Page 114 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

“Is there anything you want to pick up while we’re in town?” he asked.

“Would it be okay if we stop at the pharmacy?”

He frowned. “Are you in pain?”

She laughed. “No. Stop worrying. I want to pick up some moisturizer. My skin’s so dry and flaky from being in the cast all that time.”

“I can run in and pick some up. Do you know what kind you want?”

“No. I don’t know what kind they’ll have, and more importantly I want to go in myself. I need to get used to being mobile again.”

He gave her a rueful smile. “Yeah, right, sorry.”

“It’s okay. I think this will take some getting used to for both of us.”

“You can say that again.”

He did his best to leave her to her own devices as they wandered around the pharmacy. She found the cream that she wanted but after that she insisted on going up and down the aisles.

He carried a basket for her, and she kept putting things in it. First was the skin cream, then she found some new lipstick, then she stood for what felt like ages, sniffing little bottles of perfume. When he couldn’t take it any longer, he suggested, “If you want some new smelly stuff, we can take a look online and I’ll order you something.”

She shook her head with a smile. “You don’t get it, do you? I feel like I’ve just been let out of prison. I haven’t been in a store since I arrived here. Well, I went shopping with the girls last week, but… You know what I mean. I’m just enjoying being out and about – being free.”

Travis’s heart sank. He hated to think that while he’d enjoyed the time that they’d spent together so much, she’d been feeling trapped.

“Aww, Trav. Don’t look like that. I didn’t mean anything bad by it. You have to know how much I’ve enjoyed spending all this time together.”

He swallowed. His heart was pounding. A ball of dread formed in his stomach. Was this the point where she was going to say that while she’d enjoyed it, she didn’t need him anymore?

Her smile faded. “Please don’t look so worried. I love spending time with you. I love that we spend most of our time at home alone together. It’s just that for the last several weeks, I haven’t had an option. I’m not saying that I don’t want to keep doing exactly what we’ve been doing, it’s just that I’m going to enjoy doing other things as well – notinstead of, but as well. Can you understand that? I’m just enjoying being out in the world again, that’s all.”

He ran his hand over her hair. “Yeah, I get it, darlin’. I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for. I just need you to understand.”

“I do. I’ll do better.”

“You’re doing great. It’ll be an adjustment for us both. But we’ll find our way.”

As they drove back down the valley, he reached for her hand and was grateful when she took his and gave it a squeeze.

“What do you want to do this afternoon?” he asked.

“Something I haven’t been able to do in what feels like forever.”

He glanced over at her and cocked an eyebrow. “Should I be worried?”

She laughed. “You already know the answer to that. But relax, this isn’t something where I might hurt myself or fall or anything.”

“What then?”

“I want to finally fill up that amazing bathtub of yours and take a soak. Do you have a problem with that?”

He grinned. “Nope. Although, I might have one condition.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that. You know damn well I’ve had my eye on that tub since the first time I saw it.”

He chuckled. “I do.”

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