To use your words, you’d better be damn sure about that.”
It was the first time Hud had smiled since he’d arrived at that hospital. “More than you know, sweetheart.”
“I love you too.” She shook her head. “You stubborn cowboy.”
“I’m not going to argue about being stubborn. But you’re worse.”
“I have a temper.”
“No shit.”
He heard footsteps and looked up. Abbie was coming down the hall. He got to his feet.
She looked exhausted but her chin was up. “He’sout of surgery. Stable. He lost a lot of blood but they’re monitoring him closely.”
“Abbie, I’m so sorry.”
