Bo knocked on Tara’s door. “Gigi asked me to bring this to you.” He went in, passed her a bottle of Tylenol and sat on the side of her bed. “How’s this for a role reversal?”
“You’ll probably outshine me. You didn’t get sick on your first trauma scene.”
“I wish you wouldn’t have gone down there.”
“I didn’t want her baby to die.”
“Your heart is bigger than mine.” He brushed hair from her face and straightened her covers. “Will you be able to sleep?”
She nodded. “I think so. It’s not too bad.”
“Where did you learn to drive like that?” He pulled a half-smile.
“Rory had a lot to do with it. We used to mess around in snowy parking lots. But this is the first time I’ve ever done anything crazy on a highway. I wasn’t about to let something happen to you.”
Bo leaned and nuzzled her neck. “Totally impressive. Especially considering what you had to work with. I believe you said Old Blue was the Bucket of Bolts model?”
She laughed, then winced again, gripping her side. “That’s right. The fact that I drive that stretch of highway five times a week gave me a distinct advantage. It always ices up before you get to the bridge. It’s moisture from the river.”
Bo gave her a lingering kiss. “Do you have any other super powers I should know about?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” She nipped his ear lobe. Then she pushed him away, her expression serious. “I killed Old Blue, didn’t I?”
Finally used to her abrupt changes of subject, he didn’t take it personally. “Yeah, I think you did. We’re two for two.” He picked up her hands and ran his thumbs over her knuckles, happy to see that her ring had come out unscathed.
“I have to get to school on Monday.” Her face clouded. “I only have liability coverage. Do you think I can find something for a few thousand dollars? That’s all I have left from what you paid me. And when will I have time to shop for a car? I can’t use any of the money for a rental. What am I going to do?”
Bo smiled, thinking of how many times she’d comforted him when he was out of sorts. “I said I’d take care of you.”
“We were talking about my part-time job, not buying cars.” Her gaze moved to the ceiling. “I’m sick of being so desperate. I hate being weak. And I hate being needy.” She smacked the mattress.
He laughed.
“It’s not funny.” Tara skewered him with a glare.
“Sure it is.” He caught her fist before it jabbed him. “I’m not sure how you did it, but you kept us alive out there. Then you climbed down a steep hill in a dress and heels to help the person who was trying to finish us off.” He ran a finger across the hard line of her jaw. “You’re not weak. And you’re not needy. Whether you’re desperate is up to you. I’m offering to help.”
The muscle in the side of her jaw worked. “I don’t want to be dependent on you.”
Bo took a breath. One of the things that drew him to Tara was her strength of spirit. He’d have to learn how to deal with that spirit when she was upset. Now was a prime opportunity. “Do you love me?”
She frowned. “You know I do.”
“And you still want to get married next week?”
“Of course.” She fingered the edge of the comforter.
He lifted a brow. “Then you’re gonna have to learn to depend on me the same way I’ve learned to depend on you. I need you to drive everywhere. I don’t like it, but I’ve accepted it. So you need me to help you get a car. What’s the big deal? You told me your house will be ours. You didn’t mention a pre-nup. Why is it okay for you to be generous but not me?”
Tara sighed, meeting his gaze. “I’m too proud. I need to deal with that.”
“We both do.” Bo kissed her forehead. “Right now there’s you and there’s me. But we have to transition to us if we’re gonna make it. And we don’t have much time. Or we could postpone the wedding and work this stuff through. I want to get off to a good start.”
“No.” She pulled him down by his shirtfront and combed her fingers through his hair. “Thanks for coming for me.”
“I thought maybe I’d lose you out there.”
“I’m so glad you didn’t get hurt.”
“Me?” He shook his head. “You’re crazy sometimes.”
Tara got a wild look in her eye. “You should have seen what I did last month. This guy went off the road in front of me and—”
He kissed her to shut her up. “Are you going to make a habit of that sort of thing?”
“Probably. Without the falling in love part. That was just a one-time deal. Do you think you can live with a crazy person?”
“As long as it’s you You’re the good kind of crazy.” He smiled.
Tara stroked his jaw. “Do you have any idea what your smile does to me?”
“Tell me.”
“It turns me to liquid.”
He flashed it again. “Like putty in my hands?”
Tara laughed. “Exactly. It’s your super power.”
He hovered just above her lips. “Can I kiss you goodnight?”
“You better. I need something good to remember before I go to sleep.”
Despite her protests, Tara was wheeled to the parking lot outside the ER, per hospital policy. Bo came alongside.
Nicholas and Gigi climbed out of their car. Gigi leaned down and wrapped Tara in a hug. “I think maybe this hero business is getting out of hand.”
Tara laughed and clutched her side to staunch a spike of pain. Bo gave her a concerned look. “It just hurts to laugh.” She turned to Nicholas. “I’m sorry to drag you out of bed again.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “No worries. I’m just glad it’s over and you guys are okay. Well, relatively speaking. Bo said you didn’t need stitches.”
“It’s just superficial.”
They climbed in the car. “Where to?” asked Nicholas.
Bo glanced at Tara. “I forgot my bag in your car. Do you mind if we go to their place?”
“I don’t care. I just need to crash.”
“Please don’t say that.” Gigi laughed. “Tara, I have clothes you can borrow.”
“Okay.” She leaned on Bo’s shoulder and closed her eyes.
“Hey. We’re here.” Bo kissed her temple.
Tara awoke to find they were in the Blake’s garage.
“Nicholas, will you help Tara inside? I’m going to turn down the bed and find her some clothes.” Gigi disappeared into the house.
Nicholas assisted Tara to a bedroom across the hall from Bo’s. “Can I get you anything from the kitchen?”
“No, thank you.” She covered a yawn. “I appreciate all you’ve done.”
He smiled. “My pleasure. I hope you get some sleep.”
Gigi brought in a robe and some flannel pajamas. “Do you need me to help you change?”
“I don’t know.” Tara tried lifting her arm and her bandage pulled painfully. “I’ll definitely need help.”
“Okay.” Gigi closed the door.
“I ruined Rita’s dress. And her coat.”
“I’m sure she’ll understand.” Gigi carefully helped Tara out of the scrubs she’d been given at the hospital after they’d cut Rita’s dress off of her. “This top buttons in front, so you won’t need to lift up your arms.”
Tara put in one arm at a time and fastened the buttons herself.
“Do you need anything for pain?”
“Could you bring me some Tylenol? I’ll probably need some before morning.”