“You’ll neverloseme.”
“The last few days have been socrazy.”
He crawled his fingers across the blanket until he could reach her hand. Just seeing her had given him enough strength that he was able to squeeze her hand. “How’sourson?”
“He’s in recovery. He’s doing well so far. We won’t know if the transplant took for a few months, but for now, everythinglooksgood.”
He smiled. “I’m gladhe’sokay.”
“I know I did a terrible thing by keeping him from you. But I hope that maybeintime….”
“We need to get to know each other again. We’ve both been through so much in the last fouryears.”
“But there’s achance?”
He nodded slightly. “Come here andkissme.”
She leaned over and pressed her soft, warm lips against his. The gentle caress of her mouth slid to his cheek as she spread kisses acrosshisface.
From across the room, someone cleared their throat. Rachel pulled away quickly. A bright flush rose up from her neck to color hercheeks.
Mack stepped into the room. “I hate to interrupt, but I heard you’d woken up. Howareyou?”
Brady looked at Rachel and smiled. “Getting better by thesecond.”
Mack chuckled. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to have to cook for a few more people day aftertomorrow?”
“What’s happening then?” Rachelasked.
Mack said, “It’s the first night of the twelve days of Christmas. Every night for twelve days, we get together as a family and celebrate everything we’re grateful for. If Jimmy’s up for it, you’re welcome to join the family. Bring your mom too. We have a lot to celebratethisyear.”
Brady rolled his head to the side so he could look at Rachel. “Will youjoinus?”
She beamed. “I’d love it. Dr. Landry said Jimmy should be up and walking tomorrow, so we should be abletocome.”
Mack said, “Great. I’ll count on three more. I have to get back to the farm, but if anything comes up,callme.”
“I will,”Rachelsaid.
As soon as Mack left the room, Brady used his hands to push himself into a sitting position. The fog in his brain receded with each passingminute.
“I should let you get some rest,” Rachelwhispered.
He smiled. “You’re not going to stay and give me myspongebath?”
She blushed. “Wait until I get you alone again. You’ll get more than aspongebath.”
“Closethedoor.”
She laughed. “I’m sure the nurses willlovethat.”
He flashed a wicked smile. “Okay, maybe not right now. But as soon as I’m on my feet again, you’d better beready.”
Chapter10
Two nights later,Rachel leaned back from the Grant family’s dining room table and patted her stomach. Several other brothers were still shoving huge bites of pie into their mouths. The Grant boys sure liked to eat, something she could understand alltoowell.
She eyed the last two bites of caramel apple pie on her plate. “I think I’m going to explode if I eatanotherbite.”
