Page 88 of Waiting on You

“Oh,” she said. “Uh, yes, we do.”

Then she fainted.

* * *

WHENHESAWColleen’s eyes roll, Lucas did try to catch her. Didn’t quite make it, unfortunately, not before she cracked her head on the counter. “Jeanette!” he called. “We need you!” He glanced at his cousin. “Bryce, you’re dripping blood on the floor. Grab some paper towels and hang on a sec, okay?”

He cradled Colleen from behind. Very uncool to be thinking lustful thoughts, but she smelled like fresh mint and sunshine, and her hair brushed his face.“Mía,”he said, pushing her head forward a bit to get some blood flow there. “Time to wake up.”

“Connor, why did you punch me?” she muttered, reaching for her head.

He smiled into her hair. “Colleen. You okay, sweetheart?” She sat up straighter and gave him a confused look. “You fainted,” he said. “Bumped your head on the way down, too.”

“I never faint. Also, you’re supposed to catch me. Haven’t you ever been to a movie?”

“I broke your fall.”

“Not good enough.”

“Did she faint?” Carol Robinson asked as the three women bustled into the kitchen like a flock of purposeful chickens. “My daughter fainted once. She hadn’t eaten breakfast, it was hot, and I said, ‘Beth, why didn’t you eat breakfast?’ but no one ever listens to me.”

“Bryce Campbell, whatever did you do to your hand?” Mrs. Johnson said. “Come here, child.”

“Don’t you two look adorable sitting there,” Jeanette said. “Is it wrong to hope for grandchildren?”

“Mom, I’m injured. Be nice to me.”

Jeanette sighed and rustled around in the freezer for a minute, then handed Colleen a pack of frozen Brussels sprouts. Coll went to hold it against her head, but Lucas took it out of her hand and did it for her. She started to protest, but he made that littletsknoise that worked with his nieces, and she settled back against him.

He pushed her hair to one side—she had a lot of hair. And it smelledreallygood. And she felt...perfect. His arms were around her, his back to the cabinet, his woman in his arms.

Dangerous thinking, that. Especially after her little speech.

“What do I have to do to get that nine to a ten?” he whispered against her ear, and she shivered.

“You always hit on injured women?”

“You’re the first.” He smiled.

“They’re adorable together,” Carol said. “Are you Spanish, Lucas? You look like a pirate.”

“I’m half–Puerto Rican.”

“Ooh. That’s so exotic,” Carol said, and he had to smile. Manningsport wasn’t exactly a melting pot.

Mrs. O’Rourke was standing in front of the freezer, flapping her shirt. “Colleen, you didn’t turn on the heat, did you?”

“No, Mom. I didn’t turn on the heat.” She sighed, the movement sweet against his chest.

“Now hold still, Bryce my darling,” Mrs. Johnson said, grabbing his hand.

“What are you gonna do?” he asked. “Oh, dude! A little warning next time.”

Mrs. Johnson held up the nail. “You children today. So careless. Now hold on, this might sting a little.” They watched as she poured hydrogen peroxide on Bryce’s hand. He took it like a man.

“You’re brave, Bryce,” Colleen said, earning a smile from his cousin.

“He has a high pain tolerance,” Lucas murmured against the sweet spot just behind her ear. “Comes from being dropped on his head as a baby.”

---