Page 22 of Timeless Pages
“Ok, let us help you up,” I told her. “We’ll take it nice and slow—no sudden movements. If you’d prefer, I could carry you,” I suggested.
The expression on Isa’s face told me she’d rather crawl to the bathroom on her hands and knees than let me carry her to the toilet, but surprisingly, she nodded.
“Poor Little Bell,” I crooned as I unhooked her from the oxygen and gently lifted her into my arms. “You must feel awful if you’re willing to let me carry you.” I kissed her forehead and felt her stiffen in my arms, but I ignored it. I meant what I said. I would never force myself on her, but I wouldn’t be subtle about my intentions.
“I can take it from here,” Isa whispered when I set her down.
“Are you sure? I can just turn around,” I offered.
Isa’s eyes widened in horror as she shook her head.
“Ok, ok. Don’t hurt yourself. I’ll leave,” I chuckled.
“How is she?” Evan asked when I closed the bathroom door behind me.
“She’s going to be just fine,” I told him. “Why don’t you call the doc and tell him she’s awake.”
Chapter fifteen
Isa
The doctor left, and I looked at my three hosts apprehensively. I didn’t know what happened next. Would they want me to leave? Now that my head was a little clearer, I couldn’t deny that I felt safest being with them. I didn't feel good about going back to the bookstore with my father still on the loose. I could get a hotel.
The doctor had taken the oxygen with him because I didn’t need it anymore, and told me as long as I went slowly, I was free to move around. I pushed the blankets off me and moved to get out of bed.
“Where are you going? What do you need?” Evan asked. The three men rushed to the side of the bed, blocking me from standing, with worried looks in their eyes.
“I could use a pair of shoes if you have them,” I whispered. Oh yeah, Doc also told me I couldn’t make any sounds above a whisper until my throat healed. Not that I found I had much of a choice in that. Whispering was the only way it didn’t hurt.
“Why do you need shoes?” Nate asked, eyes narrowing.
“Because I’d rather not walk around town barefoot?”
Dom knelt in front of me. “Are you leaving?”
“I don’t want to be a burden,” I whispered. They filled me in on what was going on and that Dave had called them after he called the police. “I doubt you intended to have a house guest when Dave called you. I can stay at a hotel until Father is caught, and it is safe to go back to the shop.”
“You aren’t a burden,” Dom replied. “We’d prefer it if you stayed.”
I eyed him uncertainly. I didn’t exactly fit into their lifestyle, whatever that was. And if they were just saying I wasn’t a burden to make me feel better, I’d rather leave.
“Ok. Truth time, Little Bell, since I’m done playing games and skirting around the issue,” Nate said, pushing Dom out of the way and invading my space.
He leaned over me, forcing me to lie back and prop up on my elbows. His hands landed on either side of my hips, and the bed dipped with his weight, bringing our faces closer together.
“We like you. Romantically. As in, we’d like to get to know you better and one day get married and have tons of babies.” My mouth fell open at his bluntness, and his eyes dropped to my lips momentarily before returning to meet mine. “We want to take care of you and keep you safe. Daniel is one of our lawyers, and we asked him to take your case.”
“Dude!” Dom exclaimed, running his hand through his hair. Evan looked equally nervous.
“That may piss you off, but I don’t care because his firm is the best around, and he will be able to help you win,” Nate said defiantly. “So you can be mad at us for interfering and helping when you asked us not to, but if you stopped being a stubborn brat, you would see it was for the best. If it helps, he wouldhave taken your case whether we asked him to or not because he wants to help you. We just got you in the door.”
I wasn’t sure what I was maddest at—finding out about Daniel or being called a stubborn brat. “Don’t call me names,” I growled, wincing.
Nate’s expression softened slightly. “Isa, I will never call you a derogatory name in anger. I will never belittle you. But I will call it like I see it, and if you’re being a stubborn brat, I will tell you. I won’t tiptoe around you because I respect you more than that.”
Why the hell did my stomach do a little flip-flop when he said he respected me? Oh, hell, did I have a praise kink? It would make sense if I did, but I wasn’t sure I wanted them to know about it yet. Wait. Did I want them to know about it at all? Fuck. He said they wanted to get married and have babies! Nate distracted me with the stuff about the lawyer.
“I don’t understand,” I said.
