Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 28062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
I grab the carafe from the fridge, pour some more water, and then set it down in front of him.
He sniffs the air. “Is that lasagna from Gino’s?”
I nod. “Yeah. It’s your favorite, right?”
He looks surprised, but before he says anything, the microwave dings. I take it out and carry it over to him with a fork and napkin.
He thanks me. “You shouldn’t be waiting on me, Dolly.”
I shrug. “You’re hurt. Are you telling me if I was hurt you wouldn’t help me out a little bit?”
He scrunches his nose up. “You wouldn’t lift a fuckin’ finger.”
I laugh out loud and then lean against the counter. “Ace was worried about you, ya know.” I shrug. “I was worried too.”
He reaches across the counter and holds my hand. “I know. I promise I’m not going to make decisions like that anymore. I’m not sure what I was thinking, but it was a bad idea.”
I gesture to our hands as he takes another bite. “You going to hold my hand while you eat?”
He shrugs. “You okay with it?”
I don’t even have to think about it. “Yeah, I’m okay with it.”
He does a nod and continues to eat. He insists on cleaning up, and I go through the house, making sure it’s locked up and then follow him down the hall to his bedroom. When he climbs into bed, I sit on the chair across the room.
His forehead creases. “What are you doing?”
“Oh!” I look around us. “I’m going to sleep here so I can make sure you’re okay. Is that all right with you?”
He pats the bed beside him. “No way. You’re sleeping here.”
I stare at him, my mouth dropped open. “Uh, I’m not supposed to be sleeping at all.”
He pats the bed again. “Come on. I’ll set alarms, and we can wake up together.”
When I don’t budge, he leans forward. “Come on, there’s no way I’m going to be able to sleep with you curled up in that tiny chair. This way you can stretch out next to me, and you won’t have to get up to make sure I’m awake.”
He is making a point, but when I get up to walk over to him, I make a joke. “Are you just trying to get me into your bed, Tuck?”
He pulls the covers back and smiles at me. “Honey, I’ve been thinking about getting you into my bed for a while.”
I lie down gently next to him. I’m on my side, hands curled under my cheek. “When did you become a flirt?”
“I’ve never flirted a day in my life.”
I giggle. “Oh yeah? What do you call it then?”
He slides his hand across the bed and puts it on my arm. I suck in a breath, and he asks, “Is this okay?”
I nod, and he says, “It’s not flirting, it’s just telling you what I’m thinking. I feel like I need to break you in slow.”
I want to talk to him about us and about Ace, but I know now is not the time, so I change the subject. “So what did the doctor say?”
He’s quick to respond. “Concussion and bruised ribs.”
I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean. I may not know a lot about concussions, but I do know that you’re supposed to rest your brain. Like no bright lights, no reading, no driving, and—”
“I have to drive.”
I raise up on my elbow to look at him. “Tuck, you just told me downstairs you’re going to start being safe. If a doctor tells you not to drive, you don’t drive.”
He growls. “The doctor said no driving for two weeks. He’s going to reevaluate me then, and we’ll go from there.”
“And bull riding?”
It’s obvious he’s unhappy. “No bull riding. My manager already pulled me out of the next few rodeos.”
I nod. “Okay, so I’ll drive you around where you need to go the next two weeks.”
He squeezes my arm. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“I want to.”
“I’ll pay you—”
I cut him off, unable to hide the anger in my voice. “You will not pay me, Tucker Yates. We’re friends, that’s what friends do for each other. I will not be taking your money.”
He holds his hand up. “Whoa, whoa, okay, okay. I just hate to burden you with all this.”
My voice softens. “You and Ace are never a burden. I like…” I hate being vulnerable, but I know I need to say it. “I like spending time with you guys.”
He reaches over and puts his hand on my cheek. “We like it too, honey. Probably too much.”
He yawns, and I shake my head. “You should be resting. Go to sleep, and I’ll check on you every hour.”
“I want to sleep, but I don’t want to miss this.”
Confused, I ask, “Miss what?”
He smiles at me. “You in my bed.”
I roll my eyes, but he’s not done yet. “Come over here. I want to hold you while I sleep.”