Love All Out - Part 1 (A Stepbrother Romance) by Alice Ward Page A

really wanted to do was give in to my desire for him. I prayed that I’d have another chance to hold him, to feel his lips against mine. Life is too short for stupid games.
    Daddy ignored the speed limit and we made the half hour drive in less than fifteen minutes. He let me out at the emergency room entrance and I raced into the hospital while Daddy parked the truck. Renee was the only person in the waiting room.
    “Do you know anything yet?” I asked her. “Is he okay? Are you okay?”
    Renee looked like she’d aged twenty years in the three hours since I’d last saw her. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying and her entire body shook. I sat down next to her on the padded bench and she collapsed into my arms.
    “Oh, Willow, they haven’t told me anything yet. The nurse promised that someone would be out to talk to me as soon as they’d evaluated all of his injuries. The longer I wait, the worse I feel. I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t do this alone.”
    I rubbed her back as I held her. “I’m sure they just want to be thorough,” I assured her. “Let’s try not to worry until we know what we’re dealing with.” I knew it was a futile suggestion, but I didn’t know what else to say. I was relieved when Daddy walked through the door. His frantic demeanor during the car ride had been replaced by a comforting calmness.
    “Renee,” he said softly. “Has there been any news?”
    Renee released me and turned to Daddy. She wiped tears from her eyes as she spoke. “Cole, they haven’t told me anything,” she sobbed. She stood and Daddy wrapped her in a tight hug.
    “Shh… it’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay,” he assured her. “Sit down and let me see what I can find out.” Daddy gently guided Renee back to her seat and approached the nurse’s station. A chunky, middle aged woman with a bored look on her face greeted him with an impatient glare.
    “Sir, I’ve already told your lady friend that the doctors will be out as soon as they’ve evaluated her son,” she said.
    “Yes, I understand that,” he answered. He kept his tone even and gave the nurse a kind smile. “But I’m sure you can understand how worried we are. Is there any way you could check on him for us? I know we’d all feel much better if we had some idea of how much longer the doctors will need to be with him… unless you have more pressing matters to attend to, of course.” Daddy glanced around the empty waiting room and gave the nurse a pointed look.
    She pressed her lips together, but her eyes softened. “I guess there’s no harm in me running back for an update… I’ll see what I can find out.” She rolled her chair away from the desk and disappeared through the double doors leading to the exam rooms.
    “We’ll know something soon,” Daddy said as he rejoined us. He took a seat next to Renee and covered her hand with his.
    “I don’t know what he was thinking,” she said anxiously. She was still shaking, but her tears had subsided. “I swear, if he makes it through this I’m never letting him on a bull again. I don’t care how old he is, he obviously can’t be trusted to make reasonable decisions.”
    The double doors swung open and the nurse returned to the waiting room. “They’re finishing up his bandages now, and then sending him for a CT scan. The doctor will be out in just a few minutes to talk to you.”
    “Thank you,” Daddy replied.
    She returned to the desk and we waited in tense silence. Ten minutes passed, and a grey haired man in a white doctor’s coat entered the room.
    “Mr. and Mrs. Parker?” he asked as he approached.
    The three of us rose to our feet and Daddy extended his hand. “This is Mrs. Renee Parker, she’s James’s mother. I’m Cole Rogers and this is my daughter, Willow. We’re friends of the family.”
    The doctor shook Daddy’s hand, then Renee’s, and finally mine. “I’m Dr. Matthews. I’m sorry we’re meeting under such unfortunate