Arden wasn’t sure if he was still dreaming when he opened his eyes, but if he was, he wouldn’t mind staying in dreamland a little longer. Keera was sitting at his side, her soft fingers gently running over the top of his head, her cheeks red, her eyes worried.
He shut his eyes, then slowly opened them again, and this time, she was looking straight in his, and her lips wobbled as her fingers stilled and she leaned down, pressing her lips against his before she straightened up and gave him the smallest hint of a smile.
“You are exactly who I needed beside me,” he told her. His shoulder no longer hurt, and he was thankful for the drugs they’d pumped into him, but he wanted to reach for her and found his hand not cooperating. She seemed to read his mind, and she leaned down, her hand running along his lower arm before her fingers wove through his.
“I’m here, I’m right here,” she said, a love unlike anything he’d seen before shining in her eyes. He knew without her saying a word that they were going to be okay. They’d made it through this mess, and though he had a strong feeling it was nowhere near over, it didn’t matter anymore, because the two of them were going to be together, and as long as they were, they’d be able to conquer anything.
“Are you okay, Keera? Did he hurt you in any way?” he asked. She definitely appeared as if she’d been crying for a long period of time, but she was in civilian clothes and didn’t appear harmed. There were no bruises on her. Just the thought of that man hitting her sent Arden’s heart rate monitor to beeping.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I promise. You and Max got there and saved me,” she said.
He let out a breath of relief, and his heart rate slowly began to lower just as a nurse ran into the room.
“We’re good here,” he told her. “Go away.” Normally he was never rude, but he wanted to be alone with Keera right now.
The nurse wasn’t offended, just checked his monitor real quick then exited.
“How’s Max?” he asked. He was terrified to hear the answer. He’d been irritated with the dog from the moment his brother had dumped Max on him, but seeing how brave and loyal Max was to Keera had made him fall in love with the mutt without him even realizing it.
“He’s right beside you, a hero like his partner,” she said with a smile while she shifted out of the way.
He could see Max sleeping peacefully in the bed next to him. He’d demanded they do exactly that, but hadn’t hoped they’d come through for him. He owed Spence a freaking trip somewhere for all he and the rest of the staff had done for him and Max.
“The last thing I saw before I was shot was Max lunging for the guy,” Arden said. “I thought I’d lose him for sure.”
“Me too,” she told him. “He was shot, but they worked on him here. He’s going to be okay. You both are,” she said, before pausing and taking a deep breath. “We’re all going to be okay.”
“With you here beside me, I know we will,” he said.
“I’m sorry I’ve held back from you, sorry I haven’t trusted you sooner,” she said.
He so desperately wanted to reach for her. It killed him that he couldn’t.
She seemed to understand and gently lifted his hand, placing his palm on her cheek. He sighed his relief at feeling her soft skin beneath his fingertips.
“I love you,” he said. “And you never have to apologize for feeling anything. You’ve gone through so much in your life, it amazes me who you are.”
“I love you, Arden. I didn’t even know what love was until you and Max. Now I know. And I love you so much I can’t imagine losing you,” she told him.
His heart filled with happiness. He’d known from the moment he’d looked into her eyes she’d realize they were meant to be together, but there was nothing like hearing her say it. Others had said they loved him before. His parents told him all the time, and so did his siblings.
But hearing the words from this woman who never spoke of love, who hadn’t been properly loved before, meant so much to him. He wished he had the correct words to express it to her. But it was okay, because they had a lifetime to figure that out.
“You’re going to be surrounded by love for the rest of your life,” he assured her.
“Is that so?” she asked, more tears falling as she smiled at him.
“Yes, that’s so.”
There was no way he was proposing to her when he couldn’t drop down on his knees so she’d know how much he worshipped her, but it was okay. She now trusted in his love for her, and in her love for him.
Max let out a whimper, and they both turned to see he’d woken up and was lying in the bed beside them, looking pathetic at being left out of this conversation. Keera laughed, and the sound was absolutely magical. She then tugged on Max’s bed, bringing him closer, and locking her between them.
It was perfect. They were perfect. Keera kept one hand clasped in Arden’s, and the other on Max’s head. Their family was just beginning, and no matter where they were, as long as they were together, they’d be okay.