Page 41 of Bravo

“I would’ve gotten changed first. Grabbed supplies.” Again, she arches a brow. I chuckle. “Fine, I’ll be more careful next time.”

“That’s all I ask.” With a beaming smile, she retrieves her med bag and heads toward the door. “I’ve got to get back to the clinic for my afternoon appointments. Call me if you need me, okay? Love you!”

“Love you too!” I call after her as she leaves the kitchen and heads out. I hear her give the others a hard time for hiding from Sharon again; then the front door closes.

I’ve just finished my glass of water when my mom comes into the kitchen. “Hey, honey! You hungry?”

“Not really,” I tell her. “I was just about to go check on Sammy.”

“Good. I took her some food, so you can make sure she eats it. She’s not happy about being in the guest room.” Her brow furrows. “That girl. Stubborn as they come.”

“Why isn’t she happy about being in the guest room?”

“Says she doesn’t want to be an imposition. It breaks my heart to think she believes she could ever be one.”

My thoughts drift back to what she said in the barn yesterday morning. That she and Rev had bonded over traumatic pasts. Is that what’s causing her insecurities about us caring for her? Her childhood or a past relationship?

“I’ll go talk to her.”

“Good. Thanks. And please take her this too. Maybe she’s in the mood for something sweet.” She plates a piece of pie from the leftovers we had after dinner last night then offers it to me.

“Done.”

“Good. Dinner is at seven tonight.”

“Sounds great.” Pie in hand, I head up the stairs and down the hall. The guest bedroom door is closed, so I pause a moment and take a deep breath to steady the nerves in the pit of my stomach.

I can still recall how it felt to hold her in that shed, and the desire to wrap my arms around her again has only grown with every passing hour. The only reason I didn’t come sooner is because I can’t seem to shut down this need to see her. To talk to her. Which I’m starting to think is a problem. I’m falling hardand fast, and I’m a man who likes my feet on solid ground. At least until I know whether or not the feelings are reciprocated.

Before I can change my mind and recruit Elliot for the pie delivery job, I raise my fist and knock.

“Come in,” Sammy calls out.

I gently turn the knob and step into the room. The curtains are open, so the room is full of vibrant light from the bright sun outside. Sammy is lying on the bed, covered by a thick floral comforter, except for her injured leg, which is wrapped and propped up on a stack of pillows.

Her foot is bare, and her bright pink toenails make me smile just a bit. That is until I get a look at the lush honey-colored waves of her hair falling over her shoulders.

She’s stunning.

Breathtaking.

“Hey,” she says. “How is Rev?”

That would be her first question.I smile and set the pie down on the nightstand. “This is for you,” I tell her. “My mom sent it up in case you wanted something sweet. As for Rev, he’s doing just fine, thanks to you. The vet came and saw him earlier and said that, had you not gotten to him when you did, he could’ve ended up lame. So thanks.”

“No need to thank me.”

I take a seat in a high-backed chair in the corner of the room. “I do need to thank you. Especially with how frustrated I was that you were out there.”

“You weren’t wrong. It was foolish to run out unprepared. I have a habit of not thinking through decisions sometimes. I just run.”

Because I sense there’s a lot more to that than she’s willing to discuss, I opt for a subject change. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. But I told your mom I really should go back to my cabin.”

“Why the hurry? Is the room not comfortable? I could?—”

“No, it’s fine. I just—I don’t want to be a burden.”

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