r mind. Bright sunlight sliced through the blinds, casting s

her right arm. A thick layer of gauze wrapped

w her uninjured left hand over her lower abd

e bed. She placed a warm hand on Ciara's shoulde

ce steady and soothing. "Your arm has severe abrasions, b

ted into the mattress. Hot tears spilled over her eye

velyn Hayes walked in, holding a metal c

examined the edges of the gauze on her arm. She nodded in approval at

or swung open again. A rush of cold c

is deep-set eyes. His jaw was clenched, and a ra

Ciara's pale, bloodless face and the thick bandages covering her arm. His p

, long-fingered hand. He

d, his voice ro

e exact scent Elliana always wore. It clung stubbornly to the shoulder

dor exploded in Ciara's mind. Her stomach lurche

r cheek, Ciara jerked her head away. She threw her

he room turned to solid ice. He stared at his em

ly devoid of the warmth and reliance she usually

harp clack echoed in the quiet room. She tu

our wife is pregnant. She was struck by a cart a

orded. He was a man who commanded Wall Street. He dictated term

s flicked back to the gauze on Ciara's arm. He snapped his mouth s

al distress," Dr. Hayes warned him. She shot him one

ythmic beeping of the heart m

eath. He lowered his hand and s

o handle," he said, k

ed with the effort. "An emergency? Was it more important

ional dead ends. He operated on s

ange the best round-the-clock nursing staff.

eer exhaustion of looking at

t, carrying no anger, only absolute di

ides. He stared at her closed eyes for a long moment. Finally, he turned around