Page 68 of Tumbleweed Temptation
“I’m not even going to attempt the rice,” she said when she watched him expertly capture a clump of rice.
“You can switch back to the fork,” he said. “You learned something today. It took me a few meals to get it, and I’ll admit to being out of practice.”
“You don't look out of practice,” she said, and stubbornly stuck with the chopsticks the rest of the meal.
“Do you mind if we go back by the hospital to check on Mr. Canales?” he asked when they walked out of the restaurant, Ginny with half her dinner in a to-go container.
“No, of course not.”
“He might not be out of surgery, but I do want to know what the progress is, and see if his daughter is there yet. She was planning to come right away, but I don't know how long it is to drive from Dallas.”
“She won’t be here yet,” Ginny said.
He frowned. “Well, maybe you could drop me off at the hospital and take my Jeep home, then come back and get me tomorrow?”
“No, I’m not going to do that.” Bad enough she hated driving at night. She wasn't going to drive at night in a car she didn't know. “I’ll stay with you.”
“I hate asking you that. I know you don't want to be sitting in a hospital.”
“I’m fine. Don't worry about me.”
“I don't know how long we’ll be there.”
She put her hand on his arm to assure him. “Austin. Don’t. Worry. About. Me.”
He considered her a moment, then nodded, and drove back to the hospital.
Chapter Sixteen
When Austin left Mr. Canales, he went to look for Ginny. She was asleep in the waiting, curled up on three chairs in the waiting room, her purse tucked between one chair and the window, her hands folded together under her cheek. A few strands of hair had fallen loose from her ponytail and over her cheek. Her face was soft in sleep, young.
God, this was not how he’d wanted to spend tonight. He’d hoped, at some point, she’d end up in his arms, on the dance floor, at least.
He crouched before her and nudged her gently. She jolted awake, her eyes blinking rapidly as she tried to make sense of her surroundings.
He kept a hand on her shoulder to steady her.
