Leaning her head back on the pillows, Evie just shook her head and hoped.
* * *
‘Feeling pretty bad?’ The gruff voice woke Evie from her fitful slumber and she snapped her head up in disbelief. She hardly dared to open her eyes too quickly in case she found he wasn’t really there.
Nope. He was reassuringly solid.
She drank in the sight, but slowly the dark-circled eyes, unshaven stubble, and slightly haunted expression registered. It gave her something to cling to.
‘I’m about as good as you look,’ she murmured shakily.
‘That bad, huh?’ His eyes were loaded with regret.
‘Pretty much. I can’t believe I fell asleep. When did Annie go?’
‘You’re exhausted. Annie said you dozed off as soon as our phone call ended and she stayed with you until I got here.’
‘Half an hour?’
‘Twenty-four minutes.’
‘You really were already down here?’ A few more restraints of caution gave way.
‘Outside Annie’s house,’ he confirmed quietly.
He stepped towards her and she offered no resistance as he snaked his arms around her shoulders and drew her in. Instead, Evie closed her eyes and allowed his familiar citrusy, musky, masculine scent fill her senses. Max dropped a kiss on her head.
Still they didn’t speak.
Beyond her, the rest of the hospital fell away. Just like the first time, it was just her and him, and nothing else.
‘Why are you here, Max?’ she mumbled against the rock wall of his chest.
‘To bring you home.’ His words were muffled, spoken into her hair. She had a feeling he was breathing her in just as she’d done with him. Her heart cracked.
‘What’s changed?’
He paused a bit before saying the word she didn’t want to hear.
‘Nothing. Everything.’
‘Max...’ She drew her head back but didn’t pull away. ‘I am sorry.’
He shushed her.
‘No, it’s my turn now. I should have accepted your apology that afternoon, but I was being pig-headed. I know you were scared to tell me, and that you couldn’t have been sure what my reaction would have been. Just because I know what my parents are like doesn’t mean you did.’
‘What about betraying your trust? You said you couldn’t forgive me.’
‘I was being an idiot. I’m sorry. I was thinking of my own feelings where you were more concerned about our daughter. That won’t happen from here on.’
‘From here on?’ Evie whispered, needing to hear Max say the words. ‘Does that mean you want Imogen and me to come back with you?’
‘No.’
She tipped her head back, confused.
‘You said before that you wanted to bring Imogen and I home.’