Idolize (Dark Storm Book 1) (21 page)

Cassi felt the grip tighten on her hand and she glanced up. His face was a mess and he could only open one eye, but she could see his lopsided attempt at a smile. Before he could say anything, she needed to speak. She stood up, leaned forward, and gently touched his lips with hers.

“I love you.”

Someone cheered behind them and she turned to see Jack and Viv smiling.

“I’ll go and tell the nurse you’re awake,” Jack said.

Declan glanced from her to his mother. “Mum, Cassi. What happened?” His voice sounded like gravel as he struggled to speak.

“There was an earthquake and you were hurt, darling. They had to operate,” Vivian said.

Declan gripped her hand. “So I had to shake the world to get you here.”

He smiled at her with his crooked grin.

“It worked, but don’t be so dramatic next time. I’ve got something Tommy asked me to bring to help you feel better.” She grabbed her backpack off the floor, pulled out the turtle toy, and placed it on the end of the bed. “When you don’t look quite so scary, I’ll send him a picture.”

He tried to lift his head off the pillow, but it flopped back down. “Ow. Fuck, my body hurts.”

“Language,” Viv said, and Cassi laughed. For the first time in a while, she thought things might just turn out okay.

Chapter Twenty-One

When Declan opened his eyes that first time in the hospital, his whole body hurt. No, that was an understatement. A truck must have hit him and he couldn’t remember. The pain was forgotten when he saw Cassi sitting there next to the bed, holding his hand. Mum was standing at the foot of the bed and he wondered what the hell had happened. He didn’t care. Cassi was here. His woman was back in his life.

His throat was raw and his leg and head felt as if a mountain had landed on them, and when he found out about the earthquake, he wasn’t far wrong. The next two weeks were wonderful and hell at the same time. All the stuff they did in the hospital hurt like hell, even though they were looking after him so well. Cassi never flinched and sat through everything, helping when she could. One thing for certain was he never wanted a tube stuck up his dick again. He reckoned doing a normal pee was one of the best things one could ever experience. Cassi helped him to the toilet. She laughed as they ran taps and whistled to get him going.

The family rented a place after two weeks when the doctors said he could leave the hospital. It had high fences, which was good, as they stopped prying eyes while he recovered. He was slowly getting back to normal, but so tired all the time. Cassi was so patient and understanding. She was an angel putting up with his frustration at himself. His foot was in a special boot, and he was on crutches. The physiotherapist had been coming every day, and Cassi would stay out of the room while he swore at the poor guy.

Each night he would hold her in his arms, believing it was a dream, and that he would wake up and she would be gone again. He wanted to make love to her so much, but was scared. Would he be up to it? His foot still hurt and maybe he would blow a blood vessel in his head if he came. He was not good at being sick, and snapping at her was not going to help. He tried not to, but it was what he found himself doing. He had an idea how he could make it up to her, but it would involve his mum in some secret dealings.

****

Six weeks passed and now they were on their way to the airport. He noticed how Cassi couldn’t keep the smile off her face. She was going to see her little boy again. His hair was starting to grow and was so itchy, he couldn’t stop scratching. He reckoned the scar wouldn’t show once the hair grew back around it. It might make him look tough and he might get some jobs playing bad guys. Cassie bought some beanies and reckoned he would start a new trend and everyone would be wearing them. They might be a bit hot in L.A. and would need to be made from a lighter material. Tommy would have wanted one, and Cassi got him a black one with a New Zealand fern on it.

The film company insisted on a nurse traveling with them. His name was Brian, and he was an Australian with a wicked sense of humor. Brian brought the wheelchair to take Declan through to the departure lounge. There was the usual crowd of paparazzi and fans.

“You can wheel me over so the fans can get a few pictures if we have time before check in,” he said to Brian.

Cassi stayed close by, watching on. He liked this protective streak in her.

Once on board, they were settled into their seats. Thank goodness the seats went down flat so he could rest his leg. He reckoned the flight was going to take a lot out of him. Three hours into the flight, Brian was standing and tapping his foot.

“Come on, mate. It’s time to get up and do your walk. It’s going to make me look crap if you get a blood clot.”

Cassi kept reading her book while they walked up to the other end of the section so she couldn’t see them.

“So you got it in your pocket? Reckon she’s guessed anything?” Brian asked.

Declan fumbled in his pocket as he balanced awkwardly on one leg because of the special support boot. He flipped open the lid on the small box to reveal a ring. The air steward came and stood next to them.

“Is there anything I can help you with, gentlemen? Oh my goodness, it’s beautiful. It’s a Galadriel ring, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to propose?” she asked.

“Yep, but don’t say anything, or I’m going to look a fool if she says no.”

“Come on, let’s get you back there before you lose your nerve,” Brian said.

They hobbled back to the seat and Cassi was still reading. “Think you need to put that down a minute,” Declan said.

She squinted at him as if she wondered what was going on, and she put her book aside. Brian supported his elbow as he helped him kneel next to her seat. The air stewards gathered as well. Cassi’s eyes grew wide as he pulled the small box from his pocket.

“I reckon as you came all the way across the world to look after me, I might have a good chance with this. Cassi. Will you marry me?”

“Yes, a hundred times, yes.”

Everyone cheered as he opened the box.

“I knew how you loved the books, and being in New Zealand, it seemed right.”

She let him slip the ring on her finger and helped him up so they could hug and kiss to more cheers from everyone.

“I don’t think I could love you any more than I do at this moment,” she whispered in his ear.

“I take that as a challenge.”

He intended to spend the rest of his life making this woman love him more, and when they got home tonight, he would start by making her scream with pleasure just like he had before. Life was good.

The End

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