Free Winning Back His Wife (Camp Firefly Falls Book 1) by Gwen Hayes, Zoe York Page B

update?" she asked as he settled wearily in the thankfully empty room.
    He shrugged. "They said a lot of things. Most of it just hedging their bets. If he wakes up in the first twenty-four hours, that's a good sign. Until he does, it's just a waiting game."
    "What do you need?" She traced her fingertips over the veins on the back of his hand, and he flipped his palm up so he could snag her fingers.
    "I just need to hold on to you." It was a slip of the tongue. He'd meant to say hold her hand. But it was also true. He was terrified he'd lose her again.
    "I'm here."
    "I'm sorry about my mother earlier."
    "She's hurting. You're hurting. It's fine."
    "It's not. You're my wife."
    "And you've got a lot of decisions to make," she said lightly. "I understand."
    He shook his head. "No—"
    "Eat your soup." She squeezed his hand and he fell silent.
    As soon as his father woke up, he'd say the words out loud. I've made my decision. I'm not staying in Baltimore. My heart is where you are, my life is where you are, and I'll follow you to the ends of the earth .
----
    H is father didn't wake up. By the time eight in the morning arrived, and it was time for him to leave for the meeting, they'd passed the twelve-hour mark and the old man was still unconscious.
    He'd sent Heather home to sleep, but she was back with more coffee and his shaving kit at quarter to seven.
    Now she was steering them through early rush hour traffic. The normal half hour drive to Baltimore's business district from John Hopkins felt like it took an eternity.
    "You okay?" she asked when they were stopped at a red light a few blocks before the TST tower.
    "Mmm. Yeah." He wasn't, but needed to have his game face on when he walked into the room. Couldn't let his emotions slip through, not now. Soon, though. Soon he would fall to pieces and Heather would be there for him.
    He'd spend the rest of his life working to deserve that.
    "Do you want me to wait? I can go shopping." She gestured in the general direction of the Inner Harbor.
    "Mall won't be open for a bit." He rubbed the crease between his brows. "You want to come up with me?"
    She made a face. "I will if you want me to."
    "No." He tried to laugh, but it came out like a bark. "No. Better not."
    She frowned, just a little. "Okay."
    "You can go back," he burst out.
    "Where?"
    "To the camp. If you want."
    "Is that what you want me to do?" She slid to a stop in front of a no-stopping sign in front of the building.
    No. That's what he wanted them both to do. Together. "I need to concentrate on this meeting. I shouldn't have said that."
    She gave him a guarded look that made his heart crack open. "Text me when you're done."
    He nodded and leaned over, meaning to kiss her cheek. At the last second, she turned and pressed her lips hard against his. As he pulled back, she sank her teeth into her lower lip and looked down, avoiding his gaze.
    "I won't be long," he said.
    The corners of her mouth twisted, like she tried to smile and couldn't. "You'll probably get pulled into a bunch of things. It's okay if it takes all day. Keep your ringer on in case the hospital calls."
    He reached for her hand to squeeze it, but she was already putting the car in drive and his fingers just glanced off the back of her wrist.
    "I love you, Heather."
    She looked up at him. "I know."
----
    T he hospital did call , an hour later, interrupting the board meeting. He called for a break while he took the phone call in his office.
    "Mom?"
    "He's woken up, Michael." The relief in her voice was nearly painful.
    He sagged against his desk, his knuckles turning white. "Oh, thank God."
    "He was quite distressed, and his…voice was…he couldn't talk. He just made this garbled sound. But he can write yes and no, sort of. So that's good news." Her breath sounded ragged into the phone.
    "I'll be there soon."
    "How is everything there?"
    He winced. Everything here was in chaos. But the board had supported his motion. "Things are going to have to change," he