Page 43 of Silver Sanctuary
“Stop it.” His hand slipped over hers. “I don’t want you to cook and clean. My girlfriend doesn’t have to earn her keep here. I love cooking, and if I wasn’t feeling up to it, I would be happy to bring dinner home for us all every day from Dolly’s. Or I’d take my girls out. I want you to stay here to have a safe place to live and because I actually enjoy being around you and Embrie. It’s the best part of my day when I get to see you. So, why would I not want you here, where I can see you all the time?”
“Your girlfriend?” Lacy hated to admit it, but her mind sort of short circuited at the label.
His face turned red, the color a striking difference to the salt and pepper of his hair. Her eyes traced the worry lines that started to form between his brows.
“Actually, after our appointment tomorrow, I’m hoping to change that title.”
She knew the meds would make her drowsy, but the doctor in the emergency room had said she’d need to schedule a follow up appointment with her primary care doctor. There’s no way Nash could have known who that was, or made the appointment for her, was there?
“With Jake?”
“What?”
“That’s what the appointment is for, right? My follow-up, like the ER doctor wanted?”
“Oh, uh, no. I would have scheduled it with Jake, but I wasn’t sure you’d feel comfortable going to the clinic again after what happened.”
“It wasn’t his fault. I don’t think he was there yesterday.”
“I know that, now,” Nash grumbled.
“How?”
His hand ran over his face, stopping to scratch his jaw. “I went over there first thing this morning. Nearly gave him a black eye and threatened to get the clinic shut down for what happened. He promised to take action against the people who refused to treat you.”
“He doesn’t have to do that!” she nearly shrieked.
“Why does that have you so panicked?”
“Because, this town is already in desperate need of medical care. And it’s just one more thing everyone will blame me for.”
“Lace, no. They fucking left you in pain for hours. They didn’t treat you. You heard what the doctor said last night. You should have been immediately seen at the ER. No one is going to blame you for their negligence.”
Silence fell between the two of them, until Nash’s hand landed on her thigh, tracing small circles over her skin with his thumb.
“I’d be okay with seeing Jake,” she whispered, trying to break the tension.
“Good. I’ll call and make a follow-up appointment for you after we’re done tomorrow.”
“How did we get so off track? What’s going on tomorrow?”
“We’re getting married.”
Lacy inhaled so sharply that the room spun. “I’m sorry, I think I need to have my head checked. What now?”
“I said, we’re getting married tomorrow.”
“When did we agree to this? I can’t be held to what I said while under the influence of painkillers.”
“Oh, you said some pretty interesting things on the ride home last night, I’ll definitely give you that. But… I’ve messed this all up. I guess I didn’t actually ask you yet.”
“Whatever is going through your mind, don’t sweat it. You do not need to come up with some elaborate plan to protect me. Nothing is worth tying your name to mine. It would be suicide in this town. You have so much to think about; it’s not just you. Your friends, your business, everything could be jeopardized by marrying me.”
“Lacy.”
“No. I’m not letting you get dragged down with me.”
She watched as he dropped off the edge of the bed, onto one knee, and pulled a small box from his pocket. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched Nash’s eyes fill with softness and concern.
