Page 137 of Collect the Pieces

Once it’s where I want it, he rolls my pants into place and lowers my shirt, then covers me with the blanket. The warmth slowly seeps into my body and a fraction of the achiness recedes. “That actually does feel a little better.”

“Good.” He stares down at me for a moment. “Do you want me to lie next to you for a while?”

Emotion wraps around my throat, holding my words hostage for a few beats. “I’d like that. A lot.”

“You got it.” He walks around to the other side of the bed. There’s a rustle of fabric, the ticking of his zipper, and the whomp of heavy denim landing on the floor. The covers lift and the mattress dips. “Not trying to be frisky,” he says as he eases closer and slides one arm underneath me. “Just don’t want to get my dirty clothes all over your sheets.”

A smile curves my lips. “You’re so perfect,” I murmur.

“What?”

“Nothing.” I settle against his body. Cocooned by his warmth, I let out a contented sigh.

He drapes his free arm over me and rubs slow circles over the heating pad and up to my stomach.

“Mmm.”

“Is that good or am I annoying you?” he asks.

“Good.”

“Okay.” He buries his face against my neck and inhales. “Get some sleep.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“Well, it’s early for bed and you came all this way…”

“Stop. I’m happy right here with you.” He kisses my neck. “You’re even being a good girl and letting me take care of you.”

I shake with quiet laughter. “It’s nice to be taken care of. You’re good at it.”

“Only for you,” he whispers against my ear, his hand still rubbing a soothing pattern. “If I can’t sleep, I brought my laptop. I’ll go out in the living room and do some work. If you need anything, just yell.”

“The Wi-Fi password is on a pink sticky note by my chair.”

“I’ll figure it out. You rest.”

“Okay.”

He’s quiet after that. His hand keeps moving in slow, rhythmic strokes over my stomach. Each pass seems to drag the tension from my body, leaving a weightless calm. His steady breathing grounds me.

Sometime later, he slips his arm out from under me, and I settle into my pillow with a sigh. The bed dips. He presses his palm over the heating pad and tucks the blankets around me.

Eyelids too heavy to open, I mumble my thanks.

My thoughts drift, untethered, slowly pulling me into sleep.

Jigsaw

Satisfied Margot’s asleep, I slide out of bed and out of her room, leaving the door ajar so I can hear her if she needs me. I pad to the laundry room, grabbing the sweats Margot seems to like me in and a T-shirt I left here last time. No need to risk Mr. Cedarwood catching me running downstairs to my truck in just my boxer briefs.

Once I have my bag, I’m back inside in less than a minute. No sudden appearances from her dad. No awkward small talk with her cousin.

Gretel yowls at me the second I step inside.

“Shhh.” I press a finger to my lips as if she understands what that means.

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