Saving Dallas (Saving Dallas 1)

Something smelled fabulous, like body wash mixed with cologne and something else I couldn’t quite wrap my brain around. I had smelled this scent before. I had tasted it and craved it. Only one thing could smell this good-Luke. My eyes fluttered open and when I saw him standing next to my bed looking down on me, nothing else mattered. Luke was here.

He had come to take me home, but something was wrong. Luke’s face was full of worry. His eyebrows were creased and he looked like he was going to cry any minute. He wasn’t looking at my face, almost as if he were ashamed to. He was in deep thought about something and I was sure whatever it was had to do with me. I lifted my hand finding his and when his eyes met mine all worry drained from his face and was replaced with that of pure joy.

“There’s my girl,” he said bringing my hand to his lips.

“I’m hungry.” Really Dallas? You haven’t seen the man in days and that’s the first thing you tell him? He threw his head back and laughed my favorite laugh.

“Well as soon as you are ready I’ll feed you,” he said smiling his full megawatt smile.

“What time is it?” I asked sitting up. “What day is it?” Luke moved to assist me until me feet were hanging off the side of the bed and I was sitting straight up.

“Just after one and it’s Saturday. The doctor came in around eleven-thirty and cleared you to leave. He said just to let you rest and when you woke I could take you home. I have strict instructions to make sure you get plenty of rest and don’t overdo it for the next week. He said you would be hungry and you are cleared to eat whatever you like, but you have to drink plenty of fluids. Here is the paperwork. You just need to sign and turn it in at the nurse’s desk before you leave.” Damn. That was easy. I felt rested and was ready to get the hell out of here. I wanted a hot shower with real water pressure and a hamburger and French fries and a coke and a hot fudge sundae. Just the thought of it had me up and moving to get ready.

“Hang on baby, damn. You move faster now than you ever have,” Luke said. I could tell he was trying to be stern, but it wasn’t working.

“I’m fine. I’m not gonna break, you know,” I said sitting down to use the bathroom not bothered at all by the fact that he was standing there watching me. I would never take for granted being able to pee on my own ever again. Catheters sucked.

Luke busied himself by packing my things in a duffle bag Red must have brought it all in. I stood up and looked in the mirror. Holy hell. My face was pale and slim. My eyes were hollow and lifeless. My tangled nappy hair looked like a rats nest. Luke had definitely seen me at my worst. Even I had never seen me this bad.

I looked over at Luke and as always he looked absolutely amazing. He wore jeans and a baby blue polo that contrasted great with his eyes and hugged him in all the right places. His plain white ball cap was turned backwards on his head and he looked good enough to eat, and I was hungry.

I gazed down at my wrinkled pajamas and bare feet. Tears sprang to my eyes when I looked up into his. “Are you ashamed of me?”

He smiled and pushed a lock of hair behind my ear, “No, beautiful. Even at your worst you still take my breath away.” His sweet comment made me smile; my tears forgotten. He leaned down and ever so softly planted a kiss to my dry, chapped lips. When he pulled away I quickly ran my tongue across them savoring the taste of him on my mouth.

He smiled down at me and shook his head. “I brought you another change of clothes. When I went to get Neo I grabbed a few things for you.” He walked back into the room and presented me with a bag containing the red strapless summer dress and gold sandals I had attempted to wear the first time he was at my house. “I really like this dress, but if you want something more comfortable, I brought this too.” He said pulling out a neon pink Nike jump suit and some Nike Shox.

I laughed, “How about the sweats today and the dress after I’ve had a real shower and a chance to shave my legs?”

“I could shave you,” he said wiggling his eyebrows. My stomach flipped. The thought of him shaving me did delicious things to my insides. “I know that look. Come on and get dressed or we will never make it out of this hospital,” Luke said laughing. I agreed.