Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81947 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Although her color had returned, she was so unnaturally still.
Even in her sleep, she tossed and turned and murmured nonsense. Last night had been like sleeping with a restless puppy.
“Open your eyes, baby girl.” Only when I saw her beautiful emerald eyes would I truly believe she was going to be okay.
Her head moved from side to side as she moaned.
Shifting closer, I placed my palm against her jaw. “Baby, I’m here.”
Her brow furrowed as she licked her lips before saying, “Humphrey, is that you?”
My jaw clenched as I moved my hand to clasp around the back of her neck. “Are you fucking kidding me right now? Who the hell is fucking Humph—”
Before I could even work myself up into a rage, I noticed her lips tweak at the corners.
When she opened her eyes, they were filled with mirth.
Her voice was hoarse and scratchy as she teased, “You almost make it too easy, Var.”
My girl was going to be just fine.
I rose, placing my hands on my hips. I towered over her as I scowled. “You think that’s funny?”
She laughed, but then grimaced as she placed her hand over her middle. “Admit it. It was a little funny.”
“Do you have any idea what the fuck you just put me through?”
She gripped the blanket over her chest. “What are you talking about?”
Both of my eyebrows rose as I spread my arms wide. “This, Vivian. I’m talking about finding you close to death passed out on the floor of your apartment. I’m talking about being in a fucking hospital in the middle of the fucking night.”
Her lower lip pushed out in a pout. “Well, I’m fine. I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you. You can leave now.”
With my palms on either side of her pillow, I leaned down. “I’m not going anywhere.”
CHAPTER 34
VIVIAN
With a glance through the window at the darkness outside, I said, “It’s late. I’m sure visiting hours are over.”
Var dragged a chair over to my bed. After sitting down, he crossed his arms and smiled at me. “I’m sure they are.”
It was difficult pulling off the strong ice queen giving demands when I knew my makeup was probably smeared and my hair was flat. Not to mention the incredibly unflattering washed-out green hospital gown I was wearing.
The oxygen tube running from my nose wasn’t doing me any favors either. Fortunately, the doctor said I only needed it until I was fully awake and wouldn’t have to wear the annoying thing through the night.
With a self-conscious flick, I fluffed my hair over my right shoulder. “That was my not-so-subtle hint that you need to leave now.”
He leaned forward and shrugged out of his black leather racer jacket and tossed it over the foot of my bed, before pushing up the sleeves to his black V-neck sweater. “And this is my equally not-so-subtle hint that I’m staying.”
“There is no reason to stay. I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine until we get the liver and kidney blood test results and a radiologist reviews your chest X-rays tomorrow morning. Right now, at best, you’re close to being fine,” he fired back.
With a huff, I yanked the thin, pale green hospital blanket up over my chest. “You can’t stay in my room if I don’t want you here.”
He raised an eyebrow as he interlaced his fingers over his flat abdomen. “I can if I paid for it.”
My head pivoted to take a belated glance around the room they had put me in. I should have known. It was way nicer than any hospital room I’d ever seen. And even some hotel rooms.
Instead of white linoleum, there was a thin beige carpet on the floor. The walls weren’t the usual painted cinderblock, but rather a pleasant dusty blue. There was even an impressionist landscape print of a pond with swans. And all the monitoring machines were hidden behind the bed in a wall of beechwood cabinets.
My fingers dug into the blanket. “I’ll pay you back.”
“Sounds good to me.”
I raised my chin. “How much?”
His dark sapphire gaze raked over me. “I’m sorry, I don’t accept cash payments.”
His innuendo was clear.
I raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? I literally have tubes coming from my nose right now.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “What can I say, beautiful? I find you sexy as fuck. In sickness and in health.”
His odd turn of phrase caught my attention. “How do you know so much about my condition?”
“The doctor told me.”
“Why? That information should be privileged.”
I suspected I knew why, but couldn’t fathom him having the audacity to do it.
“I can be very persuasive.”
My eyes widened. “And evasive. Oh, my God! You didn’t. Tell me you didn’t.”
He stretched open his arms. “What?”
Leaning forward, I glared at him. “In sickness and in health? Did you tell the hospital you were my husband?”
“And if I did?”
Digging around in the covers on the side of my bed, I reached for the nurse call button. “This is beyond controlling—even for you.” I pressed the button. “I’m getting a nurse to kick you out. And I’m telling them you are not my husband.”