Page 24 of Giddy-Up
Who the hell gets injureddoing laundry?
Riley does apparently.
Stupid fricking ironing board.
Now here she was in Wade’s big, strong arms, being carried home like a child.Every ranch hand they passed on the way to her trailer was stifling a snigger.This was humiliating.Even for her.And definitely not how she imagined their first encounter would go after their date.
“My ankle is fine.Really.I can walk.”This must have been the fifth time she’d told him this, but her protest was falling on deaf ears.
“You just like hopping for the hell of it, right?”Wade’s face turned to her then, blinding her with white teeth and dimples.As if she wasn’t already drunk on his cologne, this was the last thing she needed.
She was quiet.Staring into deep blue.Her mouth getting dryer and dryer by the second.Evidently, it wasn’t the smartest route to take.Her staring at him, caused him to stop in his tracks.
“You okay, petal?”
She wasn’t, which is probably why a “no” slipped from her lips.
“Can I ask why?”He looked more amused than concerned.
“People are laughing.”
“Who’s laughing?”He grinned.
Well, he was for a start.“Davey and Robert.”
“They weren’t laughing, darlin’.I can promise you that.”
She wanted to ask how he could promise her that, but she refrained.It would only prolong whatever this was.She needed him to move and get her home, so she could hide under her blanket for the rest of the evening.
“Let’s uh, let’s just...”There were so many things she could have said like, let’s go, carry on, walk, but no.Instead, God knows why, she said, “Giddy-up.”
This is why the facepalm emoji exists.
Okay, now he was laughing.And not hiding it.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said in between laughs.
It was the best response she could hope for, that and the fact he’d started moving again.Now all she had to do was not die of embarrassment until they got back to her trailer.
The morning had started off so well.She was still basking in last night’s kiss, the sun was out, and she was having an easy day at work.Until she wasn’t.
Thankfully, Wade’s long legs got them back quicker than she could even walk.But once he’d placed her on her couch, he didn’t leave like a good guest should.Instead, he bagged up ice, put a pot of coffee on and went about making her a snack.
“Are you seriously making a grilled cheese right now?”She twisted to get a good look at him.
Wade didn’t look up as he flipped the sandwich.“You need to eat.”
“Says who?”
“Says me.You need to keep your strength up.”
She could feel her face contort into awhat the fuckexpression.“For an ankle injury?”
“Yup.”He was already plating up.“That and you need to rest, which means not putting unnecessary weight on it.Making your own food would put unnecessary weight on it.”
Riley rolled her eyes.“Okay, Doctor Wade.”
She didn’t even know why she was being so salty.She loved grilled cheese.It just felt weird.She didn’t understand why he was here.Looking after her.
