Page 82 of Forbidden Kisses
“Of course it does. I would never do anything to hurt you.” Jack reached for Grace’s hand.
“You know I wouldn’t, either, Gracie,” Tammy said.
Jack gritted his teeth. He couldn’t help himself. His gaze went to Grace, who was watching him.
“Please go,” she told them both. “I’ll call you tonight.”
He wanted to argue and stay. What Grace needed was for him to leave. Nodding, he headed to the door. “I’m glad you’re awake,” he said, which felt like empty words compared to the ones he wanted to say. He wanted to make sure Grace knew how lost he’d been over the last twenty-four hours. He wanted to tell her exactly how he felt about her—he loved her. That was clearer every second that passed. He didn’t want to live his life without her.
He cursed under his breath as he exited the hospital room. Then reluctantly, he turned back to Tammy. “How’d you get here?” he asked. Or growled. Yeah, he was a bear this afternoon.
“Mrs. Smith brought me here. She’ll be back in ten minutes. I’m supposed to meet her downstairs.” Tammy didn’t move. There was only one way to the elevator and Jack guessed she didn’t want to ride with him.
“Great.” He stepped back along the wall. “You go ahead. I want to talk to the nurse anyway.”
Tammy started a slow walk past him. “I’m sorry, Jack,” she said, stopping when she was right in front of him. “Really sorry. For everything.”
Jack watched her walk farther down the hall, wishing he had it in him to forgive and forget.
Chapter 20
Grace opened her eyes an hour or two later—there was really no concept of time in a hospital—when the door to her room opened. For the first time that day, she smiled.
“Hey, there!” Krista carried a vase of flowers and set them on Grace’s nightstand. “I heard you were awake. How’re you feeling?”
Grace grimaced as she pushed herself up on the bed. “Like I’ve been hit by a train.”
“Or just the side of a boat.” Krista sat in the chair beside Grace.
Grace shook her head. “Speaking of which, I’m so sorry. I asked you guys to help me with the tournament and then I wasn’t even there.”
“Hold up.” Krista raised a hand. “Are you seriously apologizing for getting a concussion and breaking your collarbone?”
Grace laughed, then winced at the pain in her head. No quick movements, the doctor had advised.
“Easy there,” Krista said, eyes darkening.
“I’m fine.”
“You could’ve drowned out there, you know. We heard the noise of you hitting the boat, but if we hadn’t—” Krista shuddered. “I don’t even want to think about it.”
“Who saved me?”
“Abby.” Krista nodded. “Now you’re indebted to her for life. Just so you know.”
Grace was about to laugh again and caught herself. The concussion was still causing her a monster headache. “Thank you.”
Krista’s smile fell sharply. “Don’t thank us. We didn’t win the tournament. We came in third place.” Her eyes slanted sympathetically. “We caught a really great fish, though. A crazy good fish, but—”
“Doesn’t matter.” Grace swallowed. “It was a stupid thing to do anyway.” Her voice shook. She’d never been a crier, and yet all she seemed to do was resist her waterworks these days.
“We can find another way to buy back theBeatrice. I promise. I’ve already been scheming on ways. Maybe we could start a GoFundMe page online.”
Grace shook her head. “Buying back theBeatricewas a bad idea. It was never going to fix things between the Donners and the Sawyers. Jack was right.” Laughter spilled out of Grace’s mouth, even as she fought her rising emotion. “It would take a lot more than a boat to make things right. Maybe things will never be made right.”
“Did something happen?” Krista asked, slumping in the visitor’s chair. “I mean, I know you and Jack argued before your accident, but he was worried sick about you yesterday.”
Grace sniffled. “I know. Everyone was. I had no idea that”—she swallowed—“you guys cared so much.”
