Taming the Carefree Billionaire - Marie Higgins Page 0,62
Thomas asked.
“She was telling me to take pictures. I told her that it wasn’t the time.”
“Why not? Isn’t that your job?”
Frowning, she sighed and glanced his way, briefly. “I was worried about you, and your father. I was worried about the vineyard and the winery. I didn’t have time to think of anything else.”
Thomas shifted their hands until their fingers intertwined, and then lifted them up to his mouth. He brushed a kiss across the back of her hand. Maybe he hadn’t lost her after all.
He could only hope.
TWENTY-TWO
Morgan paced the waiting room for Thomas to return. His mother showed up to the hospital shortly after they did. The poor woman was in hysterics. Thomas left Morgan in the waiting room while he and his mother joined Darion in his private room. It had been over an hour now, and the wait was killing Morgan. So was her guilt.
Exhaling slowly, she pushed her fingers through her hair and looked up the hallway. Still, nothing. She pressed her forehead against the wall, closing her eyes.
Her gut had been in turmoil since she’d first seen the dark smoke coming from the winery, and as she raced toward it, she realized this had been her fault. If she hadn’t stormed out of Thomas’ office, he would have been there when the first signs of the fire started. They could have both gotten to the fire before it spread too far.
Instead, she drove away, and he followed. She knew he would, even though at the time, it irritated her that he was following. And now... how could she apologize to him? How could she admit to being the one at fault?
Someone’s strong and gentle arms slid around her waist, making her jump, but when the man’s lips brushed her neck, she couldn’t control the sigh releasing from her throat. She turned, but he kept his arms around her.
“How is he?” Morgan asked, trying to step out of his embrace, but he wouldn’t release her.
“There’s a lump on the back of his head where someone had smacked him with a heavy object, knocking him unconscious. That was the last thing he remembers, and then waking up in the ambulance. The cut isn’t too bad, so no stitches were required.” Thomas took her hand and turned them to walk into the sitting room. He sat beside her. “Thank you for being here.”
Her chest clenched as guilt overrode her feelings again. “I’m glad your father is okay. But how about you?” She didn’t pull her hand away, only because it felt good, and it helped her stress level decrease.
“I’m fine. I’ll probably be sore tomorrow. I told Dad he needed to lose some weight,” he chuckled for a moment before his face turned serious again. “Who would do this, Morgan? From your photos of the other fires, have you found anything similar? These fires are not cause of nature, someone is starting these.”
Morgan thought of her pictures and what she saw the other day. She wondered if she should say anything. She didn’t see anything out of place, but she wasn’t looking for anyone, either.
“Well,” she began, “I did notice something. I captured the same person at two of the fires. At least they look like the same person. It just seemed odd. I wasn’t paying attention to who was there at your winery. I don’t know if that person was there, too.”
“I’d like to see the pictures, if that’s all right.” Thomas stroked her hand softly. “If anything, the person could be found and questioned.”
“Your fire has been the only one where someone has gotten hurt. Why would they choose to hurt your dad? Do they have something against him?”
“The only people who can get in the vineyard are those who have access. That means someone who we have trusted has betrayed us.” Thomas released her hand and leaned forward, scrubbing his hands over his face as he exhaled deeply.
Morgan put her palm on his strong back. She gently rubbed up and then around his shoulders. Thomas was so very different from when she first met him. He wasn’t the rich carefree man any longer. He had a heart now. It was obvious that the love for his winery and his father was strong.
She moved her fingers up through the back of his short hair around the base of his neck. Memories from how she acted in his office earlier when she saw the envelope with her photo in it resurfaced, and she felt bad for