Page 80 of SEAL of Valor

According to Ryker, Maverick Fargo is a former Army Ranger whom he’d trust with his life. He’s currently sitting just outside the room, monitoring everyone who comes and goes. Thanks to Officer Leopold, we weren’t even technically checked in. Just wheeled back and kept completely off the records.

Which is also why he didn’t officially assign any deputies to the room.

I get to my feet and walk over toward the window. The shades are drawn, but I move to the corner so I can peer through the small slat at the park across the street. The weather is nice, the sun shining. What would Weston be doing today if he weren’t lying in that hospital bed?

Would he be out with the horses?

The cows?

I haven’t been allowed to call my mom, though Zane assured me he was going to go scan her house for any kind of listening devices or cameras, then let her know that Weston and I are safe.

But for how long?

Another wave of all-too-familiar panic settles in my chest like an icicle. Sharp and frozen. The chill spreads through me, and I close my eyes. We are safe. God brought us through. I will not fear.

“I forgot.”

I whirl on Weston’s bed, shocked to see him looking straight at me, the ghost of a smile on his face. “Forgot what?” Tears fill my eyes, and I cross toward him to reach down and take his hand into mine.

“What a beautiful sight you are to wake up to.”

“Weston.” I lose the fight against my tears, and they fall as I sit on the edge of his bed and lean down to press my lips to his. I kiss him deeply, not at all caring that I have no idea what this means or where it’s going.

Because all that matters is he’s here. With me. Alive.

“I never forgot that, though,” he whispers.

“Me neither.”

He smiles up at me, and I slowly take my seat again, right beside him, where I belong.

“Where are we?” he asks, brow furrowed.

“North Ridge.”

“Really?”

I nod. “You passed out, and we floated for a while. Zane found us right before dawn.”

“I’m so sorry, Reese.”

“For what?” I keep his hand between mine, genuinely afraid to let him go. Those few hours, when I wasn’t sure he was going to wake up, were some of the most terrifying of my life. I tore part of my dress and kept soaking it in the cold water, trying to keep his fever down.

His fever had reached 106.4 by the time we got him to the hospital.

“I left you alone.”

“You were right there with me.” I take a deep breath. “Luckily, we were still off the coast of South Carolina. They’re trying to track down the cargo ship now.”

Weston starts to sit up, but groans and grips his side.

“I’ll get the doctor.”

“No, I’m okay,” he insists, keeping a surprisingly firm grip on my hand. “Not yet, please. Just let me enjoy being here with you.”

“You need to stay put. Your initial wound was pretty infected. They had to go in and scrape the inside before re-cleaning it. Seems when Max opened it up, he thought it would be good to literally rub some dirt in it.” I clench my hands into fists, anger burning a hole straight through me.

I went on multiple dates with him.