After being directed to his room, I stopped outside the door, took a deep breath in, exhaled, and peeked around the corner. Bryan was on the bed, his cast propped up by pillows. The happiness that surged through me battled with the butterflies in my stomach.
“Knock, knock,” I said, lightly tapping on the door before propelling myself into the room.
“Phoebe,” he said, a wide smile on his face. “Thank you so much for coming.” He reached out with open arms toward me.
His gesture reassured me he wasn’t upset. I hurried to the bed and hugged him. I took a moment to enjoy the warmth of his arms around me.
“How are you?” I asked once we finished hugging. I pulled a chair up close to the side of the bed.
He looked tired. His hair was rumpled, he hadn’t shaved, and he was in a hospital gown. His right leg was in a cast from the knee down. I resisted the urge to brush the hair off his forehead, not knowing how much affection was too much.
“I’m better now that you’re here. I’d always be happy to see you again, but I am so happy to see you right now. Thank you.” He took my hand and patted it longer than necessary.
His words were sweet but a little slurred. “Wait.” I looked closer at him. His eyes were a bit unfocused. “Have you taken some painkillers?”
A lopsided grin appeared on his face. “How did you know?”
“Well”—I twisted my hands together—“you seem a little loopy, and after what happened, I didn’t think you’d be so happy to see me again so soon.”
His head lolled on his pillow. “You’re a really nice girl. And pretty. You deserve a good guy who appreciates you. Like me.”
I could marry a guy like him. Wait, no. That’s crazy!
It had only been a few days that we had been together, but I was developing feelings for him. I was comfortable around him, and the kiss we shared still made my stomach flip. Having Joshua show up and interrupt my relationship with Bryan was unexpected, but it had proven to be a good thing. I appreciated Bryan that much more.
“When are they releasing you?”
His eyes drifted closed for a second before opening again. “I don’t know, and I’m kind of tired. There’s a nice grandma nurse out there with a Scottish accent. I bet she’d know when I’m being released.”
I waited until Bryan dozed off before going out to the nurse’s station. Since I was not immediate family, she wouldn’t tell me anything about his condition or when he would be discharged.
I took the opportunity to find something to eat and text Evangeline.
Guess what? I’m in Scotland.
You didn’t tell me you were going there.
She might feel a little left out when I got a chance to tell her everything. Sort of a spur of the moment thing.
Why?
I met a guy.
And you two ran off to Gretna Green? Evangeline loved Regency romances.
I laughed. No, we’re not eloping! I’ve only known him for a few days. It’s a long story. Maybe we can Skype later.
So then what are you doing together in Scotland?
We didn’t come together. He came here yesterday. I came today to rescue him. He broke his ankle and needs help getting to the airport and traveling back home.
They have wheelchair assistance for that.
True.
She continued. He wanted you to come.
Her words gave me courage. I was hoping the same thing: that he really did want to see me again and I wasn’t here just out of need.
Sorry, I’ve got to go. Work calls.
Talk soon. Have a great day.
You too!
Once we were done, I got something to eat and then headed back. When I returned, he was awake with a food tray on the table beside him.
“Good news,” he greeted me. His bed was more upright and his eyes were clear and focused. “I’m being discharged as soon as the doctor comes in and signs the paperwork. It’s supposed to be sometime after seven tonight.”
I sat back down in the chair I had pulled to his bedside. “That is good news.”
We shared an awkward moment when our eyes met.
“You know—” I started.
“About the other day,” Bryan said at the same time.
“You go,” I offered.
He shook his head. “No, no. You go.”
“Alright.” I inhaled deeply. “I am sorry about the whole Joshua thing. I didn’t know he was going to show up, and I wasn’t really—truly—trying to blow you off. You called it. He really is a jerk.”
He outstretched his hand. I placed my hand in his, and he squeezed it gently. “Thank you.”
Is he that forgiving? I was expecting more of an argument on his part, more groveling on mine. “Thank you? That’s all? You’re not mad at me?”
“I was angry at you—especially since I felt we’d had a good time together. But despite all that and despite our goodbye, you’re rescuing me. You dropped everything and came because I needed help. It’s hard to stay mad at you when you were so willing to come. And I’m just really glad you’re here right now.”
I had been holding my breath, and now I was able to exhale slowly. With that weight off my chest, I looked around his hospital room. “So, a simple trip over a curb ends in having your leg pinned back together?”
“It’s actually really embarrassing to admit.” He shielded his eyes with his hand.
“I would stick with the high-kicking, Highland dance/kilt story.”
“You think so?” Bryan said playfully. “Good idea, especially if I set off the metal detectors going through security.”
“Will that happen?”
This time Bryan laughed. “No. I asked the doctor about it in one of my more lucid moments. But it would have made for a better story. I’m sure I’m going to be asked repeatedly what happened.”
“You could make up a different story for each person that asks you. It could become very amusing to see how far-fetched your story becomes and if people will actually believe it.”
He rested his head against the crisp, white pillow. “I would, but that takes too much thinking, and I don’t have the energy.” His whole body seemed to decompress as he exhaled.
“In the meantime”—I looked around the room—“do you need me to help you do anything? For instance, feed you?”
He cracked a smile. “I’m not that far gone. I guess we wait for the doctor to release me. Until then, I can offer to share my hospital meal with you. It looks like an appetizing plate of”—he lifted the lid off the plate on his tray—“limp green beans, a solid scoop of what I think is mashed potatoes, and a patty of what might possibly be Salisbury steak.” The slab of mystery meat had brown gravy sauce and mushrooms on it. He leaned in close, took a whiff, and then gagged. He quickly put the lid back on the plate.
I was glad he covered the food. It didn’t look the least bit appetizing. “I just got finished eating, so I think I’ll pass.” I pointed to his tray. “Is hospital food in Scotland as notoriously bad as it is in America?”
He scooted himself more upright against the pillows. “I haven’t been brave enough to try it.”
“What have you been eating?” I asked, alarmed. “You must be starved!”
“Actually, I haven’t been all that hungry yet.”
“Is that because of the pain meds?”
“Yeah, and coming out of anesthesia. They gave me some Lortab, and that makes me want to sleep more than it makes me want to eat. Although this doesn’t help.” He pointed to the tray of food.
Pain medication would do that and nasty looking food. “I see. Now our conversation from before makes much more sense.” I smiled. “I’m guessing you haven’t had much time to come up with a plan since you’ve been tak
ing the pain pills.”
“A plan,” Bryan repeated, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “Ah, most definitely not.” He gave me a helpless smile. “Aside from the obvious things that need to be taken care of, like getting dressed, being released, retrieving my suitcases from my hotel to the train station and back to London”—he took an exaggerated breath—“I know I plan to do it all with you.”
My second chance! My stomach flipped.
He continued. “Spending time with you in London made everything much more enjoyable. I’m hoping the same applies for this situation.”
“I like your way of thinking,” I said. Happiness bubbled inside of me.
“I was also thinking, maybe, you could push that food tray out of the way and come on over here and kiss me. I’d come to you, but I seem to be having difficulty with that right now.”
I climbed out of my chair, ceremoniously pushed the tray away, and leaned down toward Bryan. My face was inches away from his. “I really like your way of thinking.”
He reached up and laced his hand in my hair, gently pulling me toward him as our lips met. “I have a confession to make,” he said as we broke apart.
“Oh yeah?” I giggled. “What?”
“I really like you.” He moved his hand from my neck and brushed the hair away from my face. “So much that I changed my ticket so I could come to London before I went home.”
“You did?” My lips involuntarily widened into a smile. “I was wondering about that.”
“But this”—he motioned around the hospital room—“was not part of the plan.”
“Are you sure?” I asked playfully.
“Very. Thank you again.”
“Glad to help,” I said, leaning back in to kiss him.
The nurse came in and cleared her throat, interrupting our kiss. “The doctor is making his rounds now and should be here to release you shortly. You may go ahead and get dressed.” She nodded at us as she exited the room.
“Do you want me to get your pants?” I turned to Bryan, who was scratching the back of his neck.
“Um, about my pants.”
“What about them?” I looked around the room. They’re probably folded neatly in a corner or, maybe, in a hospital bag. I located his backpack. “Are they in there?”
“They cut them off me. And there is no way they would fit over this cast anyway.” He pointed to the cast, which doubled the size of his leg. I could see it wouldn’t have mattered if he had pants.
“What do we do then?” I thought for a moment. “I could ask the nurse if they have a pair of pajama bottoms or scrubs they could give us.”
Bryan cleared his throat. “I have my kilt in my bag.”
I looked to his backpack and then back at him. “Do you always carry your kilt around with you?”
“Ever since our bags got mixed up, I thought I’d better take it with me just in case there was another bag incident.”
I nodded in acknowledgment. “Makes sense.” I waited a second for him to suggest how to proceed. When he didn’t, I did. “Well, I like you and all, but I did just meet you, so I’m going to get the nurse to help you with the kilt.”
I went to the nurse’s station and requested assistance for Bryan. The nurse who had just left the room looked at me, slightly puzzled. “You can’t take care of that?”
I held my hands up and waved them frantically in front of me. “No. Not me. The job is all yours.” My phone whistled, giving me an excuse to leave. There was a text from Evangeline with three emojis: a winking face, a thumbs up and a kissy face.
I felt emotionally lighter as I knocked on Bryan’s door. I pushed it open once I heard “come in.”
There he was, sitting on the edge of the bed, crutches beside him. I swear there was sunlight streaming in the windows on him, and I may have heard a choir singing in the background. Normally, those cheesy “ah-ha” moments of love and romance and excitement had all the flash and flair of some TV show. I knew reality wasn’t perfect. I also knew reality TV was far from reality. But what was real was this. Us. Not me desperately searching for Mr. Right. We were two normal people, being themselves and looking out for each other. This was what I needed. Something real.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
“Let’s do it,” he said, grinning. “I’m just waiting for the nurse to bring me my coach, meaning wheelchair.”
Once the chair was brought, I laughed as he settled into it, making a point to have his kilt “arranged modestly to avoid flashing people.”
Walking down the hall of the hospital holding the crutches, with Bryan rolling beside me I ruminated on the last few days. I had come to London seeking escape from Desperately Seeking Mrs. Right, yet I was leaving, having possibly found someone honest and genuine and perfectly right for me.
The End
Destined for Love Series
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Lily is free from everything and she’s scared to death. To kick off her fresh start, she embarks on an Italian cruise with her best friend, Maddie. On board is Zander, the man who refused her kiss. She tries to keep her distance, but fate keeps throwing them together.
Kiss Me in the Moonlight by Lindzee Armstrong
When Paige’s secret agent boyfriend dumps her in an email, chaperoning hormonal teenagers through Europe seems like the perfect way to cope. She doesn’t bargain on working with her ex, who’s investigating his partner’s suspicious death. As sparks fly and the investigation heats up, one kiss in the moonlight changes everything.
Once Upon A Wish by Danyelle Ferguson
Be careful what you wish for…
When their coins collide at a French fountain, Delphine and Jean-Paul’s wishes become intertwined, changing the course of their futures and teaching them that wishes are sometimes fulfilled in unexpected ways.
Never Trust the Rain by Laura D. Bastian
Ami comes to Scotland to help her sister with a new baby, but manages to fall in love with Duncan who volunteers to be her tour guide while in Edinburgh. As their feelings grow, can either of them agree to give up the life they know for the chance of a life together?
Meet Me at Sunrise by Lucinda Whitney
When Vanessa boards her grandfather’s ship for a river cruise in northern Portugal, she doesn’t expect him to ask the handsome captain to take her ashore on day trips. But as she and the captain spend more time together, they find their assumptions of each other are wrong, and maybe eight days are not enough after all.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my amazing editor, Sarah Lyons. Good things can come from Jury Duty.
Thank you to my critique group, especially to Lori and Cindy, who have read this story probably more than they wanted to but did it anyway. And, of course, thanks to my mom.
Most especially to my family who support and encourage my writing.
Other Books By Sally Johnson
The Skeleton in My Closet Wears A Wedding Dress
Worth Waiting For
That Thing Formerly Known As My Life
About the Author
Sally Johnson grew up in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She went to college at Brigham Young University and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English. While at college, she met and married her husband, Steve, and then they relocated to Las Vegas. They have lived in Las Vegas ever since and love it! They have added four children and a dog to their family.
She has wanted to write books since she was twelve. It’s a good way to put her over-active imagination to use. Now that it’s *ahem* many years later, her dream has come true and she is a published author. She hopes you enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoys writing them.
Visit her at www.sallyjohnsonwrites.com
Email her at [email protected]
Instagram: Sallyjohnsonwrites
Facebook: Sally Johnson Writes
Twitter: @sjohnsonwrites
Meet Me at Sunrise Preview
Read the first chapter of the next book in the Destined for Love Romance Europe collection Now.
Chapter One
First day
This was a bad idea. Why had she let Grandfather talk her into this trip?
Vanessa stopped at the entrance of the ship’s formal dining room and gazed around. Outside the panoramic windows, the city of Porto inched up the hill from the docks on the other side of the river, the buildings and roofs and church towers competing for space unsuccessfully. Myriad lights shone against the night sky and spilled in reflective ribbons on the water’s surface. In its architectural disorganization, there was a beauty that called to her. It was a city so unlike the ones she was used to. Much of Portugal was still a mystery to her.
Inside, the passengers sat in groups of eight at round tables, and waiters in white coats flitted between them with silver platters and bottles of wine. Everything in the room spoke of elegance and luxury, from the furniture and dark wood trim to the impeccably white tablecloths and fresh-cut flowers to the damask draperies drawn back with silver ropes and the pianist undulating at the baby grand.
Desperately Seeking Mr. Right (Destined For Love: Europe) Page 9