Page 55 of The Beach Cottage
He switched on the car’s heater. “Just in case.”
She smiled. Who would’ve known he was so caring and thoughtful? Certainly not her. She’d never have guessed that Rowan Clements, her childhood nemesis, would’ve been the one to rescue her, to carry her through the bush, to make sure she was comfortable. The about-face her life had taken in recent weeks had left her with emotional whiplash. But even while in physical pain, she was blissfully happy, which was an emotion she hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Rowan drove her to the small hospital in Kellyville and helped her into a wheelchair to take her inside. They whisked her away for x-rays and tests and informed her they would keep her at the hospital for several days since they had to perform surgery on her leg. She wanted to be frustrated by the interruption to her schedule, but she couldn’t manage anything other than a request to please go to bed. She was exhausted.
It was midnight by the time she finally found her way to a room, a nurse pushing her wheelchair. The nurse flicked on a light and found Rowan fast asleep in a small blue armchair in the corner of the room. The woman smiled as she helped Penny into the bed.
“Looks like someone was worried about you.”
She turned off the light when she left, and Penny watched Rowan snoring lightly where he lay, crumpled at odd angles in the chair. She studied the line of his chiselled jaw and the length of his athletic legs. The way his hair fell across his forehead and the smile lines around the outside of his mouth. He was handsome, but there was more to her attraction than simply his looks. He was good and kind, thoughtful and caring.
She couldn’t imagine living without him now, even though he’d only upended her life a few short weeks earlier. She nestled down into her covers, careful not to knock her newly bound leg against anything, and fell to sleep with the outline of his face etched across her mind’s eye.
Twenty-Five
The drive to Aidan’s house in the dark seemed far too long to Beatrice. She was in a hurry. There was no way for her to know how Aidan would react to her rushing to see him, but she’d been in bed sick for two days and today she finally felt up to driving. Her head no longer spun every time she stood, the fever was gone and her throat didn’t burn like it was on fire. She had to see him.
Ever since Dad told her about what Aidan had done for him, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. Even if all she managed to do was thank him, then she’d do that. But she hoped he would hear her out — there was no reason for them to be apart any longer.
Grace had moved home with her mother. Bea had given Aidan time to manage his thoughts and emotions, to work out his relationship with Grace. She’d given him the space he wanted, hadn’t pushed him to reconsider. At least, until tonight. But she had to know — did he want space to process his feelings, or did he push her away for another reason?
She pulled into his driveway, her heart pounding. As she climbed out, she saw that his bedroom light was still on, but the rest of the house lay in darkness. When she knocked on the door, his golden retriever barked dully from some room in the house, probably Aidan’s bedroom. Before long, she heard his footsteps on the stairs, and he tugged open the door, his tousled hair freshly wet from the shower.
“Bumble Bea?” He looked confused. “Were we planning to meet? I must’ve forgotten…”
“No, we didn’t have plans,” she said. “I’m sorry it’s so late.”
“It’s fine. Come on in.”
She followed him into the house, her pulse racing. It was now or never. She had to confront him and learn the truth or she’d never be satisfied.
“Would you like a coffee? Tea? Wine?” He opened the refrigerator, stared inside, then combed his hair with one hand. He seemed agitated. He wore nothing but a pair of board shorts. His muscled chest flexed as he turned to look at her, the question still on his face.
She nodded. “Wine would be lovely. Thanks.”
He poured them each a glass of chardonnay from an already open bottle. “Should we go outside?”
“Okay.”
They carried their wine out onto the deck. She could hear the ocean shushing the creatures of the night with its rhythmic voice, but couldn’t see it through the gloaming.
They sat near one another and sipped in silence. Finally, Bea spoke.
“Dad told me you took him to the doctor.”
He leaned forward, elbows on his thighs. “Oh, yeah. Sounds like everything’s going to be just fine.”
“Thank you,” she said. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I care about him too,” he said softly.
“I know, and that’s one of the many reasons why I love you.”
He straightened. “You what?”
She swallowed. There was no backing down now. “I love you.”
“You do?”
