“It was a pretty bad accident. An eighteen-wheeler ran a red light and T-boned him on the passenger’s side. They’re still running tests, but he doesn’t have any life-threatening injuries. That’s all we really know right now.”
“I’m on my way.”
I drive far too fast to the hospital, especially considering Beau’s there because of an accident, but I manage to arrive in one piece.
I rush into the emergency room and find the Emerson clan. Caroline sees me and leaves her seat, diverting me directly to Beau’s observation room in emergency department services.
Despite the gentle smile on her face, I can see how concerned she is for her brother. He is so loved. “Mom’s with him right now, but she’ll give you the visitor pass and swap places. He wants you. He’s been very vocal about that.”
He hasn’t been moved to a hospital room or admitted. I think that’s a good sign. It means they’ve not found any serious injuries. A miracle.
Caroline calls Darby to meet us so we can swap places. “Oh, God, thank you for coming, Anna James. He’s been having a fit for us to get you here.”
“Of course. I want to be with him.” Darby looks surprised to hear me say that.
“He’s refused pain medicine because he said he wants to talk to you before he’s out of it.”
“Good grief.”
“I know. And he’s agitated because he’s hurting so badly. Not pleasant to be around right now.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll talk him into taking something.”
He was T-boned by an eighteen-wheeler. That puts horrific images in your mind. I imagined the worst during the drive over so when I walk in, Beau looks much better than what I conjured in my head.
Minor cuts and what appears to be emerging bruises are scattered over his face and chest. The cut above his right eye looks deep. I’m no doctor but I bet it will need stitches. Since a sheet covers him from the waist down, I can’t see what’s happening there.
I go to his side and grasp his hand. “Are you okay?”
“Much better now. Where’s Clark?”
“With Meredith and Grayson.”
He looks disappointed. “I guess the hospital isn’t a place for a baby.”
“I had already left him at their house before Caroline called. I made the arrangements with Meredith this morning for him to stay over.”
“You never leave Clark with anyone.” I’ve never had a reason to before tonight.
“I know. I’m hoping he doesn’t give her hell.”
“Why did you send him away overnight?”
I rub my thumb over the top of his hand. “So we wouldn’t be interrupted.”
“You must have a lot to say.”
He has no idea. “I have plenty to say.”
“Then start talking.”
I had such romantic plans for us. I wanted to tell him I loved him and then make love all night until we fell into exhaustion. “This isn’t how I want to do this.”
“Well, this is where I’m going to be for a while. And I want to know what you have to say.”
“I’m not saying anything until you agree to take something for the pain.”
“It’ll make me sleepy. I might not hear everything you tell me.” He’s being such a hard ass.
“It’ll take a good thirty minutes to work and it’s not going to cause amnesia. You’ll remember everything we talk about.” I press the nurse call light without his permission. “He’s ready for pain medicine now.”
I’m all set to talk once Beau is medicated, but the hospital staff has other plans. “Radiology just called. They’re coming to get you for X-rays.”
“Now?” He sounds so irritated.
His nurse laughs. “Yes, sir. Now, as in the next few minutes.”
Beau looks at me. Every line on his face expresses annoyance. I hope it’s not with me because I made him take the pain medicine. “I’m sure it won’t take too long.”
As promised, radiology arrives within a few minutes to take Beau. “Don’t go, Peach.”
I’m happy to hear him calling me Peach again. I was Anna James to him during our last two interactions.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here when you get back.”
Beau is rolled from the room, and reality hits me. I’m overcome when I consider what could have happened.
He could have been killed tonight. I hate to consider the outcome had he been driving anything other than that huge black tank. He might have died not knowing how much I love him. The thought devastates me.
I go into the bathroom to fix my face. I look like a raccoon. A fucking mess. So much for looking my best when I tell him how I feel.
I’m on my third trip to the bathroom to clean under my eyes when Beau returns.
“We’re back,” the radiology staff member announces as he rolls Beau back into the room.
I put on a smile, not wanting to alert him to the meltdown I just had. “That didn’t take too long.”
Beau’s eyes look tired. I have no doubt he’s fighting the drowsy side effects of the medication. “Is your pain better?”
“It’s okay but they think my ankle is probably broken. Gotta wait for a radiologist to read the X-ray.”
I go to the side of the bed and pull the sheet away so I can see his leg. His right ankle is swollen and purple. “Sheez, that looks bad.”
“I’ve known better days.”
Seeing his injury sparks more tears. I try to hold back but it’s impossible. I cover my face to hide my ugly cry from him.
“Come ’ere, Peach.” I sit on the side of the bed, and he pulls me into his arms. “I can’t stand to see you cry.”
I bury my face into his shoulder, careful to not hurt him. “God, you could’ve been killed. Clark wouldn’t have a father.” I hesitate a moment before verbalizing the rest of my thoughts. “And I wouldn’t have you.”
“You didn’t have me anyway.”
I twist so I can see his face. “But I want you. I have since Jamaica, and I’ve never stopped.”
“What about Preston?”
“I broke off the engagement.”
“When?”
“Last night. That’s what I was doing while you were at the park.”
That brings a smile to his lips. “Is that why you invited me over tonight?”
“Yes. Because I wanted to talk about us.”
“I’m hoping you want to have that conversation where we both admit what we had was good.”
It wasn’t good. It was wonderful. “I don’t like what we’re doing. I want to be with you every day. And not just as your son’s mother.”
“You already know what I want to hear from you.”
He wants to hear me say I love him but I need to hear it from him as well. “You told me you didn’t have another ‘I love you’ left for me.”
“Wrong. I told you I didn’t have another ‘I love you’ without hearing it in return.”
“I’m asking you to tell me again.”
He breathes in deeply and releases it slowly. “I love you, Anna James.”
I reach up to touch his face, running my finger beside the cut above his right eye. “I love you, Beau Emerson. And I don’t want to spend another minute apart.”
“I’ve waited a long time to hear you say that.” Beau’s lips meet mine but our kiss is cut short when his doctor comes in.
“Well, Mr. Emerson. The good news is we didn’t find anything serious or life threatening. Bad news is your ankle and two ribs are fractured.”
I’ve always heard broken ribs are painful.
“We’ll splint your ankle until you can see an orthopedic doc next week but the rib injury is going to make using crutches painful. No worries. We’ll give you plenty of medication for the discomfort.”
Beau is all business while the doctor is in the room, but that ends the second she’s gone. “Sounds like I’ll be down for a while. I think I’m going to need someone to sponge bathe me.”
“You have a mother.”
“I also have a girlfriend who says she loves me.”
I’m pretty sure I surpassed that title when I gave birth to his offspring. “A girlfriend? I don’t think so. I’m at least baby mama status.”
“I hope you know you’re much more to me than my son’s mother.”
“I know I want to be more.”
“That’s a conversation I want to have very soon but not here. And not after I’ve been given narcotics.”
I don’t want to be interrupted by medical staff or have Beau under the influence while we discuss our future, either.
Future. I like that word a lot. It gives me hope.
It’s morning when Beau is finally released from observation. I twisted and turned in the bedside chair like a contortionist, trying to find comfort. I finally stopped fighting it and crawled into the hospital bed with Beau at three o’clock, after he’d been begging me for hours.
Getting him in and out of my SUV wasn’t fun, but Beau insisting on a shower before he gets into bed is even less entertaining. “I have dried blood in my hair and sweaty balls. Be a peach and help me out?”
I swear this man can talk me into anything. “Well, I guess you don’t deserve sweaty balls after what you’ve been through.”
My sister broke her leg when we were in high school. I had to help her wrap it when she showered so I’m a little familiar with what to do about Beau’s partial cast splint.
“Take your clothes off and get in with me.”
Yeah, right. “How do you think you’re going to do anything on one leg?”
“I’m not asking because I want to fuck. Well, I do, but there’s no way that’s happening. My ribs are killing me. I need help washing off.”
“Hang on. Let me see if I can find a clip for my hair.” Success. I find a ponytail holder so I twist it into a messy bun on top of my head.
Beau watches me remove my wrap dress. “Dammit, baby. Why’d you have to be wearing that underneath your clothes?” I haven’t heard him call me that since we were in Jamaica. I’ve missed that. I’ve missed him.
“I’m wearing this because I had big plans for you last night before you became fender meat.”
“Not my fault, Peach. I absolutely wanted to be with you last night.”
“I know, Beauregard.” Our Peach and Beauregard endearments are helping heal my heart.
“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I love hearing you call me that. I’ve missed it.”
“Good.”
As badly as I hate it, there’s nothing romantic about this shower with Beau. It’s strictly about getting him clean before he crawls into his bed. And expressing. I’m about to explode.
I turn off the shower and reach for a towel. “No more sweaty balls. I think you’re good to go.”
“Thank you. I’ll wash yours anytime. All you have to do is ask and I’ll repay the favor.”
“If I ever ask you to wash my balls then you better know we have a problem.”
I go to his dresser and realize I have no idea how his clothes are organized. “What do you want to put on and where do I find it?”
“Underwear top right. Athletic shorts bottom left. No shirt.”
“Got it.”
I’m pulling his underwear and shorts up his legs. “I get the privilege of dressing two Emerson men.”
Beau stops me, cradling my face to press a kiss to my lips. “Thank you, again, for changing Clark’s name to Emerson.”
“He’s your son. I wanted him to have your name.”
He kisses me a second time. “He’s our son.”
Maybe I’m imagining it but it almost feels like something unsaid is hanging in the air.
I tap Beau on the hip. “Stand up, Mr. Emerson. Yo’ baby mama need to pull up yo’ shorties.”
It takes all of forty-five minutes from start to finish but Beau is clean and in bed. I’m worn out from handling this oversized toddler.
Beau takes another pain pill and we both crawl into bed. I’m thankful Meredith had a good night with Clark and has offered to keep him for the day since I’m a fucking exhausted wreck.
Neither of us say a word before giving into the darkness hiding behind our lids.
* * *
It’s midday when I open my eyes again. Beau’s reaching for the bottle of water I left out of his reach on the nightstand. “Stop, Beau.”
I know it must be killing him to stretch his torso like that. “You should have asked me to get that for you.”
“You looked so peaceful. I didn’t want to wake you.”
I go around to his side of the bed. “This one’s warm. I’ll get you a cold one.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind.” In Jamaica, Beau did anything for me. He is the most accommodating and generous man I know. Despite his bossiness, which I kind of love, looking after him is easy.
Beau chugs half the bottle of water. “Thanks, baby. I needed that.”
“I like it when you call me baby.” I’ve never told him that before.
“Then I shall do it more often.”
“And I shall tell you I love you more often.”
Both of Beau’s dimples make an appearance. “Tell me now.”
I roll over and move to kneel next to Beau, my hands on either side of his head, so our bodies are crisscrossed. I press a kiss to his lips. “I love you, William Beauregard Emerson. And I will never say no to you again.”
“You’ll never tell me no, again, eh?”
“That’s right.”
“So, if I do this,” he slides his hand up the back of my thigh, “you won’t tell me to stop?”
“I won’t.”
“And if I ask you to move over here on top of me, you’ll do it?”
He has several broken bones. He can’t be serious. “Beau. You were in an accident with a huge truck. You have multiple fractures.”
“Don’t care. I want you. I need to be inside you.” He reaches for the back of my neck to pull me closer and then groans in pain.
“See?”
He puts his hand to the right side of his torso then quickly removes it. “You remember when you asked me to fuck you hard and dirty? I did it because I knew it’s what you needed. Now, this is what I need. To be inside you.”
He catches a lock of my hair between two of his fingers and rolls it around them. “Please, Peach.”
Again, I won’t tell him no, because I truly don’t want to. I want him inside me too.
I rise and move one leg over his pelvis so I’m straddling him. I lean forward, my elbows pressed into the pillow on each side of his head, and kiss his mouth. He places his hands back on my thighs and moves them upward until they reach my bare cheeks. “You slept beside me all morning with no panties on?”
My mischievous grin spreads. “Seems as though I did.”
I move to kneel between his legs. I hook my fingers into his waistband and tug downward so he doesn’t have to do too much lifting. I’m sure that wouldn’t feel great to his fractured ribs.
I drag his bottoms to his feet. When I finished pulling them over his splint, I lower my body to his, bringing us close enough to touch, but without the pressure of my weight against him. “I know you like to fuck hard and dirty but you’re going to have to settle for sweet and gentle.”
“All that matters is that I’m inside you.”
I grab the hem of his T-shirt I’m wearing and pull it over my head, tossing it to the floor.
He places his hands on my stomach and glides them upward. He palms my full breasts, making my nipples become erect beneath his touch. “Peach. You are so damn beautiful. You blow my fucking mind to shreds.”
Beau has the ability to make me fall in love with him over and over again.
I move my hands beneath my hair and lift it into a messy pile on top of my head as I rotate my hips, moving my wet entrance back and forth over his erection. “I’m going to die if I’m not inside you in two seco
nds.”
I grasp the tip of his cock and position it at my center. My body sinks down until he’s completely buried inside me. I lean back, placing my hands on his thighs for leverage, and begin riding him in a slow, deliberate rhythm. “Are you okay?”
“Fuck, yes. That feels amazing.”
Beau’s hand slides between us. His fingers rubbing my clit is so welcome. Divine. His touch is magical, and he knows just how to hit that sensitive spot perfectly. “Ohh . . . right there.”
He’s rubbing harder, and I’m riding faster. Turns out this isn’t as sweet and gentle as I expected.
“Are you already close?” he asks.
“Yesss!”
“Me, too.”
When I come I sink deep, and my muscles tighten around Beau. “Ohh . . . ohh.”
He grasps my hips and groans loudly as he spasms inside me.
I’m fairly certain he shouldn’t be doing this in his condition. No way this is doctor approved.
He grasps my arm when I move to get up. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Just to grab a wet wash cloth.” Ah. The messy repercussions of foregoing the condom.
I return to bed and crawl over him. I prop on my lower arms, one on each side of his head, so we’re face to face. He grasps the sides of my head and kisses me like crazy. When he finishes, he holds me so we’re staring at one another. “Marry me.”
He’s jumping the gun because he almost died last night. “Beau . . .”
“Open the top drawer of my nightstand and take out the black leather box.”
No way. He has not bought an engagement ring for me. Except I know he has when I see the ring box in his drawer . . . sitting right next to the condoms we didn’t use.
I hold it out for him. This is his gig. I’m going to make him work for it.
He takes it from my hand and cracks it open. Inside is a beautiful cushioned-shaped diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller ones. “Beau, it’s stunning.”
“Anna James Peach Bennett, love of my life, and center of my world. There’s only one thing I want to change about you. Your last name. Because you’re it. This is it for me. Will you marry me?”
Since the day I met this man, he’s been able to talk me into anything, but this is the one thing he doesn't have to persuade me to do. Be his wife.