Page 64 of The Soul of Archer
“Good morning Ms. St. James. You look much better than when I saw you yesterday.” Lomax smiled.
“I feel a bit better. My chest still hurts like a bitch, but since I’m still breathing I can’t complain, right?” Alora grinned slightly.
“A very positive view.”
She tried to sit up but hissed in pain. Lance moved so he was sitting and gently propped her against him. “Baby steps Tigress.”
“He’s right. You need to take it slow over the next few weeks especially. Once you’re released from here, I want you to have a follow up with your personal doctor, Dr. Tinedale.” At Alora’s lifted brow, he elaborated. “Your friend in Houston called and gave us your medical information. I know Dr. Tinedale and called him yesterday and told him what happened. His office will be expecting your call once you’re back home.”
“Then, I’ll call once I’m back home.” Alora said. Licking her lips, she hesitantly spoke again, “Um, Lance told me…well, what I want to know is, what about my bakery? I’m not just a decorator, I own it. I have nearly two dozen people who depend on me…”
Lomax lifted his hand to silence her. “I understand. While it will be some time before you’re actually doing any decorating, lifting anything or actually baking, I think you could return to work in a strictly observation and desk work capacity in say about a month. Now, Tinedale may say different and he will have the final say there. But, I want to stress to you not to push yourself too fast too soon. You are an extremely lucky young lady, in that the bullet completely missed your heart and major arteries. You also just had major surgery on top of being shot. Your body needs time to recover and that’s not something you can rush.”
“Yes sir. I just don’t want my employees to not be taken care of.” Alora sighed.
An idea suddenly hit Lance. He would make that call later when the others came to visit. He just hoped it would pay off. Lance eased off the bed and stood to the side as Lomax examined the stitches from the previous day’s surgery. Lance bit back a gasp when he saw first-hand the evidence of what Sam Malconi had done. A six-inch scar ran diagonal from the bottom of her left shoulder to top of her breast. There would now be a scar, a permanent reminder of what happened. Lance clutched his fist and wished Sam was still alive so that he could rip the fucker apart with his bare hands.
“Looks good. If you keep healing this well, you should be able to head home in about a week. I’m a firm believer that patients often heal better and a little faster in their homes than in stuffy hospitals.” Lomax grinned.
“My dad used to say the same thing when he was alive. He had his gallbladder removed and wanted to recover at home saying he would get batter faster there. I think his doctor agreed just to shut my dad up, but damned if not two days after coming home, dad was much stronger and healed faster than the hospital said he would.” Alora chuckled, then groaned.
Lance was at her side in a flash. “You have to try not to laugh right now baby.”
“I know, it’s freakin’ hurts.” She groaned.
“That will pass in a few days.” Lomax assured her. “I’ll leave you to rest and be by to check in with you tomorrow.”
Alora and Lance waved bye and once alone again, Lance eased back into the bed pulling her to him. He held her as once again she drifted off to sleep. The nurse yesterday had told him that she would be drowsy and sleep frequently over the next two days and that he was to let her. This was her body’s way of healing itself and the antibiotics doing their job. Lance didn’t care if she slept for twelve hours a day, just as long as she got better and stayed healthy.
***
Alora sighed as Lance closed the door behind them. Home. She was finally home. Just as Dr. Lomax had predicted, she was in the hospital only a week before being discharged that morning. While she had been in the hospital the guys from Blackout had come to visit her. So had Krista and her girlfriends, Danny, Jimmy, Cain, Debbie and Nick. Yes, Alora had appreciated it, but all she wanted was to go home with Lance. Ryan and Jacquie had wanted to come visit, but she told them to hold off till she got back home and checked out by Dr. Tinedale. She smiled when she spotted the fresh cut wildflowers sitting on the entryway table.
“That your doing?” she questioned.
“Maybe.” Lance winked, slipping his arm around her and steering her toward the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“God yes please. The coffee in that place was awful.” Alora complained.
She eased onto a stool at the island while Lance went to work on the coffee. Yes, her left arm was still in a sling and it sucked, but she was feeling much better than she had a week ago. It didn’t hurt to breath anymore and only hurt if she laughed too hard. Cupping her chin with her right hand, she studied Lance. Ethan had told her that he called himself her husband when the doctor had come out after her surgery. This had made Alora smile, as she recalled a few weeks ago she had done the same thing when Lance had been in the hospital. However, the thought of Lance as her husband made her stomach flutter. But a part of her decided it was just wishful thinking on her part. She smiled when Lance placed the steaming cup of coffee in front of her.
“Here you go Tigress.”
“Thank you so much.”
Alora picked up the mug with her good hand and practically moaned as the first hot sip slid down her throat. Liquid gold. That’s all coffee was, liquid gold. She simply flipped Lance off when he laughed at her reaction. She sighed when she felt his hand against the back of her neck and massage it. Alora had told him once before she had never thought herself one of those women who wanted to be pampered, but when it was Lance taking care of her, it made her rethink that. But only if it was Lance doing the pampering.
“Feeling better baby?”
“Much.” She sighed and sat her mug down. “I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to take care of my employees and my shop. Yes, I know Frank can take care of things, but it’s a lot of work to be a boss, decorate and manage the everyday activities of that place.”
Lance shifted her so that she was now facing him. “That’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Now, if I’ve overstepped her I’m sorry but I’m only trying to help you. I called both my mom and sister. They will be here tomorrow, and they will step in to help you out at your bakery. Mom said she can handle the payroll, inventory, ordering and anything paperwork related, and Jessi said she would work with Frank on the decorating and baking end.”
Alora was floored. He had gone out of his way to make sure that not only was she okay and comfortable, but now he had stepped up to make sure her employees and shop would be taken care of until she herself could go back. She felt tears well up in her eyes at the gesture. Leaning forward, Alora wrapped her right arm around his neck and kissed him. This man, this wonderful, strong, amazing warrior of a man had done more for her than just protect her.
“Lance…I can’t… I can’t even begin to thank you and your family for this. Why? Why would you, your sister and your mom help me? I mean I’m just someone you met a month ago.”
This was the moment. Lance didn’t even hesitate. He slid off the stool and dropped to one knee, holding her free hand in both of his. “Do you want to know why Alora? I’ll tell you why. I, we, do this because we love you. To hell with how long we’ve known each other. I know one thing and one thing only. I love you Alora St. James and I want you to marry me. I want you by my side today, tomorrow, the rest of my life. I want to go to sleep and wake up with you in my bed, my arms. If it’s meant to be, I want you to be the mother of my children. We’ll have as many as you want. If you don’t want kids, as long as I have you I don’t care. Marry me Alora.”
