Page 77 of Waiting for Devon
“Any idea when she’ll be released?”
“In a few more days. Christmas Eve.”
“A night for miracles.” Reed looked down at his plate. “I’m going to need one.”
“You’re not kidding. But I suspect Devon will take one look at you and forgive and forget your stupidity.”
“We make quite a pair, Taylor. Dumb and dumber.”
“You’re dumber, by the way.”
They clinked their beer bottles.
Devon’s charge nurse,who worked the night shift, admonished Reed and Jack in no uncertain terms not to disturb her patient. Jack turned on the charm, practically guaranteeing the nurse a date if she kept their presence a secret. The pretty brunette blushed and offered him a coy smile. Reed guessed she’d force Jack into it. He recalled Blair forcing him into a date with Lara and snickered.
Jack checked Devon’s chart and left Reed alone in the room with her. Reed sat in the chair next to the bed and watched her sleep. Dark circles under her eyes attested to her recent ordeal. Hot shame and regret washed through him, depriving him of his breath. Tears burned in his eyes. He had done her wrong, breaking faith with her time and again. During most of their relationship he’d sent her mixed signals, desiring her one moment and pushing her away the next. It’s little wonder she fell in love with him at all, let alone feel safe and secure enough to confide in him. Now that he had time to consider it, he never acted as if she could trust him. Quite the opposite, in fact. Blaming her for not trusting him or giving him a chance to prove his love was an excuse for his own failure as a man.
Even worse, Reed acknowledged to himself that he had manipulated her into making love with him instead of waiting to win her trust. He never told her that one night with her changed his life. It spoiled other women for him. Though he had started dating indiscriminately, he didn’t sleep with any of those women. He couldn’t. Reed’s heart lay with only one woman. Devon.
Too scared of touching her and rousing her, Reed lowered his head and whispered close to her ear, “I’m here, Devon. My love. My heart. Forgive me for being the Devil’s own fool. If anything happens to you or our baby, I won’t be able to live with myself.”
Images of Devon in that tin shack and at the mercy of Digger Sharpe flashed in his mind. What an asshole he’d been. He’d been frightened out of his wits when Jack came to the ranch to tell them she was missing. Instead of raising hell to find her, he allowed Jack to be his voice. Fuck. He deserved the ass-kicking Jack had given him.
“I promise from now on I’m going to be the man you need and want. I’ll sacrifice everything for you and our baby. I’m at your mercy, Devon. Scream at me. Hit me. Call me names. I can take it. I won’t abandon you again. And I will spend the rest of my life proving that you can trust me and that I am worthy of your love.”
It might have been his imagination or a trick of the dim light in the hospital room, but Reed swore Devon smiled at him.
Chapter Twenty
Dr. Warren thrilledDevon when she announced her release on Christmas Eve. “Now, Devon,” she began in a serious tone. “You’re going to need help. You can get up long enough to take a shower and use the bathroom, but regular physical activity such as housework and cooking are out of the question. I won’t release you until you have a plan in place.”
“My sister will be staying with me until after the first of the year, and then…”
“I’ve got it covered,” Jack interrupted. “You don’t need to worry, Dr. Warren. Devon will be well cared for, I assure you.”
They spoke for a few more minutes before Dr. Warren left the hospital room. Devon turned to Jack with brows raised in suspicion. “What have you done now, Jack?”
“Just what I said. I’ve made arrangements for you to be taken care of, so all you need to do is rest and concentrate on having a healthy baby.”
It grew dark as Jack drove Devon home from the hospital. For her convenience he’d built a ramp leading up to her porch. She leaned on him as they stepped into the house. Inside, a warm blaze crackled invitingly in the fireplace as lights twinkled on the Christmas tree. Incredible smells coming from the kitchen wafted through the house. Devon’s mouth watered. During the past nine days, she’d grown weary of hospital food. Peace and comfort surrounded her.
As Jack settled her on the sofa, she said, “You and Emmaline have outdone yourselves.” She glanced at the number of gifts under the Christmas tree. “Thank you for doing the rest of my Christmas shopping. Are Caleb, Robin, and the kids still planning on coming tomorrow?”
“Yes. Caleb said their flight lands around four o’clock.” Jack touched her shoulder. “I think it’s time to give you one of my Christmas presents. Look.” He pointed toward the shadowy entrance to the kitchen.
Reed stepped into the light cast by the fire and the Christmas tree. “Merry Christmas, my love,” he greeted her in a soft, expectant voice.
Their gazes locked and held. A painful lump rose in Devon’s throat, and hot tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t breathe. Images of the last time she saw Reed flooded her mind. She would never forget the expression on his face when he rejected her.
Jack’s hand was still on her shoulder, and she reached for it. Her stomach clenched with a soul-searing sickness. “Jack,” she whispered.
He squeezed her shoulder. “Talk to Reed. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He and Reed shared a meaningful look.
Reed joined Devon on the sofa and gazed with yearning into her eyes. Silence descended between them as she drew a deep breath and steeled herself. She wasn’t going to make this reunion easy for him.
“Why? Why are you here now after all this time?”
“Jack came to see me. He told me you were pregnant and in danger of losing the baby.”
