Page 9 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

“I live alone. In a cabin. You won’t be noticed.” His thumb brushed my hand. “Please.”

Nodding, I picked up my purse. “I’m probably going to regret this. And don’t bother making a list because I’m only grabbing jeans and a shirt. That’s it.”

“Thanks.”

“And when I get back, I want you to tell me what happened. Who did this to you?”

His eyes narrowed. “Maybe.”

“That sounded a lot like ‘later’ to me. I’m agreeable to that. Now tell me where I’m supposed to go.”

With detailed directions, complete with landmarks visible in the dark, I drove to the ranch. I slowed down as I pulled through the gate as if that would make me harder to see. When I reached the fork in the road, I followed his directions, hoping I was remembering correctly. Three cabins came into view, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Avoiding the first cabin, so I didn’t wake the woman who lived there, I rolled to a stop in front of the third cabin. He said it wouldn’t be locked, and he was right.

Stomping on my curiosity, I avoided the temptation to snoop around the place. In the bedroom, I grabbed a pair of jeans off the floor and picked the softest t-shirt out of the drawer.

Back in the car, I drove back toward the gate, hoping police didn’t show up at my door tomorrow to arrest me for breaking and entering.

I hadn’t broken anything. I’d just entered. Was that a crime?

Chapter 3

When I arrived back at the hospital, Garrett was talking loud enough to be understood by everyone. “When can I get out of here?” He glanced at me as I stepped into the curtained area, then focused on the nurse.

She shook her head. “This isn’t a prison. I’ll get the doctor and see about discharge papers.”

“You are in such a hurry to leave, but you don’t want anyone at the ranch to know you’re hurt. You baffle me.” I set his clothes at the foot of the bed. “Here are your clothes.”

“Tessa.”

I froze, remembering how he’d shocked me that day in the doughnut shop when he’d said my name. “Yeah?”

“You’ve done so much to help me, but can I ask for one more favor?” He held out his brace.

I put my hand on it, resting the side of my finger against his thumb. “What do you need?”

“When they release me, will you drive me somewhere?”

“That’s it? That’s the big favor?” I needed to stop letting this guy hold my hand. I just didn’t want to stop because it felt nice. “Of course I’ll drive you.”

His thumb moved back and forth, ramping up the nice feelings. “Thanks.”

“I’ll wait for you out there, in the waiting room. Hopefully the nurses can get you dressed.”

His nurse walked around the curtain. “I’ll help him.” She didn’t look like she minded all that much. Maybe she was ready to be rid of him.

Thirty minutes later, for the second time in one night, Garrett was helped into the passenger seat of my car. At least this time, it wasn’t me loading him into the car.

The seat covers were in my trunk, and I didn’t have even a glimmer of hope they’d ever come clean.

Instead of rushing to the shop to make the doughnuts, I was helping Garrett. But only until I took him where he wanted to go. Then I’d race to the shop and figure something out. Hopefully.

“Okay, Mr. Stubborn, where am I taking you?” My lack of sleep had my normal filter on the fritz.

He reached across and touched my arm. “Thank you for everything. Just take me to a hotel.”

I glanced at his bare chest. “I brought you a shirt.”

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