Perfect Fit (Serendipity's Finest) - By Carly Phillips Page 0,103
plans on signing her out.” He slapped Mike on the back and walked down the hall.
Mike leaned back and closed his eyes, the events of last night playing out in vivid detail, every second feeling like an eternity as he watched the woman he loved struggling for her life.
If anything happened to her, Mike would be lost.
He’d already taken his brother’s advice. Mike’s go big or go home plan was ready and waiting. He was amazed at how much he had accomplished in the short time since he’d left the city. He’d wanted to share his news with Cara last night, but she’d run from him. Now he had a captive audience and he’d stop at nothing to convince her that she was his home.
By the time the doctors signed Cara’s release papers and gave her instructions, she was antsy and ready to leave this place for good.
“Soft foods, lots of rest, and little talking,” the older female nurse reminded her, handing Cara the paperwork.
“Don’t worry,” Mike said, wrapping an arm around her waist. “I’ll make sure she listens to doctor’s orders.”
Cara narrowed her gaze, frowning at him. She had tried telling him to get lost, but he wasn’t listening and short spurts of sentences were all she could manage.
Alexa had left earlier, so Cara didn’t have her as a buffer with Mike. And since Cara understood that she needed someone around because of the concussion, she was stuck with him. At least until she could make other arrangements, which she intended to do, by text, as soon as possible.
The nurse looked over toward the door. “Oh! There’s the wheelchair now.”
Cara groaned.
“Hospital policy. You leave in our wheels.” The older woman patted the seat.
A few minutes later, she was settled in Mike’s truck, a place she’d never thought she’d be again. The arousing scent of his cologne permeated her pores, causing an ache in her heart she was beginning to think she’d never be rid of.
Angry at both him and the situation, she folded her arms across her chest and stared out the window, until she realized he wasn’t driving toward her house.
She prodded him in the arm and asked, “Where are you going?”
“No talking, Kermit,” he said with a laugh.
She scowled at him.
“You’ll see, so hush and enjoy the scenery.” He settled in for the ride.
Cara wasn’t so comfortable, not just because of the pain, which she could handle thanks to a generous dose of medication, but because Mike’s return unsettled her as much as the attention he insisted on lavishing on her. She didn’t want it, didn’t need it, and most of all, she couldn’t let herself enjoy it again.
She’d texted Alexa and asked her friend to meet her at Cara’s house so she could get rid of Mike, but she wasn’t answering. Neither was Sam. And now she knew they weren’t going home anyway. Out of options, Cara gave in and shut her eyes.
She didn’t realize she’d dozed off until she heard Mike calling her name. She forced her heavy eyelids open.
He cut the motor.
“Where are we?” She pressed her hand to her throat as she tried to speak.
“Shh. Just listen, okay?” He shifted in his seat and faced her, the most serious expression she’d ever seen on his handsome face.
Uh-oh. Her insides churned from nerves, and she wished she were anywhere but here. Mike had her at a serious disadvantage, unable to speak, stuck with him in his car, God knows where, while he prepared to…what? Explain that he was back for some ridiculous reason that had nothing to do with her, she wondered, and wrapped her arms around herself for comfort.
“I made a huge mistake,” he said, his tone gruff.
She narrowed her gaze.
“I should never have left town. I should have pulled myself together and dealt with everything being thrown at me. Rex, Simon, the case, the resignation, the job offer…” He frowned, clearly disgusted with his own actions.
Amazed at his honesty, she listened, waiting to hear more.
“You were right. If I needed time, I should have just said so. And I damned sure shouldn’t have pulled away from you.” He paused before continuing. “I reverted to my old M.O. and I ran when I should have stuck around and dealt with things here.” He cleared his throat, his expression as filled with pain as Cara’s heart. “I never meant to hurt you.”
She managed to swallow before attempting to speak, the words gut-wrenching to admit. “But you did.”