Moving On (Rolling Thunder #7) - P.J. Fiala Page 0,47
I hug you?"
His voice cracked with emotion when he said, "Yes."
She tentatively leaned down to hug him, and he pulled her right onto the bed with him. He didn't care if she hit sore spots, he needed to hold her. To feel her against him.
He wrapped his arms around her tiny body and let the tears that flooded his eyes fall down his temples and wet his pillow. Her body shook as her tears spilled and they both lay still, their arms wrapped as tightly as they could be for a long time. This was more healing than anything the doctors could do for him.
LuAnn lifted her head and swiped the tears from her eyes. She scooted to his side and he moved over to allow her some room.
"Tell me true. Where are you hurt?"
Those blue eyes of hers bore into his dark brown ones and he thought he'd just lay here and look into them for a long time. But, when he didn't answer she raised her eyebrows expecting an answer.
"I have a concussion, which is the only reason they’re keeping me here a few days. Otherwise, I have bumps and bruises everywhere it seems. I had my seatbelt on, but I still flopped around a bit and mostly, it's where my seatbelt held me in place and the air bag deployed."
She looked down to his chest, lifted the hospital gown away from his neck and peeked inside.
"Oh my God, Chase. You're purple." She moved to get up, but he held her there.
"Please just lay here with me a bit."
"I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't. You aren't."
She stared into his eyes; her left hand cupped his jaw while her thumb softly floated over his lips.
"I've been so worried about you."
"I know and thanks." He took in a deep breath. "I'm so sorry Dog chewed you out this morning. He had no right and I've told him so."
"Chase, don't get fired over me. We'll figure a way around all of this. I understand I'm not welcome at their events. I get it."
"I won't get fired. He stepped in to help out and I'm very grateful. He took care of getting my truck to the shop. He also had the insurance adjuster go to Rolling Thunder to look it over and I'm grateful for that, too. But, it’s different when it comes to my personal life. Who I date. Who I'm with. Who I..." Hesitating, he swallowed. "Who I love that is none of his business."
Her eyes rounded. "You love me?"
He chuckled because, seriously, how could she not see it. "Yes."
"Oh God. Chase. I love you, too."
Her lips touched his. It was soft, sweet and so momentous. His right hand cupped the back of her head and held her there so the kiss would last.
When he let go of her, she lifted her head slightly. "It feels so good to say it to you. I never wanted to scare you away."
He laughed, then coughed, then winced. "My God, LuAnn, if I didn't get scared away after all you've done, what made you think telling me you loved me was going to scare me away?"
She giggled. "Sometimes it’s the smallest thing that scares a person, not the big things."
"True that."
The door opened and a nurse walked in. "Well now, it looks like you're feeling much better."
He chuckled again. "Now that my girl is here, nothing can stop me. I have a goal to get sprung from this place as soon as possible."
"The doctor is on his way in and you can talk to him about that and the trembling in your hands you were concerned about. LuAnn gently sat up, and then stood so the nurse could check his vitals. She walked to the other side of the bed and sat in the chair watching him as the nurse took his temperature and checked his pulse.
"I need you to slip your arms out of your gown, Mr. Matthews so the doctor can look at your bruises. I’m afraid you’ll have to step outside, miss."
“LuAnn can stay with me while the doctor does his examination.”
He struggled a bit and LuAnn quickly got up to help him. When his chest was exposed, tears welled in her eyes and her fingers gently brushed his bruised ribs and left shoulder.
"It's okay, Lu. Nothing's broken, the bruises will go away."
She nodded but didn't say anything. Within a few seconds the door opened again and a man with dark hair and a darker olive complexion walked in.