Free CORAL - Forever (A Romance Trilogy, Book 3) by Clair Delaney Page A

grumble – I know what he wants.
    “Don't argue, it’s happening,” he says.
    I huff in my seat and cross my arms – This is ridiculous!
    Tristan quickly exits the car, walks round the back and
opens the car door for me. I try to use it as my opportunity to duck under his
arm so this isn’t about to happen, but Tristan’s too quick for me, he leans
down to me with both arms held out, effectively blocking me.
    “We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Which will it
be Coral?” He says with his head cocked to the side.
    I narrow my eyes at him. “This is ridiculous,” I huff. “I
can walk you know, I’m not an invalid,” I add.
    “I wouldn’t be doing this if you walked out the hospital by
yourself, but you didn’t, so stop arguing,” he says, his voice low. I roll my
eyes at him in annoyance, but somewhere deep down inside, I love that he is
being this protective, this careful with me.
    Tristan slides in next to me, and takes hold of my hand. “Coral,
I know you want to walk through that door, to prove something to yourself
maybe, I don't know, but that’s not going to happen, not in a million years. I
had to really fight to get you discharged this soon, and it’s on the proviso
that you get plenty of rest, which means no exertion and no walking about. You
heard what the doctor said, take it nice and easy. So, am I driving you back to
hospital, or are we going in?” Tristan’s one eyebrow raises as he waits for my
answer.
    “Fine!” I grumble knowing he’s right.
    Tristan tries to hide the smirk that appears across his face
and holds his arms out again. I wrap my hands around his neck, and he gently
lifts me into his lap, then with absolute ease, he exits the car with me in his
arms.
    “What?” I question, he’s lost his grin and his broody look
is back.
    “You’ve lost a lot of weight,” he says. I roll my eyes at
him. What does he expect ?
    “That’s because I was comatose for ten days, what’s your
excuse?” I question, because he’s lost weight too.
    “My fiancé nearly died,” he answers morosely. “Kind of lost
my appetite,” he adds.
    I swallow hard and gaze at him – Jeez, he really has lost
weight his face looks really thin .
    “Ready?” he asks, I nod and look up at the house.
    I get an instant flashback, seeing Tristan tied up and
bleeding, I clench my hands into fists, close my eyes and try to push the
memory away – Focus Coral!
    I take a deep breath and pull on my memory of Tristan making
love to me in front of the fire, the night he proposed, I’m instantly flooded
with a warm homely feeling – Good, better, keep thinking like that! But
as I look up at the house again I have to admit, it does feel strange. Last
time I was here – I shut the door on that line of thinking.
    “Hey, ok?” Tristan asks as we stand on the doorstep. I try
to smile. “I need to know your ok about living here Coral, after what happened’
– “Stop,” I say placing my finger against his lips. “I love this house, it’s
beautiful. This is where I want to be Tristan, it already feels like this is our home, I don't want to move,” I tell him.
    “You don't?” he questions, I shake my head at him. “Ok, we
stay,” he says.
    Tristan nods to Stuart, who has been patiently waiting for
us, and opens the front door.
    “Thanks Stu,” Tristan says and walks into the entrance
hallway.
    I expect to hear the voices of my family and friends shouting
surprise, as per Rob’s info, but the house is empty, there’s not a soul in
site? Tristan walks us into the kitchen and sits me down on the breakfast bar. I
turn and see Stuart close the door, then walk over to us with my bag.
    “Sir, shall I take this up for you?”
    “No, that’s fine Stuart, thanks,” Tristan answers.
    Stuart nods to Tristan, and disappears up the stairs, I
guess he’s gone to his room– Better remember not to walk around the
house naked!
    I look around the huge expanse again, where is everybody? – Was
Rob