Page 180 of Capturing You

“I wasn’t sleeping.” She yawned. “Just resting a little.” She glanced at the window where light peeked around the drawn curtains. It was morning, a whole new day.

Forbes looked pale, highlighting the dark smudges under his eyes. But he was breathing. He was awake.

He studied her. “How do you always look so good?”

“Youdidlose a lot of blood.”

His lips tipped up at the corners, the smile small but holding promise. It faded. “Where’s Rosie? Did I…? Was she really there?”

“She was there, and she was here most of the night.” Brooklynn and Forbes’s sister hadn’t talked much. She’d introduced herself as Rayne, the false name she’d gone by most of her adult life. Though Brooklynn had been tempted to pepper her with questions, she figured Forbes deserved the answers before she did. And Rayne/Rosie had been too worried about her brother to talk. Rather than chat, they’d sat side by side and watched Forbes sleep.

“Once she was convinced you were going to survive the night,” Brooklynn said, “she left to get a shower. I think she’s going to see your grandmother.”

“And then she’ll be back?”

“She said she would. And she left her cell phone number.”

That news seemed to startle him. “I can’t believe… I don’t understand how she’s alive. And where she’s been, and what happened.”

“I’m sure she’ll tell you when she gets back.”

He considered that, then chuckled, which quickly turned into a violent cough.

Brooklynn gave him a sip from the cup on his bedside table.

“Thanks.” He reclined again. “She has a cell phone. It’s so weird.”

Brooklynn couldn’t imagine how strange it must be. “How do you feel?”

“Like I was shot.” He pressed the button to lift his head a little more.

“Don’t sit up for me. You need your rest.”

He left the bed at a slight incline. “I don’t remember much after we left the house. Am I gonna make it?”

“According to the nurses, you’ll be back to your old self in no time.” Well,no timewas a bit of an exaggeration. “My uncle suggested you’ll need physical therapy for that shoulder.”

“Your…uncle?”

“Roger. He’s a physician—mostly retired now. I called him last night. He knows everything there is to know.”

“As long as you’re not overselling him.”

She grinned. “About medicine, anyway. He offered to come, but you’re being well taken care of. My whole family knows what happened. I’ve been avoiding their calls, but if their texts are any indication, they’re peeved at me for not getting out of town.”

“I am, too. Very…peeved.”

She grinned. “I’m not sorry I didn’t leave.”

“It’s a good thing you didn’t. I never would have figured any of it out without your help. I wouldn’t be here without you. I thought I could do it all by myself. What an idiot.”

“Not an idiot.” She kissed his cheek. “A little stubborn, a little too independent, but otherwise very smart.”

He pressed his hand to her cheek. “Seriously, thank you. You saved my life.”

“You saved mine too.”

“But your life was only in danger because of me.”