Page 81 of Wild For You
“Doesn’t change the fact.” He pulled back and placed his hands on my jaw, rubbing my cheeks with his thumbs. “You look exhausted, baby. Why don’t we head back to bed and sleep for a few hours?”
“You’re tired?”
He smirked and replied, “Seems I can’t sleep without you hogging all the sheets during the night.”
“Mmhm.”
Andrew took my bags from my hands and set them inside the bedroom, then gestured for me to follow him. He made quick work of stripping me down to my panties, then pulled the blankets back for me to slip inside. He pulled the curtains shut and then did the same.
“I’m sorry you went through that yesterday,” he whispered, and I turned over to face him.
“It was… unexpected.”
He stroked his fingers through my hair, the movement lulling me to sleep.
“I want you to know something, Kelsey,” he started, and I responded with a moan as my eyes closed on their own. “I will be everything for you and the baby if you let me.”
“Really?” I mumbled, sleep pulling me into the darkness.
“Yeah. I love you.”
Chapter Seventeen – Andrew
“I’m free!” I shouted as I balled up my brace and threw it in the back of the truck. After traveling to Knoxville to have X-rays done for a closer look at the injury, in order to see how well it healed, I held my breath as the doctor reviewed everything. With a stern look, he gave me the go-ahead to return to light activity, and if I kept up with the exercises over the next couple of weeks, I could return to normal activity after that.
The countdown was fucking on, and I was thrilled about getting back to the farm. The only downside was that Kelsey now had an official end date as my physical therapist.
She hadn’t joined me for the appointment, as she was busy meeting with a local lawyer to have the dissolution of paternal rights paperwork compiled.
She had made no mention that she heard me the other morning. The moment I made myself completely vulnerable and told her I loved her. Not a single peep.
My outburst caused a few people in the parking lot to look over at me, but I was too excited to care. I was getting a taste of the freedom I missed.
Just as I started the engine of the truck, my phone dinged with an incoming email. It was from the same rodeo team who ran the one where I’d been injured, asking if I was interested in participating in a new event they were starting in Kentucky. A little over a month ago, I would have confirmed immediately. But now? Now, I wasn’t sure what my future in rodeo looked like.
It wasn’t something I could hide any longer, and the news would devastate my mom. But rodeo had been a major part of my life, so I definitely had some thinking to do.
On the drive back to Ashfield, I tried to ignore the trees lining the highway that started to change color and lose their leaves. It was a natural part of the changing seasons, but I hated when everything looked so barren.
Pulling into the driveway, I killed the engine just as Kelsey’s car pulled in beside me.
“How did it go?” she asked, stepping out of the car and carrying a manila folder under her arm.
“No more brace or crutch, baby.”
“Really? That’s great news. See? All those exercises you hated paid off!”
“They did,” I said, leaning my head out the window. “And the doctor said if I continue the exercises for the next two weeks, I can return to my day-to-day activity. For now, just light.”
“I’m so happy for you.” She stood up on her toes and met my lips for a quick kiss.
“I was thinking of heading to the farm. Want to join me? Might help take your mind off… things.” My eyes darted down to her folder and then returned to her face.
“Yeah. Let me just drop this off inside.”
She jogged up the steps of the porch and opened the door, then came right back out, locking the door behind her. Kelsey jumped into the seat of the truck, and soon, we were on our way.
I bypassed the entrance to the farm and turned down a side street that led directly to the stables. Did my doctor consider riding my horse a light activity? Probably not, but I wanted nothing more than to get in a saddle.
