Page 45 of Wicked Praise

“Thank you.” Bella smiled and suppressed a yawn.

“Don’t stay late. He’s exhausted and so are you. He will be much better tomorrow,” Emma added.

Bella knew that, but she had to see that Blake was okay with her own eyes. She wanted to tell him she would have gone home with him and that none of the other men at the fundraiser tonight had interested her at all. Not compared to him.

She had no doubt in her mind they’d not have the same level of chemistry she and Blake shared. While she had little experience with men, she’d never felt so completely overwhelmed by someone.

Her entire being wanted Blake.

Her body, yes.

Her mind, oh yes.

Her soul...well, all she knew was that her feet would not leave this spot.

“I know that look. You like Blake,” Emma observed. “A lot.”

“I feel responsible. If he wasn’t distracted—”

“Blake is a grown man.” Emma shook her head. “Don’t do that to yourself. Plus, he’s okay.”

There was nothing about Blake that would make anyone question whether he was a grown man. Every damn inch of him...now wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.

“You can go through. The nurse will show you to his room,” Logan said. “Tell Jacob it was me.”

“Sorry.” Bella smiled at him.

God, did all the Dufort men take up so much space oozing power and look so handsome while doing so?

“I don’t think you are, Ms. Montgomery. But I have a feeling Blake won’t mind. He asked about you.” Logan’s lip curled up at the corner.

He did.

“This way,” Grumpy Nurse muttered, and Bella shot them a wave and mouthedthank you.

Then she scuttled after the woman.

––––––––

BELLA POKED HER HEADinto the dimly lit room and saw Jacob sitting on the edge of the bed. She stepped in as quietly as she could.

Blake was lying with his head propped up on a handful of pillows and had a tube in his arm.

She hated seeing him like this.

He looked enormous in the hospital bed despite the white gown draped across his golden shoulders. What was wrong with her that she wanted to reach out and touch him?

“Hey,” she whispered.

Jacob went to stand when he saw her, but Blake stopped him. “I want her here.”

His brother nodded. “I’ll get a coffee. Give you guys ten minutes.”

“Jacob, go home. I will be asleep soon, anyway,” Blake rasped.

“Yeah, okay. I’m exhausted.” Jacob reached for his jacket on the back of the chair and turned to Bella. “I can wait if you want a ride home?”

Bella shook her head, pulling the jacket tighter around her. “No, thank you, though. Oh, and I heard there might be media outside. So just an FYI.”

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