Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
He shrugged. “I’ve come to appreciate it. I don’t mind the fresh air so much anymore. The heat, though… Tell me it cools off eventually.”
I felt myself smile for the first time since I’d seen Rogue by the barn. “It does. A little. You don’t even like horses, though.”
“Maybe I can learn to.”
“You would… You’re serious?”
His smile seemed to light up the whole courtyard. “Yes, baby. I’m yours. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“I love you, TJ.”
“I love you too.” He kissed me softly, then pulled me to him in a tight hug.
“This is what I’ve always wanted—a man to love, a ranch, horses to train, family with me. If Rogue would just…” My heart skipped a beat and warmth filled my chest. “He’s awake.”
TJ frowned at me. “Do you feel something?”
“I do. He’s awake. I know it.” I’d never be able to explain the tingle I felt, the sense of the world being right again, but I knew it was my twin waking up, and I knew he was going to be okay.
I grabbed TJ’s hand, and we hurried back to the surgical waiting area.
“Rogue’s awake,” Jacob called.
“I knew it.”
TJ chuckled. “You really do have a psychic bond.”
Grant pulled me in for a hug. “He’s getting moved to a room, then we’ll be able to go see him.”
I glanced around. “Where’s Ghost?”
Grant frowned. “He probably went to the bathroom or to get something to eat while we wait.”
Ghost hadn’t returned when we were allowed to go up to see Rogue. Grant sent him a text as we all hurried to the elevator.
I practically ran down the hallway to Rogue’s room. When I burst in, the nurse who was getting him settled jumped. At least it was obvious I was his brother.
Rogue’s eyes were open, and he was smiling at me. “I felt you wake up.”
“I felt you being sad and needing me.” His voice was rough and scratchy, but it was there, and he sounded like himself. I did the closest thing I could to hugging him around his IV and the cords to the various machines monitoring him.
I was so damn thankful he had survived. Now that I could believe he was going to recover, I could have everything I dreamed of. He would be there on the farm with me, just like TJ.
Grant, Jacob, and TJ entered a few moments after me. Rogue looked toward the door, then back at our group. “Where’s Ghost?”
“We’re not sure,” Jacob said. “He probably went to get a snack. Maybe he got turned around.”
The idea of Ghost getting lost was ridiculous. The maze of hospital hallways would be no problem for him.
“Didn’t you see him in the hallway?”
I frowned at my brother. “Are you saying he was here?”
“Yeah. He came in to see me right after they wheeled me into the room. I figured he must’ve been following me.”
“And he just left?”
Rogue nodded.
“Let me see if I can find him.” Grant hurried out.
“He’s probably long gone,” Rogue said.
I hated how sad my brother sounded. “What did he say to you?”
“He told me I should never have tried to stop him from being shot.”
“So you do remember what happened?”
“Yes, and don’t even bother yelling at me. It’s not going to do any good, and I’m sure it’s not good for my recovery.” He gave a pointed look to the nurse who was still fiddling with the equipment in his room.
“Why would they yell at you?” she asked. “You seem like such a nice young man.”
Oh, Lord. He’d already charmed her, and he hadn’t been in the room five minutes. He’d have every nurse on the floor wrapped around his finger before he left. “He jumped in front of a bullet for a friend.”
“Hmm. I can see how some yelling may be appropriate in that situation. I’ll leave you to work that out, and I’ll be back soon to check on you again.”
“Ghost told me he wasn’t worth it, but then he said thank you anyway. Before I could say anything to him, he left.”
I was about to ask what was going on between the two of them when Grant returned. “One of the nurses remembers seeing a blond man go past, but she doesn’t know where he went after that. I called Madison and left her a message to be on the lookout for him, but…”
“If he doesn’t want to be found, he’s not going to be,” Rogue said. “At least not now. Eventually, I’ll track him down.”
Everyone was silent after that pronouncement. Now wasn’t the time for me to tell Rogue how stupid I thought that idea was.
TJ was the first to break the silence. He took my hand in his and looked at Rogue, then Grant, then Jacob. “I’m not going back to Chicago. I’m staying at the ranch with Rhys.”