Hope flared briefly, and then she realized her father must be the one coming. “Dad?”

“No. We discussed that, but I told him I was afraid if he flew out Ellie would insist on coming as well. I managed to convince him I had everything under control. I suggested they let you handle this on your own with my help.”

Beth could barely believe her good fortune. “Eleven minutes.”

“Eleven minutes?” Sunshine repeated.

“You did … all that … in eleven minutes?”

Sunshine’s blue eyes twinkled with delight. “My dear girl, you underestimate me.”

It went without saying that Sunshine had been insistent and persuasive. Her father appeared to be handling the news of her injuries well. Beth paused and realized she didn’t know the extent of everything herself. She recalled the doctor briefly talking to her and explaining that she was about to have surgery. From what she remembered of the conversation, her spleen was being removed and then there was something about her hip being fractured along with a number of her ribs. That helped explain the ghastly pain she felt.

“Rest, Sweet Pea,” her aunt advised, gently brushing the hair from her forehead. “All is well. Your mother has a mah-jongg tournament this weekend and your dad promised to downplay the accident. You’re off the hook. Just make sure you connect with them and pretend all is well.”

“I will …” Sleep called to her. “Thank … you.” Her aunt had always been her biggest champion.

“Sleep now.”

Beth didn’t think she could keep her eyes open another second and fell into a deep slumber. Knowing her parents weren’t rushing to her bedside helped ease her mind. That assurance was all she needed to float easily into the land of happy dreams.

Beth woke with the sound of someone entering the room. She assumed it was a nurse. It seemed they were constantly in and out, checking her vitals, giving her meds, or doing one thing or another. The staff had been wonderful and caring, and she didn’t feel she could complain.

When she turned her head, instead of one of the hospital personnel she found it was Sam. It took her a moment to identify him because he wore his hair down and he was dressed casually in jeans. He had a single red rose she was certain he must have picked up in the hospital gift shop.

“Hey there,” he said, coming all the way into the room. “I thought I’d stop by and see how you’re doing.” He set the flower down on the stand next to her bed.

“Better,” she whispered.

“Certainly better than the last time I saw you.”

Beth managed a smile.

“You remember I was there?”

She nodded and wondered if he knew how much he’d helped her.

He came to stand next to the bed. It seemed he wasn’t sure what to say next.

“The … girl?” Beth asked.

“What girl?”

“In the other car. She okay?”

Sam frowned. “She seemed to be. I’m sure she had a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing serious. Her biggest concern was what her father was going to say because she’d wrecked his car.”

Beth closed her eyes and swallowed. “Good.”

“Good?” Sam repeated, sounding angry. “I wanted to shake her. She didn’t even ask about you. I hope she loses her license over this. It’s what she deserves.”

His indignation amused her and she managed a smile. Sounded like the teenager’s father would probably see to that.

“You’re mighty forgiving,” Sam said. “I don’t know that I’d feel the same.”

“Being upset won’t help.”

“True,” he admitted, albeit reluctantly.

He looked away and Beth felt he was probably ready to leave. She wanted him to stay, had things she wanted to tell him, but she was too weak yet. Even talking tired her out.

“I should probably go.” He took a step back from the bed.

Beth extended her hand to him. “Before you go … thank you,” she whispered.

“Oh sure.” He glanced toward the rose. “It’s nothing. I wanted to check in and see how you’re doing.”

She closed and opened her eyes. “Not for the flower … for being there. I … I thought I was going to die.”

“Hey, so did I; you scared the crap out of me.” He smiled. “Wonder if Owen would consider that a swear word. If he does, then I’ll owe him another dollar.”

Beth smiled. “I won’t tell him.”

“I appreciate it,” he said, grinning now.

He was handsome when he smiled, which didn’t appear to be something he did nearly often enough.

“You being there helped me. You said I was going to be all right and I believed you.”

He nodded. “I probably shouldn’t admit it, but I was pretty shaken up myself.”

“You were hit?”

“No, no, just seeing how badly hurt you were got to me.”

It was more than his assurances that helped. “You held my hand.”

“Don’t suppose you noticed how hard it was shaking?”

“No. Your touch, it grounded me.” She wondered if he’d noticed how tightly she’d clung to him.

He shook his head. “Truth is, Beth, I think we were basically holding on to each other.”

“You called Nichole and Rocco?”

“Right away. Has she been here?”

Beth had been out of it most of the day. “I don’t know.”

“She said she would.”

“I’ve been asleep … I can’t seem to stay awake long.”

“Last night we were all here at the hospital, worried and anxious for an update on your condition. It took hours before we learned anything.”

Sam was full of surprises. “You came to the hospital?”

“Would you rather I hadn’t?” His question had a defensive note.

Unexpected tears welled in her eyes. “I … I didn’t expect that. Thank you.” She took a breath. “You thought I was going to die, didn’t you?”

His grin transformed his face. The laugh lines that fanned out from his eyes told her he probably had a good sense of humor. His eyes were dark and bright as they smiled down on her. She liked his beard and briefly wondered what it would be like to kiss a man with a beard. It was bound to be a pleasant experience and one she wouldn’t mind.

She wasn’t herself. Beth didn’t look at a man and wonder what it would be like if he kissed her. They’d said more to each other in the few minutes since he’d entered the room than they had through the entire dinner party.

“Nichole and Rocco were here as well,” Sam added.

“I’m sorry you had to wait so long.”

“I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.” He looked a little embarrassed and shrugged one shoulder. “I wouldn’t rest easy until I knew you were going to be all right.”

“Are you assured I’ll recover now?”

“Seems you will.”

“So I’ll live to torment another poor, unsuspecting blind date.”

A short laugh burst out of Sam. “I’m sorry, Beth.”

“Me, too.”

Sam dismissed her apology. “Nichole was ready to skin me alive if the looks she sent my way were any indication.”

Beth grinned. “I don’t think she was happy with me, either.”

“I doubt she’ll play matchmaker again.”

“Why’d you agree?” She’d suspected almost immediately that Rocco had somehow coerced him into meeting her.

Sam relaxed. “Rocco’s a good friend—the best. He said it meant a lot to Nichole, and there’s little I wouldn’t do for the two of them.”

“I thought Rocco was holding you hostage.”

Sam tucked his hands in his back pockets. “What about you? Why’d you want to meet me?”

She remembered her own hesitation. “Nichole asked me. I wasn’t keen, but my aunt convinced me I should go. She said …” It seemed silly to tell him this, but she did anyway. “She said you could be the man of my dreams.”