Page 20 of Taming the Wild Mountain Man

And then everything goes black.

9

Tenley

"You can stop fussing," Hume says as I adjust the pillows and make sure his blanket is snug but not too tight.

"You're right, I can," I say, dimming the lights down a little lower. "But I'm choosing not to."

"I'm fine." He pats the spot beside him, wanting me to come over. "The hospital wouldn't have released me if I weren't."

"That's true."

In need of a distraction while Hume was being treated, I bought some flowers while I waited around, but I left them in the kitchen. I'll bring them in later. I suppose Ishouldstop fussing. So I walk over and sit down on the edge of the bed.

"There. I feel better already, sweetheart," he says, backing his words up with his signature cocky smile. A smile I'm happy to see again.

He reaches his hand out, and I slide my fingers around his calloused palm. "You scared me."

His smile dims. "I'm sorry."

"I felt like an idiot at the hospital. All I could tell the staff was that you'd had an ear thing on and off for the past few months, which wasn't helpful at all."

"I'm sorry about that, too."

"You can't do that again. From now on, if something's up, with either one of us, we tell the other one. Deal?"

"Deal. And just so I'm sure I haven't suffered from a concussion and dreamt the conversation we had before my unexpected hospital visit…You are still my girlfriend, right?"

I could toy with him, pretend like I have no idea what he's talking about, but why would I do that? I was so out-of-my-mind scared when he collapsed. All I cared about was him being okay. It was the wake up call I didn't need but intend to learn from, nevertheless.

"I am." I lean over and press a kiss to his forehead. "I'm your girlfriend…sweetheart."

He chuckles. "I'm using our new honesty pledge to tell you I absolutely hate the sound of that."

It's my turn to giggle. "First and last time I say it. Promise."

"Good." He shifts his hand to thread his fingers through mine. "I'm sorry for not telling you about my ear thing. I was just hoping it would go away."

"Men are…" I roll my eyes. "Forget it. You're okay. They're running some tests, and we have an appointment booked with the ENT, so?—"

"We?" he interrupts, his grip tightening around my fingers.

"Yes,we. We're in this together."

He stares at me for a moment, his throat bobbing. "Thank you, Tenley. That means a lot. I'm not used to being awe."

"Neither am I."

But we'll figure it out. Together."

EPILOGUE 1

Three months later…

Tenley

"How's Hume doing?" Belle asks on what is definitely the final-final last day of the longest hotel handover in recorded history.

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