He steepled his fingers. “I didn’t say that.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
He tapped his fingertips together. “Were you able to do a thorough search before your…accident?”
I shook my head. “The sun was already starting to set when I got out there.”
His jaw muscle flexed. “Just how long were you in there?”
“When did you find me?”
He swiped his hand over his face. “Christ, Grace.”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“The party had already started when Jack and I finally left to find you.”
I propped myself up on my elbow. “What? Eight?”
“It was 8:23 when you finally called me.”
If it had been just a little more seasonable, I probably would have frozen to death. The water in the Atlantic was considered frigid in high summer. December? No, I’d definitely been lucky.
“You have no idea how hard it was to get that damn phone, and then to find a freaking signal.”
His fingers bunched into fists.
I reached over to cover them. “I’m fine.”
“Is that why you were half naked in that icy water?”
I shrugged. “You might want to buy up some stock in the Lifeproof company. It was the only reason—”
“Just stop.” He cupped my face, then covered my mouth with his. Visiting hours this morning didn’t include any softness, and definitely no sweetness. He devoured me. His grip escalated in direct proportion to the wildness in his kiss until I was half off the bed. His breath was labored against my throat, my scalp burning from his fingers twisted in my hair.
I clutched the lapels of his charcoal wool suit. “I’m fine.”
“Just twenty minutes more and the water would have been over your head.” His eyes were bleak. “Twenty,” he whispered.
“You found me.” He buried his face in my hair as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You found me,” I said again for him, maybe for me. I hadn’t relied on anyone except my grandmother in so very long.
Footsteps in the hall broke us apart. I glanced over his shoulder. The doctor was outside speaking with one of the nurses.
He eased me back into my bed. I fussed with the positioning arrows until I was semi-presentable and sitting up.
Blake paced back and forth, his gaze straying to his watch.
“Another meeting?”
He shook his head. “No. I just want to get you home.”
I opened his mouth to disabuse him of that term. I didn’t live with him and he was quick to remind me of that, but now didn’t seem to be the time. He really was wound up about it.
Finally, the doctor came in with a cheery, “Good morning.”
Blake pounced. “When will she be released?”
Dr. Perrault ignored Blake and stopped at my bedside. “Mari tells me you’re moving around a bit better this morning.”