Page 46 of Silver Hills' Christmas Miracle

“Twenty minutes too long,” Rook growled, and his entire body tightened up. “Aaron is lucky he’s still walking.”

“It’s sweet that you would beat him up for me,” I murmured, “but I’m glad you focused on rescuing me.”

“Always,” Rook answered immediately, and his eyes locked onto mine. “When you vanished, I–I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t even think. I just started digging because there was no way I was letting you get taken from me like that.”

Rook lifted one bandaged hand and cupped my cheek. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

Warmth prickled up the back of my neck and flooded my cheeks as I stared deep into Rook’s eyes. He really meant it, I could tell by the open honesty across his face. There was still a twitch of fear, too, each time his brow dipped as he studied my face.

“I was scared too,” I murmured, then I leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. Just as I pulled away, the urge for more rose up like a wave so I pressed forward and kissed him again.And again. Rook leaned into our kisses and slid his hand down to the side of my neck. Lips wove over lips, battling for dominance that ended when Rook shoved his tongue into my mouth like he was so desperate for a taste that nothing else mattered.

We kissed until the machine next to me started to beep loudly in time with my racing heart. After one last kiss, we parted, and Rook finally gave me a faint smile.

“I’m not leaving your side, okay?” Rook said softly. “I never should have let that date happen.”

“Well,” I groaned, sinking back into the plush pillows and trying to find warmth in the blankets, “it’s a damn good excuse not to go to the ball with him.”

Rook snorted, then stood abruptly when the door to my room swung open. Mom rushed in first, and she made a beeline for my bed.

“Kitty! Oh, Kitty. I was so worried. Are you alright? Are you hurt?” She patted my cheek and repeatedly stroked my hair as she clutched at my hand and looked me over.

“I’m okay,” I replied. “I sprained my ankle and they’re running some tests because of the dirty water, but other than being really cold, I’m okay.”

“Oh, thank God,” Mom gasped. “Thank God you were there!” She turned to Rook and grasped both of his arms. “Thank you, thank you!” Then she turned back to me. “Oh, Kitty. I knew you were reckless, but this is something else.”

My heart sank. “What?”

“This wasn’t her fault, Ma’am,” Rook said.

“Then whose was it?” came Dad’s voice as he stalked into the room. He looked angry and his brow knit together as he glared at Rook.

For the first time since meeting him, I saw something snap in Rook and anger flashed across his face.

“With all due respect,Sir,” Rook ground out, “the fault of your daughter getting injured lies squarely on your shoulders.”

“How dare you?” Dad yelled. “Who do you think you are talking to?”

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Rook snapped, and his voice raised. “You’re half the man I used to know and this pathetic, weak, greedy rat in his place is hardly what I would call a friend. That barn collapsed due to the flooding caused by all the unsteady ground around here because you’ve cut down enough trees that shit is sinking! And instead of working with your town to rebuild important places like the barn, you make the problem worse!”

My Dad looked utterly stunned. His mouth hung open and his eyes were wide as he stared at Rook yelling in his face.

“And that second collapse nearly killed Kitty! Open your eyes, man!” Rook yelled. “No highway is worth endangering this entire town or your daughter!”

There was a very quiet silence for a few long seconds after Rook finished.

My dad straightened up, licked his lips, and then said two words.

“You’re fired.”

20

ROOK

“You’re fired.”

Those words haunted me for my last two days in hospital. I had saved Kitty’s life, and Samuel had fired me on the spot even though nothing I said was wrong. I spoke the truth, and I’d half hoped it would be enough to finally get through to Samuel, but he was far too stubborn. He took the easy route of firing me as if that would make the truth go away.

The only silver lining was that Kitty refused to let me leave. I was no longer her bodyguard, no longer the security to keep her safe. But I stayed as her friend, much to her father’s fury. Her mother was mostly on Kitty’s side, but that was definitely influenced by how scared she was of losing her daughter.

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