CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C arly wanted to open her eyes but the most alluring dream lingered in the forefront of her mind. She pictured the famous hockey player’s face with precision detail. Dark blue eyes, framed by long thick lashes; strong jaw, dusted with stubble; and the most sensual full lips perfect for kissing. She could almost feel his kiss. Her lips tingled at the fading memory.

She expected to open her eyes and be in the darkness of her dorm room, instead she was greeted by bright overhead lights. The last remnants of sleep disappeared, and she blinked until her eyes adjusted to the brightness. They burned while her lids fought to remain closed.

“You’re awake.” Carly recognized the soft melodic tone of her mother’s voice. The short woman rushed to Carly’s side and gripped her hand hard. “Are you okay? Let me get the doctor. Stan, go fetch the doctor.”

Carly was confused why she needed to see a doctor. She felt fine. Her parents had always been the over-protective type. One of the side effects from being an only child.

“I’m fine, Mom.” She tried to sit up, but her mother pushed her back into the bed with a firm hand to the shoulder. Carly looked at her mom and noticed the red, puffy eyes, and runny nose. A strong indication she’d been crying.

“You are most certainly not fine. You almost died.” Her mother sobbed and dropped her head onto Carly’s chest. “I don’t know what… I would do if I lost you too.”

Everything in her mind sped by in a blur of information, slightly out of reach. She felt dizzy. She ran her fingers through her mother’s silver hair, reassuring her she was okay. But she wasn’t okay, because she was lying in a hospital bed.

“What happened?” The words came out slightly slurred. She was tired, keeping her eyes open was a difficult task to accomplish.

“You don’t remember?” A familiar, deep masculine voice said from somewhere in the room.

Carly sought the sound and feasted upon the man of her dreams. Theo Montagne was sitting in a chair, looking every bit as sexy as he did on television. Only he became fuzzy and the room behind him spun.

“The room is moving too fast.” Carly couldn’t concentrate. She closed her eyes to keep from getting sick, only it didn’t help. Her stomach was ready to revolt at any moment.

“Miss Saint, I’m Doctor Patel. You were struck by a car and admitted for a head injury and some minor lacerations.”

She opened her eyes and attempted to zero in on the doctor but failed. “What?” Her hands moved over the bandages on her head.

“You’re lucky there were no major injuries from the impact other than some bumps and bruises. The snow must have softened your landing but you were knocked unconscious. We sedated you while we assessed, cleaned and stitched the cuts on your scalp. You may feel groggy for another moment or two, but it will pass. You’ve been out for several hours. How do you feel?”

The doctor spoke quickly. It made her head hurt. The longer they spoke the more the pain set in. Her entire body ached.

“I feel like I was hit by a car. Everything hurts. What time is it?” She tried to sit up again but winced in agony. Theo rounded the bed and rubbed her back. His fingers caressed her cheek. The gesture was sweet, but she didn’t want him to see her like this. Vulnerable and weak.

“It’s early evening. Do you remember anything?” Theo asked.

Carly had been unconscious for an entire day, but she recalled every moment of her time with Theo. The past few days had been the best of her life. Until an idiot rammed into her on the side of the highway. “It will take more than being run over by a car to forget you.”

A shiver of unease raced down her spine when she thought about how she almost lost him. She eyed him from top to bottom, checking for any wounds. He looked perfect.

The doctor gave her a reassuring smile. “We will have to keep you overnight to monitor your concussion. We should be able to release you in the morning. The scan revealed no broken bones, but you’ll have some discomfort.” He cleared his throat before continuing. “Do you have any questions?”

The questions she had weren’t for the doctor. “Are you sure we can’t take her home tonight?” Carly’s father patted her foot, and she burst into tears at the sight of him. He wore his favorite NHL team hat, which also happened to be Theo’s team. His warm smile brought back so many memories.

“It’s standard protocol I’m afraid. First thing tomorrow morning is the best we can do.”

She did not understand how her parents arrived, but she was thankful. Her dad came to her side and took the hand she was using to hide her tears. “Hush, girl, everything will be okay.” She drew strength from their support.

The doctor made his exit, drawing the curtain closed while the tears fell. Her mother cried right along with her. Even her dad looked on the verge of letting the waterworks fly. He was the rugged outdoorsman who rarely showed emotion. She never doubted his love, because he said the words often, but he wasn’t a sentimental guy.

Nothing like a near death experience to bring a family together. “I’m so sorry I didn’t take an earlier flight.” This mess was avoidable. “I wanted us to be together for the holidays, but not like this.” Her joke made them all laugh.

“We’re together now,” her mother said, patting her leg.

Carly reached out and took Theo’s hand. “Thank you. How did you pull this off? How did you get them here?”

“It was nothing. They needed to be here. You need your family.” His modesty made her heart swell. He kissed her knuckles.

She’d been falling for him from the moment she met him, but his kindness sealed the deal. She loved Theo for who he was on the inside, not the hockey or the perfect smile. There was no such thing as perfect, but Theo came darn close.

“Yes, we can’t thank you enough, Mr. Montagne. No parent ever wants to get a call that her baby’s been in an accident, and it’s worse when she’s thousands of miles away. But you got us here. You’re a miracle worker,” her mother said, as she walked over to Theo. She pulled him into her arms and hugged him tight.

Theo shuffled his feet uncomfortably, but hugged her back. “No thanks are needed as I told you before, but you’re most welcome. I suppose I should leave you all.” He turned to face Carly and his forehead creased like he had something important to say. But he said nothing.

“Please don’t go.” She smiled, and he returned the gesture. “Mom and Dad, do you mind giving us a moment alone?”

“Of course, darling.” Her mother kissed her cheek and took her dad’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Over twenty-five years of marriage and they were still head over heels in love. It made Carly hopeful for a future like that someday. Maybe she had a chance at happily ever after too.

“Merry Christmas, sweet-pea.” Her father leaned down and kissed her forehead. She’d always been daddy’s little girl and nothing would ever change that. “You make your mother and I so proud. Every day we thank our lucky stars to have you, Carly.”

She hugged her dad with all her might, which at the moment wasn’t much. “I love you too, Daddy.”

Once the door closed, she patted the bed beside her.

“You saved my life.” Theo crawled into the bed next to her and pulled her into his arms. He was careful not to squeeze her too hard. “When I found you knocked-out in a snow bank, I thought I might lose you. There was so much blood and you weren’t talking to me. I’m not afraid to admit I’ve never been so scared in my entire life.”

“I was terrified when the car swerved towards us. But you can’t afford to be injured.” She may have pushed him out of the way and saved him, but he’d saved her in so many ways.

She wrapped her arms around him, ready to never let go. “How did we get here?”

“The car that hit you ended up skidding off the road but stayed out of the ditch. The stupid jerk had been texting while driving. I carried you to his car and made him drive us to the nearest hospital. If he wasn’t so sorry for his actions I might have killed him with my bare hands. You almost died.”

She squeezed him harder. “But I didn’t.”

“We got lucky. After you were admitted, I had my PA locate your family and fly them here. We’ve been waiting a while for you to come around. It’s been a long day,” he said, stifling a yawn.

“That’s crazy. Are you okay? Did the car hit you too? Have you been here the whole time?” She wanted to know everything that happened.

Theo pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Hell yeah, I’ve been here the entire time. I wasn’t leaving you, Carly. Nothing happened to me thankfully. Other than some bruises from being thrown into the ditch; I’m fine. How are you?”

“I don’t know. I’m still processing this, but I’m so happy to be alive and to have you. Why are you still here? Not that I’m not happy you’re here; I am. It’s just…I thought you had hockey every day for the next little while.”

Theo nodded. “I couldn’t leave you. I called my people and I’ll make it work. Your health and safety is all that matters.”

He picked her over hockey. She smiled so big the room couldn’t contain it. They held each other for a few minutes, enjoying the closeness. Carly was afraid to let go.

“What happens next, Theo? I mean, between us.” Her heart rate increased with her nerves. It was embarrassing since the monitor beeped, giving her secrets away.

He lifted her chin and kissed her lips. A feather light kiss; both promising and tender. “Carly, I told you, I’m falling in love with you. What do you want to see in your future?”

“You.” One word that held so much potential.

“I’m glad you said that because I love you. I’m yours, today and tomorrow, there’s no expiration date on my love.”

Carly laughed at how corny her boyfriend was. Her boyfriend.

“I’ve fallen too. I love you, Theo. Does this make me your girlfriend?” She liked the sound of it rolling off her tongue, and she hoped he liked it too.

He smiled; the panty-melting smile that stole her heart. “It sure does, and for the record, I plan to keep my Christmas present forever.”

“I’m yours.” She leaned in to kiss him but something vibrated against her leg. Theo reached between them and checked his phone. His brows knitted together. Whatever he’d read wasn’t good news. “Is everything okay?”

“Nothing my PR team can’t handle. I’ll keep you posted though.”

Carly suspected it had something to do with the pictures of them, but couldn’t be sure. She expected difficulties along the way. Dating a pro-hockey player wouldn’t be a cake walk, but Theo was worth it. They’d take it one day and one game at a time.

His mouth covered hers and this time when their lips met it wasn’t light. It was brutal and honest, leaving nothing behind. The past was in the past, and they were moving forward—together.