Page 83 of Daddy's Heart

Wasn’t he?

She grimaced as she took too large of a breath, which had him shaking his head.

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow. It’s late and you need to rest.” He reached for her and cupped her elbow, leading her away from the guestroom and back to his bed. “My bed is bigger and softer. You’ll be more comfortable,” he said. “I can take the guestroom if you want.”

She swallowed. Did she want that?

“Let me help you with your shirt.” He worked the buttons of the blouse open and slid the material off her shoulders. She watched his face as he took in the bruises already forming on her chest. A solid wall of fierceness. “Your bra too, sweetheart.” He reached around her and unclasped her bra with one hand, easing it off her with the other. She winced and stepped back too fast, sending a sharp pain coursing through her chest.

“Shit.” She heaved a breath, which only made everything worse.

“Easy,” he said, working her pants off. “I’ll get your jammies.” He jogged from the room, leaving her to stare at the open door, waiting in only her panties.

Her jammies.

She gritted her teeth to keep her head from wandering down that road. In the morning. She could talk to him in the morning, when the meds wore off more, when the pain wasn’t so harsh…when she could figure out what the hell she was going to do now.

Ryder wouldn’t throw her out, especially not after what happened. He was a good guy, and good guys didn’t do things like that. He’d be kind, and patient, and all around wonderful because she was injured. And she’d be taking full advantage of him now that she knew what he really felt. What he actually wanted.

George had warned her he wasn’t the settling down sort of guy. And Ryder never promised her anything.

“Here we go.” He rushed back into the room carrying her lavender nightgown with a Care Bear print and her pharmacy bag. She closed her eyes at the rush of embarrassment overwhelming her.

“Easy now,” he slowly dressed her in the nightgown, careful not to move her arms too fast. Once she had her night shirt on, she climbed into bed beneath the thick quilt. “Does it hurt a lot?” he asked once she was snuggled into the pillows.

“Only when I move…or breathe,” she said, keeping her eyes fixated on his chin. White dust laced his beard. He’d come straight from work to see her at the hospital. He had to be tired.

He pulled the pill bottle from the bag, worked a pill out, and handed it to her. “This will help.” He grabbed the bottle of water and twisted the cap. “Down the hatch.” He smiled, but beneath the easy upturn of his lips was worry.

“Am I going to have to talk to the police again? I heard one of them say something about another statement?” She tossed the pill to the back of her throat and gulped down the water.

“I don’t think so.” He took the bottle back and put it on the nightstand. “They’ll call if they need something else.” He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the blankets up higher to her chin. “Does your jaw hurt?” He lightly touched the bruise with his fingertips.

“No, not really. But my ribs hurt so much, I think they’re drowning out anything else. I’ll be okay. I won’t—” She paused a beat. She needed to put out his concern. “I won’t be a bother for long, I promise. I should be able to move out in a week, maybe sooner.”

His brows snapped together in record speed. “What does that have to do with anything? You aren’t a bother.” He leaned closer to her, lining up his gaze with hers. “Do you hear me, little girl. You are not a bother, and where you live isn’t an urgent situation. You rest until you’re better.”

She swallowed back her argument. Her head was getting fuzzy, and he’d brought out his Daddy voice.

“We can talk later.” She yawned and wiggled further under the blanket.

He pinched his lips together with notable frustration.

“We will.” He nodded and got to his feet. “Sleep for now. I’ll stay in the guestroom—”

“No.” She reached for his hand. The need to feel his touch, the warmth of his grip, overwhelmed her for a brief moment. The moment her fingers touched his, the tears she’d been trying to hold back flooded.

“What is it, sweetheart? Your chest?” He gripped her hand tighter.

She shook her head. “You don’t have to stay in the guestroom, that’s all.” She released his hand.

He stood over her, staring down at her with confusion and hurt. “Okay, I’m going to go get cleaned up, then I’ll be in. You just rest.” The bed dipped when he leaned forward with his hands on the mattress. He planted a kiss to her forehead. The kiss lingered, as though he were trying to memorize the moment.

“Okay,” she whispered when he moved away again.

He stopped at the doorway, looking back at her with a loaded expression. Like he wanted to say everything and nothing at the same time.

In the end, he flipped off the light and quietly closed the door behind him, leaving her alone in the bedroom.

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