Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 124

The drive back to Silkwood was heavy with silence. No one spoke a word.

Amelia knew this time it was serious—her grandmother was really hurt. No one would joke about something like this.

When they finally reached the hospital, Grandma Edith had just finished getting her wound treated and was being wheeled out.

Everyone exhaled in relief. The old lady had suffered one of her spells at home, darting around the house, and ended up tumbling down the stairs. She’d hit her head, blood streaming down her face before she passed out, scaring the entire family half to death.

The blow to Grandma Edith’s head had rattled her, and she still looked a little dazed. Blinking at the cluster of worried faces gathered by her bed—three, four, five people, standing there like mushrooms—she seemed for a moment not to know where she was.

Groggily, she asked, “Did I… make it to heaven?”

Daniel pressed a hand to her forehead. “Are we sure she didn’t knock something loose up there?”

Mr. Ethan Campbell brushed Daniel’s hand away. “Why don’t you head home before you give her high blood pressure on top of everything else?”

Ethan promptly shooed everyone away, telling them to come back and visit tomorrow.

Grace Stewart Campbell, who’d promised Amelia she’d get Daniel to sign the paperwork but hadn’t followed through, slipped away quickly, hoping to avoid Amelia’s questions.

Night had fallen, and when Amelia made her way to the parking lot, she didn’t stop; she just kept walking.

Daniel caught up and grabbed her arm. “It’s late. You can work out in the morning.”

Amelia walked to the curb and tried to hail a cab. “Don’t follow me.”

Daniel smirked. “What, you’re not worried about me? I mean, look at me—a handsome guy like me out alone at night. Aren’t you even a little concerned?”

Amelia rolled her eyes skyward, thinking, No wonder it won’t rain tonight—he’s scared the clouds away.

“Where are you sleeping tonight?” he asked.

For some reason, there seemed to be a shortage of available cabs. Every car that passed was already taken. Growing impatient, Amelia snapped, “Why do you care?”

Daniel turned her gently to face him, his palm cupping the back of her head. “If you don’t answer, I swear I’ll get in the taxi with you.”

She believed him—Daniel was shameless enough to do anything. Wanting to keep the peace, Amelia replied, “A hotel.”

The bedding at the base dorm was all packed away, and she couldn’t be bothered to get it out again. A hotel would do just fine.

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got a perfectly good house, but you’re staying at a hotel? Makes me wonder if you’ve got someone stashed away.”

As if anyone could have a paler face than you, she thought.

“Just come home. If you really want to spend money, transfer it to me instead. Let me earn a little on the side—money’s tight these days.”

“I’m not going back to Emerald Meadows,” Amelia said flatly.

“Why not?”

She shot him a look colder than the night wind. “Take a wild guess.”

Daniel clicked his tongue. “Still holding a grudge, huh? Fine. What about the old house?”

Amelia didn’t answer, but fate seemed to side with Daniel—after standing there for nearly twenty minutes, not a single cab stopped. Watching her nose turn red from the wind, Daniel finally relented. “I’ll drive you to the old house and head back to Emerald Meadows. How’s that, Your Highness?”

Amelia hadn’t really wanted to stay at a hotel; she just didn’t want to see Daniel. He seemed to understand and, after dropping her off at the old house, left without fuss.

“I’m staying here,” Amelia reassured her.

Only then did the old lady close her eyes, finally at peace.

As Amelia headed to her room, Daniel caught the door with his hand before she could close it. “What, planning to lock your husband out for the night?”

Expressionless, Amelia replied, “You’re the one who said as long as I’m not staying at Elm City, you’d keep out of my way.”

“Did I really say something so against my heart?” Daniel was shameless as ever. “You don’t have a recording—how are you going to prove it?”

Amelia’s gaze flickered. She crooked her finger, beckoning him closer.

Amelia was beautiful enough to make anyone’s heart skip—a face that could captivate with or without makeup. When she wanted to reel someone in, she didn’t even have to try. Daniel’s heart pounded—was she about to kiss him?

He leaned in, and Amelia brought her lips close to his ear, her breath warm and sweet, a soft, teasing hook that tugged at his heart.

Daniel swallowed, waiting for whatever magic was about to happen.

“Daniel, you really are a first-class—” Her voice was as soft as a siren’s, but suddenly she switched tones, “—jackass!”

She spun back, slammed the door in his face, all in one smooth motion.

If Daniel had been a second slower, his nose would have been flattened.

He let out an incredulous laugh.

As if there’d ever be something as nice as a pie falling from the sky.