Enchanted (The Accidental Billionaires #4)(59)

Aiden had told me that Noah was okay, and that they were keeping him overnight in the ICU so he could be watched carefully through the night. He’d been banged up pretty bad, and he’d lost consciousness for a brief period of time after the accident. There was nothing showing up on his tests, but they were observing Noah because he had a concussion.

I hadn’t been completely convinced that Noah would be okay.

Which was why I’d rushed up to the third floor in the elevator and hauled ass to Noah’s room once I’d been allowed in.

His cranky words to his relatives, as weird as it might sound, were music to my ears.

Oh, my God. He really is going to be fine.

I couldn’t wait a second longer, so I stumbled into his room, saw his gorgeous face, and tried to hold back a sob of relief.

I failed miserably at keeping my emotions in check.

“Noah?” I choked out.

I froze as I got to the end of his bed.

His hazel eyes locked with mine. “Andie? What’s wrong, baby?”

“I love you.” The words fell from my lips without my really thinking about the appropriateness of saying them with most of his family watching.

“Everybody out . . . now!” he growled, his eyes never leaving mine.

Every visitor except me scrambled for the door and left without another word spoken.

I continued, “I was so scared.”

He opened his arms. “Come here.” It was a command, and his tone was persuasive.

I moved toward him. “You’re hurt.” I wanted to throw myself in his arms, but I could tell he was bruised and battered.

There was a sutured laceration near his forehead, bruising all over his face, and God only knew where else he was messed up.

He grimaced as he leaned forward, grabbed my hand, and pulled with so much force that I had no choice but to lean down and let him draw me into his embrace.

Tears poured from my eyes, and I didn’t know what else to say. I felt so much that I just couldn’t put everything into words.

Noah wrapped his arms around me as he crooned, “Don’t cry, sweetheart. I’ll be out of here tomorrow.”

I let him hold me for a glorious moment, and I allowed myself to feel the comfort of that embrace before I pulled back to look at his face. “You’re hurt,” I said tearfully as I stroked a gentle hand through his hair.

“It’s nothing,” he said smoothly. “Now would you like to tell me again what you said when you first came in?”

“I love you,” I repeated without hesitation. “I should have told you that a long time ago. You should have known. I was terrified that I wouldn’t have a chance to say it.”

“I’m so sorry, baby,” he said huskily. “Aiden and I didn’t think about grabbing our phones from the car when the ambulances got there. If I’d known you were worried, I would have found a damn phone somewhere. The accident just happened so fast.”

I knew that the rest of the family had only beat Owen and me to the hospital by a matter of minutes. So none of them had gotten the chance to call, either. “It wasn’t your fault,” I told him as I pulled away from him and moved the chair up beside the bed so my face would be close to his as I sat. “What happened?”

He took my hand and threaded his fingers through mine. “Some idiot ran a red light and smashed into our passenger side. He was going way too fast. He was okay, but Aiden and I got pummeled.”

The passenger side? His side of the vehicle. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I look worse than I feel.”

I shot him a dubious glance. “Liar. I can see that you’re hurting.”

He let out a masculine sigh. “Okay. My right side is killing me because it took the brunt of the impact, and my ribs are all bruised up. But that’s the worst of it. I promise.” Noah hesitated a moment before he asked, “Is it all right now to tell you that I love you, too? I didn’t want to freak you out, Andie, but it’s been really difficult not to say it.”

My heart tripped as I answered, “Yes. You don’t have to say it unless it’s true. I didn’t blurt that out so that you’d reciprocate. I just . . . had to say it. I guess I was worried about telling you that too soon, but I’ve felt it, Noah.” I put my free hand to my chest. “You’re right here.”

He leaned back against his pillow. “I promised I’d give you time, Andie—”

“I don’t need it,” I interrupted. “How often is someone like you going to come along for me? When am I ever going to feel this way again? It was stupid for me to keep hesitating. I know what I want. I want you. You were right when you said tomorrow is never guaranteed. You scared the shit out of me tonight. So I’m not holding back anymore, Noah. I hope you’re ready for that.”

He grinned. “When it comes to you, I’m ready for anything and everything you want to give me.”

I smiled at him as I wiped away the last of my tears. “Right now, I just want to take care of you and make sure you get healthy again. Are you going to kick me out like you did your family if I fuss over you?”

“Nah. You can lecture me all you want.”

I snorted. “Like you’d pay attention?”

“I’ll hang on every word if it means you’ll stick around.”