Page 78 of Cross My Heart
“Shh, Sylvie just came and picked up all three of the kids. She is going to keep them for the week soyou can rest.” Dex informs me. He looks tired, all of the guys do. Staring down at myself, I see my arm in a sling and a big bandage covering my thumb.
“Jesus, I look like the terminator or something. What is all this?” I ask, turning to Dex for answers.
“Hey, guys? Could I have a few minutes alone with Lanie, please?” Dex asks, looking around the room.
“Sure, Lanie, want something to eat? Some soup, maybe?” Trevor asks me.
“Just some Gatorade would be great, thank you,” my voice becoming stronger after some water.
Trevor nods his head and leans in to kiss me on the cheek.
Preston does the same then they both walk out the door. “What’s going on, Dex? Is something wrong with me?” It isn’t until that moment I notice the tears in Dexter’s eyes.
“No, baby. Nothing is wrong with you, nothing long term anyway. Your shoulder was dislocated, your elbow too, and your thumb was broken. The doctors were able to put you back together again, but it’s going to hurt for a while.”
“Then why do you look like your dog died? Is it Tate? Is he okay?” I ask, panic rising in my voice.
“Tate is wonderful, sweetheart. After he saw you arrive home safe and sound, he was excited to go to Sylvie’s for a few days. He was worried you would try to do too much if they were home.” I smile and feel it in my heart. Even little Tate is worried about me.
“Then, what made you so upset?” I ask him, seeing nothing but pain in his eyes.
One tear, then two, falls down his lovely face. “I’m so sorry, Lanie. I keep failing you. I want to be the one you can count on, the one you can lean on, and I keep failing you. You keep getting hurt because of me.”
“Dex, you can’t be serious? Nothing that has happened to me has been your fault.” I tell him, shocked by the emotion I see in his face.
“I should have been there yesterday. I should have been with you so he couldn’t ambush you like that,” his words are angry. He’s angry at himself.
“There is no way you could have known he would be there. It was a coincidence that he took advantage of. If he was out to get me, he would have found me at a grocery store or the school parking lot. For whatever reason, he was at the pool, saw me, and took advantage of an opportunity,” I try to reason.
“An opportunity that I allowed,” Dex’s voice rises in volume. “Had I just been with you, you wouldn’t be here in pain.”
“Dex, you have to stop thinking this way. I don’t blame you for this, and you can’t either.You won’t be helping any of us if you do.” I say truthfully.
Staring up at me with a vulnerability that reminds me of Tate, he moves to lay his head in my lap. When he is settled, he asks with a trembling voice, “Are you going to leave?”
I feel like a thousand-pound weight just hit my chest. “No, Dex. I’m not going to leave. I can’t promise what will happen when our contract is up, but this will not make me run,” I say, shocking myself with that truth.
He exhales an audible breath, I find myself running the fingers of my able hand through his hair.When have I ever given and received comfort like this? When have I ever felt safe and content in the presence of a man like this? Never, Lanie. You’ve never had this before.
Turning to face me, he grins. “Lanie, you swore, out loud.”
“I guess I did.”
Is that one more demon this man is helping me slay?
“No one messes with my Tate—mother or not,” I tell him, wondering if it might be possible to break free from my past after all.
“I love you, Lanie. We are lucky to have you.” I’m not able to speak, so I don’t, and we both eventually fall asleep.
* * *
“Lanie?What do you think you’re doing?” Dex asks, alarmed.
“I need to take a bath, Dex, I feel gross,” I tell him, trying to make my way to the bathroom.
Coming up behind me, he grabs my breast, “You feel anything but gross, sweetheart,” he says in that low, sexy voice of his.
Argh, this damn arm. I’ve never felt horny before, but since experiencing Dexter Cross, sex with him is the only thing I seem to think about.
