Page 11 of Wild Card

I’m tipsy.

There’s no way I would have said that otherwise, but it is true. The idea of going back to my room at the bed-and-breakfast makes my eyes ache, like I might burst into tears.

“Please?” I ask, holding on even tighter.

He curses under his breath and finally nods. “You’re a whole bundle of trouble.”

I smile sincerely for the first time in way too long. “Thanks, Bear.”

He grunts, and somehow, it only makes me grin wider.

“If you’re going to be sick, try to give me some warning,” Bear says, like maybe he has psychic abilities.

I was fine at first, but the jostling of being carried seems to have caught up with my unsettled stomach.

There’s ambient lighting from the streetlights and business signs.

The cool air would normally help my upset stomach. It’s definitely better than the cloying heat that comes in late spring and summer in New York.

“I don’t…” My head shakes as bile rises in my throat.

Bear immediately sets me on my feet and turns me away from the street.

My body doesn’t give me any additional time to process as I lean over, vomiting in the bushes that line the sidewalk. The retching continues with violent sounds that echo around us.

This isn’t my finest moment and, of course, I have an audience to witness it.

“Well, I saw that coming,” he says, wrapping his hand in my hair to keep it out of my face. His other runs over my back as I keep heaving. There’s no good reason why I haven’t melted into a puddle of actual embarrassment. “Get it out. You’ll feel better once the alcohol is no longer churning around in your gut.”

I vaguely remember standing up, but after that, it’s only flashes of him carrying me to his house and offering me a bottle of water.

“Maybe just rinse for now? I’m not sure swallowing more liquids will help.” He offers me a handful of napkins.

I fail to take them as the room spins, and he carefully pats my mouth.

“I’m so sorry,” I mumble. “Thank you for making sure I didn’t leave with those guys.”

“They should be very lucky you didn’t,” he grunts cryptically before scooping me up.

Bear brings me into the bathroom and busts a new toothbrush out of a container.

He helps me stay upright while I brush. Once I’m done, he sighs heavily and says, “Hand me my coat. I’m sure you need to pee before bed.”

I frown, and my eyes fly to the ceiling as I evaluate if he’s right. “I probably should before I sleep.”

He chuckles a low, throaty sound that makes my entire body shiver. “Do you need help getting out of my jacket?”

I never thought full-on caveman would be my style, but dammit, Bear is really hot. The combination of his strong features, with the bushy eyebrows and thick beard just really works for him. Add in the long, wavy hair, and he might not be classically handsome, but he is smoking hot in a manly way that’s hard to explain.

My face heats as I realize I’ve been creeping on him while he’s been waiting for me to hand off his coat.

“Sorry,” I whisper.

Bear gently shoves my hands away. “No need to apologize. I’m a caregiver. This is where I thrive, but I also don’t want to be a pushy asshole.”

Would anyone really complain about being taken care of?

“Here’s a trash can,” the big guy growls, shoving it next to the bed. “Don’t vomit on my bed. If you have to puke, make it into the trash can, or I will…”

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