Page 45 of Derek
“I got it Darlin’. Are you alright?” I ask again.
“I’ll need about forty-five minutes to finish things down here, and then I’ll need help getting up there to clean your parents and help your mom with exercises.” She states before turning and walking away.Oh no, fuck this.
I turn to Carter. “Take this up to them.”
He scoffs, “Uh, I have to go to wo–”
“I ain’t repeating myself,” I warn before walking to Indy’s room. I don’t bother knocking as I open the door and walk in.
“What the hell!” She gasps, hands over her chest.
“I was gonna ask you the same thing. What’s going on? Did the old man say something? Because just know he is a dick. He don’t mean nothing by it.” She furrows her brows.
“What? No! Your dad is fine. I mean, yeah, I can definitely see where you get your sparkling personality.” I choose not to respond to that. “But no, he’s fine.”
“Then why are you…” I gesture up and down her body. “Not you.”
She raises a brow. “Derek, I am in a different time zone. I’m bloated from the plane ride, and I’m coming up on my period. I got exactly one hour of horrible sleep last night, and my left hand is trembling, and it’s pissing me off.”
“Oh,” I guess those are valid points. “Then why are you ignoring Carter?” Indy rolls her eyes.
“Because I am trying to break him of his flirting before Ozzy gets here.” I walk over to her until we are standing closer.
“Are you sure that’s it?” I watch her eyes flick to my lips before looking away.
“Yeah, don’t worry about it. Once my medicine kicks in, I’ll be able to fake the smiles.” She starts to walk away, but I grab her wrist.
“Hey now, I don’t want your fake smiles.” Her eyes are red-rimmed and bloodshot, like she’s been crying.
“Darlin,” I whisper as I cup her cheek, and I nearly flinch as a sob racks through her small frame. She starts to crumble, but I grip her in my arms as I slide to the floor, pulling her into my lap. “Indy,” I hug her close as she continues to cry, and I feel so helpless.
“God, baby, please talk to me. How can I fix it?” She sobs harder as she buries her face deeper against me. Resting my back against the wall, I hold her protectively in my arms as she sobs harder and harder each time her body shakes from the force of the cry, causing my heart to crack a little more. “Shhhh…” I whisper against her hair as I rub her back. “Let me help you, please,” I beg. I don’t beg for anything, but right here, right now, I will if it means I can take her pain away.
“I just…” her tiny voice squeaks out. “I’m feeling my limitations more than I expected to.” She pulls back and sniffles. “I’m supposed to be eager to help, and it took everything out of me to get those danishes done, which, sorry, you hated them. If you tell me what you like, I can–”
“I loved them.” I blurt out. “That wasn’t mine. I had actually already eaten three. Apple is my favorite, by the way. Ummm…” I take a nervous breath, not wanting to admit this, but maybe it will distract her some, even if it’s just a small amount to calm her down for a moment. “The one I pitched was Carter’s. He made some comment about marrying you because of your baking skills, and it pissed me off.” Indy stares at me momentarily, and I watch as the corners of her mouth lift slightly before a dimple-popping grin appears on her face. I feel the vise on my heart loosen slightly at the sight.
“Ohhhh… jealous?” I roll my eyes.
“No, I just don’t want that idiot around you,” I mutter, and she chuckles before leaning in and giving me a hug.
“Thank you for talking to me and holding me. I just don’t want to mess up.”
I pull her to face me. “Indy, you’re doing a great job. Just breathe, it’s been one day. I’m sure this is a culture shock, and your MS and the time change, plus my old man is not the easiest patient.” She chuckles lightly while I continue to hold her face in my hands. “But you are doing a great job, and I am so grateful for you doing this.”
“Don’t freak out, okay?” she says, and I cock my head to one side.
“Okay?” I say slowly as she lets out a breath before leaning in and pressing her lips to mine. My body goes ramrod straight, and I’m about to freak out, I am very, very much about to freak the absolute fuck out. But before I can, she pulls back. The kiss was so soft and sweet like a thank you.
After helping her up, I decide I need to get the fuck away from Indy and take my leave, going outside to hammer… something, anything. I don’t know, I’ll find a tree trunk and wail on it for a few hours. I need to find something to do that gets me away from that fucking beautiful woman and her soft fucking lips.
* * *
“Get the fuck out.”Jensen’s wide blue eyes stare at me in horror as he starts shoving me toward the house. I have spent the entire day outside, save for the handful of times Indy needed my help. Other than that, I’ve been shoveling manure, moving hay, fixing fence posts, and repairing the siding on the house. Anything to stay the fuck outside.
“Why?” I ask, jumping off the ladder and ignoring the pain in my knees.
“Justine’s truck is coming up the drive.” My stomach might have just fallen out of my ass. I look over and see a white and blue flatbed truck.
