From Nanny To Wife (26 page)

"I have a prescription that needs to be filled," Maggie said. "If you don't mind I would like to go with you."

"I don't mind at all," Hope assured the housekeeper.

"I go too," Zoe said.

Hope reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind the little girl's ear. "You're going too."

He could not stop thinking about her. Ryan sat behind his desk deep in thoughts of Hope. He kept replaying the night before in his mind. Every kiss, every touch and every word that was uttered was examined. Ryan had never given his previous encounters this much contemplation. The women he had slept with were forgotten the minute he left their bed. Hope was the type of woman a man had trouble forgetting.

She's not just any woman,
he thought.
She's my wife and I'm in love with her.

The very idea of love scared the hell out of him. He had a strong urge to shut down emotionally and fought hard against it. His days of running from his feelings were over. Hope deserved more than a shell of a man. She deserved to be happy and he was going to do everything in his power to make it happen. Rousing himself from his thoughts, he picked up his coffee cup and took a drink. It was cold. He grimaced and set the cup back down. There was a knock at the door just then.

"Come in!" he called out.

The door opened and Pam entered the office. "Do you have a few minutes, sir? I need to discuss something with you."

"I'm listening," Ryan said. "Have a seat."

"Thank you, but I'll stand." Pam clasped her hands in front of her. "Next month marks the sixth year anniversary of the day I came to work for you. I have enjoyed working for you, Mr. Kendall."

Ryan arched a brow. "You're not leaving me, are you?"

Pam averted her gaze. "It depends on you, sir. You see, I've been offered a job in Baltimore."

Ryan sat back in his chair and looked at Pam. "How much is it going to cost me to keep you, Ms. Rogers?"

Pam shifted from one foot to the other. "A thousand dollars more a month."

Ryan did not blink an eye. He could more than afford to pay Pam what she wanted. "Done. Is there anything else you would like to discuss with me?"

Pam gaped at Ryan. "Are you serious, sir?"

Ryan resisted the urge to smile. "When it comes to money I am always serious. I'm not too proud to admit that I need you, Pam. You are invaluable to me. You keep things running smoothly around here. Without you, I would be lost."

"Thank you, sir," Pam said.

"You're welcome." Ryan picked up his coffee cup and held it out to Pam. "Now earn your money and get me another cup of coffee."

Laughing, Pam took the cup and started for the door.

The phone on Ryan's desk rang. He reached out and snatched up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Mr. Kendall," Maggie said in a quivering voice. "There's been an accident."

Fear shot through Ryan and stole the breath from his lungs. "Z-Zoe-"

"Not Zoe," Maggie interrupted. "It's Hope. She was taking the dog outside and she slipped on the icy patio. She hit her head and blacked out. We're en route to the hospital."

"I'm on my way." Ryan dropped the receiver in the cradle and got to his feet.

"Here is your coffee," Pam said, coming back into the room.

"I have to go." Ryan quickly told her about the phone call. "Cancel all my appointments."

"Please call me the minute you know something," Pam said concerned.

"I'll do that," Ryan promised.

"Give Hope my love," Pam said.

When Ryan strode through the front doors of the hospital several minutes later he found Maggie waiting for him. Before he could open his mouth, she spoke.

"They rushed her to the lab for a CT scan. Once they know something they said they will let us know." Maggie touched Ryan's arm. "I'm scared. She hit her head hard. What if there is damage to her brain?"

"I'm sure everything will be fine," Ryan said, trying not to show how worried he was. "This is going to take a while. I'm going to call a cab to take you home."

"I would rather stay-"

"Maggie, I trust William and Gordon, but I would feel better knowing you were looking after Zoe."

Maggie wrung her hands together. "She was upset when the paramedics were putting Hope in the ambulance."

"She needs you," Ryan stated. "Let me get you a cab."

"I didn't bring my purse," Maggie said. "I can't pay the fare."

"I will pay the fare."

By the time, Ryan made it to the small waiting area outside the lab twenty minutes had come and gone. He spoke with the receptionist and was informed that a doctor would be out shortly to speak with him. With nothing to do but wait, he paced the floor and tried not to think the worst. He kept telling himself Hope would be fine and that he was worrying over nothing.

"Mr. Kendall."

Ryan stopped pacing and turned around to find a doctor standing there. "Tell me about my wife," he ordered.

"She has a mild concussion," the doctor said. "I studied the x-ray and the good news is that there is no bleeding or swelling on the brain. She has a sprained ankle and some bruising on her body. I would prefer to keep her overnight for observation."

"I want to see her," Ryan demanded.

"Of course," the doctor said. "They are getting her settled in her room. Let me find out the room number."

Ryan stepped out of the elevator a few minutes later and turned right. He moved down the long corridor glancing at room numbers as he went. As he drew near to Hope's room, he heard her voice raised in anger.

"I'm not staying here," she said shrilly. "I don't give a damn what the doctor said. I want to call my husband."

"What's going on in here?" Ryan asked, marching into the room.

Hope who was sitting up in bed took her eyes off the nurse and looked at Ryan. "They want me to stay until tomorrow. I-I c-can't stay h-here."

"Will you please step out?" Ryan asked the nurse. "I would like to talk to my wife in private."

"If you need anything ring the nurse's station." She left closing the door behind her.

Ryan gazed at Hope and saw the fear in her eyes. "It's all right, sweetheart."

Hope clutched at Ryan's arm. "Please take me home."

Ryan gently wrapped an arm around Hope and kissed her on the temple. "You shouldn't be sitting up. Why don't you lie down?"

"No," Hope croaked. "I'll lie down at home."

Ryan frowned. "Why are you afraid to spend the night?"

Hope closed her eyes. "I don't like hospitals. They remind me of death." She laid her head against Ryan's chest. "My mother and sister died instantly in the plane crash. My father lingered for hours in a hospital bed before he slipped away from me. I can still see him with all those tubes sticking out of him and-"

"Sweetheart, don't torture yourself," Ryan said raggedly.

"Don't make me beg," Hope whispered. "Take me home."

Ryan sighed. "All right." He carefully lowered Hope onto the pillow. "While I'm working on trying to get them to release you, I want you to rest."

"Threaten to stop donating money to the hospital," Hope muttered. "That will get them to listen to you real quickly. You can be very persuasive when you're throwing your power around."

Ryan smirked. "I'll see what I can do."

Chapter 29

A determined glint in his eyes Ryan left Hope's room and made his way to the nurse's station. He mentally switched from a concerned husband to a cold manipulative bastard used to getting what he wanted. It was a persona he knew well and used quite often. At the nurses station he found a nurse talking on the phone. Thinking of Hope and her fear of hospitals, he knew time was of the essence and knew just how to get the woman off the phone. He squared his shoulders, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and locked eyes with her.

"Let me call you back, Jess," she said. She hung up the phone and cleared her throat. "How can I help you, sir?"

Ryan glanced at the nurse's ID and saw her name was Carrie. "You can release my wife."

Carrie swiveled her chair until she was facing the computer screen. "Her name please."

"Hope Kendall," Ryan said.

Carrie typed in the name and pushed the enter button. "It says here that the doctor wants her to stay overnight for observation."

"I am aware of that," Ryan said. "However my wife feels she would be more comfortable at home."

"We will do everything we can to make her comfortable here, sir," Carrie said not meeting Ryan's gaze. "Your wife has a private room. You are more than welcome to stay the night with her. I am sure-"

"Let me talk to her doctor," Ryan said coldly.

"Dr. Wallace is making his rounds," Carrie pointed out. "I can page him and-"

"What you can do is get him here now," Ryan said his voice calm.

"Sir, I-"

"Is there a problem here?" Dr. Wallace asked, approaching.

Carrie sank back into her chair with what Ryan could only guess was relief. "Mr. Kendall wants us to release his wife. You put in her chart that you want to keep her overnight for observation."

"I don't see what the problem is," Ryan said. "My wife can be observed at home just as well as she can here."

"Mr. Kendall," Dr. Wallace said. "Your wife has a concussion. It would be in her best interest-"

Tired of not getting anywhere Ryan snapped. "It would be in your best interest if you released her. Do I need to remind you people who you are dealing with? Does the name Ryan Kendall mean anything to you?" He watched the doctor's eyes widen with recognition and smirked. "That's right, doc. I donate more money to this hospital then you probably make in a year. I received a letter in the mail the other day stating that the hospital has a fundraiser coming up. I remember the letter saying something about needing new equipment for the geriatrics floor. I would hate for the check to get lost in the mail."

Dr. Wallace turned toward Carrie. "Fill out the release papers for Mrs. Kendall."

Later that morning, Ryan took his eyes from the road briefly and looked over at Hope. She had her head back against the headrest and her eyes were closed, her face drawn tight with pain. Wishing he could take her pain away, Ryan returned his attention to the road just in time to see the stop sign ahead. Slowly he began to break as he switched on the turn signal. After a quick glance in all directions, he turned the corner.