Page 68 of Winning His Wager

“I know. You scared me, brat. Haven’t we already decided you are going to stop doing that? How are you feeling?”

“Sore. A bit confused. Tired. I really am not sure how I even got here. I don’t remember much,” she said, leaning back against the pillows. Her mom was there with a tissue. He leaned back. Her mom fussed over her, getting her settled back under the blanket. Fletcher kept her hand in his and just got out of her mom’s way.

Talley stood in the door and glowered a little. He didn’t like Fletcher being there. And he was making that known. He didn’t think Fletcher was good enough for his daughter, any more than he thought Ben was good enough for Dusty—but he’d just have to get over it. He’d made his feelings perfectly clear, but Fletcher didn’t give a damn.

“We walked in and found you sleeping in the kitchen,” he told her. “You stood up, did a facer right into Martin’s arms, I think you gave him actual gray hair with that one, and then we brought you here. Dixie was already here. She stayed with you when they wouldn’t let me.”

“How bad is the scar going to be? Is it very big?” Dylan threw back the blankets and tried to look for herself. Of course, she did.She was Dylan, pure curiosity, and he loved her more than words could ever say. The words almost slipped out, but her father was right there. He did not want witnesses when he told her for the first time—especially her father.

“It was laparoscopic,” her mother told her. “It won’t be very big.”

“How long are they holding me hostage here? I really don’t want big hospital bills.”

“Don’t worry about the bill,” Fletcher told her. “We’ll find a way to pay it eventually.”

“I will pay it, dear. I will.”

There was that stubborn look again. She wanted her independence—he just wanted her. But as far as he was concerned, they were in thislifething together now. Her bill was his. Period.

“You have health insurance through the inn’s family policy,” her father told her after glaring at Fletcher. “I will cover whatever it doesn’t.”

“I’ll cover it,” Fletcher said. He was going to be the one to take care of Dylan now. “I’ll take care of her just fine from now on, Talley.”

The man had been snarling at Fletcher for hours. Ever since one of her sisters had told him that Dylan was boinking Fletcher and that Fletcher got to stay for the decision-making-for-Dylan side of things whether her father really liked it or not.

Fletcher was still trying to wrap his head around the word “boinking” coming out of Dorie’s mouth so openly like that. Did all of them know he and Dylan were sleeping together?

Apparently so.

The rest of the green-eyed demon brigade had agreed, ganging up on their father. At any other time, it would have been fun to watch.

But all Fletcher had cared about was getting back to her.

“Boys, not now. Dylan needs to concentrate on healing, not refereeing you two,” Geena said firmly. She did have a bit of a stubborn streak, Fletcher had realized. And she was good at keeping her husband under control. Real good at it.Well, Dylan could keep Fletcher under control as much as she wanted too.

He helped her pull the bandage back to look at it for herself. He knew how she was—she’d be insistent. Geena called for the nurse to let her know Dylan had wakened. Fletcher moved to stand by the window.

He wasn’t going anywhere. Boinking a woman he loved gave him some privileges, after all. Her father was just going to have to learn to deal.

The nurse was one they both recognized. Laney Hodson was the sister of Fletcher’s cousin Chandler’s wife, and had been best friends with Dixie since the dawn of time, he was certain.

“Hey, Laney. Wazzup? Love the threads.” Wonkus McBubbles was printed on the scrubs top. Of course, Dylan would notice—she’d received giant stuffed Prince Rufus and Princess Rikkie dolls an hour ago, courtesy of one Wonkus McBubbles himself. They looked remarkably like Hunter and Nikki. “When can I get out of here? I have stuff to do.”

Laney checked the bandage herself and did all the things nurses did.

Fletcher just stayed back, out of the way.

Then her surgeon came in. He looked at the crowd. “I’m going to do a quick exam here. If you would all like to step out of the room?”

Fletcher did what he was told, but only after Dixie—who’d snuck in behind the surgeon—gave him alook.One that told him if he didn’t behave she’d see to it he was given his walking papers. Dixie was kind of scary—but she was very protective over Dylan now. That was hard to miss.

He looked at Dylan. “I am going to head down to the cafeteria, and grab breakfast. I will be right back.” He looked at the doctor. “How long will this take?”

“Just a few minutes.”

“Fletcher dear, go eat. I do not want you wasting away before I get to go home. We have things to do when I get out, remember? Have they shipped the drones yet?”

“I haven’t checked. Had other things on my mind, babe. Other things.”