Page 73

He sobered. “Sorry, Melena.”

“Me too, but I’m glad you’re okay. Let’s make a pact to stay out of the hospital for a while, okay? My heart can’t take it.”

“I thought they fixed your heart?” he asked, confused. I wondered how concussed he was. He blinked again.

“They did. But you had me worried.”

“Don’t worry about me, I’m strong. Like an ox. Or a woman giving birth. I might even let you try to get me pregnant later,” he said with a grin.

I shook my head at him, and his eyes did their slow blink again. He didn’t know what he was saying.

“Let’s hold our horses on the babies.”

“I’d like to have your babies,” he said softly.

The goof. He’d like to have my babies. That, I’d like to see. His lids closed, and his breath puffed softly.

I leaned in and whispered, “You’d better heal fast, Jimmy. Otherwise my heart really will be broken, and I don’t think Dr. Webb will be able to put me back together again.”

I kissed his cheek. Light stubble scraped my lips, and I sighed as I leaned back to take him in. His bulk overwhelmed the hospital bed. It was his turn in the boxy gowns, but I had to admit he wore it better than I had. Jimmy couldn’t look fragile if he tried. But with his natural energy on pause, he didn’t look like himself. He’d been part of my life for a short time, but now I couldn’t imagine it without him. Was this love? Did I love my husband?

I stared at him as he slept, watching the shallow rise and fall of his chest. Seeing his chest constrict had the same effect on my own. I didn’t want to lose him. His energy, his hope, his caring. But what if it wasn’t up to me? He could still decide our arrangement didn’t suit. Suddenly a year didn’t seem nearly long enough to convince him we belonged together.

Mark tapped on the door and interrupted my musing. “Time to go, Melena.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he shook his head. “We talked about this. You know Jimmy wouldn’t want you to miss out on rest. Let me take you home.”

I leaned in one last time, placing a kiss on Jimmy’s cheek. His eyelids fluttered, and I debated fighting Mark to stay. I didn’t want Jimmy waking up alone, and I wasn’t sure I could sleep without him. His big body next to mine was addictive, even when all we did was sleep.



















Chapter 20

Jimmy – Wake Up Call

It must have been onehell of a bender. I couldn’t imagine why I’d gotten so drunk. Had something happened with Melena? I was pretty good about knowing my limits. I groaned as I reached for my pounding head.

“Jimmy?”