Page 21 of Wildflower Hearts
“Let me finish. Now he’s awake and talking to us. In a way, he’s the same old Noah, but I can see a different part of him.” Elias fiddled with his fork. “I can see it when he looks at you.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You don’t see it, but I do. You should have heard him talking when he first woke up. He thought you were a voice commanding him to come back. I think a small part of him believed you wanted him to return for you. I’m puzzled as to why he would think that.”
She shifted in her seat but kept her eyes on him. “I was in the room with him when he woke up, like Dr. Stewart told you. I was talking to him, and he happened to be on a subconscious level where he could hear me.”
“Why would he fight so hard because of that? What’d you say to him?”
“It was a normal conversation. I held his hand like I usually do with patients,” she shrugged. “I remember telling him that you were all worried about him, and that it was time to come back. I didn’t say-”
“I think he took that suggestion a little more personally than it really is.”
“Of course, he must have. I don’t even really know him.”
“Can I ask you something personal?”
She released the menu and reclined in her seat. “Sure, go ahead.”
“Are you attracted to my brother?”
With wide eyes, she stared at him. “What kind of question is that? Your brother has been in the hospital in a vulnerable state for days!”
“I’m asking because I didn’t want to get in the way if you liked him. He has a way of tricking women by looking cute and helpless all the time.”
“Wait, are you saying that you want to date me?”
“Since you cut to the chase first, yeah, that’s what I’m saying.”
The waitress returned, and she focused her attention on her menu with shaky hands. They ordered, sitting in silence until the food arrived. When they began to eat, He glanced every so often at her, but she concentrated entirely on her food. She didn’t focus on him again until they were finished.
Lyla wiped her mouth with her napkin and cleared her throat. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Elias.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “And why not?”
“The hospital has strict policies against…”
“This has nothing to do with the hospital. Separate yourself for once from what the hospital demands of you. This is about me wanting to date you, the woman, not the nurse.”
She toyed with her napkin. “I don’t think I’m ready for a relationship. I’m at the hospital constantly, and even though it sometimes stresses me out, it’s my life. It’s all I’ve ever had that made me feel like I was important and useful. That’s the only side of me you’ve ever seen because there is no other me. That’s all there is.”
“Give me a chance, and I’ll show you that you’re wrong.”
She cursed under her breath as she felt her bottom lip tremble. “I don’t know if I can. I’m scared.”
“I know.” He dug for his wallet, threw a large bill on the table, and stood. “Come on; let’s go.”
Without a sound, she buttoned her coat and followed him to his car.
The ride back to the hospital was silent, and he remained quiet as he pulled into the parking garage beside her car.
“Thanks for breakfast, Elias.” She didn’t meet his eyes and climbed from the passenger side, shutting the door quickly as she retrieved her keys. She paused at hearing his door open and shut. She fully faced his direction in time to see him come from around the back bumper toward her. “Is everything al-”
Elias gently cupped her face with his hands, carefully giving her space to step back if she truly wanted. “We’re all scared to some extent. I was afraid you’d automatically say no, but you didn’t. You fought the urge to say yes, and that gave me hope that somewhere deep inside you wanted to agree.”
“But-”
“And that’s a good enough answer for me.” He captured her mouth in a firm kiss, and she stiffened against him. Her eyes fluttered shut. Her hand dropped her keys unnoticed at her feet as she allowed herself to grip the front of his jacket.
