Page 89 of Beat of Love
Back in the Jeep, he handed her a bottle of water and two pills. She swallowed the painkillers without protest, her neck and head throbbing. It was foolish to have let the pain escalate. “Thanks,” she murmured, passing the water to him. Then she closed her eyes and let her head rest against the seat with a sigh.
“Straight home with you. Yeah?”
Her “Hmm,” was all she was capable of at that moment.
She leaned her head back and let her mind wander.
And if that wandering led her to a future with Rafferty Lawson …
Well, blame it on concussion.
*
“Amelia needs to get back behind the wheel sooner than later.”
Rafferty’s comment roused Brandy-Lyn from her delightful daydream. She opened her eyes to see they were on the ranch,nearing home. “I know, but I’m not up for it today.” She hated admitting weakness, because dammit, she wasn’t some delicate flower, but the accident had literally and figuratively knocked her sideways.
The pills from earlier had only taken the edge off the pain. Her body still ached all over, her neck was stiff, and the wound above her temple throbbed something awful. Last night, she had tossed and turned, thinking of all the scars Rafferty carried on his body. It was unbearable to even imagine the pain he must’ve endured. Her little cut was nothing,nothingcompared to the atrocities done to him.
“I’ll take Amelia out. If you’re okay with that?”
Once again, he pulled her from her thoughts. She gave him a side glance. “You’ve done so much already, Raff. I … I don’t want you to feel that we’re taking advantage of your kindness. Or that you are beholden to us in any way because Amelia called you. We are not your responsibility.”
“Now you’re just pissing me off, Brandy-Lyn,” he shot out, scowling. “I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want to do it. Ilikeyour kids, Red. Helping them isnota hardship.”
He pulled up in front of the veranda and shut down the Jeep.
Brandy straightened and looked out the window to see her children rush down the veranda steps.
Her nose burned from emotion, and tears stung her eyes. Theywerefine. Totally unharmed. And yes, she had known that. Had even spoken to them — bar Mimi — earlier. But all that was on an intellectual level. She was their mom, and emotional worry for them had been a deep, gnawing dread, one she hadn’t realized the extent until now.
Olivia pulled open the door. “Mom! You’re home!” Her daughter stepped closer and inspected the narrow dressing covering her wound. “You look a lot better without that ghoulish bandage. Pity they shaved your hair, though.”
Amelia gasped. “They shaved your hair?” She stood to the side and back of her sister, wringing her hands, her face deathly pale. “I am so freaking sorry, Mom,” she whispered.
Meeting Amelia’s horrified gaze, she offered a light, “It’s just a small patch. It’ll grow back, Mims.”
“Yo, Mom, you could totally rock a buzzcut!” Preston called out.
“Your mom isnotshaving her glorious hair,” Rafferty cut in, giving her son a hard look.
Preston shot him a shit-eating grin, even as he raised his hands. “Just givin’ options.”
He gave her son another quelling look before turning his attention to her. “Cut your hair and I’ll turn you over my knee,” he stated.
Brandy gaped at him, heat flooding her face. His eyes flared, and a dark red flush infused his cheeks. Their stares collided, and her imagination ran riot, concocting a vision of herself stretched over the dratted man’s knees, and his palm connecting with her bare buttocks.
And to her chagrin, shelikedthe idea.
His stare held her spellbound as a knowing look entered those spectacular blue eyes and words,as if spoken aloud, just popped into her mind,Does that excite you, Red?
So very much. Her face flamed, instantly chagrined.
Amelia started giggling, breaking the otherworldly spell between them. Olivia joined her sister.
Preston shook his head, and muttered, “Dude.”
She fumbled with her seatbelt, desperately trying to recover from what was obviously a side-effect from the blow to her head. “Maybe y’all can give me some space to get out the Jeep?”
