Chapter 49

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Cam braced himself as he paused in the doorway of Kinley’s room. It felt as if his pulse hadn’t slowed since the moment he’d seen her lying on the floor in a dark puddle of blood.

Bile rose up his throat, and he forced it down. From this moment on, he would never leave her side.

He stepped into the room, his gaze scanning the small space. His heart almost stuttered to a stop at the sight of her. She looked so tiny and frail, dwarfed by the large hospital bed, a white sheet pulled up to her chest. Her eyes were closed, her face tipped slightly to the side, and he wondered if she’d gone back to sleep. It wouldn’t matter if she had, he just needed to be with her.

From her spot next to the bed, Charlene caught his gaze and offered a small smile. “Come in.”

Cam ventured closer, throat tight with fear and worry. “How is she?”

“Tired.” Charlene turned her attention back to Kinley. “She woke up for a few minutes before they took her back for the CT scan. She was a little confused, but that’s to be expected.”

His hands shook, and he clamped his fingers around the opposite wrist to keep from reaching for her and dragging her into his arms. “Did the doctor say when she would wake up?”

She shook her head. “They didn’t see anything abnormal, so that’s good. Her body just needs some time to recover.”

Cam nodded. “Do you mind if I…?”

An understanding smile curled her lips. “She’d be happy knowing you’re here.”

Charlene gave his arm a little squeeze then disappeared from the room. Cam quietly pulled the chair in the corner closer to the bed, then sank into it and propped his elbows on the bed. His eyes slid over the parts of her body not covered with the sheet.

A bandage had been wrapped around her head, obscuring the stitches he knew she’d received. A few small cuts and bruises marred her skin but, for the most part, she looked healthy. Unfortunately, he knew that most of the damage had been done below the surface.

He watched her quietly for a few moments, absorbing every detail of her beautiful face. Her hands lay still by her sides, and he gently took her hand in his, feeling the coolness of her skin and the faint, reassuring pulse beneath his fingers. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he whispered.

A profound sense of guilt gnawed at him. He wished he had been there to protect her, to prevent her being hurt. He wished he could take her pain away, bear it himself. He would never let her down again.

He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I won’t let anything happen to you ever again. I promise.”

The rhythmic beeping of the monitors and the hushed whispers of the hospital staff faded into the background as Cam stared down at her.

Leaning closer, he whispered, “I’m here, Kinley. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here when you wake up, and every day after that.”

When she finally opened her eyes, he wanted to be the first person she saw. “Wake up so I can tell you how much I love you,” he whispered. “How much I’ve always loved you.”