Page 94 of Sheltered

“I’m not leaving her here alone,” I clarified. “I’ll be spending the night with her.”

Something moved through their features, and I had all but two seconds to see it before Kim stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. “Thank you, Blaze. She’s so lucky to have you.”

“I’m the reason she’s here, so I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on that,” I returned quietly.

She loosened her hold on me and stepped back. After allowing her eyes to roam over my face, she asked, “Did you tell her what was happening with work?”

I nodded.

“Did you give her the opportunity to steer clear of you?”

“Yes.”

“And are you going to see to it that the person responsible for doing this to her is apprehended?”

“It’s already being taken care of,” I assured her.

“Then you need to let go of the guilt you feel about this. She’s here, and she’s alive. Focus on that, and focus on how things are going to be when she opens her eyes again,” Kim demanded.

As soon as she said those words, I turned my attention to Gary. Before I could stop myself, I said, “I’m going to marry your daughter, sir. Weeks ago, I realized how much she changed my life, and I knew I didn’t want to ever live without her. I wanted to give us some time to just be together like we’ve been. What happened tonight changes everything for me, so I hope you’ll know that I mean no disrespect when I say I intend to propose to her in the very near future, and I’d appreciate your blessing.”

Gary stared at me for several long moments. He studied me, his expression never once revealing what was going through his mind. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he said, “We’ll be honored to welcome you to our family.”

I let out a sigh of relief, and a few seconds later, Austin and Kevin exited Harlow’s room.

After saying goodbye to her family, I walked back into the room, pulled up a chair, and held Harlow’s hand. And for the first time since I’d realized just how much trouble she was in, I finally allowed myself to succumb to the emotions that had threatened to fall all day long.

Harlow

“That’s some good news. I’m relieved to hear it.”

I heard the deep voice before I saw the face I loved so much that went with it. At the same time, I felt the warm, protective hold of his hand on mine.

Unable to deny myself the privilege of seeing him, I forced my eyes open.

It was everything I could do not to burst into tears. If I thought it would have been physically possible to do it, I would have jumped out of the bed and into his arms.

Something squeezed in my chest at the sight of Blaze sitting beside my bed, holding my hand in his while he attempted to speak quietly on the phone.

I took some time to just let it settle.

I never thought I’d have this again. I never thought I’d get the opportunity to see him, to feel his touch, to tell him how much I loved him.

It had to be by some miracle or divine intervention that I was still alive. Whatever the reason, I was beyond grateful.

Maybe it was the result of all that I was feeling, or perhaps I just wanted him to know I was awake, but I eventually squeezed my fingers around his.

Blaze’s eyes came to mine, something warm and sweet immediately washing over him.

“I’ve got to go,” he said to whoever was on the phone. There was a brief pause before he spoke again. “Yeah. Thanks for the update. Later.”

Blaze pulled the phone from his ear, turned fully to face me, and seemed to need to take the same time to look at me as I had done to look at him.

“Jesus, baby, it’s so good to see you awake,” he croaked.

Tears filled my eyes. “I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again.”

Blaze stood, bent over the side of the bed, and touched his lips to mine. “I love you, Harlow. Fuck, I thought I lost you.”