From Nanny To Wife (27 page)

Suddenly Hope was fumbling with her seatbelt. "Stop the car," she croaked. "I'm going to be sick."

Ryan pulled the car over to the curb and put it in park. Hope opened the door, leaned out of the car, and threw up the contents of her stomach. Ryan sat there aching to comfort her and not knowing how. Tentatively he reached out and rubbed her back. Once Hope was through, he handed her a bottle of water he had bought from the vending machine at the hospital and told her to rinse out her mouth.

"Are you all right now?"

Hope took a shuddery breath and closed the door. "I think so."

"We're almost home," Ryan said, putting the car in drive.

"I'll be glad to lie down," Hope muttered. "My head hurts."

Ryan pulled up in front of the garage a few minutes later and shut off the car. "Don't move. I'll come around and get you."

"I wouldn't dream of moving," Hope said.

Ryan got out and moved around the car. He opened the passenger side door, bent down, and slipped one arm around Hope and the other under her knees. Carefully he lifted her out and closed the door with his hip. "Am I hurting you?" he asked.

"A little," Hope whispered, encircling Ryan's neck with her arms. "It can't be helped, so don't feel bad."

"I will let Maggie help you get settled while I call Pam and tell her how you are," Ryan said, striding toward the front door.

"I'm sorry you had to leave work because of my clumsy behind," Hope said.

"It's all right," Ryan said. "You're not clumsy. It was an accident. Anyone could have fallen the way you did, but we are getting rid of the dog."

"We are doing no such thing," Hope declared.

"If you hadn't taken that damn dog out you wouldn't be in the shape you're in now," Ryan retorted.

"We are not getting rid of Bob," Hope said. "It would break Zoe's heart and mine."

Before Ryan could speak, the door opened. "Hope," Maggie said, moving aside to allow Ryan to pass her. "I didn't expect you to come home so soon."

"They wanted to keep me overnight." Hope squeezed Ryan's shoulder. "Ryan had a little talk with the doctor."

Maggie snorted. "I just bet he did. Let's get you settled in your room, dear."

"Where is Zoe?" Ryan asked, following Maggie up the stairs.

"She's in her room coloring a picture for Hope."

"Will you please go get her?" Hope asked. "Bring her to my room."

"Of course."

While Maggie went to fetch Zoe, Ryan carried Hope into her room and laid her on the bed. "I will check on you in a few hours. The doctor informed me you need to be checked on every two hours for the next twenty-four hours. I'm sorry, but I will have to wake you up."

"I'm okay with that," Hope said quietly.

Ryan kissed her on the lips. "Try and rest. If you need me I will be in my office."

Zoe came running into the room.

"Slow down, baby girl," Ryan told her. He scooped her up and put her on the bed. "Hope has some boo-boos. We have to be careful and not hurt her."

"If you will please leave, Mr. Kendall," Maggie said. "Zoe and I will help Hope get comfortable."

Ryan slipped out of the room and walked to his office. He shrugged out of his suit coat and tossed it over the arm of the couch. Jerking his tie loose, he sat down behind his desk and picked up the receiver. He dialed the number for Kendall Industries. Pam answered on the first ring.

"Kendall Industries."

"I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner," Ryan said. "It's been a busy morning."

"How is she?" Pam asked. "Is she going to be all right?"

"Yes," Ryan assured her. "She has a concussion, a sprained ankle and some bruising. She's resting right now."

"Good," Pam mumbled. "Rest in the best thing for her. I rescheduled all your appointments."

"Thank you. Will you fax me the document that is on my desk? It's in the blue folder."

"Sure," Pam said. "I'll fax it to you just as soon as I hang up."

"Do that," Ryan said. "Call me if anything comes up."

"I will," Pam promised.

Ryan said goodbye and hung up the phone.

Hope slept off and on throughout the afternoon. Every few hours she was woken up by Ryan. She would look up at him through a groggy haze, mutter a few incoherent words, and then go back to sleep again. She never became angry with Ryan for waking her. If it had not been for him, she knew she would still be at the hospital having some stranger rouse her from sleep.

Hope managed to sit up and eat dinner that evening. Afterward she visited with Zoe until Maggie announced it was the little girl's bedtime. Hope kissed Zoe good night and watched as she ran from the bedroom. Alone once more she grew restless and longed to get out of bed. Shifting, she winced when her ankle protested the sudden movement. Miserable she sighed heavily.

"What was that all about?" Ryan inquired, appearing in the doorway.

"I'm restless and miserable," Hope murmured.

"I see." Ryan crossed the room and perched on the side of the bed. "Is there anything I can do?"

"You can help me out of this bed," Hope said.

Ryan smiled. "I could, but I won't. You're not supposed to be up moving around."

Hope nodded. "You're right, but I'm not used to staying in bed all day. Will you keep me company? That's if you're not busy with work. I know my accident put you behind."

"You didn't put me behind." Ryan touched Hope's cheek. "I was thinking of calling it a day."

Hope glanced at the clock. "At seven o'clock?"

"I know, scary, isn't it?" Ryan cocked his head to one side slightly. "There's a movie coming on TV that I've been wanting to watch. Would you care to join me?"

"I would love to," Hope said, jumping at the chance to spend some time with him.

Ryan stood and pulled back the covers. He gently picked her up and headed for the door.

"Where are we going?" Hope wanted to know.

"My room," Ryan said, moving down the hallway. "I thought we could watch it in there. Besides I was planning on having you sleep with me tonight. I want you near so I can keep an eye on you."

The minute they entered the room Hope's eyes strayed to the bed and images of the two of them making love filled her mind. Her body began to tingle and her heart raced. She turned her head and brushed her lips across Ryan's jaw. There were many things she wanted to do with him, but for now a kiss would have to be enough.

Ryan peeled back the covers and placed Hope on the bed, sticking a pillow behind her back and one beneath her injured ankle. He covered her up and handed her the remote control. "The movie is coming on channel two-fifty-six."

Hope aimed the remote at the TV and pressed the power button. The TV flicked on and she punched in the numbers. The title
The Rainmaker
appeared on the screen followed by the names of the actors. A smile came to her face. "This is my favorite movie," she told Ryan. "It's been years since I've seen it though."

"Then I'm glad I asked you to watch it with me." Ryan removed his shoes, turned off the bedside lamp, and joined Hope on the bed. She cuddled as close to him as her injuries would allow and lost herself in the movie.

Chapter 30

In the wee hours of the morning, Ryan awoke. He rolled over onto his side and come face to face with a sleeping Hope. Her lips were parted slightly and he could feel her breath on his cheek. He pulled his arm out from under the covers and touched her jaw. Her skin was like silk beneath his fingertips. Unable to help himself he brushed his lips across hers, lingering for a moment before breaking contact.

"Are you trying to take advantage of me?"

"No," Ryan muttered.

"That's a shame." Hope's eyelids fluttered open and she smiled. "Hi."

"Hi," Ryan said.

Hope reached out and laid her hand against his chest. "It's nice waking up next to you."

"Then lets make it permanent," Ryan said.

"Are you sure?" Hope asked.

"I am." Ryan looked deep into Hope's eyes. "I'm tired of going to sleep alone and waking up alone. I want us to be married in every sense of the word."

"I want that too." Hope kissed him tenderly on the mouth. "Just a little warning though. I'm all over the bed. I'll go to sleep on the left side and wake up on the right side."

Ryan smirked. "I know. Yesterday I woke up on the edge of the bed with you curled up against me." He draped his arm across her belly. "I guess I will just have to hold you so you won't move."

"I like the way you think," Hope said.

Ryan pressed a kiss to Hope's temple. "How do you feel?"

"Like I fell and hit my head," Hope said dryly. "My ankle is throbbing and my head hurts."

"Do you want me to get you a Tylenol?"

"I can't take another one until seven." Hope sighed. "If I lie still I'll be all right. We should try to go back to sleep. You have to go to work. You need your rest."

"I thought I would take the day off," Ryan told her.

"It's sweet of you, but not necessary. You go to work. I'll be fine."

"Will you promise me you will stay in bed and give that ankle a chance to heal?"

"I'll try."

Ryan glared at her. "That's not good enough. I want you to promise me."

"I can't."

"Then I can't go to work," Ryan said coolly as he moved away from her. "I will stay home as long as it takes for you to heal."

Silence settled between them. The tension in the room was thick enough it could have been cut with a knife. Ryan felt the bed move and heard Hope's small gasp of pain. He had a strong urge to comfort her and fought against it. The bed moved again and he realized she was trying to scoot closer to him. Another gasp of pain escaped her lips and Ryan gave into the urge. He propped himself up on his elbow and gazed down at her. His hand smoothed her hair back from her face.

"Don't move. I can't bear to hear you gasping in pain."

"Please don't be angry with me," Hope croaked. "I promise I'll stay in bed until my ankle heals."

"Thank you." Ryan lowered his head and nuzzled her ear, smiling when he heard her suck in her breath. "Sleep, sweetheart."

"Oh, sure," Hope snapped. "Get me worked up and then tell me to go to sleep."