Page 96 of The Front Runner
Tears roll down my cheeks.
Billie reaches up to wipe them away, drawing my attention away from Stefan. “The guy is a total nightmare.” Her voice cracks, but she blinks quickly and forges ahead, “But not in the way I thought. Never mind his barn, I think he’s been ready to burn this whole fucking hospital down to get you the best care available and what I’m pretty sure is like a twentieth opinion.” Her laugh is tearful, and I smile back at her.
“Listen, Mimi.” I groan and shake my head. Billie is insane in the best possible way. “I was wrong. And I’m sorry. Any man who loves you as much as he does is a winner in my book.”
“Thank you,” I rasp. I know I don’t need my friend’s permission, but knowing she accepts him—accepts us—well, that makes my heart happy. “Did he tell you much?”
She snorts and rolls her eyes. “That Hank is his daddy? Or that he named my horse?”
I scrunch my face up and nod, whispering, “Yeah. Kinda big news. I know Hank is like a dad to you and has been for a long time.” Then I point at her. “And you know that name is a good one.”
“Yeah. I have to confess, it is.” She chuckles tearfully. “And man, Hank is so happy. It’s downright infectious. I can’tnotbe happy for them. The world works in mysterious ways, Mimi.” She winks saucily, clearly getting hold of her emotions. “I mean, I need another dumb brother like I need a fucking hole in the head. But here I am with one anyway.” She gestures across at Stefan’s sleeping form.
He stirs, like his ears are burning. I give his hand a quick squeeze and his head snaps up. Dopey eyes latch onto mine instantly.
“I’m gonna go,” Billie says with a gentle squeeze of my arm and a kiss to my hair.
I don’t even look at her. “Okay, bye.” I can’t tear my gaze away from Stefan, his entrancing green eyes, his slightly crooked nose. I drink him in, trying not to think about how I almost let him get away.
“Hi.” I smile, unable to discern the expression on his face as the door clicks shut. Like he’s almost angry.
“How do you feel?” His fingers push between mine.
“Sore.” Why lie? Every part of me feels sore.
“You suffered smoke inhalation and a concussion from when you passed out. You’ve been out for about a day.”
“Oh. Okay.”
He’s all business right now. “The doctor said your trachea and lungs should heal completely. But I’ve got a second and third opinion on the way.” Rigid tension lines his body as his eyes rake over mine. “I’m not taking any chances they missed something.”
“Okay.” I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’m capable of understanding any diagnosis I might have, but if micromanaging this makes him feel better, I won’t interfere. “How areyou?”
I brush my thumb across the underside of his hand, reveling in the feel of his skin on mine. In the way energy crackles up my arm with the simplest touch. This man sets me on fire. Maybe that’s why I ran in there with no regard for my safety. I’d already endured the most intense heat I could imagine. That barn was no comparison for our chemistry.
“Mira, you shouldn’t have gone into that barn.” His jaw ticks with annoyance.
“Neither should you,” I scold him right back.
“I couldn’t leave you in there.” His voice breaks as his eyes land where our hands are joined.
I reach up and run my hand through his hair, savoring the feel of the strands running between my fingers. Something I never thought I’d feel again. “You love so fiercely. Just like I told you. Just like me. I didn’t think twice about walking into that barn.”
His sad eyes meet mine. They more than meet. His gaze plunges into mine. The way he looks at me is borderline invasive, like he’s staring straight into my soul. “Love?”
My hand slides down his cheek, the feel of his stubble against my palm sending goosebumps up my arm. “Yeah. You love me.”
He looks so intense, which emboldens me. A man who was done with me wouldn’t be regarding me like this.
“Who told you that?” His eyes dart to the opposite side of the bed where Billie sat earlier, but I tip his chin back down toward me.
“You did.”
“Did you hear me in the barn?” His voice is raspy, his accent shining through a little more than usual as his free hand lands on my knee and strokes me there.
I quirk my head, knowing I’ve struck a chord. “No… but have you walked through fire for any other girls lately, Stefan?”
I smile, but his facade cracks right before my eyes. His face falls and a sob wracks his body as he gives up all pretenses of control and crawls onto the small hospital bed beside me, turning my body in toward him with the utmost care. With heartbreaking gentleness. The light scent of his cologne wraps around me as I bury my face in his chest. Rejoicing in the feel of his hard arms around me and his warm skin against mine.
