Page 125 of Fortune's Control
“Right here, sweetheart.” I nuzzled her cheek with my own, letting her feel the rough shadow.
“I love you.”
The whispered tone and the raw vulnerability she placed into those three words stirred me. “Me too. More than anything. I love you.” I pulled the quilt from her hands,setting it in the back seat. “Are you ready to go inside?”
The hospital’s bright lights shone into the truck’s front window. Lilah stared up at the building. “Can we visit the gift shop first?”
“Sure, whatever you want.”
After a quick gift shop detour, I knocked on the open door, unsurprised to find his hospital room overflowing with visitors. Sam sat in the chair closest to his son, with Dean standing behind him, while Lainey leaned against the far wall. Evelyn read through his patient file, nodding with apparent approval as Jack poured Aiden a glass of ice water.
Lainey ran to Lilah, embracing her. “We all heard. Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
Deciding to give them privacy, I checked on Aiden. “For a man with a bullet wound, you look pretty damn amazing.”
A pale undertone muted his tawny skin, negating the benefits of his constant sun exposure. He eyed Lilah over his cup of water. “How is she?”
“Worried about you.”
His features took on a glum cast, with him biting on his lip as one eye ticked. “I knew something was wrong. If I’d…” He shook himself and trained his characteristic smile on me. “You should know I pitch right-handed.”
“Not happening.”
“I intend to challenge you for the role of team captain in three days.” He glanced down at his left shoulder. “Four days. Five at the most.”
“We’ll talk later.” We wouldn’t, but I could indulge him until then. I leaned against the bed, putting all the weight on my right leg, while taking care not to cause him pain. “Thank you for being there today. You’re the reason she’s safe with me,with all of us. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know…” I couldn’t bring myself to finish.
“I didn’t do anything,” he insisted.
I leaned down so only he could hear this part. “The love of my life is safe because of you, and I will spend the rest of my life paying you back. You saved me twice.”
Lilah joined us and passed over a small paper bag with the hospital name written on one side.
Aiden opened it and peered inside. His head fell back from a bellowing laugh.
“It’s every kind they had. Hopefully, your favorite is in there,” she said.
He opened the bag, spilling the contents onto his lap, and wheezed, “It’s in there with no audit to be found.”
I expected Lilah to choose a balloon or a box of chocolates, but she headed straight to the gum rack while complaining about the lack of shoeboxes for sale. From Aiden’s reaction, it appeared she made the correct choice.
He asked what happened at the cabin, and by silent agreement, Lilah and I let Jack explain.
“Does this mean it’s all over? My granddaughter doesn’t need to worry about stalkers or crazy people anymore.” Evelyn asked.
“I may testify, but that’s not decided yet,” Lilah said before turning towards me. “It’s decided that I’ll resume riding my bike into town.”
“No argument from me,” I said. Her car sat at the farthest part of our driveway, unused since the time she first asked to borrow a bicycle. It amused me at first, and now I recognized it as another tendril in the life she built here in Fortune’s Creek, where she belonged. With me.
“What’s this?” Aiden picked up a chocolate bar,confused.
“Oh, that’s mine.” Lilah covered her mouth, embarrassed, as he handed it over. She opened the package and tore off a piece of chocolate. “Do you want some?” she asked me, handing it over. “Anyone else?”
I gritted my teeth and took a small bite.
“Wait. You haven’t told her yet?” Dean asked.
