Worth the Fall (The McKinney Brothers, #1)(73)

“She does.”

“Thank you,” said Vance, the voice of reason. “Do you happen to know what room?”

Speak up, *. Before I kill you.

“You didn’t have to be so damn nice,” Matt said, striding down the hall, feet pounding like his heart.

He scanned the doors for numbers, pausing when he reached Abby’s. He blew out a breath. Be calm.

Without knocking, he opened the door and saw her lying on white sheets, her face turned toward him. Her eyes were closed, lips slightly parted. A white strip of bandage wrapped around her forehead. Was she pale?

He took a step forward on shaky legs. Her eyes opened and he could see the bright brilliance that always shook him. Or maybe he was just shaking.

“Matt.”

Before she could utter another word he was there, cupping her face in one hand, his other covering her belly. She was warm. Check. Breathing. Check.

“I’m okay.”

Vance cleared his throat. “Uh, I’ll just wait outside.”

Matt ignored him and tried to cool the burn in his gut as he sat on the edge of her bed. Even though he felt her stomach hard and round beneath his palm, he had to ask. “The baby?”

She smiled, though her lips trembled. “Fine. I hit my head. That’s all.”

“What happened?” With his hand not quite steady, he brushed the hair back from her forehead, the knot evident and infuriating. “Somebody hit you? Were they drunk? Do they know—”

“Matt.”

He was gathering steam, more than happy to have anger replace fear.

“It was an accident. I don’t need you to be angry. I just need you.”

Whether it was the wreck, the emotion of saying the words, or both, Abby’s eyes filled and so did his. He gathered her into his arms and held her as close as he could. The clutch of her hands at his back emphasized her words. She needed him.

“It’s okay.” He tightened his hold, not saying how terrified he’d been. Not telling her how he’d played it out in his mind a thousand different ways. Picturing her alone, calling for help. Thinking what if she’d been hurt worse. What if the kids had been hurt. What if they’d had to take the baby early and he hadn’t been here.

“The kids?”

“Are with the babysitter.”

“I’ll get them.”

She nodded into his shoulder, and he smoothed her tangled hair, slowly easing her back against the pillows. His heart nearly stopped at the look in her red eyes and tear-stained face. And he was reminded of the pain caused not by a stranger and a car but by his own careless words.

“Abby.” He took her hand between both of his and brought it to his lips. “I’m sorry. What I said to you—”

“No.”

Had he really lost her? He wouldn’t accept that. “Abby, I tried to call you, and when I couldn’t get you…” He shook his head. “I lost my mind, smashed my phone. I called. I left messages—”

“I know. I heard them.”

“Well, then you know it was wrong. I was wrong.”

“No,” she said again, shaking her head. “I do push. I push people away, before they—” She broke off, and a single tear escaped and ran into her hair. “I don’t want to push you away.”

“You could never push that hard, baby. Never.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek, then her eyes, where he tasted hot tears, then her lips.

“I do need you. So much,” she said on a shaky breath. “My heart hurts from it…like all the air is sucked out of my lungs and…”

“Shh. It’s okay.” His own eyes burned because he knew the feeling so well.

“I didn’t want to need another person so much that I couldn’t live without them. Do you understand?”

Hell yeah, he understood. More than she knew. “That will never happen, baby. You’ll never have to live without me.” Unable to resist another second, he kissed her. It was meant to be a soft one, just to reassure, but she held him to her. Her mouth, warm and moving against his, did a lot to ease his mind.

“I’m beginning to believe you’re okay,” Matt said, raising his head.

“I told you I was. They only kept me overnight because of the baby and…What? What’s that look?”

“Where did you get those flowers?”

“Oh. They’re from William. You know, from school.”

“Yeah. I know.” Damn the man. That’s the second time. “I just had a little talk with William in the hallway. I don’t think you’ll be getting any more flowers. At least not from him.” He said the last bit against her lips, then kissed her again long and hard.

When he pulled back, he took a second just to look at her. There were still things to say, to explain. “Abby, when I said it wasn’t working, I didn’t mean—”

“Time for a blood pressure check.”

Great. Chatty Cathy busted into the room, paused to give him a disgusted look, and then went about her work. He had no choice but to get out of her way.

“When can she go home?”

Nurse Ratched glared at him. “Dr. Henderson is making rounds down the hall.”

Matt returned to Abby’s side when the nurse moved out of his way.