Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 70628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Sounds good to me. I don’t want any narcotics anyway.”
I saw too many of my buddies get hooked on those damned things during our tours. I’m not going there.
“Is this your wife?” Dr. Bridges gestures to Aspen.
“Oh no.” Aspen shakes her head. “I’m his…”
“Significant other,” I say. “My girlfriend. Aspen Davis.”
At the word girlfriend, Aspen breaks into a beautiful and dazzling smile.
Good.
She likes being called my girlfriend.
It seems like such a juvenile term, given what we’ve both been through.
But it works, and she seems happy.
“So am I going to get sprung today, Doc?” I ask.
“I want to keep an eye on you for another few hours. But if your vitals remain stable, I think we can let you go this afternoon.”
“Not any sooner?”
“Hush,” Aspen says. “Listen to your doctor.”
“That’s good advice,” Dr. Bridges says. “I’ll leave you two to visit.”
She whisks away and closes the door behind her.
“Aspen…”
She covers my lips with her two fingers. “Don’t try to talk. I have a few things I need to say to you. And they can’t wait.”
4
ASPEN
I love you.
The words flash through my mind, and I know I need to say them. It’s part of the reason why I’m here. But what if he doesn’t return them?
Will I be embarrassed? Will I wish I’d never spoken my mind? My truth?
“What is it?” Buck asks.
“I just need to say…”
“What?”
I rise then. Fear slices through me, but why? I know what real fear is. So does Buck.
Confessing my love and then not hearing it back?
Why should I fear such a silly little thing?
Because…
Because I don’t want this to be over.
And if he doesn’t return my feelings… If he’s only in this because the Wolfes are paying him…
The end will be in sight.
I can’t. Not right now. Not until we’ve determined who’s responsible for my abduction, for the murders of Gloria and Brian.
“It’s nothing,” I say. “It can wait. You need your rest.”
“Aspen…”
I place my fingers on his lips once more. His lips that are still so soft even though they’re dry. He needs some lip balm.
“I’m fine, baby,” he says.
“I know, and I’m so thankful for that. I want you to rest. When you get out of here this afternoon, you’ll come stay with me at Katelyn and Luke’s house.”
“Aspen, we have a suite at the Peninsula.”
“You need to be taken care of. I’m going to take care of you.”
“That’s sweet, baby, but you can do that at the hotel.”
“Katelyn won’t hear of that, and you know I’m right.”
He doesn’t reply.
“Listen. I know you don’t really want to be staying at Luke’s house. But he’s been up all night. He was still in his office when I came here. He’s been working, trying to figure out who’s responsible for my abduction. He wants to help, Buck, and he has contacts.”
“I have just as many contacts. Through the Wolfes.”
“I know that. But Luke has underground contacts.”
“Are you kidding me? So do the Wolfes.”
“Please. Let him help.”
Buck doesn’t reply, simply closes his eyes.
“Try to sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
I’m not leaving this room.
Right now I’m feel like self-flagellating a bit. I can’t believe I chickened out.
“I love you,” I whisper as softly as I can.
His eyelids flutter a tiny bit, but his eyes do not open.
A tingle of fear shoots through me. Did he hear me? Or is he already asleep? Or maybe he’s in that alpha stage between asleep and awake.
And maybe…
I grab his strong hand, the one that’s not hooked up to IVs.
I hold it in my own. I’m a big girl and I have big hands, but Buck’s hands… They dwarf mine. Engulf them.
They’re big and beautiful, with long fingers and square nails.
Everything about Buck Moreno is beautiful.
He was carved by gods.
Even in a hospital gown, he looks delicious.
I lean toward him, brush my lips over his.
His eyelids flutter once more, and this time they open.
“Baby…”
I swallow down all my fears, and they’re not even real because I’ve encountered true fear in my life.
Except maybe this fear is real. My life isn’t in danger, but it’s okay to be apprehensive when I’m about to trust someone else with my heart. This is real in its own way, and it’s important.
I must tell him.
Right now, this man needs to know how I feel.
“Buck…”
“Yeah?”
“I have to say this to you. I can’t hold it back. I… I love you.”
A smile spreads across his face. “Do you?”
“Yes. I do. I do.”
God, please don’t make me regret this.
He squeezes my hand. “I love you too, Aspen. I think I fell for you the first time I saw you.”
Happiness surges through me as my heart flutters. “At the railway station?”
“Yeah. I know it doesn’t make any sense. Even then, though, I was struck by you. I knew I felt something. I just wasn’t sure what it was.”