Several hours later, Dallas opened her eyes to a cool, dimly lit room, and constant beeping from the monitor at the head of the bed. She knew she was in the hospital and bits and pieces of being hit by a car were starting to come back to her as she stared up at the ceiling. Tyler. Had she really seen him?
Her eyes drifted shut as she attempted to fight the drowsiness that suddenly surrounded her. Never in her life had she felt so weak. Why now? Why did this accident have to happen now? On track to make partner at her investment firm, she had too much going on in her life to be laid up in a hospital bed staring at walls. She had worked too damn hard to let a stupid car accident keep her from accomplishing the one thing she wanted more than anything - a partnership.
Her eyes fluttered open again. This was the first time she’d noticed the colorful balloons floating above her, attached to something at the head of the bed. It was thoughtful of the nurses, assuming they were the ones who left them, but Dallas preferred to be home...in her own bed, and in her own room. If only she had the strength to move. Between whatever crap they were giving her for pain and the tight bandages around her midsection she felt like a mummy lying in an open tomb. And the thought of sneaking out was out of the question. She glanced at her elevated leg and cursed under her breath at the cast. It was only then did her gaze zone in on the lone figure sitting in the chair near the window, his eyes closed. What’s he doing here?
Tyler. The moonlight gleamed through the open blinds, casting a stunning glow around him. He looked like an angel, but Dallas knew he was far from that. He was charming, generous and the sweetest man she’d ever met, but a force to be reckoned with when it came to his business and protecting those he loved. It was his possessiveness that reminded her of a time in her past; a time when she had vowed never to let another man control her life.
Dallas fixed her eyes on his attractive face - still as fine as she remembered. Smooth brown skin stretched over strong cheekbones, and a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee framed his inviting mouth. With lips so irresistibly kissable, she had to steady her breathing to keep the heart rate monitor from going crazy. As if sensing her watching him, Tyler opened his eyes. When his gentle gaze met hers, her breath caught and her heart slammed against her chest. Oh, God. Give me strength. Those dark, sexy eyes would forever be her weakness.
“Hey there.” He rose to his full six-four height and walked to the bed. Towering over her, he swept a few strands of hair away from her face, which was something he used to do often. That small gesture alone made her feel warmth she hadn’t felt in months. “How are you feeling?” His smooth, velvety voice made her body tremble. She wished she had energy and a fan, because she was pretty sure her temperature had shot up to 120 degrees in just those few short seconds.
She gazed into his eyes. After they’d broken up, there were many days she wanted to call and tell him she loved him and wanted him back, but it would’ve been a mistake. He wanted marriage and a family. She couldn’t give him that. Tyler leaned closer, affording her the pleasure of his fresh, masculine scent. She might’ve had a slight headache, but there was definitely nothing wrong with her sense of smell.
“Can I do anything for you?” Yeah, you can move away from the bed, is what she wanted to say, his nearness wreaking havoc on her willpower – her desire to touch and kiss him was overwhelming. Instead she asked, “Can I have some water?”
“Of course.” He poured her a cup from the pitcher sitting on the bedside table and brought the straw to her lips. “Anything else?”
“When can I leave?”