Page 19 of Saving Jared

Normally he would’ve said no, but tonight it sounded like a good idea. “I appreciate it.” He dismounted and handed the reins to the young ranch hand. “Give him some extra oats for me too, if you will. He’s had a long day.”

“I’ll take care of him,” Danny said with a smile before leading Chaz away.

Jared eyed the house again. Then he couldn’t help but snort at how ridiculous he was being. “Jared, my man, you’ve lost your damned mind.” This was his house and Willa was only a guest in it.

And the sooner they reestablished that, the better.

He repeated that several times to himself as he climbed the steps and entered through the porch’s screen door. Maybe after saying it enough times he’d start to get the message. He paused with his hand on the doorknob once he got to the kitchen door.

"Right," he muttered as he took off his hat and let himself in.

What greeted him stopped him short with a long, low breath.

He hadn’t been sure what to expect when he first saw Willa in his home again. It certainly hadn’t been her with her head on his kitchen table, passed out asleep. An almost imperceptible, snuffling snore left her. Now, wasn’t that cute? Although he doubted she would think so. Women were funny about those kinds of things.

He set his hat on one of the hooks by the door and drew closer, then frowned at the faint scent of smoke. What Willa did took a lot of bravery, especially after what she’d witnessed as a child—something that still haunted her if her nightmare was anything to go by. And she did it all with nothing but her gear separating her from danger. His chest constricted at the thought of Willa in the middle of a blaze like the one that had taken her parents. To know she willingly faced those same horrors on a daily basis amazed him.

Sheamazed him.

His eyes traced over her slumped shoulders. If he could, he’d pick her up and carry her up to his bed where he would take care of her the rest of the night.

Not for sex.

Although having her body wrapped around his had been high on his wish list the last few days. But for now, just holding her. Maybe shouldering some of the burden he’d begun to sense she carried around with her. A burden he now believed had begun the night she’d lost two of the most important people in her life.

Today had to have been a hard day for her too, especially to have fallen asleep like that. But knowing her big heart and tendency to give her all—something he’d witnessed time and again over the years—if needed, she would be right back out there regardless of how worn out she was.

I should’ve helped.

Willa had whispered those words to him that night so long ago—had voiced them in her sleep. And though her brothers hadn’t been happy when she’d chosen her line of work, it hadn’t surprised him. She needed to help, and that was exactly what she was doing. He couldn’t admire her more.

His chest constricted again, but this time for a different reason.

I think I’m in trouble.

Jared eased behind her chair, grabbed the back of it, and bent toward Willa’s ear. This close, the acrid scent of smoke grew stronger, and he tightened his grip on the wood. She’d definitely been in a fire.

"Mmm…" She stirred and let out a quiet groan—one that had him letting out one of his own—before she released a long breath.

Dammit. Now wasn’t the time to get hard. Not when he’d convinced himself they couldn’t be together. But that small reminder of the sexy sounds she’d made in the darkness had him wishing for more.

But that was before another low groan sounded when she repositioned her head on her folded arms. Weariness, even in sleep, marred her profile, chasing away any thoughts of intimacy. No way could she be comfortable.

“Wilhelmina,” Jared whispered. “Why don’t you—Ow!” He let go of the chair and staggered back, grabbing his nose with both hands while Willa jumped from her chair and whirled toward him.

“Oh, my god,” she cried out as his ass hit one of the counters behind him and his vision wavered. A fist slamming into his nose wouldn’t have been as painful as the back of her head. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.” But it wasn’t. It hurt like hell. “I shouldn’t have startled you.”

“I didn’t… I thought…” His eyes watered as she grimaced and moved toward him. “Here,” she said reaching out her hand. “Let me look at it.”

“No.” He furiously shook his head, which he quickly regretted. Then he tentatively touched along the bridge of his nose. “I don’t think it’s broken or anything.” Nothing came away on his fingers when he barely wiped over his nostrils. “It’s not bleeding.”

“So, now you have medical training?” she asked, fisting her hands on her hips. She dared to raise a haughty brow at him. “I don’t think so. So let me look."

He tilted his head back and away from her fingers closing in on his throbbing nose. "Just be easy."

"Jared. Come on." She tightened her twitching lips. Was she laughing at him? "I promise I’ll be gentle."

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