He smiled. “Unfortunately, better than you are.”
Sophie scowled at him. “That sucks.”
“Can’t disagree, but he is too sorry for words. Been standing in the waiting room since you first arrived.”
“Hmm,” she said.
“I’m just glad you’re awake and intelligible,” he said, leaning toward her.
“Have I been unintelligible?” she asked, far more concerned about that than being awake.
She watched Max take a deep swallow. He shook his head. “Never.”
Sophie sank back on her pillow. “You lie like a dog.”
Moments after Sophie fell asleep again, Max stepped outside her room and headed for the nurses’ station. His stomach hadn’t stopped knotting since he’d received the call about Sophie from the emergency room. “Are you sure Miss Taylor is okay? She keeps falling asleep.”
The nurse pulled up Sophie’s information on her computer screen. “All her tests are normal. Her vitals are excellent. It’s a miracle she wasn’t hurt worse. Her body is demanding more rest to recover from the trauma. She’ll improve rapidly over the next few days. I wouldn’t be surprised if the doctor allowed her to leave this afternoon.”
“This afternoon?” he said, shocked. “But she only arrived night before last.”
“There’s no swelling in her brain. She’ll just need someone to be with her for the first night.”
“We can take care of that,” a cultured feminine voice said from behind him.
Max glanced at the woman and immediately recognized her. Princess Bridget with a male assistant or bodyguard behind her.
“Your highness,” the nurse said, giving a slight curtsey.
Bridget dipped her head. “Thank you, but not necessary. I would like a thorough update on Miss Sophie Taylor’s condition. Good to see you, Maxwell, but I much prefer to visit in a different situation. Did I hear correctly that they’re going to release her?”
“That’s what the nurse said, but the doctor will make the final decision.”
“You don’t seem too keen about her going home,” Bridget said.
“She’s still sleeping a lot and I can’t see her taking care of herself,” he said.
“I have the perfect solution. We’ll bring her to the palace. I would invite her to my ranch, but the boys are such hellions she’d never find any peace. Pippa’s husband, Nic, is taking his last trip to the States. She had to force Nic to go. The only way he would agree was if she stayed at the palace. So, Pippa can provide company and there will be staff to wait on Sophie hand and foot.”
Her generosity took him off guard. At the same time, he felt responsible for Sophie. He almost felt as if he should be the one take care of her since she really didn’t know anyone else in Chantaine. “I don’t know. I have to think about what would be best for Sophie.”
She blinked at him. “She couldn’t possibly get better care somewhere other than the palace.” Bridget frowned. “Do you wish for your assistant to stay somewhere else?”
He paused a half beat, thinking he didn’t want to get overly involved with the Devereauxes. He didn’t want Sophie to get involved with them either. He’d thought all that would be necessary for Sophie would be to go to the tea and that would be the end of it. “I want her to be comfortable.”
“We enjoyed your Sophie—”
Impatience shot through him. “She’s not my Sophie. She’s my assistant.”
Bridget gave an equally impatient nod. “Very well. We enjoyed her very much during our tea and all of us would like to spend more time with her. And we insist she spend her recovery at the palace.”
Max felt a bit more sympathy for Stefan. Bridget was pushy. He wondered if the rest of the Devereaux women were.
Chapter Three
“I’m fine,” Sophie said as she stood beside her bed.
She could tell that Max was concerned that she would fall any minute. “Are you sure?” he asked.
She nodded as he extended his hand to steady her. For that crazy, tiny moment, she relished his touch. His hand was strong and assuring against hers. The doctor had released her with the condition that someone could check in on her throughout the first night.
“Yes, I’m okay,” she said. “I’m sure I’d be fine staying by myself.”
“That’s not going to happen. If you don’t want to go to the palace, we can make other arrangements,” he said and she felt him studying her.
“I’m okay with it. Then I can say I’ve spent the night at a royal palace,” she said, smiling. “Besides, it will just be one night.”
“Or two,” he said.
She was surprised at his concern for her. “Is there something I haven’t been told? Am I okay?” she asked. “Have I lost some of my mental capacity? What did the doctor say?”
“You’re fine,” he said and squeezed her shoulder. “The doctor said all your tests are normal.”
“Then why are you being so weird?” she asked, searching his gaze.
He shook his head. “I was caught off guard. You’re always so strong and to see you hurt, it—” He broke off. “It did something to me.”
His concern rocked through her. “Thanks,” she said. “But I think I’m going to be okay.” She glanced at his face and corrected herself. “I know I’m going to be okay.”
“You call me anytime you want to leave the palace,” he said.
Again, she was surprised at his concern for her. “No problem. I don’t think they’ll throw me in the dungeon.”
“Okay, I’m here if you need me. I’ll ride with you to the palace,” he said. “Bridget was very insistent that you should stay at the palace. She was … pushy.”
Sophie couldn’t help laughing. “You think?”
Max frowned.
“I’ll be all better tomorrow, so it won’t be an issue.”
“Okay,” he said and his gaze held hers.
With his outward expression of worry for her, she could almost think she was emotionally important to him. Could that be possible?
Then he stepped away, and she immediately felt his absence.
The nurse entered the room. “All ready?” the woman asked.
Seconds
