Page 36 of Wait for You

As if she could read his mind, Imogen squeezed his hand and reiterated in a whisper, “Emil’s safe because of you.”

The major pulled a pen and a palm-sized notebook out of his pocket. “Tell me what happened to you after the rescue, and I’ll let you get some rest.”

Mat didn’t want to talk about that with Imogen in the room. She’d been through enough. “Gen, can you hunt me down a Pepsi?”

When her chocolate eyes met his, Mat saw she understood. With a nod, she said, “I’ll see what I can find.”

???

Imogen

Imogen felt like a doll whose stitching was so frayed the stuffing could burst out at any moment. This day had been the longest of her life. With all the worry, stress, and no sleep, she didn’t know how much longer she’d stay put together.

Mat didn’t want her in the room when he relayed what the cartel did to him, but she already knew. She’d been there when the Rangers carried him from that shed. Reliving it, she closed her eyes against the image of his broken and bloodied body. At first, she thought he was dead. And it felt like her world had ended.

Even now, her stomach heaved in horror at the memory. She placed a hand over it to soothe the pain. But then Mat had called her name, and a hot ball of hope had exploded in her chest. If there had been any ice left around her heart, that obliterated it. He might have broken ribs, lacerations from the corkscrews, and too many bruises to count.

But he’s alive.

Opening her eyes, Imogen continued her trek to the hospital vending machine. She’d give Mat the time he wanted with the major, but then they had to talk. There were so many things she ached to say.

Above all, he had to know she forgave him for leaving her five years ago. They’d been given a second chance, and she wasn’t letting anything tear them apart this time. Not the cartel, not her family, and certainly, not him.

When Imogen returned to Mat’s room, she’d been gone for close to fifteen minutes searching for a Pepsi. It seemed the hospital had a deal with Coca-Cola because they had vending machines on every floor. But for a Pepsi, she’d had to go all the way to the cafeteria.

She opened the door and stopped short of entering. “Madre, Papá! Qué están haciendo aquí?”

“Don’t be rude, Imogen.” Her mother never missed an opportunity to scold her.

Imogen hadn’t spoken in Spanish to conceal anything, though. She’d simply been shocked into using it at the sight of her parents standing around Mat’s bed, and she knew, even iftheydidn’t, that he understood her anyway.

Her father, at least, answered her question, “We’re here to show our gratitude to Sergeant Travers for finding Emiliano.”

“Oh.” Still processing, Imogen moved woodenly to Mat’s bedside and offered him the soda.

He nodded his head at the overbed table, and she set it down, realizing she should’ve gotten a straw. With his forearm injuries, he might have trouble holding it.

Wearing a smile that held hidden mischief, Mat said, “It’s really Imogen you have to thank. I only started lookin’ at her request.”

Her father bulldozed right over that sentiment. “Modesty is a virtue, Sergeant, but we insist on a reward. There must be something we can do to repay you?”

Mat’s grin faded. His eyes captured hers, and they glowed with an electric excitement that sent tingles from her head to her feet. “All right, then. I’ll take your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

A gasp left Imogen’s lips.Did he really just say that?Her eyes had to have widened to the size of saucers.

“That’s if she’ll have me,” Mat tagged on.

The room was completely still. He’d shocked her parents into silence, which she knew from experience was difficult to do. Maybe it was all the worry, lack of sleep, or just plain giddiness, but that struck her as ridiculously funny, and Imogen started to laugh. Not a demure chuckle but a gut-busting, belly-holding, bend-you-at-the-waist kind of laugh.

Of course, that sent her mother into a tizzy. “Imogen! What on earth?” She covered her mouth with a well-manicured hand, her eyes wide in horror at her daughter’s behavior.

It only made Imogen laugh harder. Tears started leaking from the corners of her eyes.

“What’s so funny,hija?” Her father’s eyebrows drew together in confusion, but when Imogen glanced at Mat, she cut herself off.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, and the grimace on his lips hinted that she’d hurt him. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was laughing at his proposal. Not when, now more than ever, she wanted forever with him. Closing the distance between them, she grabbed his face and gently kissed his bruised mouth. His hands lifted to her neck with a grunt of pain, and she shook her head, whispering, “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Leaning back, she pulled Mat’s arms down so he wouldn’t hurt himself anymore and told her father, “My answer is yes. I’ll marry him.”

---