True Perfection [Aspire 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Allyson Young Read Free Book Online Page B

They had known what she needed, and she hadn’t trusted them. Look where it had gotten her. Look where it gotten Warren!
    Gordon pulled her into his arms and nearly crushed her against his chest. “What do you have to be sorry about?”
    Haley didn’t answer him. She couldn’t. When Gordon thought this through, he would see the truth. The doors opened, and she pulled out of his arms to step out and head for the nurse’s station. She heard him make an exasperated sound, but he didn’t say anything further, just followed her closely.
    “Can I help you?” The ward clerk didn’t sound like she thought that she could, and Haley had a ludicrous impulse to correct the woman’s grammar. Breathe. You need to be able to hear the news when it comes.
    Haley found that she couldn’t ask about Warren, and thankfully Gordon made the inquiry. They were told to wait in the room down the hall and that someone would come as soon as there was any news. Gordon made sure she was comfortable and went to get her something to eat and drink. Haley curled up on one of the fake leather and wood chairs and began to count again. Gordon came back with a Styrofoam cup of tea and a sad-looking sandwich several thousand seconds later, and Haley was relieved she was still present and focussed. He plucked her out of her chair and sat her on his lap, and she made herself relax against him. With his usual perceptiveness, Gordon didn’t talk to her, other than to urge her to sip the tea and take a few bites of the food. She could feel the tension thrumming through him and wished she could have spared him this.
    An eternity passed, and finally a slight figure dressed in green scrubs came through the doorway. The spray of crimson on his clothing belied the calm of his Asian features. Haley couldn’t get enough air into her lungs and yet found herself standing, rigid and braced to hear the worst.
    “Ms. Snider? Mr. Sinclair? I am Dr. Wu. Mr. Chalmers is in Recovery at this moment. He will be taken to ICU shortly.”
    “He’s alive?” Haley nearly turned to look for the person who spoke those words. It hadn’t sounded like her, but Dr. Wu was nodding and stepping closer.
    “The knife nicked his liver, and that was what had us so worried for a while there. The skin and muscle damage was minor and will heal quickly, for it was a clean cut, except for the debris we found in the wound. The knife deflected off a rib and went up here, instead of here.” Haley watched as the doctor pointed to his right side and gestured to explain what had happened when Warren was stabbed.
    “What is the prognosis?” Haley was glad Gordon had asked. She had yet to process the amazing news that Warren was alive.
    “Infection is always a concern,” said Dr. Wu. “However, the liver is a remarkably resilient organ, and without complications Mr. Chalmers will likely recover quickly. He is strong and healthy as well, so the odds are very much in his favour.”
    He shook Gordon’s outstretched hand before looking more closely at Haley. “You should go home and rest. I understand you had an anxiety attack, and that could be serious, Ms. Snider. Visiting hours are posted, and your fiancée won’t be awake for some hours to come. Plenty of time for you to rest up.”
    Haley shook her head. “I’ll stay until he is out of the woods.”
    Gordon cut off the doctor’s protest. “She is quite stubborn, Dr. Wu. Haley will make her own decision, and we’ll just have to accept it.”
    Haley’s heart plunged, and the actual pain made her groan out loud, eliciting worried looks from both Gordon and the surgeon. Yes, Gordon had pegged her. Stubborn. Stubborn and selfish. She expected him to simply accept her decision, right or wrong, fair or not, with no consideration as to what it was costing him. She was pushing him to the point where he would assess the situation and put the blame where it should be placed. She forced a smiled and apologized. She wouldn’t push Gordon any