Page 83 of A Lot Like Love
Chloe dug her nails into her palm. Ryder had looked like a rag doll up there today, just for a second, and if he’d… She squeezed her eyes shut. It wasn’t worth thinking worse-case scenarios, not yet. Just the thought of Ryder’s big, strong body being made to look all floppy like that, so powerless, made her sick to her stomach.
“Ryder’s had a few bad falls over the years, from bulls and broncs, and his last big knock gave him a pretty bad concussion. He started wearing headgear after that.”
It was Chloe reaching for Nate’s hand now, linking their fingers and holding on tight.
“You don’t think I distracted him by turning up today, do you?”
Nate slowed as the traffic became more dense, his eyes meeting hers for a second, a warm smile spreading across his face. “No, darlin’, I don’t. He’s damn stubborn and he’d hate to admit it, but seeing you there today would have made him all the more determined to win.”
Chloe blinked away a fresh wave of tears. “Really?” She didn’t want Nate to think he had to talk like that just to make her feel better.
“Really. Now don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours about anything other than being there for my brother when he comes around.” The phone rang and Nate pulled away from her to answer it. “You need to be there so I can control myself, otherwise I’ll give him a damn piece of my mind for having such a stupid job.”
She sat back and watched Vegas whizz past as Nate answered the phone. From what she could hear it was his granddad. Nate gave him a quick rundown of what had happened. It didn’t surprise her that Nate was the one in charge of running the family business—he was cool as a cucumber in the face of crisis, strong enough to intimidate if he needed to, and he was charming to boot.
“Chloe’s here, Granddad.”
That made her sit up straighter, glancing over at Nate.
“Yeah, he did see her. And she’s on her way to the hospital with me now.”
She hoped they didn’t all hate her for the way she’d disappeared on Ryder, but she’d had her reasons and she was ready to explain. They might be wealthy and insanely powerful, but they were also just a really nice family that she’d missed like heck. It wasn’t just Ryder, she’d loved the time she’d spent with all of them, and if he’d give her a chance, it was a family she wanted to be a part of.
Chloe checked the GPS. “Next left, Nate, and we’re there.”
He accelerated down the road, took the turn, and then put his foot down again when the hospital came into view. Chloe’s stomach lurched, bile rising in her throat just thinking about what they were going to see. If he didn’t make it, she’d never forgive herself for not telling Ryder how she felt.
