Katie shook her head, and he guessed she hadn’t said much.

“Georgia was in a car accident,” he said.

“She’s in heaven now?”

“No,” Eric said quickly. “She’s fine. She hurt her arm and a couple of other places, but she is OK. You can see for yourself. When the doctors finish taking care of her, we’ll visit.”

Nate nodded, looking past Eric to the automatic double doors at the hospital’s entrance. “They gave her a Band-Aid?”

Eric stood and took his nephew’s hand. They headed for the doors with Katie following close behind. “Yeah, they gave her some Band-Aids.”

“What kind? Superhero or train?”

“I don’t know. We’ll have to ask her,” he said. “But my guess is superhero.”

She’d been pulled from a totaled car, and still she’d been worried for the drunken fool in the other vehicle. She’d gone to war and returned stronger than the people she’d left behind. She’d opened her heart to him, a man who in many ways was still as caught up in childhood as the little boy she cared for, afraid everyone he loved would abandon him. And she’d stayed, when it would have been so much easier and safer to walk away. As far as he was concerned, that was the definition of superhero.

ERIC WALKED INTO her hospital room, and relief washed over her. He’d been her rock today, solid and stable when she’d crumbled. The wreck, knowing the passenger in the other car died, left her shaken. But he’d been there, holding her together. He’d asked for her trust, and she’d given it. It was as if she’d leapt off a cliff. Loving him was one thing. But believing he’d be there, ready and waiting to break her fall, to pick up the pieces? In that moment, when he’d held her hand, she’d understood for the first time that she didn’t have to be strong every minute of every day.

Because she had him.

Her arm ached and her head felt as if she’d witnessed an IED blast, but still, it was as if a great weight had been lifted. The nightmares, the fears—she was going to put them behind her. One day. Not because she was strong or had frozen the memories in the pond. She’d move forward because love and trust were on her side.

“Georgia!”

She’d been so focused on the man she hadn’t seen the little boy holding his hand. Nate ran to the side of her bed. Katie followed them into the room, a soft smile attempting to mask the concern in her friend’s eyes.

“Hi, kiddo,” Georgia said.

“Did you get a Band-Aid?” he demanded.

Georgia laughed, and even though her side ached and her muscles screamed for her to stop, it felt good. “More than one.”

The sound of boots hitting the ground, like an elephant leading a race, echoed in the hall. Holding Nate’s hand with her good one, she glanced at the door.

“Georgia.” Liam rushed in, moving to the side of her bed. He lowered his forehead to hers and hugged her tight. “You scared me. When I heard Eric’s message. Jesus.” He squeezed tighter. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I’m OK. No major damage. Promise.”

He stepped back and looked her over, assessing for himself. “You’re sure?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure. They’re releasing me tomorrow. Just one night for observation. That’s all.”

“Good. That’s good,” he said. “You’ll come home?”

Georgia hesitated. She knew she’d held on to her anger long enough. Liam loved her and had been trying his best to take care of her. When he’d walked into the kitchen and found her naked with his friend, he’d been trying to protect her. She might not need him to fight her battles for her, but he was her brother. He’d always try.

“I—”

“She’s coming home.” Eric stepped forward, moving beside Nate on the other side of her bed. “With me.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Eric across her bed. But Eric ignored him, turning to her. He raised one hand, running his fingertips down her cheek.

“I was wrong, Georgia. I let you go. I told myself it was the best thing for you and for my family. I hid behind your traumatic experiences, when you were the one who faced your demons head-on. I let my childhood dictate my future when I should have fought for you.”

He leaned down, brushing his lips over hers, a gentle kiss, but one given in front of her family and his. He pulled away and Georgia stared up at him, wondering if he understood how much she needed him in her life. How she’d realized that she was stronger with him, loving him, than apart.

“Eric,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, Georgia,” he said. “Please come home. I’ll be here for you every day. I’ll help you heal, inside and out, no matter how long it takes. I swear I’ll trust in your inner strength. If you promise you’ll let me help you when you need it.”

She nodded, feeling close to tears, but no longer caring who heard his magical words.

“Let me be your next big rush. Let becoming part of my family be your next big thrill,” he said. “Georgia—”

“Yes,” she said quickly. “Yes.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. She had a feeling she knew what he’d been about to say, and she didn’t want to hear it. Not here. Not like this.

He’d told her he loved her before, while she was surfacing from a nightmare. Today, the wreck, and the dead woman from the other car—it felt like another terrible dream. When he said those words to her, she needed to know they came from the heart and were not wrapped up in fleeting panic and dread.

Fear touched every corner of her life. And that wasn’t going to stop. Not today and probably not anytime in the future. But she didn’t want it to be part of this moment with Eric.

THE NEXT MORNING, Eric and Nate picked her up at the hospital and brought her home. Eric took them out to lunch in town and, over burritos, asked about her doctor’s follow-up instructions. The conversation moved from the side effects of a concussion to how many trains Nate could bring to show-and-tell at preschool.

No declarations of falling in love or promises of forever.

On the drive home, Georgia silently hoped the right moment would arise for Eric to declare his feelings. She wanted to hear those words. But Nate grabbed her hand the minute they walked in the door. He dragged her up the stairs and down the hall to the room she’d stayed in when she’d first become his nanny. Her hope hiccupped. When Eric had said those words back at the hospital—becoming part of my family—she’d envisioned different living arrangements.

“It’s gone!” Nate cried.

Georgia crouched beside him. “What’s missing, kiddo?”

“The sign!” he wailed.

She heard Eric’s footsteps in the hall and turned. “Not gone. Just moved. Georgia will be sleeping in my room from now on.”

The hiccups vanished as if she’d been holding her breath, waiting for confirmation. Eric scooped Nate up and took Georgia’s good hand. He led them back down the stairs to his master bedroom. Now their room. Setting Nate on the floor, he pointed to the door. “There it is.”

Georgia sank beside the little boy, studying the circles, dots, and Xs on the paper. “Did you make this, Nate?”

He nodded. “This sign will keep the bears away.”

“Thanks, kiddo. It’s perfect.” Georgia drew him into a hug. Releasing the little boy just enough to see his face, she added, “You know what else helps keep the bears away?”

“What?”

“Waking up and remembering I have you and your uncle Eric.”

She felt Eric’s hand on her shoulder. He gave her a light squeeze.

“Always,” he said. “Always.”

Georgia spent the rest of the day playing trains, reading books, and watching Nate run in the yard. Eric fired up the grill and made steaks for dinner. Afterward, they put Nate to bed. Together.

Stepping out on the stone patio, monitor in hand, Georgia watched the sun sink behind the mountains.

“Thinking about a swim?” Eric came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, drawing her back against him.

“The water’s too cold this time of year,” she teased.

“It might be refreshing.”

“Maybe. But I’d probably have a difficult time swimming.” She held up her sprained wrist.

“You’re right.” He turned her around in his arms until she was looking up into his familiar blue eyes. “How about a shower?”

“I have a better idea.” She ran her good hand down his arm, entwining her fingers with his. “How about the bed?”

Holding his hand, she led him inside and down the hall to their bedroom. A bottle of champagne stood in an ice bucket beside the bed. “I guess you didn’t have your heart set on a swim.”

He gave her hand a gentle tug, drawing her into his arms. “I knew we’d end up here eventually.”

“Hoping I’d drop my towel and climb onto your bed?”

“Yes.” He claimed her mouth, kissing her deeply. “But I can’t promise I’ll keep my hands to myself this time.”

“You’d better not,” she said, glancing down at the splint on her arm. “With the way my arm feels, I don’t think I can undress myself.”

Eric stepped back, looking her over as if assessing her limitations. “That could be a problem.”

“Eric, I’m fine,” she said. “I’ll just need a little help with my shirt and the button on my jeans.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. The things I want to do to you . . .”

Her breath caught and she reached for the button on her jeans with her nondominant left hand. She struggled to release the top of her jeans, refusing to give up. Finally, she succeeded, pushing her pants down her legs.

“I’d hate to hurt you,” he said. But he began unbuttoning his white dress shirt.

“You won’t.” Georgia managed to remove her underwear and toss them on the pile of clothes with her jeans. “I’m strong, remember?”