by Maya Banks
And she was cold. So very cold. Her bones were like ice and she was freezing from the inside out. She feared she’d never be warm again.
“Maren.”
Her eyelids were heavy. Too heavy to open and she ignored the person calling her name.
“Maren, honey, I need you to wake up and stay with me. I have good news. Open your eyes so I know you understand me.”
Drowsily, she forced her eyes open, her stare directed ahead as she was unable to turn her head in Sam’s direction because of the C collar.
He reached over and curled his hand over hers. It was a warm shock. So very warm and comforting. She wanted to keep holding it. Allow his heat to bleed into her body.
“Your parents are okay, Maren. Nathan just reported in. Your mom’s fine and they’re taking your dad to the hospital. I’ll take you there so you can be in the same place. But don’t worry. They don’t feel it’s anything serious. It’s more of a precaution than anything. He’s bruised, but he’s doing well.”
Tears slid down her cheeks and her eyelids shut as she inhaled and exhaled in deep, forceful breaths.
“Thank God,” she whispered. “Oh God, Sam. I was so worried I’d never see them again. And now it’s over. They’re okay. Caldwell is dead. It’s really over.”
“It’s over,” he agreed. “You never have to worry about him again, Maren. He’s no longer a threat to anyone.”
Her breath stuttered erratically over her lips as she tried to hold the sobs at bay.
“I’m sorry. I’m a complete wreck,” she babbled out.
Sam squeezed her hand again. “Honey, you were kidnapped, shot at, fell from a helicopter, and then crashed. I think you’re entitled to be a little rattled.”
She laughed shakily. “When you put it that way, you have a point.”
“Let’s get you to the hospital so they can check you over and make sure you and the baby are fine,” Sam said. “Steele won’t be far behind. I promise.”
CHAPTER 41
STEELE sat in Maren’s darkened hospital room, chair pulled up to her bed while her mother was sleeping on the tiny sofa on the far wall. He hurt like a motherfucker, but he’d refused pain medication because he didn’t want to be out of it when Maren came around.
He had multiple broken ribs and three broken fingers, thankfully on his left hand and it wasn’t his trigger finger on his right. He’d sustained a concussion and the doctor had wanted to admit him for observation, but Steele had flatly refused. He was going to be in the hospital anyway. But there was no way in hell he was going to be separated from Maren.
After they’d patched him up in the ER, bound his ribs, taped his three fingers together in a splint and given him a list of symptoms to be wary of, he’d made quick work of finding where they’d put Maren and he’d been there ever since.
He’d met Maren’s mother, and it was obvious the apple didn’t fall very far from the tree. Diana Scofield was intelligent, warm and loving and it was obvious she had a heart the size of Alaska. She’d taken one look at Steele and immediately enfolded him in a hug that rivaled any he’d ever received.
It was a bittersweet moment, because he’d been taken back to a time when his own mother had hugged him. Diana’s acceptance of him had been immediate, and the two had spent an hour conversing about Maren, the baby and what Steele’s intentions were.
Then Diana had dragged Steele into her husband’s hospital room and introduced them. Matthew Scofield had grilled Steele mercilessly about his plans regarding Maren and the baby. Only when Steele had assured him that he would follow Maren to the ends of the earth if that was what it took did Matthew relax. He was welcomed to the family with enthusiasm, and then Diana had a FaceTime call from Maren’s brother.
So for a third time Steele found himself grilled by a doting family member. Maren’s brother had been concerned and ready to leave at a moment’s notice, but Diana had assured him there was no need. Diana set up a time for Kevin to call back so that he could talk to Maren when she awakened.
By the time Steele made it back to Maren’s room, accompanied by Diana, he was put-a-fork-in-me done. He sank into a chair he pulled to her bedside and lowered his head into his hands. He drifted in and out of consciousness, thinking of all the doctor had said about Maren.
She’d dislocated her shoulder and he’d wrapped and secured it in place after popping it back into joint. It had been an excruciatingly painful experience for Maren, and her screams of pain still haunted Steele. But once the shoulder was back in place, her pain had considerably lessened and she’d drifted into a drug-induced slumber.
They’d given her a feel-good cocktail, as the nurse had jokingly labeled it. Something to relax her and take the edge off and something for pain. Whatever it was, it had worked. Too well. Maren had been out cold for three hours now and Steele was growing impatient waiting for her to awaken so he could see for himself that she was okay.
As soon as she came around, they were going to do a sonogram to check and see how the baby was doing, and he was eager to see his child for the first time. But first he wanted visual confirmation that Maren was okay. He wanted her to wake up and for the first thing she saw to be him sitting there at her bedside, and to know that he loved her.
He eased his hand onto the bed and gently curled his fingers around her limp hand, wanting that physical contact more for himself than for her. He needed reassurance. He’d never been so scared in his life as when the helicopter had gone down, spiraling out of control, and he’d been helpless to prevent it. The thought that she could have died in the crash was a dark patch in his soul that had yet to fade.
He needed her to wake up, so he could tell her he loved her again. He wanted to tell her when there were no fears of her being taken by Caldwell. No fears of them both dying in a crash. He wanted to give her those words when there was nothing but him and her and nothing but the confirmation of the fact that she was his life.
Excitement surged in his veins when her fingers tightened around his. He immediately glanced up, looking for any sign that she was awakening. She let out a soft sigh and turned her head in his direction and then—the most beautiful sight in the world. Her eyelashes fluttered sluggishly and then opened, and he looked into the most gorgeous blue eyes he’d ever seen.
She smiled and he went weak with relief. A surge of emotion overwhelmed him and he felt the betraying sting of tears burning his eyelids. He blinked rapidly, determined that she not see his devastation. He wanted only to give her reassurance. His love. And the knowledge that they’d made it. They were okay.
“Steele,” she whispered.
He leaned forward, unable to keep from getting closer. He pressed his lips to her forehead and left them there, closing his eyes as he mentally said a prayer of thanks.
“Thank God, you’re okay,” she said, her voice growing stronger. “I was so worried. Oh God, Steele, you can’t imagine what I thought. They took me away from you and I didn’t know if you were okay, or how badly you were injured.”
“I’m fine,” he said gruffly. “Nothing a few days with a certain doctor to take care of me won’t cure.”
As he drew away, she smiled, joy and relief shining like stars in her eyes. And then they dimmed and her hand automatically lowered to her belly.
“The baby?” she asked anxiously.
“So far so good,” he said, eager to ease her fears. “They said as soon as you woke up they’re going to do a sonogram. What do you say? Ready to meet our child for the first time?”
Her face lit up, her smile outshining the sun. “Oh yes, I’d love that more than anything.”
“Your mom is here. She’s sleeping on the couch in your room.”
Anxiety replaced the radiant joy and her expression dimmed. “My dad? How is my dad? Sam said they got my parents out, but he didn’t know anything else. Just that they were taking him to the hospital.”
“He’s fine,” Steele soothed. “Just a little banged up, but he’s already putting up a fu
ss wanting to get the hell out of the hospital, and he wants to see his daughter.”
Relief shone once again in her gaze and she sagged against the pillows.
“It’s over,” she said softly.
He kissed her again and then captured her hand once more, squeezing. “Yeah, it’s over.”
“Hancock?” she asked fearfully.
“He’s in surgery. It was touch and go. He lost a lot of blood. Nicked a lung but missed his heart. Prognosis is good but we’ll know more when he’s out of surgery.”
“He saved my life,” she murmured.
“Yeah. I owe the bastard now. But it’s a debt I’ll gladly pay. And you saved mine, Maren. It was the most foolish thing you’ve ever done. God, when I saw you fall out of the helicopter with him, I died a thousand deaths. I thought I’d lost you. You can’t imagine what that did to me. Swear to God, if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I’ll tie you to my bed and never let you leave the house.”
She smiled and laced her fingers through his. “That’s not exactly a punishment, you know.”
He relaxed and moved in closer, just wanting to be nearer to her. He stroked her hair, caressed her face, reassuring himself that she was here, alive. She was his, and he was damn sure never going to let her go.
“Maren?”
Maren turned in the direction of her mother’s voice, and then suddenly Diana flew to the bed and Steele moved away so she could be on Maren’s uninjured side.
“Oh my baby, thank God, you’re all right.”
Diana enfolded Maren in a hug the best she could without jostling her bound shoulder. Tears ran freely down Diana’s face as she and Maren wept together, holding on to one another as if they’d never let go.
“I’m so glad you and Dad are okay,” Maren choked out. “I would have never forgiven myself if something had happened to you because of me.”
“Shhhh, don’t say that. You’re not to blame for that maniac’s doings. And he’s gone now. He can’t ever hurt you again.”
“When can I see Dad?” Maren asked anxiously.
Diana smiled ruefully. “If he has his way, he’ll be here as soon as humanly possible. He’s had the entire floor in an uproar. You know him. He’s a terrible patient. He’s telling the nurses how to do their job. Ever the doctor. He questioned the credentials of the doctor in charge of your care. He wanted only the best. He’s bruised and banged up, but nothing serious. No broken bones. Nothing that won’t heal in a week or so.”
“Thank God,” Maren whispered fervently. “I love you, Mom. I’ve missed you so much.”
Diana squeezed her again. “Your young man has sat at your bedside when he very much needs to be in a hospital bed himself. He’s in far worse shape than your father and they’ve admitted him. But Steele refused anything beyond cursory treatment in the ER because he couldn’t wait to get to you.”
Maren looked beyond her mother and found Steele’s gaze, love and a watery sheen shining in her eyes.
“He’s a good man,” Diana said. “You chose well, Maren. He’ll protect you and your child with his life. A mother can’t ask for more than that for her daughter.”
“I know,” Maren said softly, her gaze still locked with Steele’s.
Diana pulled away and then glanced at Steele, understanding in her eyes.
“I’m going to go back and check on your father. Maybe he’ll calm down now that you’re awake and I can tell him you’re doing just fine.”
Maren squeezed her mother’s hand. “I love you, Mom. Tell Dad I love him and that I’ll see him soon.”
Diana leaned down to kiss Maren’s cheek and then she turned and to Steele’s surprise and befuddlement, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly before going up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.
“Take care of my baby,” she said fiercely.
“Never doubt it,” Steele said in a grave tone.
Diana turned back to smile at Maren and then left the room.
“When can we do the sonogram?” Maren asked anxiously.
“I’ll go tell the nurse you’re awake. I knew you’d want to see the baby as soon as you woke, so I made sure they had the portable sonogram moved to the floor. I’ll go get her now so she can page the sonogram tech, and then you and I will meet our child. Together.”
CHAPTER 42
MAREN lay in the hospital bed, Steele standing at her side, his fingers laced tightly with hers as the sonogram tech pressed the wand to her belly.
“Want to find out what you’re having while I’m poking around?” the younger man asked.
Maren automatically looked up to Steele, a silent question in her eyes.
“Yeah,” Steele said, eagerness in his expression. “I’d love to know. Unless you’d rather not?”
“No, I want to know too,” she whispered.
Anticipation gripped her. She squeezed Steele’s hand even tighter and he added a second hand to hers, sandwiching her hand between his.
The tech smeared gel on her belly and slid the wand around, pressing in at certain spots as he watched the monitor. Maren’s gaze was glued to the screen, holding her breath as she waited for confirmation of that tiny life inside her.
“There’s the heartbeat,” the tech said, pointing at the blip at the bottom.
Tears filled her eyes and the screen went blurry. The tech poked and prodded, positioning the wand as he took a series of shots.
“I’d say the little tyke is doing just fine,” the tech said. “Now let’s see if I can get him or her to cooperate and show us if it’s a boy or a girl.”
The next seconds seemed a lifetime as the tech angled and pressed. The images didn’t seem real. The tech pointed out features. The beating heart. The head, legs and arms. It was pure magic. This was their child, alive and well, safely ensconced in her womb.
“Ah, here we go,” the tech said, a smile broadening his features. “Looks like we have a little girl. See? No penis. And she’s not modest at all. No mistaking here. She’s definitely showing us all she has.”
Maren heard Steele’s sudden intake of breath and her heart lurched. Had he wanted a boy? Was he disappointed? But when she looked up, she was floored by the glitter of tears that shone brightly in Steele’s eyes. He looked enraptured. His gaze was riveted to the monitor and he looked so shaken, so in love, that her own throat knotted as she watched his reaction to the news he was having a daughter.
“A daughter,” he whispered, the words choked and broken.
Then he lowered his gaze to Maren and she was struck by the depth of emotion in his eyes. Not just for the image of their daughter. But for her. His love for her shone like a beacon, so unmistakable that she was overcome.
He leaned down and kissed her, sweet and infinitely tender. As soon as the tech wiped the gel from her belly and began putting away the equipment, Steele slid his hand over her belly, cupping it possessively. Then he broke away from her and bent to press a kiss to her abdomen.
“A daughter,” he said again, so much awe in his voice that she smiled.
“What in the world are you going to do with a daughter?” she teased.
Steele straightened, a panicked look entering his eyes. “Oh shit. Boys. Oh hell no. She’s not dating until she’s thirty.”
Maren laughed. “Don’t you think you’re being a little overzealous?”
He was utterly serious when he shook his head.
Neither noticed when the tech rolled the sonogram out of the room and shut the door, leaving the two alone.
Steele pulled the chair back to the side of her bed, positioning it as close as he could manage, and then he leaned over the bed, grasping her hand in his.
“I love you, Maren. You scared the hell out of me. I love you more than I ever thought it possible to love another person. I care deeply for my team. I care about KGI. I respect them and they have my loyalty. But nothing compares to what I feel for you. You have my love, Maren. You’ll always have it.”
She breathed in deep, savo
ring the heartfelt words. He said them in an almost awed tone, as if he didn’t quite understand it himself and marveled at the idea of feeling so deeply for another person.
“I love you too,” she said softly. “So very much, Steele.”
“This isn’t the way I wanted to do this,” he said in a gruff, uncertain tone.
She cocked her head, studying his expression, the sudden unease and the uncertainty that crept into his gaze.
“I’m not good at romance stuff. I don’t have a lot of experience with it. I’m not in touch with what women want or expect when it comes to this stuff. I can only tell you what it is I want more than I want my next breath.”
Her pulse bounded and her heart leapt. “And what do you want, Steele?”
“You,” he said bluntly. “Forever. Mine. With me. Wherever life takes us. I want my life to be with you. Marry me, Maren. Let’s make a family together. Let’s make it official and have a wedding that will make me want to crawl out of my skin and invite your family and my team and all of KGI. The details don’t matter. I want you to have whatever it is you want. All I want out of the deal is you. And our daughter.”
She sucked in her breath, staring in awe at the sincerity blazing in those intense blue eyes. He wanted forever. He wanted her. He wanted to get married.
The longer she took to answer, the more agitated he looked. She swallowed back the huge knot growing in her throat and nodded and then finally found her voice. “Yes. Oh yes, Steele. I want that more than anything.”
“Thank fuck,” he muttered. “I was scared to death you wouldn’t want the same thing I wanted. I was scared to death of losing you. Of me not being what you wanted. Or you not needing me as desperately as I need you.”
She reached to touch his face, lightly running her fingers over the firm cheekbone and then down to his jaw.
“I love you, Steele. I want to be with you. But what about our jobs? What do we do?”
His expression grew serious. “Home is wherever you are, Maren. I’d like for us to stay at my place until after the baby is born and is old enough to travel. Then, if you want to go back into the field, I’ll go with you. I never want to hold you back. You’re a damn good doctor and I want you to be happy doing what you love. If that means relocating to be with you, then I’d do it. No regrets. I’d never look back.”