One Chance (Hogan Brothers 1)

“My chest? It really hurts.”

“Probably the seat belt.” The nurse leaned forward after checking her IV to show her the marks.

Red, blue, purple, black, she looked like a damn rainbow.

“How long have I been out?” she finally asked.

“You woke up about an hour after you were brought in, but you’ve been out for about two days. Mostly from the medication we’ve been giving you.”

Made sense.

“When can I leave?” She hated hospitals. There was no reason for her aversion other than they felt as sterile as her home did.

“In the next day or two. We want to keep monitoring your concussion because we haven’t been able to wake you as often as we’d have liked to.”

Taking it all in was difficult. She didn’t remember the crash or waking up before now. She didn’t get a chance to dwell on it for too long as Nox walked back in the room with the ice chips. Her mouth watered.

Sitting on the bed beside her, he looked her over as if he hadn’t seen her in years. Like something bad had happened in the few minutes he was gone. She had to admit, even if it was only to herself, that she loved the feeling as it washed over her. Having someone care about her well-being, what happened to her, it was a nice change of pace as he slowly fed her a small spoonful of ice. The coolness from the chips revitalized her senses. Her parched throat felt immense relief at being hydrated again. It did remind her of one glaring fact, though. “I’m kind of hungry,” she whispered just as her stomach growled with a roar. Embarrassment had her cheeks flaming red.

Nox chuckled, and the nurse smiled, telling them, “If you’d like to get her something, you can, but nothing too heavy. Take it easy for now.” She left after that.

Gliding a finger down her uninjured cheek, he asked, “How are you feeling?”

“All things considered, not horrible. I hurt, and I’m terrified, but I don’t want to run away.” She had a habit of doing that when things got to be too much.

“Do you need something for the pain?”

She gave him a funny look. “The nurse just gave it to me.”

He inspected the machines to her left. “Right.” He laughed at himself.

They both got quiet after that, lost in their own thoughts. The moment was broken once again by her rumbling stomach.

“Shit,” he muttered. “Ma and Loch are on their way, I’ll have them get you something.” She watched as he pulled his phone from his pocket and sent a quick text.

The minute Nox lo

oked into Soph’s gorgeous green eyes relief and love swamped him. It was in that very moment he realized how much he loved her. All consuming, devouring, obsessive love.

Till his dying day, he would do what it took to keep her happy and surrounded by his love. The attraction had been immediate and mutual, but now things were changing. His only worry that she didn’t feel the same way, or he was moving too fast.

For once in his life, he felt unsure. He knew he’d have to wait and tell her until she recuperated from her injuries, and if he had his guess right, it’d have to be after the danger passed. Because if there was one thing he knew about her, it was that she would question his motives in relation to him wanting to do the right thing.

She’d passed out again after asking him to get her something to eat. He watched her struggle to get comfortable even with the pain medication in her system. Running his fingers through her light curls that seemed to be unaffected by the accident, she calmed a bit, leaning into his touch. He was glad to bring her some comfort as she rested.

A light knock on her door had his head swiveling and body tensing until he saw his mother and brother, followed by Braxton.

“She’s asleep.” He warned.

“Oh, we won’t stay long.” His mother walked over to her bedside.

“Can we talk outside?” Braxton asked him, the look in his eyes spoke of his anger and the news he might have.

“Go, I’ll watch her,” his mother instructed.

“Thanks, Ma,” he said, following Braxton to the hallway, Loch along with them.

“You know who did it?” Loch asked before Nox could. His little brother was pissed.