Love in Country (De La Fuente Family #4)(30)

I thought my eyes were open. What is he talking about?

“Sarah, I’m here waiting to see those gorgeous green eyes. Let me see them.”

I finally feel like the fog in my head is lifting and then I see Aiden leaning over me, worry marring his brow before his lips twitch and he smiles. “Thank you, God.” He breathes in relief.

I’m so confused but not for long as an incredible pain rips up my right arm to my shoulder, causing me to gasp. That’s when other voices penetrate my brain seconds before the pain starts to ease.

“The doc’s given you something for the pain,” Aiden tells me. His forehead drops to mine as he closes his eyes and breathes me in. I don’t know how long he leans over me like that, but when his eyes open they’re swimming with tears. “You scared the ever living heck out of me, Sarah,” he whispers.

“Why? What happened to me?” I suddenly think to ask now that more of the cobwebs have cleared.

“You don’t remember?” he asks, and drops into the chair at the side of the bed.

I feel that I should…wait…the horse. I groan when I realize that I made a rookie mistake while checking out one of the pregnant mamas on the De La Fuente’s farm.

“God, what an idiot.”

Aiden takes my hand and squeezes my fingers in a brief grip. “You’re not an idiot, although you took ten years off my life when Kasey yelled that you were unconscious.”

“I’m sorry. I should have been thinking about what I was doing instead of…” I don’t finish my thought because then Aiden will blame himself.

“Instead of?” he prompts.

“I wasn’t paying attention and leave it at that. The horse kicked out and snapped my arm but at the same time I was shoved into the post behind me and knocked my head.”

“That about sums up what Kasey said, although he says it was his fault.” Aiden raises a questioning brow.

“It wasn’t his fault. I’m the vet, the one who is supposed to know what I’m doing. I’m used to holding conversations while I’m working on the animals…Don’t you dare blame your brother for this.”

Aiden looks sheepish at my words and I groan knowing that he already has. “What did you do?”

“Nothing…much,” Aiden replies. “I didn’t hit him if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Now I’m going to feel guilty for causing the upset between you both.”

Aiden leans over me again and softly kisses my lips. “There isn’t any upset between us. I glared at him…and seconds later I apologized for it. We’re good.”

I watch him for a minute and then ask, “So what did I do to myself?”

“Broke your arm in two places. The doc operated and pinned it together. You’re going to be uncomfortable and in a cast for a while, so the doc has written you up a prescription for pain meds.”

I knew my arm was broken, and I guess I’m relieved that it’s a cleanish break because it could have been worse. It could have been my collarbone, which really would have put me out of action for a good while.

“Wait…he’s written up a prescription, you said, right?”

Aiden nods.

“So I get to go home?” I hope I do because I really don’t want to stay in the hospital.

“The doctor said after supper, providing you’re okay from the anesthetic they gave you.” Aiden kisses me again and sits back down. “You have visitors outside. Greg and Matthew being two of them.” Aiden frowns.

“What?”

“The doc wasn’t letting anyone in with you until Greg arrived. I raised hell and told them that you’re my fiancée.” Aiden grins. “You will be but figured I’d hurry it along.” He clears his throat. “Anyway, they let me in and then once Greg arrived the doc finally relaxed when Greg went along with my story…except…Sarah. I don’t want it to be a story. I want it to be fact.”

My eyes widen in surprise as my heart takes flight in my belly while Aiden stands nervously to the side of the bed. “You’re, um, asking me to marry you while I’m on drugs in the hospital?” I grin because I find it amusing but Aiden looks ready to puke, so I add, “Do you think I need drugs to agree to marry you, Aiden De La Fuente?”

He finally laughs and moves closer. “Like hell I do, but hey, if they have you saying yes then I’m all for the drugs.”

“I don’t need drugs, Aiden,” I say quietly. “All I need is you.” I can’t hold the tears in any longer and let them fall. “If you’re serious, then yes I’ll marry you.”

His eyes swim with tears as he cups my face in his hands and kisses me. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

“Ugh! While she’s in a hospital bed,” Rae drawls. “Really, Aiden. You propose like this?”

He smiles against my lips and pulling away, offers me a wink before he turns and faces Rae. “That’s exactly why I did it now. She can’t run away.”

“She wouldn’t run,” Rae says with confidence.

“No, she wouldn’t,” I admit and grin at Aiden, which turns into more of a wince.

“You’re hurting again,” Aiden worries.