Page 87 of Justified Fear

“I hope not, since IknowI love you.”

Her heart seemed to stop, but she knew it was still working since the monitors kept beeping.“You don’t have to say that.”

“Why do you think I’m saying it?”

“I know that sometimes people feel they have to reciprocate when someone professes their love.”

“Really?I’ve never felt like saying it before.Not to a woman.”

He was being difficult.She wanted this more than anything in the world at the moment, but she knew better than to believe his comment.

“Listen, I get that you got scared that I was hurt.”

“When I heard the gunshot, my world almost ended.”

He was watching her, his gaze steady on hers.She felt the backs of her eyes burn and when she blinked, tears rolled down her face.

“Don’t cry, baby.”

“I know you’re trying to be nice to me, but I can handle that you might not feel the same way.What I can’t handle is lies.”

“Not lying.”He kissed her knuckles again.The sweet gesture had her heart turning over.“Ask me why I love you.Go ahead.”

“Tell me why you think you love me.”

“I don’t think.I know.It’s because you are kind and sweet, but you don’t take shit off anyone.At least not for too long.You put other people first, and you have a good heart.And I knew how I felt before you were shot.Or I was beginning to.I just hadn’t had time to wrap my head around it.Then…you put yourself in front of Maya.How could I not love someone with such a brave, beautiful soul?”

In that instant, she realized that he was telling the truth.He hadn’t looked away or tried for flowery words.He just told her exactly how he felt.

“Do you believe me now?”

She nodded.

“Can you quit crying?It’s breaking my heart, baby.”

He stood to lean over to kiss her.

“That’s enough of that,” a male voice said from behind Ryan.

Ryan pulled away with a smile, but he kept hold of her hand.The man standing at the foot of her bed was wearing scrubs.He looked like he was in his forties.

“Well, it’s nice to see you’re awake, but I agree with your man there.You need to stop the crying.”He eyed Ryan.“Did you do something to upset her?”

“Happy tears, doctor.He told me he loved me.”

“Well, that’s great.Seeing how he refused to let you out of his sight until he got here, I would say that he’s telling the truth.I need to examine Ms.Templeton.”

The nurse slipped into the room.Ryan kissed her knuckles again.“I’ll go tell everyone you’re good.”

“Okay.”

Then he left the room.

“Let’s check you out and then maybe we can get you into a room soon,” the doctor said.

It tooka few hours to get to her room.There was a lot of rearranging because, apparently, she had too many people waiting for her.Keely smiled at Aunty Lulu.

“This is something I would expect out of your brothers,” she said.The woman had been complaining to her for what seemed like hours.She glanced at the clock.It had only been fifteen minutes.