Authors: Aline de Chevigny

I Know You Love Me (25 page)

"Drew..."

One word—one faint whisper—and he was across the room in a shot. One faint word, and all the barriers stopping him from entering her room were gone, and he was crushing her to his chest while laying kisses all over her face. “I'm here, Love, and I'm not going anywhere ever again."

"Just checking."

That brought a smile to his lips and answered his silent questions. She'd won him over by worming her way into his heart with her quiet strength. By convincing him he was needed to sustain her happiness, she'd cemented his need for her.

"No one will move me from this spot, I promise."

A soft smile curved her lips as her eyes closed in sleep. Slipping up onto the hospital bed, Drew carefully arranged himself behind her and was rewarded by her contented sigh.

"Think that's a good idea, Boss?” Jimmy asked with a knowing grin from the doorway. “The hospital staff might have issues finding you in the bed with her."

"Too bad for them, because I'm not moving from this spot. Allison wants me here."

Laughing Jimmy pushed away from the door taking the chair Drew had just vacated and carried it into the room to have a seat. “I take it our lady is finally awake?"

"What do you mean, ‘
our'
lady?’ Allison woke up long enough to make sure I was still here and then went back to sleep. She's resting now, and I think we should let her.” Drew knew Jimmy was there to keep an eye on him; they'd all been taking turns watching over him. It meant a lot to know his friends were worried about him. They were worried about what he'd do if Allison took a turn for the worse. Well, they had nothing to worry about. Allison was going to be just fine.

"Glad to see you're back to your old cocky self. So shall we get some business done?"

"I think that might be a good idea. Catch me up."

"Sam and the photographers are all safely in their cells. I confiscated all the memory cards and film from the photographers so there's no chance of any photos leaking out. Sam is another story altogether. She's claiming self-defense."

Drew muffled his groan. The last thing Allison needed was to sense his moods. “Pray tell, exactly how is she going to prove this claim?"

"She says that Allison was trying to kill her. I think she's setting up her insanity defense."

The expected anger never materialized, which surprised him a little. “Somehow, that doesn't surprise or bother me. Allison must be rubbing off on me."

"Then maybe this will surprise you. Sam says that Allison stole me from her in college so she had to settle on you, and then Allison got bored of stringing me along, so she set her sights on you to make sure Sam was left alone and desperate enough to kill to survive."

The confused look on Jimmy's face wasn't too hard to understand. Drew felt exactly the same way. “She truly is insane...isn't she?"

Jimmy shrugged, but Drew could see right through his supposedly calm demeanor.

"Jeremy witnessed the whole shooting, and don't even think about getting mad at him for not stopping Sam. The kid is being hard enough on himself without your help."

"I never expected Jeremy to get involved in this situation. Sam had a gun and she could have just as easily hurt them both. He did the right thing, and Allison will tell him that as soon as she's strong enough to stay awake for more than a few minutes."

He could see the shocked disbelief on Jimmy's face and he didn't care. Any negative energy would upset the woman in his arms and he believed every word he'd said. Unless a person was properly trained, they should never get involved when weapons are involved. Especially guns. Jeremy had done the right thing by staying out of sight. The boy called the paramedics, and that action saved his love's life.

"In my opinion, Jeremy is a hero."

"Okay, what did you do with my best friend?"

"Get—"

Allison broke in. “I'm thirsty, Drew."

Her voice was still weak and barely above a whisper, but both men stopped talking the moment she spoke to better hear what she wanted.

"Baby, the doctor says we can't give you any water yet."

"Ice chips. She can't drink liquids yet, but she can have ice chips to wet her throat. We learnt that in the paramedic's first-aid course Allison signed me up for last month. She knew I was interested in learning more about becoming a paramedic,” Jeremy replied sheepishly from the doorway.

"You can explain that last comment when you get back with the ice, Kid."

Drew waited for Jeremy to leave the room before turning confused eyes on Jimmy. “When exactly did Allison do that? When did she have the time, without my knowing about it?"

"You got me. Hell, I didn't even know he was thinking of becoming a paramedic, or anything else, for that matter."

"Are you disappointed he doesn't want to follow in your footsteps?"

Jimmy grinned and sat back. “Lord no, my baby brother as a paramedic is fantastic news. I couldn't be more proud if he told me he wanted to become a doctor."

"Do you mean that, Jimmy?"

Jimmy's grin was contagious. Drew always envied the brothers their closeness, and now it seemed he'd be included in the brotherly moment.

"He means every word, Kid."

"Of course I meant it. You'll be a lot safer being a paramedic than a cop any day of the week. I'm just a little confused. Why a paramedic and not a doctor?"

"Here are the ice chips, Drew. Give her just one at a time. Okay?” Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jeremy pressed the back of his hand against Allison's forehead, pulling a weak chuckle from her throat.

"Glad to see you awake Ali, you had me worried there."

"Answer your brother's question and stop fussing over me. I have Drew to do that if I need it,” Allison reprimanded softly.

"Yes, ma'am."

Looking at Jimmy, Jeremy took a deep breath. “I'd love to become a doctor, Jimmy, but besides the fact that we can't afford it, my grades aren't high enough to get accepted."

Allison snorted, then moaned in pain and clutched her side. “That's a load of bull hockey. Your grades are a touch low, but with my help you can get them high enough to take your MCATS."

Drew ran a soothing hand down her face, relieved that she was feeling good enough to reprimand Jeremy. “You'd better not argue with her kid, you'll lose."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Drew."

"As for being able to afford it... hell, Jeremy. I'll figure something out. If you get into med school, you better accept or I'll kick your ass until you're eighty!"

"Jimmy, we can't..."

Allison coughed and glared at them all. “I'll pay for it. No arguments from either or you. You are my family whether you like it or not, and Jeremy can pay me back after he graduates if he feels he owes me. I'd prefer free medical advice for life, myself; being married to Drew, I think I might need it,” she teased, turning her blue eyes up at him. “I want to go home."

"I see she's awake and making demands. It warms my heart to know Allison will be just fine,” Eric replied with a secretive grin Drew couldn't decide if he trusted or not.

"Unfortunately, the doctor won't let her leave until they know for sure she won't relapse.” Drew told him.

"Well, how about a bit of good news then? I know why MacKenzie was delayed."

The pause was enough to make Allison try to sit up to find out more. “Eric, if you make her pop her stitches to get answers out of you, I'll throw you in jail with the rest of the criminals."

Laughing, Eric entered the room and gratefully accepted the chair that Jeremy offered him. “He found your signed divorce papers. It turns out that Sam hired someone to steal them the minute she found out her lawyer had forgotten to file his copies. She was convinced that if you were still married, she'd get half of everything you own, and that would tide her over until she found her next target. What she didn't expect was that you'd gotten over her and moved on."

"Are you telling me that I'm free to marry this angel?"

"As soon as she feels up to it. I even took it upon myself to bring this along, just in case she was ready today.” Eric leaned forward and handed Allison the marriage license and corresponding certificate. “I
am
a judge... so if you're both ready, I could marry you right now."

"Drew?"

"I'm game if you are, Love. Everyone I care about is already here in this room."

"Eric, if you marry us today you'll make me the happiest woman in the world. Not to mention you'll be helping me save face.” Biting her bottom lip she prepared herself for Drew's impending wrath. “If Sam had been a better shot..."

Drew exploded right on cue, making her smile in relief. His Mr.-Nice-Guy routine was starting to scare her. “What do you mean, ‘if she'd been a better shot?’ She almost killed you!"

"She could have shot me in the stomach and killed the baby,” Allison whispered, closing her eyes to avoid all the disappointed stares.

"Baby? Jeremy, go fetch that doctor, please,” Drew ordered. “I have a few questions for him. It seems there's a few things he forgot to mention."

Allison felt her chin being tilted up and reluctantly opened her eyes. “I found out the day of the shooting. I know how disappointed everyone is in me, but I couldn't be happier. I—"

Drew leaned in and kissed her to stop the nervous flow of words. “I'm far from disappointed, Love, and if it weren't for Sam, we'd already be married."

"Did I mention that I back-signed the marriage license to the day you two came into my office asking for help?” Eric replied with a grin.

"Sheriff, you wished to see me?"

Drew ran a hand over Allison's abdomen and pinned the doctor with a glare. “I did. I wanted to make sure my child is still safe. Also, my wife would like to go home now.” The fact that they weren't married yet meant nothing as far as he was concerned.

"The child is safe; the bullet missed by three inches, but..."

"But?"

"I'm afraid that Ms. McKay..."

"Mrs. Perry!"

"Excuse me?"

"Her name, Doctor Clover, is Mrs. Allison Perry, and she'd like to come home.” Everyone in the room was glued to the conversation with rapt attention. They wanted to know as much as he did why Allison couldn't go home yet.

"My apologies, Sheriff. As I was saying, Mrs. Perry needs to stay here for at least another couple of days for observation. The lady just regained consciousness, and I can't in good conscience release her until I'm sure she's completely recovered."

The explanation made sense, but Drew didn't have to like it. He wanted Allison home in their bed as much as she wanted to go home.

"In that case, you'd better get used to seeing me here, because I'm not going anywhere until Allison is released, and since we're staying a few more days, you will double-and triple-check that my baby is safe. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Sheriff."

"Oh, and Doctor? The next time you forget to inform me about something as important as my wife being pregnant, I won't be so understanding. Am I making myself clear?"

"Crystal. Now if you'll excuse me, I will go and set up a few more tests."

Watching the doctor back out of the room, Drew felt a twinge of regret for scaring the man so much, but only a twinge; he had more important things to take care of right now. Like a wedding.

"So, Judge, when do I get to kiss the bride?"

The End

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www.alinedechevigny.com

Author Bio

When I was born, my parents christened me Aline de Chevigny. Maybe they knew then, what I'm just now figuring out. I was born to be a romance author! I am Canadian and a Chemical Engineering Technologist who decided one day to try the impossible. Or so I thought, LOL, the year I turned 30, I moved far away from all my family and friends to start a new job. I was so bored and lonely that I picked up my pen and started writing the stories floating around in my head down on paper. I never dreamed they'd be published, but to my surprise and delight my publisher liked it. My family has been extremely supportive of my goal and they continue encouraging me to sub my works.

Since that day I've written and sold 16 books, from Novella to Novel length and in various romance genres.

You can find blurbs and excerpts of my all my stories at www.alinedechevigny.com along with some free reads, contests and in progress works.

Thank you for being a fan and supporting me in my goal to entertain the world the only way I know how.

* * * *

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