The Hotter You Burn (The Original Heartbreakers 2)

The nurse who’d poked and prodded her rushed over to latch on to her and prop her up. “What do you think you’re doing? You shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“Beck!” Thankfully, she managed to do more than squeak this time. “Where is he? I know he’s here. He wouldn’t have left me.” Tears beaded in her eyes. “He wouldn’t.”

Taking pity on her, the nuse said, “All right, sweetie. We’ll go have a peek in the waiting room.” She helped Harlow bumble onward.

Six people sat in the cushioned chairs, watching TV or reading magazines, and one slept on the couch. But none of them were Beck, or any of her friends.

“He’s...he’s not here.” The tears spilled over, and a sob bubbled up, nearly choking her.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I really am. Men can be pigs.”

“Not mine. He’s—”

“Harlow? Harlow!”

Beck! She turned, practically collapsing with relief when he raced from the elevators. West, Jase, Brook Lynn and Jessie Kay were in tow.

A second later, Beck had her wrapped in his arms, his callused hands meeting the bare skin of her back, offering the comfort she’d so desperately craved. Her tears came more freely, but this time they sprang from relief. He was here, and he was with her.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up, love.” He tied her gown closed at her waist, while still allowing a slit for his hand. “Dr. Lowe told us you’d come out of the coma but that the sedatives in your system wouldn’t wear off for another few hours, giving us plenty of time to finish our errands before you actually woke up. But here you are, alive and well.” In his eyes, unadulterated relief mixed with elation.

“I didn’t want to believe you’d left me, that the fear of losing me was too much.” Her voice was small, needy, but she didn’t care. Trust and share.

“I will never leave you, love. Never.” He drew back only far enough to cup her cheeks. “You are everything to me. I just had to run a a few errands.”

“We all love you, Harlow,” Brook Lynn said. “You’re one of us, and we will always be here for you.”

“You’re our whiskey sister.” Jessie Kay fist-pumped the sky. “Whiskey sisters, unite!”

She smiled at them, the girls who’d forgiven and accepted her and the guys who’d welcomed her with open arms. But her smile faded as she studied their formal attire. Tuxes on the men, glittering gowns on the women.

Even Beck wore a tux, looking sexy and almost too beautiful to touch. “Why are you so dressed up?”

“For a party,” Beck said.

“Okay, you guys.” The nurse clapped her hands to ensure she had everyone’s attention. “This is sweet and all, but I’ve got to put a stop to it. Miss Glass needs to be in bed.”

“Then let’s put her in bed.” Beck scooped her up, while West followed them, the IV pole in hand.

Harlow leaned her head against the strong shoulder she’d come to rely on. In her room, Beck gently laid her on the gurney and tucked the blanket around her legs. She would have pulled him beside her, but the nurse hooked a monitor to her chest before leaving.

“What party?” Harlow asked when the woman left, picking up the conversation as if there’d never been a lull. “Why did you leave? What errands did you have? And just so we’re being open and honest with each other, whatever you say, I’m not going to think it’s good enough.”

His lips twitched at the corners. “Thank you for being open and honest.”

“Welcome. Now answer me, please.”

He brushed his knuckles over her jaw, the caress tender and reverent. “Since you fell ill, I’ve had to do some soul-searching about what I really want for my future.”

Her heart monitor sped up, the fast beep embarrassing.

“Without you, my future would be bleak. Harlow Glass,” he said, dropping to one knee and holding out a ring box. Inside glittered the biggest diamond she’d ever seen. “Will you marry me?”

Shock played havoc with her reasoning. “Excuse me?”

“I want to marry you, and I want to start a family with you. I want as many little Harlows as I can get. I want you to be my painter slash trophy wife. I want to take care of you, and to be taken care of by you. I want to share the farmhouse with you, and only ever cook my famous breakfast for you. I want to go to sleep with you every night and wake up to you every morning, and tug you into the shower anytime during the day.”

“But...but...” This was more than she’d ever dreamed possible, her every wish coming true right before her eyes. “The cage...”

“You didn’t cage me, love. You set me free.” He slid the ring onto her finger. “The party is for you, to celebrate your precious life...and our engagement—if you’ll have me.”

She placed her hand over her racing heart, the diamond glinting in the light. “Beck.”

“Say yes. Tell me we can do a small ceremony as soon as possible, finally make you mine legally, then do a big one later on. I’m not sure how much longer I can go without knowing you are lawfully bound to me.”

“Beck,” she said again, tremors sweeping through her.

“I love you, Harlow. Every part of me loves every part of you. There is nothing I won’t do for you, and nothing I won’t do to keep you. You’re it for me. My one. My only. And it would be an honor—a privilege—to be the man you choose to spend your precious life with. To create a family with you. To watch your belly grow big with my child. To be what you need and what you want. Now and always.”