Page 29 of Taken By Storm

“Little bear,” Levi said, loosely wrapping an arm around her middle to halt her escape. “You can either sit your cute ass down in that wheelchair, or I’m carrying you out of here.”

Keith snickered.

Kasi whirled on her brother. “You think that’s funny?”

“I don’t think it’snotfunny,” Keith replied, pure smart-ass. Apparently that trait ran in the family.

She scowled, then turned back to Levi. She clearly intended to give him the what-for as well, but he wasn’t in the mood. Every bit of her face was lined with exhaustion and pain. He was finished playing nice.

“Sit down, Kasi.Now,” he stressed.

She blinked a few times at his heated demand, then gave in, dropping down into the wheelchair. She started muttering something, but the only words Levi heard were “look stupid” and “cocky asshole.”

As he rolled her out of the exam room, Levi glanced over his shoulder at Keith. “I’ll drive her home.”

Not toherhome, but Kasi didn’t need to know that.

“You don’t have to come back to the farm. I’ll ride with Keith,” Kasi said.

Levi ignored her. “Why don’t you head on out, Keith. We’ll see you later.”

He pushed Kasi to the front desk, where Jessica waited with the discharge papers. The nurse’s eyes lit up when she saw Levi pushing the chair. Gossip was as treasured as gold in Gracemont, and he and Kasi were about to star in whatever romantic tale Jessica cooked up to spread around.

“Okay. I’ll see you guys there.” Keith left the hospital, while Kasi signed the discharge papers. Jessica made some comment about how nice it was of Levi to pick her up, but Kasi didn’t take the bait, merely shrugging without saying a word.

The second they hit the exit to the hospital, Kasi hopped out of the wheelchair, storming toward his truck so quickly, he had to jog a couple steps to catch her. When he did, he wrapped his arm around her waist. She’d just passed out. The last thing he needed was for her to take another tumble.

“Slow down,” he said.

Kasi shot him a dirty look but matched his more leisurely pace.

Levi opened her door, helping her inside before leaning over to buckle her seat belt.

“Seriously?” she muttered. “I’m not an invalid, Levi.”

He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek then shut her door, circling his truck to climb behind the wheel. Rather than startit, he twisted to face her. “That bump on the head knock the grumpy into you?”

Kasi’s arms were crossed, and she was silently fuming. His question, however, knocked some of the wind out of her sails, and her shoulders drooped.

“No. I’m sorry. I just…” She sighed. “I didn’t need to go to the hospital. I told Keith I was fine. The last thing we need is another fucking bill. And now I’ve lost a couple hours of sales because the stand isn’t open.”

“Pete opened the stand on time, and Remi’s probably there by now, taking over so he and his brother can finish picking the beans for tomorrow’s deliveries.”

Kasi’s eyes widened. “Oh.”

Her astonishment told him just how accustomed she’d become to doing everything on her own. It hadn’t even occurred to her to ask for help.

Levi frowned, certain Kasi wouldn’t have said anything about the money if she wasn’t so rattled and pissed off. It certainly answered his concerns about her family having financial difficulties. He tucked that information away to discuss with her later. For now, he had bigger fish to fry. “By the way, those stitches in your head seem to say something different about you needing medical care. Your brother was right to bring you here.”

“Fine. Whatever,” she said dismissively, leaning back against the seat wearily. “Can you just take me home?”

Levi studied her face, the dark circles under her eyes even more pronounced than they’d been yesterday. “Keith said you passed out again.”

She turned her head to look out the window, not bothering to answer him.

“Did you eat today?” he asked.

Kasi continued to look away from him, even as she shook her head.

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