Page 208 of Burn the Wild

“We’ll both be okay,” I tell him.

“Yeah,” he says softly, running a thumb over my bandages. Ford’s seen it all. The ugly aftermath. My scars. They’ll be faint, but I’ll always have them.

“No arguments,” he says, his expression stern. “Nap time.”

“Beck and call, huh?”

“Until you’re better, Birdie.” The look he gives me scorches. “And every day after.”

I step into his arms and give his neck a nuzzle. “This is where we met.”

Glancing over his shoulder at the bar, he chuckles. “Still want to throw a glass of water in my face?”

I grip his shirt and tug him closer. I’m so damn ready for him to kiss me. “I can think of better things to do with you now.”

He leans in and kisses my lips. “Prove it.”

A MONTH LATER

“Ford, please,” Reese pouts over the sound of the game coming from the TV. “I can’t watch anymore baseball.”

I hover behind the back of the couch, beer in hand, eyes on the screen. “But it’s the World Series,” I answer cheerfully.

She tilts her head back to look at me. “The Yankees win. The Yankees always win.”

“Then a nap,” I say smugly, leaning down to scoop her off the couch.

Her face pulls into suspicion. “You’re trying to distract me.”

Damn right I am, but she doesn’t need to know that.

“Takin’ care of you, baby.” I tuck her into bed, kissing away her protest. “I want you to rest, okay?”

She nods, all sweet and sleepy-eyed. Fuck, she’s beautiful.

“Don’t go.” My chest aches as she stretches a slender arm out.

I touch her fingertips. “I’ll be right back.”

“Hurry.” She cuddles the pillow and shuts her eyes.

I stand there a long second, drinking her in, fighting emotion. My beautiful, brave girl. The best thing that’s ever happened to me is safe and warm in my bed. I’m well aware I’ve been acting like some overprotective fool for the last month, but I can’t fucking help it. I almost lost her.

A stab of pain goes through me when I see her scarred arms. When I think about what could have happened—how close I came…

It’ll haunt me for the rest of my life. But when I reach over at night, feeling for her, she’s there. Never leaving my side again.

She’s still healing, still haunted by what happened, and I’ll be protective every step of the way.

One last look and then I force my pathetic ass out of the bedroom and through the apartment. My heart beats a nervous rhythm in my chest as I get busy around the kitchen. I fumble with my phone and put on a playlist I know Reese likes.

Reese was right when she said I was trying to distract her.

I am.

Next week, we fly to Georgia to meet her parents. And then mine.

There’s no damn way she’s not wearing my ring on her finger.

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