Cedar Bluff's Most Eligible Bachelor (Cedar Bluff Hospital) (15 page)

“Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend it.” She gave a wry smile and shifted restlessly on the bed. “But you know—I don’t hate Erica. I actually felt sorry for her, Simon.”

He couldn’t hide his surprise. “Even after she locked you up and drugged you?”

Hailey grimaced. “Well, not that part so much. But I’m sure losing the baby was hard on her. And I think, in her own way, she really did love you.”

Simon slowly shook his head. “No, you’re wrong about that, Hailey. She was only in love with some fabricated image of what she wanted me to be. That’s one of the things I regret the most. I knew, almost from the beginning, that things weren’t going to work out between us, but I allowed our relationship to get intimate. That was one of my biggest mistakes.”

“Don’t torture yourself, Simon,” Hailey murmured, turning his own words to her during their dinner at Stephen’s against him. “You can’t play the what-if game, remember?”

He refused to be sidetracked. “I’m surprised you don’t resent Erica for what she’s done. You’re an amazing woman, Hailey.”

“You’re not so bad yourself, Simon,” she said, flashing a sleepy smile, her eyelids sliding closed.

He loosened his grip on her hand, intending to leave her to recover in peace, but her eyes flew open the moment he let go. “Where are you going?”

“I thought maybe you’d rather be alone.” He wouldn’t blame her for not wanting to see him, a constant reminder of the horror she’d gone through.

She clung to his hand, her glassy gaze focused on his. “Were you serious last night, when you said our relationship was over?”

His heart swelled with hope at the uncertainty in her gaze. “No, Hailey. That was just a misguided attempt to spare you from all this…” He waved a hand in disgust. He tried to read her facial expression. “Are you telling me that after everything that’s happened, you’re still willing to give me a second chance?”

“Do you want a second chance?” she asked, instead of answering his question.

“Yes, Hailey. God yes.” He pulled her hand up and pressed a kiss in the center of her palm. “When I saw you lying on the floor, I was afraid I hadn’t arrived in time.” He took a deep breath and decided to bare his soul. “I love you, Hailey. More than you can possibly know.”

Her eyes widened at his declaration. “You do?”

“Yes. I do.” Just saying the words gave him a sense of freedom. For too long he’d refused to let anyone get close. Had been afraid of commitment. And the possibility of a family.

Now, Hailey could never be close enough. “I think I knew, right from the start, that we were meant to be together. But I understand if you need time to get used to the idea,” he added when she didn’t say anything more. “Take as much time as you need. But know this, Hailey. I’ll be ready and waiting for you, no matter how long it takes. I’m in this for the long haul. There’s no rush. We have plenty of time.”

Hell, was he babbling?

He seriously needed to get a grip.

“That’s very sweet, Simon, but I don’t need any time. I already know how I feel.” Her mouth curved into a sweet smile and yet he found himself holding his breath, almost afraid to hope. “I love you, too.”

“Oh, Hailey.” He bent over the bed and gathered her as close as the dialysis machine would allow. He buried his face in her hair, knowing he was the luckiest man alive. “You’ve forgiven me way too easily.”

She let out a muffled laugh. “Oh, yeah? Are you complaining?”

“Never,” he vowed. “I swear I’ll make it up to you.”

“Ah, Simon.” She lifted her face and gently kissed him. “Don’t you know? You already have.”

H
AILEY
rejoiced with a little skip as she started up the steps to her apartment on the second floor, her first time since getting the bulky cast off her leg.

Freedom! Who would have thought that walking up stairs could be so fabulous?

Her cell phone rang and she knew the caller was Simon before she glanced at the screen. He’d already surprised her with a brand-new bicycle, to replace the one he’d crunched under his bumper. She’d taken her first ride on it today, while he was finishing up his day shift.

“Hi, Simon.”

“Hailey, we’re celebrating tonight, so put on your dancing shoes and be ready by six.”

Even though he couldn’t see her, she raised her hand in a mock salute. “Yes, sir.”

He chuckled. “Okay, sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound like an order.”

“I know.” She giggled as she put the key in her lock and opened her apartment door. “Don’t worry. I’ll be ready by six. Where are you taking me?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Her grin widened. “I love surprises.” And she had a surprise for Simon too. She was ready to get behind the wheel of a car. She’d been practicing, without his knowing. She couldn’t wait to tell him.

Hailey took her time, lingering in a bubble bath that was nothing short of heavenly. Her right leg looked a little pale and small compared to her left, but she didn’t care. She pulled on the slinkiest red dress she owned and was ready and waiting when Simon showed up.

He whistled when he saw her, frank admiration in his gaze. “You look amazing.”

“Thanks, so do you.” His dark shirt and slacks were casually elegant. He was by far the most handsome guy in the universe, in her opinion.

Simon drove to a restaurant on the outskirts of town, and she could hear the band playing from the parking lot. The thought of dancing with Simon made her pulse skip with excitement.

She barely had time to put her purse on the chair before he was tugging on her hand, drawing her out onto the dance floor. She would have sworn he’d paid the guy off, because the music immediately slowed to an intimate pace. When he stroked his hand down her back, lingering low on her waist, she shivered.

They danced three songs in a row, before he deemed it break time and escorted her over to a cozy table off to the side.

She tensed, just for a moment, when the waiter came over, but once again, Simon told him they’d stick with water. “Go ahead and bring out the first course,” he said.

The waiter bowed and disappeared.

She flashed him a mock frown. “What’s the first course? Don’t I have a choice as to what I want to eat?”

Simon shrugged. “You always have a choice, Hailey. Wait to see what it is first, and if you don’t like it, we’ll send it back to the kitchen for something else.”

She sighed, reminding herself that she loved surprises. She took a sip of her water, gazing at Simon. He was so handsome he made her heart ache. The past five weeks with him had been wonderful.

“Thank you, Simon. This is the perfect way to celebrate getting my cast off.”

“You’re welcome, Hailey.”

At that moment, the waiter came out with one silver-dome-covered tray that he set in front of Hailey.

“Don’t you get one?” she asked.

Simon gave a tiny shake of his head, his gaze surprisingly wary. “I’ll share yours.”

The waiter paused dramatically, and then lifted the cover. Instead of a mouth-watering appetizer, a small black velvet ring box sat on the middle of the plate.

She sucked in a quick breath, raising a shocked gaze to Simon. “What is this?”

He looked tense, his gaze searching hers as he said, “Open it.”

With fingers that threatened to tremble, she picked up the box and opened it. A beautiful emerald-cut diamond glittered inside. “Oh, Simon!”

“Hailey, will you marry me?”

Tears threatened, and she blinked them away furiously. They’d only been together for six weeks, but she didn’t for one minute doubt her feelings for him.

Or his feelings for her.

“Yes, Simon. I’d be honored.” And since she wasn’t hampered by her cast any longer, she picked up the ring and jumped up from the table, and went over to wrap her arms around him in an exuberant hug.

He took the ring and slid it onto the third finger of her left hand. “Come on,” he murmured, nudging her once again toward the dance floor where the music instantly turned to a slow, romantic number. He’d definitely paid off the band leader.

“I’d like to dance with my fiancée,” he murmured softly, nuzzling her ear.

“For the rest of our lives,” Hailey agreed with a sigh as she rose up on her tiptoes and captured his mouth in a heartfelt kiss.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-8854-0

CEDAR BLUFF’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR

First North American Publication 2011

Copyright © 2011 by Laura Iding

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