“Well, you’re going to have a shiner where the railing of the steps connected with your face when you went down. We’re going to keep you here overnight for observation, you know the drill. Your eye is fine and the bruising should go away in a week or so. Your ankle on the other hand is sprained. You twisted it when you went down. You really shouldn’t wear such high heels, they’re murder on you.”

“I like ‘em and they’re definitely murder on me,” Matt murmured and Tate snorted a laugh.

Before leaving, the doctor said a nurse would be in within the hour and to ring if she needed anything. She did indeed know the drill.

Once alone she turned to him. “Oh f**k! Your family picnic. Go on, now and get going. I’m fine. I’ll doze and be woken up repeatedly and you can call me tomorrow when I get home.”

He shook his head and kissed her temple. “Tate Murphy, you are the dumbest woman I know. I’m not going anywhere. What kind of man would I be if I went to eat fried chicken and watch fireworks when my girlfriend was in the hospital? Plus, there’s plenty of fried chicken here. Your whole family and mine are all in the waiting room. I doubt they’d let us picnic in here but I promise once I make sure it’s okay, we’ll get you a plate and you and I can snuggle and have our July Fourth lunch right here.”

She started to cry. What had she done to deserve this man? He took the hand what wasn’t hooked to an IV, alarmed. “Venus? Honey, what is it? Why are you crying? Are you in pain? Should I call the doctor?”

“They’re all here and I’m your girlfriend?”

“That makes you cry?”

“It’s a good kind of cry. Answer me.”

“Woman, I told your blonde ass I loved you over a month ago. Of course you’re my girlfriend. You think I’d let just any woman make me scratch biscuits and cherry pie with fresh whipped cream? And I hate to say this, Venus, but only a man who loves you would stick around after hearing you sing in the shower. You’re my woman. My heart.”

She nodded, wincing a bit at the pain but happy. So damned happy. “Good. Okay then. Matt? I love you too.”

She did. She always had in some sense as a fantasy but the reality of Matt Chase was beyond anything she could have imagined. Sweeter than her visual donut. He was special and there for her when she needed it. She’d have to worry about whether he’d bolt when he heard the full truth later. For the moment though, she let herself love and be loved.

At her admission, relief washed over him and he wanted to kiss her. Hell, he wanted to whoop at the top of his lungs, chide her for not saying so sooner, scoop her up and protect her forever and f**k her ten ways til Sunday all at once.

Instead, he sighed with a grin. “’Bout time you said so. I was beginning to think you were just using me for the sex. And where else would your family be? They love you too. And mine. As a matter of fact, they’re all worried sick. Let me step outside and tell everyone you’re okay. Your brothers and sisters are going to want to see you too.”

“Matt?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for knowing they need to see me. Thank you for being okay with that.”

“Honey, family is everything. It’s one of the things I love most about you.”

He walked outside and leaned against the wall, relief that she’d finally allowed him to love her and herself to love him warring with the rage he felt for her father. Bill Murphy would never hurt Tate again. Not while Matt had breath to draw.

Everyone looked up expectantly when he entered the waiting room. Marc, Liv, Kyle and Maggie had arrived. “She’s awake now. The doctor came in and checked her out. She’s got a shiner, apparently she whacked the railing with her face on the way down. A sprained ankle, you know the heels she always wears.” He laughed, emotion still tight in his chest. “They’re going to keep her overnight.”

Shane put his arm around Matt’s shoulder.

Tim and Beth stood. “Can she see people?”

“Yeah, I know she wants to see you all. They said two at a time.”

“We’ve done this before.” Anne sighed. “You guys go first. Nathan and I’ll go next. Then William can go in. Jacob and Jill should be here in an hour or so. Go on, I’ll call them and check in. Mom too, I suppose,” she said. Tim and Beth nodded before going down the hall toward Tate’s room while Anne headed outside to use her cell phone.

“You okay, son?” Edward asked.

“Yes, sure. No, no I’m not. Damn it. She could’ve been really hurt.”

“Well, it’s happened. You knew you loved her, but now you really see the power of what it means to love someone. A powerful thing, love. The power of the connection you feel but also the power of the fear of losing it,” his mother said as she patted his hand. “Bend on down here and give your old mom a kiss. I’m proud of you. You have excellent taste.”

Matt smiled and bent to hug and kiss his mother. “She told me she loved me.”

Nathan grinned. “About time. I’m glad. You’re good for her, Matt. But, you know this isn’t going to be easy.”

“Hasn’t been so far. But it’s been fun when I’m not scared to death.”

“I’d like to see her too,” Cassie said quietly, telling him with her eyes that she’d try to help Tate through the trauma if she could.

“Thank you, Cassie.” Matt breathed a sigh of relief.