by Soraya Lane
Nate backed out and hit the road, driving fast. She let him take her hand again, squeezing her fingers and bringing her back to reality. This was Ryder’s brother, he should be the one in shock, and instead she was.
“How long will it take us?” she asked, not recognizing her own raspy voice.
He let go of her hand. “I need you to work the GPS,” Nate said. “I know roughly where I’m going but I want it on the screen.”
Chloe leaned forward and took a deep breath. The system was similar to the one in the rental she had, so she quickly found the nearest hospital and programed it in. Then she turned in her seat to face Nate, wiping at her cheeks and under her eyes with the backs of her fingers.
“You’re probably wondering why the hell I’m here,” she murmured.
Nate shrugged. “None of my business.”
“I love him, Nate. I know I walked away from him, but I love him. I came here to tell him that and now…”
Nate took his eyes off the wheel for a second and glared at her, his expression dark. “You’ll get to tell him, you hear me? Don’t even think like that.”
She sucked back a breath. “Okay,” she muttered, staring at the road ahead instead of the man seated beside her. They were different in so many ways, but Nate was so similar to Ryder, too—their smiles, the intensity of their gazes, the way they took charge of a situation, calm yet strong.
“So this is why you hate him riding rodeo, right?” Chloe asked.
She saw Nate’s knuckles turn white as he gripped the steering wheel. “Damn right. A couple of years back one of the top bull riders fell, we were all there, but his hand was stuck in the rope. He flipped forward and they reckon the bull killed him instantly, then threw him around like a featherweight and stomped all over the poor bastard.”
Chloe dug her nails into her palm. Ryder had looked like a rag doll up there today, just for a second, and if he’d … She squeezed her eyes shut. It wasn’t worth thinking worse-case scenarios, not yet. Just the thought of Ryder’s big, strong body being made to look all floppy like that, so powerless, made her sick to her stomach.
“Ryder’s had a few bad falls over the years, from bulls and broncs, and his last big knock gave him a pretty bad concussion. He started wearing headgear after that.”
It was Chloe reaching for Nate’s hand now, linking their fingers and holding on tight.
“You don’t think I distracted him by turning up today, do you?”
Nate slowed as the traffic became more dense, his eyes meeting hers for a second, a warm smile spreading across his face. “No, darlin’, I don’t. He’s damn stubborn and he’d hate to admit it, but seeing you there today would have made him all the more determined to win.”
Chloe blinked away a fresh wave of tears. “Really?” She didn’t want Nate to think he had to talk like that just to make her feel better.
“Really. Now don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours about anything other than being there for my brother when he comes around.” The phone rang and Nate pulled away from her to answer it. “You need to be there so I can control myself, otherwise I’ll give him a damn piece of my mind for having such a stupid job.”
She sat back and watched Vegas whizz past as Nate answered the phone. From what she could hear it was his granddad. Nate gave him a quick rundown of what had happened. It didn’t surprise her that Nate was the one in charge of running the family business—he was cool as a cucumber in the face of crisis, strong enough to intimidate if he needed to, and he was charming to boot.
“Chloe’s here, Granddad.”
That made her sit up straighter, glancing over at Nate.
“Yeah, he did see her. And she’s on her way to the hospital with me now.”
She hoped they didn’t all hate her for the way she’d disappeared on Ryder, but she’d had her reasons and she was ready to explain. They might be wealthy and insanely powerful, but they were also just a really nice family that she’d missed like heck. It wasn’t just Ryder. She’d loved the time she’d spent with all of them, and if he’d give her a chance, it was a family she wanted to be a part of.
Chloe checked the GPS. “Next left, Nate, and we’re there.”
He accelerated down the road, took the turn, and then put his foot down again when the hospital came into view. Chloe’s stomach lurched, bile rising in her throat just thinking about what they were going to see. If he didn’t make it, she’d never forgive herself for not telling Ryder how she felt.
Chapter 22
The disinfectant smell in the hospital was making Chloe nauseous. She sat with her elbows resting on her knees, head hanging as she waited for news. Before she’d had Nate and Chase to sit with, but now they were gone, in with the specialist and then being ushered into Ryder’s room, but because she wasn’t family she was stuck in the waiting room. Alone.
She’d thought about calling Shelly, but all she’d end up doing was bursting into tears when she was better sitting alone, staying strong. Waiting to hear something.
“Chloe?”
She jumped and turned around, locking eyes with Chase. He crossed the room and held out a hand, helping her to her feet and putting his arm around her shoulders once she was standing. His hug was warm and friendly as she leaned into him. She’d only met Ryder’s brothers a couple of times, but they’d treated her like a member of the family all afternoon.
“He’s not out of the woods yet, but it looks like he’s starting to come around,” Chase told her. “Nate would rather punish him, but I thought you’d like to be there when he woke.”
Chloe glanced at Chase. “Are you sure? The doctor said they had a strict family-only policy.”
He laughed. “Are you kidding me? If Ryder woke up and found out we’d left you in the waiting room alone, he’d kill us. He’d rather your face be the first he sees than one of our ugly mugs.”
She took a big breath, then blew it out. “Thanks, Chase. You guys have been so nice to me and I don’t even deserve it.”
Chase kept his arm around her as they walked through a set of double doors, then down a corridor, before he stopped outside a room that had King displayed in the small window, blocking the view inside.
“You know, we’ve all been douchebags in the past, the three of us I mean,” Chase told her. “Ryder has broken his fair share of hearts over the last decade, so you not being in touch for a month isn’t the worst you could have done.”
She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have left him like that. We had a deal but…”
He held up one finger and touched it to her lips. “Stop talking. Just go in there and let him see your beautiful face when he comes around. He’s already forgiven you, so stop beating yourself up and forget it.”
The smile that hit her lips was impossible to stifle. “He told you that?”
“It wouldn’t matter if he hadn’t,” Chase said with a laugh. “One look at you when he comes around and he’d forgive you all over again.”
Chloe squared her shoulders and walked in ahead of Chase, smiling over at Nate stationed on the other side of the bed before dropping her gaze to the man lying on the hospital bed. She gasped, clamping her hand over her mouth at the shock of seeing him there like that. Ryder’s chest was bare, the rest of him covered with a sheet and blanket. An IV line was hooked to his arm, a tube in his nose for oxygen, his big body looking so fragile when she was used to it being so strong and tough. His hands were by his side, hands that she so desperately wanted on her again, his touch what she’d fantasized about every night since she’d left him.
“Can I hold his hand?” she asked, looking up at Nate.
He nodded and she watched as Chase moved around to join his brother, sitting on the other side of the bed. Chloe pulled a chair closer and carefully took Ryder’s hand, picking it up like it was a baby bird’s, wrapping her palm around his and dropping her lips to his skin.
Then she reached out with her other hand to stroke his forehead, keeping her touch light as she s
tared at his handsome face.
“I don’t want to hurt him,” she whispered.
“You’re not,” came a deep voice from behind her. She turned and saw the doctor standing by the door. “Your touch and voice will do more good than harm.”
Chloe gazed down at Ryder again, running her fingers down the side of his face this time, watching his eyes for any sign of life. Her heart pounded when she noticed a flicker of one eyelid, then another.
“Did you see that?” she asked, glancing at Nate and Chase.
They nodded and she leaned in closer, tears of joy falling down her cheeks when his eyes opened for the briefest of seconds, shut, then slowly opened again.
“Ryder, can you hear me?”
The doctor stepped in, watching Ryder’s progress as his eyes flickered then stayed open for longer, groaning when a bright light was shone directly into his pupils. He tried to move and was told to stay still, and Chloe sat watching, silent, biting down hard on her lip. Surely this was all a good sign.
“What the hell happened?” Ryder muttered, his words barely discernable. “Where am I?”
“You’re at Mountain View Hospital,” the doctor said, checking the numbers on the machine beside him and jotting down some notes before sitting on the edge of the bed. “You suffered a serious concussion, and we’re still concerned that you could have some bleeding on the brain.”
Ryder shut his eyes, either from pain or from the news he’d just received. When he opened them he sat up slightly, cursing and touching his forehead. “I feel like I’ve been slammed into a concrete wall.”
“May as well have been,” Nate muttered, moving closer to the bed.
“You guys saw what happened?” Ryder asked. “Did I win the title?”
“Goddamn it, Ryder! You just about killed yourself and…”
“He’s alive,” Chloe said, surprised by how loud her voice was, expecting her words to catch in her throat. “That’s all that matters.”
Ryder turned, grimacing, until he saw her. Then he went still, eyes fixed on hers. “Chloe?”
She nodded and stepped closer. “I can go if you don’t want me here,” she offered.
Chase and Nate both laughed at her comment, and the doctor put the chart at the end of the bed and said goodbye. “I’ll be back to check you again shortly. Stay in bed and if you feel tired let a nurse know and try to get some sleep. You’re very lucky that you don’t have any other injuries aside from some big scrapes and bruises, but we have to carefully monitor you in case of any brain injury.”
Ryder was still staring at her, unblinking. “I don’t want you to go.”
“Didn’t I tell you that already?” Chase asked Chloe.
“I just…”
“You must think I’m a complete idiot,” Ryder said, shaking his head then wincing. Chloe sat down so she was closer to him.
“You could have died out there today, Ryder,” she told him.
His expression was solemn. “I know.”
“And yet you still want to know if you won the title?” Nate fumed.
“A guy needs to know if he’s retired on a high or not,” Ryder said in a quiet voice, his fingers seeking out Chloe’s when she nudged her hand closer to his.
“Bullshit,” Nate swore.
“No shit,” Ryder said, his eyes still trained on Chloe’s. “I’ve pushed myself to the limit and now it’s time to walk away.”
“How about we leave these two for a bit, huh?” Chase suggested. “We’ll go grab a coffee and something to eat. Want anything?” he asked Chloe.
She shook her head, smiling up at Ryder’s brothers. They’d been kind to her when they could have ignored her and just focused on Ryder, and she’d forever be grateful to them. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“Ryder?” Nate asked, standing closer to the bed as Chase headed for the door.
“Yeah?” Ryder finally looked away from Chloe, his focus on his brother now.
“I’m proud of you, for knowing when to call it a day. Your helmet smashed down the center, so if you hadn’t been wearing it you’d either be a vegetable or ten feet under by now.”
Chloe shuddered, goose bumps breaking out across her skin. She saw Ryder’s reaction, the expression that crossed his face, and she knew it had rattled him, too. All the years he’d been the fun-loving rodeo rider, and he’d come so close to a grizzly death doing what he enjoyed the most.
“I’m done, Nate. You can tell Granddad I’m ready to settle the hell down.”
Nate touched Ryder’s shoulder, holding his hand there as he looked down at his brother, before joining Chase and heading out the door. Chloe watched them go, then turned her attention back to Ryder.
“You saw the whole thing?” he asked, squeezing her fingers with his.
Chloe nodded, tears welling in her eyes again. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. I thought you were dead.”
He chuckled, but it wasn’t his usual, deep laugh. “First thing I did when I opened my eyes was move my toes, then my legs.” He paused. “Until I saw you. You were a pretty good distraction.”
“Did you mean what you said? About retiring?” she asked, shuffling her chair even closer.
“Yeah,” he grunted. “All this time I’ve been a selfish shit, not caring what anyone else tried to tell me. But knowing you were watching me today, what I put you through? I’m done, Chloe. I guess I have to be. It’s time to hang up my spurs.”
She climbed onto the bed beside him, needing to be closer, to feel him against her. Part of her didn’t even believe he was alive, that he was lying there talking to her like nothing had happened, the only reminder the fact that they were in a hospital and there were machines bleeping beside him.
“You won,” she said. “The title, I mean. I heard them announce that you’d won it.”
“No shit?”
She smiled. “No shit. You might have just about killed yourself, but you won.”
He reached for her hand, squeezing it gently.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered as she carefully tucked her head against his chest, one arm around him, palm pressed just below his shoulder.
“I guess that makes two of us.”
Chloe tucked herself tighter against him, tipping her head back to look up at the man she thought she’d lost. “I thought you’d tell me to go,” she said, “that you’d be so angry with me for the way I left that morning—” He groaned and she pulled back, realizing she was holding him too tight. “Sorry.”
“Just don’t go running off on me again, okay?”
“I won’t.” She sighed.
“Because I’m not running from you, Chloe. Not now, not ever.”
She didn’t reply, just listened to the steady beat of his heart, let her head rest against his chest. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she’d rehearsed in her head, but right now the words were hard to find. All she wanted to do was be in his arms.
“Huh-hum.”
Chloe raised her head to see who was clearing his throat and saw the doctor at the door again. He was frowning, not looking impressed at finding her on the bed with his patient.
“It’s time to let Mr. King rest,” the doctor said. “Once I’ve done a full consult and he’s slept, I’ll let you back in.”
Chloe wanted to hold on tight to Ryder and refuse, but she also wanted him to get better and if he needed to sleep, then so be it.
“I’ll be out in the waiting room,” she told Ryder, gently kissing his lips and slipping off the bed. “I won’t leave.”
He chuckled and cupped the back of her head, pulling her down for another kiss. “Go,” he said. “I don’t want you waiting out there all night.”
“But…”
“No buts.” His voice was firm this time, but she could see how fatigued he was. His eyes were crinkled around the sides, lids heavy. He’d just had a major accident and she didn’t want to waste time arguing with him when he should be sleeping.
“I’ll be back first
thing in the morning then,” she said, dropping a final kiss to his forehead and grabbing her bag.
“Go find Nate and Chase. They’ll look after you.”
“They already have,” she told him, backing slowly away. “I don’t know what I would have done without Nate today.”
Ryder’s eyes widened, the spark she was used to evident as he bristled at her words. “If he even tries to pull a move on you…”
Chloe laughed. “I meant he’d been great in a brotherly kind of way. Don’t go worrying over nothing, okay? You’re the one I love.”
Ryder’s expression changed again, his mouth opening to say something then shutting just as fast, eyes never leaving hers. She could have died right there on the spot. She’d just told him she loved him, in front of his doctor, and he was staring at her like she’d just announced she was running for president.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” she mumbled, raising her hand in a wave and pushing open the door, head down as she hurried away.
“Oomph.”
Chloe walked smack into what felt like a brick wall, only this wall threw an arm around her to steady her and stop her from falling straight over backward.
“Nate,” she said, pressing a palm to his chest and taking a step back. “Sorry, I…”
“Please tell me you’re not running again,” he joked. “I don’t want to be the one to tell Ryder he’s lost you for the second time. Or the one to have to chase you since he can’t.”
Chase laughed and passed her a coffee, standing beside his brother.
“No, um, it was doctor’s orders. He wants us gone until morning. No visitors, just rest.”
Nate nodded and took a sip of his coffee. “You guys head to the car, I’ll go have a quick word with the doctor and meet you out front.”