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That was right before the colt trampled over the top of me.
FORTY-ONE
PAISLEY
“Would you stop fretting over me? I told you that I’m fine. I’m not even hurt.”
Caleb scowled that look that promised he would, in fact, not stop fretting. Since he’d been doing it the entire day, I shouldn’t have been surprised.
He was angled where he sat on the side of my bed, one knee drawn up and his other foot planted on the floor so he could get close to me. Fingertips traced down the edge of my face where I was propped against the headboard supported by what had to be every pillow in the house. “Don’t ask me to stop worrying about you, Paisley, not when taking care of you has become my reason. The way taking care of Evelyn has become yours.”
My heart fluttered. God, I had not expected this man. This completely unexpected, intense, hard, broken, beautiful man.
Caleb had insisted on taking me to the emergency room where I’d spent half the day being examined, getting a battery of tests that he had also insisted upon.
The entire time he’d trembled. Shaken in this possession that had wrapped around me like a perilous embrace.
Everything was negative, the way I’d said it was going to be. My side was just a little sore from where the hoof had struck me. I had no cracked ribs and the MRI had cleared me of a concussion.
“Thank you for protecting her today,” he murmured.
Reaching up, I covered his hand he had set on my cheek. “I would protect her with my life, Caleb.”
Tenderness and fear traipsed through his features, that strong jaw clenching in the bid for control he always fought for. “You did. You risked it all for her.”
“Just like you would do.”
“Yes, just like I would do. The same as I would do for you.” His voice was gruff, filled with all that severity that bounded around me in a fiery warmth that flooded me to the depths.
“Are you trying to wreck me, Caleb Greyson?” I fought for lightness. For a tease. So hard when my chest felt like it was going to explode with the pressure of the love it contained.
“I warned you that I would.” His words were all rough and rumbly.
“I never thought the ruining would be quite like this.” Mine quivered with the weight of what I felt.
And God, I wanted to tell him. Lay it all out. But I could still see the terror roiling in the frozen sea of those eyes.
“I can’t believe that horse got out. When I find out who was so careless…” He trailed off, his hand tremoring at my cheek.
“I know, Caleb. It was reckless. Dangerous. But unfortunately mistakes like that happen.”
“Not at the cost of Evelyn. Not at the cost of you.”
“I’m right here.” I tried to sit up so I could fully face him.
He pressed his big palm over my chest to stop me. “You need to rest.”
“And you need to quit fretting over me. I am fine.” I gathered his hand and brought it to my lips. “I’m fine. I promise. I’m not hurting a bit. And I really need to stretch since you’ve forced me to lay around in this bed all day.”
“Half the day,” he corrected.
Light laughter got free, and I nudged him back. “Yeah, because during the other half, you were forcing me to get poked and prodded.”
Reluctantly, he stood, then he stretched out his hand to help me onto my feet.
Truthfully, I wasn’t in much pain at all. The spot where I’d been stepped on was a little tender, but when considering how bad it could have been, I felt like I’d come out of it unscathed.
And Evelyn was safe. It was the only thing that mattered.
Caleb watched me carefully. Like I might all of a sudden crumble. Like he might have to pick me up and piece me back together.
I knew that he would.
That he’d hold me and protect me and care for me.
“See.” I raised my arms over my head and turned in a small circle. “As good as new.”
He growled a deep sound. It rattled against my walls with devotion and need.
I wore an oversized tee, the hem landing at mid-thigh. So maybe I knew him seeing that would send his restraint crumbling a bit.
Because what I didn’t want right then was restraint.
I just wanted him.
Caleb smoothed his palms down the outside of my thighs, angling in to bring us chest to chest. He groaned a greedy sound like he couldn’t help himself and felt bad for it.
Ridiculous since he was right where I wanted him.
Because beneath the warmth of his hands, chills skated across my flesh. A tumble of my own greed lighting in my center.
I played my fingers along the collar of his shirt, my face tipped up to the harsh cut of his. “See, this body is right as rain.”
