Page 146 of Billion Dollar Mistake

He looks at our joined hands. “I’m so sorry. I did this to you. I was so scared I was going to lose you,” he rambles.

I reach out to touch his face, enjoying the way the scuff of his beard feels against the palm of my hand. I hold it against his cheek as I speak. “I’m fine, Remy. I don’t blame you. The guy ran a red light.”

He shakes his head but still enjoys the touch of my hand on his skin. “I wasn’t paying attention. Too busy working. I was always working.”

“Was?”

He swallows hard and explains. “I’m cutting back. This was the biggest wake-up call. The most important thing in my life isn’t work.”

I stay silent for a beat, observing the way he breathes heavily. His face pinched with concern, evidence he's been struggling to see me in the hospital. I hate knowing he’s riddled with guilt. I’ve forgiven him, and now I need him to forgive himself. However, it's clear his dedication to his work was consuming him more than I realized until recently. The signs were there, showing up late or cancelling, when he never did before. “There’s nothing wrong with working, but I think you need to find a balance.”

As I stare into his conflicted eyes, a sense of calm washes over me, a combination of the pain relief taking effect and his presence in the room. I wish he could wrap his arms around me and hold me. But there’s still lots of wires attached to me.

“I didn’t tell you something I should have, and I was scared I wasn’t going to be able to,” he confesses.

“Yeah?” I respond, my curiosity piqued.

He stands abruptly and leans forward. His intense gaze holds mine as he utters the next words. “Nova, I love you. I have loved you for so long. I can’t believe I’ve never told you. But from today onward, you’ll hear it every day.”

Before I met him, I was not living, but now, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance and I’m not wasting it.

I smile adoringly at him. “I love you too, Remy. So much.”

His lips take mine in a gentle, careful kiss. He’s trying to avoid the tube in my nose. He’s pouring his heart into this kiss and it brings tears to my eyes. I blink through the blurry vision, tasting salt on my tongue. Pulling back, he lays his forehead against mine and he cries too.

“I haven’t cried since…fuck, I can’t even remember and yet now in the last few days I’ve cried three times. What are you doing to me?”

I part my lips as a wide smile takes over my face. “I don’t know. But I hope it’s a good thing.”

“With you, everything is a good thing.”

He moves his lips to my forehead. Laying a gentle warm kiss there before pulling back, allowing me to admire him in his olive-green sweater and blue jeans.

“So, if you’re not going to work, what is the next chapter in your life?” I ask, knowing he wouldn’t pull out of his commitments without a plan.

“Right now, you. You have a long recovery and I want to be there every step of the way.”

As lovely as that sounds, I know I want to go back to my new career. I worked so hard in college to get there. “I will be getting better so I can return to work. Bentley will have me back.”

“If he doesn’t, he’s crazy, and I have plenty of jobs I can give you.”

“Is that so?”

“Like a head job,” he teases.

I smile. “Are you being dirty, Mr. Lincoln?”

“Never.” He winks.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be out of commission for.”

His hand comes up to cup the side of my face, tilting my head back so I meet his eyes. “We won’t be doing anything until you’re ready. You need to heal.”

“I assume I’ll be here for a few more days and then to rehab.”

“Would you be opposed to coming to my house? I’ll have the best physio visit you daily at my house.”

“Seems excessive,” I argue.

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