Page 15 of Burning for the Billionaire 8

Matt laughs. “A Mini-Row on our hands. Oh, boy...”

Kevin and I chortle at his affectionate but slightly worried expression.

Mel shakes her head. “Considering that I absolutely adore my big brother, I won’t mind.” Her cell phone rings, and she gets up. “Excuse me, everyone.”

No one is paying her mind until she gasps, “Rowan? What happened?”

The distress in her voice has my head snapping to her. Even Ember lifts her head from where she’s lying down at the sound of her owner’s name.

Kevin studies his wife with furrowed eyebrows. Her pale face makes my heart thud against my rib cage.

“Where is he now?” she asks.

My breathing is just as rapid as my pulse rate now. Something awful has happened to Rowan. I can feel it.

She hangs up the phone, her gaze lingering on me. “Rowan has been hurt.” Her voice quavers. “I didn’t get much information, but it’s bad. He had to be airlifted back here.”

My vision blurs, either from tears or because I haven’t blinked since Mel took that call. I only realize I sway in my chair when Matt steadies me. “Grace, come on. Take a breath.”

Apparently, I wasn’t breathing, either. Inhaling deeply, I snap out of my stupor.

“I have to get to him.”

***

This must be what Hellis like. Watching the love of your life lie in a hospital bed, in a coma for four days...or has it been five? I’m not sure. The days just run together now. I’m near my breaking point.

“Please, Rowan, just wake up.” Hand still in his, I drop my forehead to the bed and sob.

I’m surprised I’m still able to produce tears.

Lifting my head to stare at his pale face, I tell him, “You have to wake up. Mel is going crazy. Do you know she went into labor the minute she saw in this bed? I’m sure if you were awake, you’d tease her about it. Something like the sight of you finally getting that kid out of her—you know how you sound sometimes.”

I laugh, but it turns into another sob.

“Your nephew is beautiful. His name is Adam. Mel named him after you. Isn’t that sweet? Adam is going to need you just as much as he’ll need Kevin, you know. So, you need to be okay.”

I stroke his cool hand with my thumb.

“Matt has been pacing a hole in the waiting room floor. He comes every day. Kevin is trying to play it tough, but he’s worried about you, too. And I’m...” My voice cracks. “I just need you to open your eyes and look at me. Come on. You like looking at me. You always say so.”

I watch his face, mentally willing him to open his eyes. When he doesn’t, I start sobbing again.

“Grace,” comes the stern reprimand from the doorway.

I turn to glance at Isabelle standing there.

“Come on, you’re taking a break from this room.”

“I’m not leaving him.”

She sighs and looks at the recliner one of the nurses brought in for me. It’s where I’ve slept the last few nights.

“Have you even eaten?Showered?”

I shrug.

“You want Rowan to see something out of a horror movie holding vigil at his bedside when he wakes up? You’ll scare him right back to sleep.”

---