I watched him with Zach and Layla, and I couldn’t help thinking of just how important he was to me. He had been so sweet to me on our aborted weekend trip. And as soon as he saw my distress, he’d been quick to formulate a plan. He hadn’t even made it seem like a question; he was here for me. Whatever happened. He was my support, if I so much as glanced at him.
Not only that, but he was good with the kids. Really good with them. Neither Leanne nor I had asked him to distract them or to be involved with them at all. He could have just taken a seat and waited for me to tell him I would take a cab home or something.
But instead, he was there. For all of us. If I hadn’t already realized what a keeper he was before, if I hadn’t realized that the press had gotten him all wrong in their stories about what a player he was, about how a woman would be lucky to get more than a one-night stand with him? Well, this was the real story about Daniel McGregor. He was the nicest guy I had ever met.
Watching him laugh at something that Layla had said, I couldn’t help but feel my heart swell with feelings for this man. He glanced over at me, quirking an eyebrow, a clear question there. Was I okay? Matt was still in surgery. I didn’t have any idea how bad his situation might be. I could barely bring myself to think of what the consequences would be if he didn’t pull through.
But I was starting to feel like maybe, somehow, everything really was going to be all right.
Except I knew that I was in big trouble. Because the foundation of that feeling was based on my feelings for this man. He was the cornerstone of my universe at the moment, and not just because of my job.
No, I was pretty sure that I was in love with this man. And the more time I spent with him, the more hopelessly in love I found myself.
Fuck, I thought. What the hell was I going to do about that? There were enough complications in my life without adding those feelings into the mix as well.
But for now, I smiled back at him, hoping he couldn’t see how tremulous the expression truly was. One thing was for sure: however this ended up for Matt and Leanne and the kids, Daniel and I were going to have to have a serious talk of our own when all was said and done.
I found myself dreading the moment we left the hospital.
Chapter 19
Daniel
I FROWNED DOWN AT THE bags in my hands, trying to think if there was anything I had forgotten. But I was pretty sure I had covered the family’s needs for now. More than, really. I felt almost embarrassed about the amount of food I’d brought back. But it had been an easy way for me to help out, and I had found that I really wanted to help out.
Matt had been in surgery for three hours now, and the kids had started complaining that they were getting hungry. And bored. They understood, in some sense, how serious the situation was. But I think they couldn’t really understand it. I had noticed the pinched look forming around Leanne’s eyes, and I realized I should have volunteered to do a food run a long time before that.
But from the grateful looks that both Leanne and Abby had given me, it seemed like they’d only just realized that there was something that I could do to help them.
I smiled to myself as I headed inside. I really hoped things were going to be okay for the family. I could tell just how closely knit they were. But at the same time, I didn’t really feel like I was an outsider. They opened up and let me in, so easily. From entertaining the kids to lending silent support to Abby, I felt like this was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Sure, I would have loved to have the romantic weekend Abby and I had been looking forward to. But those things could be rescheduled. This was important. I just hoped everything turned out all right in the end. But either way, I hoped Abby understood that I was going to be there for her.
Of course, hanging around the hospital with her family brought back some other memories of my own, ones that I was trying not to think too hard about. Losing my father had been difficult. And I hadn’t lied when I had told Abby, what seemed like forever ago now, that I had never really grieved him properly. I had been so busy taking over the business that I hadn’t really allowed myself time for my feelings.
Those feelings of helplessness and grief were definitely coming back to me now, albeit in a muted sort of way. So it was nice to feel helpful, to come back into the waiting room bearing bags full of sandwiches and drinks plus coloring books and games for the kids. And a pair of soft stuffed animals for Abby and her sister.
I didn’t know what they would think of these last, but when I’d seen that soft, stuffed giraffe, I just hadn’t been able to help myself. Abby would love it, I was sure.
“Just as gangly and clumsy as someone else I know,” I teased as I handed it over to her.
Abby immediately wrapped her arms around it. Then, she looked embarrassed. But I kissed that away from her.
“And I brought food for everyone. Whatever we don’t eat now will keep for later.” I sat on the floor next to the two kids and started pulling out the booty. “Let’s see, there’s sandwiches and chips, some macaroni salad and some other Southern comfort food, and then a pizza and a couple salads. And a few other things too; I don’t even remember what.”
Abby laughed, shaking her head. “Were you planning on feeding a small army?” she asked, and honestly, it was worth all of it just to hear her laugh again. I could still see the pain and worry in her face and in the way that she clung to that stuffed giraffe, but at least I had done something to make her laugh.
I shrugged. “Just wanted to make sure everyone got what they wanted.” I paused and held out the last bag to Leanne. “There’s also a toothbrush, toothpaste, other toiletries, and some pajama pants in there,” I said. “I don’t know how long Matt’s going to be in here, and I had to guess at your size, but I thought those might come in handy. And if not, well, all the better.”
Leanne actually looked like she might cry at that. “Thank you,” she whispered, hugging the stuffed elephant plushie I had brought her, a match to the giraffe for Abby.
We all ate in silence, the kids enthusiastically while their mom and Abby merely picked at their sandwiches. But I could tell everyone felt a little better by the time we were done and I was packing everything up again. I pushed the bags over toward Leanne’s bag. “Like I said, the rest of that stuff will keep for later. The nurses have already told me that you’re welcome to use the microwaves in the cafeteria when you need to.”
“Thank you,” Leanne said again. She cleared her throat and glanced over at Abby. “You know, I owe you an apology,” she finally said.
I frowned. “What for?” I asked. I really hoped she wasn’t going to try to apologize for dragging Abby away from our weekend away. It wasn’t her fault that her husband had been in a car accident, and it wasn’t like there was any question about whether I’d be there for Abby.
But Leanne surprised me. “When you and Abby first started dating, I tried to talk Abby out of it. I was afraid that you might hurt her.” She paused. “You know, I’ve read a lot about you. And I hate to say it, but I believed a lot of it. But you’re not the man I thought you were.”