The Groom's Stand-In

Chloe sighed. “It’s a long story.”

Bryan pulled up a chair on her other side and took her hand, which had been lying limply next to her. “Is there anything I can do for you now? Anything you want?”

She wanted Donovan. She wanted to be back there with him right now, finding out how he was, holding his hand instead of Bryan’s. She couldn’t say any of those things, of course. She settled for a wan smile. “I’m okay now. But thank you.”

Bryan frowned a little, as if he sensed that something had changed between them. He probably thought she blamed him for what she had been through. She would have to convince him that she didn’t blame him in any way, even as she tried to come up with a way to let him know that there was no future for them now.

Some instinct made her look toward the doorway. Braced by a set of metal crutches, Donovan stood there with no expression at all on his face as he looked at her lying there between Grace and Bryan—with Bryan holding her hand.

She pulled her hand quickly from Bryan’s. Bryan didn’t seem to notice as he stood and moved quickly toward his friend.

“How are you, Donovan?” he asked, and his voice was much warmer now than it had been when he’d spoken of the kidnappers.

“Can’t complain,” Donovan drawled in response.

Even Chloe had to smile at that. If anyone had a right to complain, it was Donovan. His face was hollow and pale, bruised at the temple and the corner of his mouth. The clothes he’d found at the trailer had been replaced by a set of pale green hospital scrubs, and assorted scrapes and bruises were visible in the V-neckline and beneath the short sleeves. His right leg was encased in a temporary cast from the knee down.

She hadn’t seen much of his sense of humor during the past few days, though she’d known from things Bryan had said about him that he had one. According to Bryan, a dry and clever one. She wished she could have gotten to know that side of him better. Not that it would have made her love him any more than she already did. She simply wanted to know every aspect of Donovan.

“They didn’t want to hook you up to any tubes and pumps?” Bryan asked him.

Donovan shrugged. “They wanted to. I didn’t want them to. I won.”

“Big surprise.”

Chloe couldn’t believe he was just planning to walk out of the hospital—even on crutches. “Aren’t you even going to stay overnight?” she fretted. “Surely you need more treatment than a brace and a pair of crutches. Is your leg broken?”

The faint smile he’d worn for Bryan disappeared when he glanced her way. “They gave me some shots. Some pills to take for a few days. I’ve cracked a bone in my leg, as we suspected. The local doc patched it up until I can get to an orthopedic specialist.”

Bryan nodded. “You’ll have the best, of course, as soon as we get you back home.”

Chloe remembered Donovan’s assertion that he didn’t have a home. She hadn’t believed him then, nor did she now. He had ties he simply didn’t choose to acknowledge. She wondered again if it was apprehension or preference that kept him from doing so.

“You’re sure you don’t want to spend the night here?” Bryan asked Donovan. “It wouldn’t hurt you to let someone else take care of you for a few hours.”

Donovan shook his head fiercely. “I’ve already had this argument with a couple dozen hospital personnel. I’m not staying. I have things to do. I’ll see a doctor in Little Rock tomorrow about the leg.”

“Thick-headed,” Grace murmured.

Chloe shot her sister a frown. “Don’t start, Grace. Donovan saved my life more times than I can count during the past few days. You should be thanking him.”

Grace studied Chloe’s face for a moment, then glanced at Donovan, whose frown had only deepened in response to Chloe’s defense. “In that case, I will thank you. With all my heart.”

“Not necessary,” he said gruffly. “Just doing my job.”

If he’d been trying to hurt her, he couldn’t have done it any better, Chloe thought.

Bryan shook his head. “I’d say you definitely went beyond the call of duty this time, pal. And now you’re exhausted. We’d better get on our way. Jason’s waiting in the lobby. Grace…?”

“I’d like to stay here with Chloe tonight,” Grace answered quickly. “I’ll sleep in that recliner.”

“That isn’t necessary, Grace,” Chloe assured her.

Her twin shook her head. “I’m not letting you out of my sight for a couple of days. Besides, you know I don’t trust hospitals. Someone has to stay here to make sure you get the proper care.”

Chloe was sure the hospital staff would not appreciate Grace’s close supervision. Still, she was glad her sister was staying. She didn’t want to be left alone with her thoughts tonight.

“We need to get you off your feet,” Bryan said to Donovan. “You look like you could fall over in a strong wind.”