His Dark Desires: A BWWM Billionaire Romance by Nina Evans Page A

warm and fuzzy to hear the man I loved stand up for me, even if it was against my own father. If you’ve ever heard the two men you love more than anything in the world fighting with each other, you know how painful it can be.
    “I’m filling her head up with the truth,” my dad argued.
    James took a few steps inside the door. “Her accident had nothing to do with our relationship,” he stated. “As a matter of fact, if you hadn’t kicked her out of her own home, this whole incident wouldn’t have occurred.”
    My stomach clenched again and my mom dropped her head in her hands. It was obvious that she was about as sick of this as I was. She took a few steps towards the chair and rested her hands on the back, keeping her gaze focused on the floor. I felt so sad for her.
    And so angry with my father for being such a jerk.
    “Well if you hadn’t gotten her pregnant…”
    It was apparent that this was just never going to end.
    “I don’t think,” I interrupted, “that either one of those issues is relevant right now.”
    Both the men looked at me and then at each other, both with guilt covering their faces.
    “I’m sorry, love,” James said. He then walked to my bed and leaned in for a kiss. I could feel the disapproval emanating from my dad as he turned away from us and walked to the window. Mom stayed put.
    “How are you feeling?”
    My body relaxed at his touch, but I was still uncomfortable being around him and my family together. I wondered if that would ever change.
    “A little out of it, but okay I guess. Mostly I’m weak. From head to toe.”
    James swept the loose strands of hair away from my forehead and gave me another peck on the cheek.
    “That’s understandable.”
    I looked into his eyes, searching for an answer to the dreaded question about the baby. I don’t know why I thought I would be able to see it on his face, but I did. The only thing I saw, however, was relief.
    But was that relief that I was okay, despite me losing my pregnancy? Or relief that we were both okay? It was impossible to tell.
    “James?” I whispered. “Is the baby…?”
    Tears formed in the corner of my eyes, and I couldn’t even finish the question. I couldn’t get the words out. The nurse had just walked into the room. She was really loud and spoke with the thickest southern drawl I had ever heard.
    “Well, hey there!” She yelled. I’m sure she didn’t really yell, but it sure sounded like it to my drugged-up ears.
    “So glad to see you’re fine’ly awake, sweetheart!”
    Everyone in the room scattered like rodents. I got the impression that this nurse had a reputation that preceded her.
    “Thank you,” I muttered while wiping my eyes. She flocked to my side and pulled down the sheets. I guess to make sure all the probes they had hooked up to me were still attached and that my IV was still intact.
    “Everything looks good, honey. My name’s Cindy, by the way” she said, saying her name as a three-syllable word. “I’ll be taking care of you until this evening. All your vitals look good, and we have you on a morphine drip. You just let me know if you’re in any pain or if you need to go to the bathroom, okay, honey?”
    I nodded my head. I already had to go to the bathroom, but I really wanted my parents to leave so that James could help me with that. I didn’t want any strange nurse to watch me pee, and I sure as hell didn’t want my mom or dad in on that excitement.
    “Dr. Hutchins will be in shortly to talk with you, okay sweetie pie?”
    Good grief, I thought. I’ve heard of good bedside manner, but this particular nurse’s sweet nature was going to send me into a diabetic coma if she didn’t knock it off. And what was the doctor going to talk to me about? I was suddenly anxious.
    “Um, Cindy, am I going to be okay?”
    I felt awkward addressing this in front of the family, but lying injured in a hospital bed tends to strip away at least some of your dignity. No matter how much pride