Page 42 of Redemption

I snorted. “You’re the sober one for once.”

His arm stiffened around me at my words. The warmth from his body flowed through me, thawing my fuzzy head.

“I’m sorry I didn’t—”

“It’s fine,” he gritted out.

I didn’t know what was wrong with me but I suddenly did not feel very good at all. “I wanna go home,” I whimpered. The cool evening air kissed my skin as he took me outside.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry I can’t get you there quicker.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t drive you. I’m not allowed to drive.”

“Oh,” was all my fuzzy brain could muster. The bright lights from the street all bled into one and I groaned. “I wanna get home, Jack. I don’t feel good at all. What’s wrong with me?” His arm around me tightened and pulled me closer into the wall of his chest as we stumbled down the street together.

“I know you don’t. Your damn date’s a fucking asshole!” he growled. “I caught him putting something in your drink. I’m only sorry I didn’t see him do it the first time.”

“Oh my God,” I cried, clinging tightly to Jack’s arm.

“I wanted to beat the crap outta him but I can’t risk it.”

I looked up at him, his mouth pinched tight, his expression unreadable. “Because you’ll go back to prison?” I whispered.

He nodded sharply. He didn’t say anything more after that and I didn’t ask. I didn’t know how far we’d walked but I was tired, absolutely exhausted and I started stumbling. My legs wouldn’t work and my vision was blurry. The fourth time I stumbled, he swore to himself and then he was hefting me into his arms.

“What are you doing?” I mumbled, pushing against his chest but my hands were just pressing against a block of granite, it was futile.

“You can’t walk, Kat. We’re nearlyhome, then you can get into bed. After you vomit because that’s probably gonna happen.”

I groaned, scrubbing a hand down my face before resting my head against his shoulder, my arms circling his neck. The slightly curled ends of his hair were tickling my fingers and I longed to curl my fist in the soft strands. His scent invaded my nostrils in a tantalizing way and I groaned.

“You gonna hurl?” he asked, pausing his steps.

“Not right now. God, why do you always find me when I’m hurling?” I grumbled and a deep laugh shook his chest, bouncing my head.

I think I dozed off at some point and woke when the ranch came into view. “Please don’t tell my sisters,” I whispered.

He grunted. “Sorry sweetheart, I gotta tell someone so they can look after you.”

“No, please, I don’t want them to worry about me. Just put me in my room and then go.”

He shifted me in his arms. I’m not a small woman, I can’t have been light but he was easily carrying me. “I can’t. What if you choke on your vomit in the night? Someone needs to watch over you until morning.”

I’m going to blame it on my altered state, that can only be the reason why I suggested what I did. “Put me in the cabin then, you can stay with me. Please, I don’t want to worry the girls, they’ve had so much to worry about recently. I won’t be one more thing.”

We got closer to the house, the ground lit up from the lights on the porch and I saw the look of indecision flash across his far too handsome features.

“Please Jack? I’m sorry I’m inconveniencing you but please help me out?”

He swore again, he did that a lot. “I told you I’d doanything you asked,” he murmured, looking down at me and something dark passed behind his eyes. Neither of us said anything, we just stared at each other as he took me past the house and towards the cabin.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Jack

God, the way she looked up at me from under her lashes, all naked vulnerability.

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