Page 36 of Seaside Cowboy's Fairy Tale

He said the same thing he’d told Ms. Bruzlin because it was the simple truth. “Because you matter to me.”

She tilted her head. “I want to ask why again, but I don’t want to sound like a broken record.”

Then the nurse came in and readjusted the IV. “Ms. Arvidson needs some rest. Ma’am, please try to sleep.”

Rachel rolled her eyes but then closed them. Minutes later, her breathing evened out. The nurse left the room.

“I’m sorry you didn’t have a chance to talk to Rachel,” he whispered to Ms. Bruzlin when she entered the room, her footfalls quiet and careful.

“It’s okay,” she whispered back as she took a seat by Rachel’s bed. “I’m content to watch her sleep.”

So was he.

Chapter Ten

THE NEXT DAY, RACHELstared at her apartment complex’s dingy walls as Tex stopped his flashy car nearby, her mood turning gray to match the dismal view.

Her heart shifted. She shouldn’t have let him drive her here. But he’d insisted on getting her home, and the hospital medical staff wouldn’t discharge her without someone accompanying her. Irene had gotten a call on some emergency and left. Rachel could’ve called one of her former coworkers or Kennedy, but she hadn’t told her friend yet what had happened because she didn’t want Kennedy to worry.

Then Tex had somehow persuaded Rachel that he’d drive her home and help her settle. Blame the meds, but she’d agreed. After all, she couldn’t wait to see her mice. Irene had told her they were fine, but Rachel needed to see them with her own eyes.

Now that the meds had worn off, being confined in his sleek car with him ratcheted up her heartbeat. But then, her heartbeat always increased in his presence. She took a deep breath, but his intoxicating cologne only enticed her to want to lean on him.

She raised her chin. She’d worked hard to stand on her own. Besides, she still hadn’t told him why she’d started dating him in the first place, and guilt needled her together with pain in her arm. “Thank you for bringing me home. I’ll take it from here.” Reaching across her body, she gripped the door handle with her uninjured left hand.

Though her heart started aching already, it was best to leave. Besides, she hadn’t left her apartment in pristine condition before joining him at the pier. Heat scorched the back of her neck and burned her ears. Though she’d given him and Irene the key to check on her pets—must’ve been the meds again—he hadn’t mentioned anything about it when he later returned the key. He probably hadn’t had a chance to do it. She didn’t blame him. He was a busy man.

“Nope. I promised to get you settled and take care of you, and I’m going to do it.” He jumped out of the car, rushed around it, and opened the door for her.

“I can take care of myself.” She wasn’t used to such chivalry. At work, she was one of the guys. And not at work... She didn’t see much besides work. She clicked the seat belt open with her left hand. She’d have to learn to do many things with her left hand because she wasn’t supposed to overdo it with her right one.

“Humor me, please.” He smiled at her, making her treacherous heart flutter.

Blinds in several windows opened. Flashy expensive cars—or men in tailored suits—didn’t appear in this part of Charleston often. She suppressed a grimace. The more she argued, the more attention they’d attract.

Besides, fine, the longing for him screaming inside her shouted that she didn’t want to see him leave yet. Coming out of surgery, she’d longed to open her eyes and see him near her hospital bed. When she did see him there, she’d even thought she’d hallucinated in collaboration between the anesthesia and her imagination. “Okay, you’re welcome to come in, but not for long. I don’t want anything to happen to your vehicle.” She took the hand he offered, her heart making a little somersault, and climbed clumsily from the car. He might’ve called her Cinderella, but she imagined the fairytale girl had more grace.

---