Missy's Moment (The West Series Book 4) (18 page)

“I should have—” he started, only to be shushed by her again.

“There’s no time for should haves. Here’s the doctor now.” She stood up.

Dr. Conner held up his hands to stop all the questions. “Melissa is fine. She has a broken collarbone, some bruised ribs, a concussion, and a few new stitches in her scalp and shoulder. We’ll be keeping her here for a few days, but she won’t need to go to Tyler.”

Everyone sighed and Reece stepped forward. “Can I see her?” The doctor looked him up and down then nodded. “One at a time.”

When he walked into her room, her eyes were closed and he felt like turning and running away. He’d destroyed everything. Here was the only person in his life who had ever loved him and he’d destroyed it. Destroyed her.

“Hey,” she said, her voice weak and low. “Come here.”

He looked up to see her blue eyes looking at him. “I thought you were asleep.”

She started to shake her head, but stopped and groaned. “No. Concussion means I will be kept awake or checked on for the next twenty-four hours.”

“Twenty-four?”

“Yup.” She patted the bed beside her. “So why don’t you get comfortable?”

He looked around. “Visiting hours are over at eight.”

“That’s okay. I know a few people, and I’m pretty sure I can convince them that you should stick around. After all, anything to help me heal.”

He took a step forward and then another.

“Reece?” she said.

He looked at her, afraid that she was hurting too much. He was ready to run and grab a nurse, when she chuckled, then grabbed her side and sighed.

“I’m okay, really. Come over here.”

He walked over and gently sat next to her, taking her hand. She sighed again, and this time he could hear the pleasure in her tone.

“There, much better.” She closed her eyes and was quiet. Just when he was concerned that she’d fallen asleep, she said, “Don’t leave, okay?”

He nodded then realized her eyes were still closed. “I promise,” he said in a shaky voice.

S
he knew the drill. She had been on the other side many times, but nothing could have prepared her for the pain she felt every time the nurses walked in to check up on her.

The pain of the broken collarbone and the bruised ribs could be managed by a lack of movement, but the concussion hurt every time she opened her eyes. She tried to keep them shut, but the pounding continued in the darkness of her mind. The only thing that seemed to make her feel better was knowing that Reece was sitting next to her.

Her family had come in and visited briefly. Once she’d assured them she was okay, they had let Reece sit beside her.

“He blames himself,” her mother told her.

“I know. It was my fault. It was stupid of me to drive away upset.” She closed her eyes and thought of how much worse it could have been.

“I would think that the deer would take some of the blame.” Her mother squeezed her hand. “Do you know that when your father and I were dating, I hit a buck and totaled my car? The next week I borrowed your father’s truck and hit another, destroying his truck as well. I had better luck that year than most hunters.” She chuckled with her mother, which caused pain to shoot throughout her body, and when she looked up, she saw a tear escape her mother’s eyes.

“Rest. I know Reece is dying to get back by your side. We’ll be around.” She leaned up and kissed her forehead, and Missy felt better.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re a very lucky and smart girl. Don’t let blame get in the way of what’s right in front of you.”

When Reece walked back in, she grabbed his hand and held on, knowing that there was a lot she had to say to him once she was feeling better.

An hour later, by the time lunch rolled in her room, she was starving. She started spooning in some soup and nibbling on the bread, but a few minutes later felt dizzy and nauseated.

“Should I call a nurse?” Reece had paled while watching her.

“No.” She stopped herself from shaking her head. “It’ll pass. It comes with the concussion.”

A few minutes of closing her eyes and breathing slowly had helped and allowed her to eat the rest of her lunch.

“I can tell you this,” she told Riley, one of her coworkers who came in to remove her empty tray. “When I get back to work, I’ll have a new respect for the injured.”

Riley had laughed. “I know what you mean. I broke my leg once and had to be holed up for three days at the hospital in Dallas.” She shook her head. “I guess it’s true what they say, that medical personal make the worst patients.”

“I’ve been tolerable, though?” Missy asked, causing Riley to chuckle.

“You’re the easiest patient I’ve had all year.” She looked towards the door. “Now if room two would be as good.”

The clinic had only four overnight rooms for such occasions and she had been waiting on room two. Mr. Dillard, an older gentleman, was a contractor for hire who’d had a large tree branch fall on him a few days back. He had a broken foot, but because of his age, Dr. Conner wanted to watch him for a while. Mr. Dillard wasn’t too pleased about the stay and was very vocal in his complaints.

Over the next few hours, many friends visited Melissa in the room. She convinced Reece to stick around, but he had to step outside for a few phone calls.

He seemed distracted and when he stepped back into the room after the fifth call, she realized why.

“Oh, your horse was supposed to come today.” She frowned.

“It did. He’s there and safe and sound in the barn.”

“Reece, you don’t have to stay.” She felt guilty for keeping him from his work and commitment. “I’m out of hot water now,” she said, sitting up slowly.

He shook his head. “Are you kicking me out?” he asked with a smile.

“No, of course not. But, if you need to—”

“Missy, I’m where I want to be.” He took her hand.

“But if you need to—”

He stopped her by leaning down and placing a kiss on her lips. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of him.

She did convince him around dinnertime to go down the street and grab a proper meal at Mama’s since the clinic didn’t serve very good food. She was happily surprised when he brought back a large box of food for her. She ate every bite, knowing that the return of her appetite meant she was on the mend.

A few hours later, she once again tried to convince Reece to go home and get a good night’s sleep, but he wouldn’t hear it. Instead, he propped his legs on the edge of her bed and leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.

She watched him for a while, but must have drifted off. She woke when the night nurse, Stephanie, came in to check on her and take her vitals. He woke and peppered Stephanie with questions. She couldn’t help feel more in love with him every moment he stood by her side.

That next day she was released and Reece talked her into going back to his place instead of her own so he could watch her closely. They stopped by her house and grabbed a few of her clothes and things so she could stay with him. She was told by Dr. Conner not to come back to work for a whole week. Reece quickly replied that he would make sure she rested the whole time.

When they drove up to his place, she was surprised to see all of her family and friends on the front porch of Reece’s home.

“What’s going on?” She looked over at him in question.

“Just a small get-together.” He smiled at her. “I thought it would be nice to have your family celebrate your recovery.”

She smiled. “Sounds great. God, I hope my mom baked a pie.” She heard her stomach growl and laughed when his did as well.

“Me too,” he said before rushing around and helping her out of the truck.

That evening, after everyone had finally left the house, he sat on the couch with Missy and watched the rest of the baseball game on the big screen while she slept. Her head was in his lap, and he gently stroked her hair. She had to wear a large white collar around her neck to keep it steady, and he noticed that she moved very slowly because of her ribs.

She had stitches in her head and shoulder that needed to stay dry and clean, which meant she’d have to be careful bathing. She had a bottle of pain pills that she had to take twice a day with food. She’d downed her first pill after eating some of her mother’s home cooking and pie. The pills made her drowsy and she’d lay down on the couch and quickly fallen asleep. Everyone had cleaned up quietly and left.

He looked down at her in his lap and felt his heart skip. He’d never imagined caring for someone as much as he cared for her. He’d meant it when he’d told her he was more than just in love with her. He’d never felt this way about anyone in his entire life, even Ryan. It went beyond anything he’d ever known could exist, and he knew what he wanted to do about it. He just wanted to make sure she was healthy again before he took the next step.

She stirred and opened her eyes, but he saw that they were still cloudy. “Want to move into the bedroom?” He brushed her hair away from her face.

“I’d kill for a hot shower.” She stretched her arms straight in front of her and moaned a little with some pain.

He frowned.

“I can take a bath.” He helped her sit up. “As long as I make sure to keep my head and shoulder dry.”

He nodded and stood up. “I’ll go start the water.”

“Reece?”

“Make it hot. My muscles are sore.” She stretched her legs straight out in front of her.

He nodded and left the room. When he got into the bathroom, he started the water in the tub then looked at himself in the mirror.

He needed a plan. He wanted to make it special for her. She deserved special. He closed his eyes and felt like banging his head against the mirror. Then an idea came to him.

Holly. Holly would know what Missy had always dreamed about. He’d have to make sure to stop by the bookstore tomorrow and talk to her and see if she could help him out.

He walked over and dumped some of the soap she’d left in the shower into the bath water, causing it to bubble up. He tested the temperature and made sure it was hot but not boiling. Then he walked into the next room to help her in.

It took some doing, but finally she leaned back into the water and sighed.

“I never thought undressing you would be such a challenge.” He chuckled and sat on the edge of the tub.

“I never thought that once you undressed me, I’d think about anything other than being with you.” She smiled and then sighed and leaned her head back. “But getting out of that neck brace feels so good.”

“Don’t overdo it,” he warned, concerned she was moving her neck too much.

“I’m fine.” She looked up at him. “Really.”

He nodded. “I’ll let you enjoy your bath. When you’re ready to get out, call for me. I don’t want to chance you slipping.”

She nodded slightly. “Can you dim the lights?”

He walked over and flipped on the light in the hall and turned off the bathroom light. “Is this okay?”

“Yes, much better.” She rested back. “I may just stay in here all night. Too bad you don’t have a tub with jets.”

“For you, I’ll add it to the list.” When he walked out to the kitchen, he did just that. They had a running list of things that needed to be fixed or replaced.

He looked at the three pages stuck to the front of the fridge and added Jacuzzi tub under the master bathroom heading.

He looked around and the images his mind had created earlier about the three kids running around returned; he let them come. He walked around the house and added items to the list that would make his dreams a reality.

When he was done, he could picture the life he and Missy would share. Now all he had to do was ask the hardest question any man ever had to ask.