It was my turn to frown. “What do you mean?”
“Why you showed up at my ranch.”
“I didn’t know it was your ranch, but I’d hoped,” I told her honestly.
“Fucking Reed.” She said it like she was used to saying it to herself. Like it was a common curse coming out of her perfect, rosy mouth. She stretched again, licking her lips. “Why is everything spinning? Didn’t you lay me down? I feel like Jell-O.”
“I know, baby. He put something in your drink. You’re not going to feel very good in a little bit.”
I slipped my cell out of my pocket, shooting Christian a text that I found her and she was safe.
“Who did? What drink? I don’t have a drink.” Lina held out her hands, turning them in the air as if she was magically going to find a beverage in her grasp. She sat up and tried to swing her legs over the edge of the bed.
“Whoa there, sweetheart.” I gripped her shoulders, steadying her. “Just one of the many douchebags I keep trying to tell you about.”
“I have a fucking stalker, Reed,” she whined, plopping back onto the mattress.
“Not for much longer.” I’d make sure of it.
She sluggishly lifted her arm, resting her palm on my cheek. Her warm, brown eyes smiled at me. “You came after me, cowboy.” She repeated herself.
“I’ll always come after you.”
Her hand felt so warm against my face. I wanted to lean into it, brush my lips against her fingertips.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” she whispered, as if talking to herself.
“I think I do.” Because God, the pain in my chest right now seeing her like this, the pull I felt whenever she was near, like we were two fucking magnets, and the ache in my heart whenever she was gone, made me feel things I’ve never felt before. I thought I’d been in love with my ex-wife, but it never felt like this. The closest I think I ever really knew of true love was what I felt for my daughter, but this was different. This feeling of slowly dying not being able to touch her, to claim her as mine, hit me like a tidal wave the moment I saw her in the Saddle Room over a year ago. And I was still drowning.
“I thought I did, too.” She frowned again, dropping her hand from my face. “The moment I saw you across that bar. I thought you were the one. I’d never felt so instantly attracted to someone before. It was like our souls were begging to dance while I watched you.”
I sucked in a breath, the air freezing in my chest. “You did?” My words felt weak, shriveled, yet desperate with hope.
She nodded her head against the pillow. “I loved you, you fucking asshat.” Her face crumpled as though she was about to cry.
“Lina.” I said her name on an exhale, slicing me right through the heart. “I’m so, so sorry. When I took you back to the house, it was to piss off my ex. But when I saw your face and how hurt you were, I knew I would do anything to make it up to you. From that moment on, you never left my thoughts. I didn’t know how many times I would have to apologize, but if it meant every day for the rest of my life, I’d write it on my fucking tombstone.”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” she said, slapping a hand to her mouth. I grabbed the trash can, taking a seat beside her on the bed while I pulled her hair back and she puked it all out.
“That’s it. Get it out,” I soothed, rubbing a hand along her back while she continued to retch.
“Ugh,” she moaned, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. “This is terrible.”
I helped her drink another sip of water, and she groaned in pain while she lay back down. “I know, baby, but I’ll be right here the whole time.” Helping her strip off her dress, pulling one of her T-shirts over her head, I shed my boots and jeans and crawled under the covers beside her, ready to help her if she needed it.
Even though she was safe, her warm body beside me, I knew this was going to be a long night. My whole body was on fire now being so close to her, but I wouldn’t allow myself to touch herwhile she was in this state. There was an inferno of rage burning inside me, begging to be let out and unleash on that asshole, whom I left bloody and unconscious. A concussion and a broken nose was too good for that fucker. Between my throbbing cock and my body buzzing like a live wire, ready to protect her, there was no way in hell I was going to get any sleep tonight lying beside Lina Larsen.
13
lina
Was I dying?
I moaned, my hand rubbing my mouth. Spit had dried at the corner, and I wiped it away. God, my mouth tasted like ass. I smacked my lips. It was as dry as the Arizona desert. My bones hurt, too. Even my scalp fucking ached. What the hell happened last night?
I groaned, starting to stretch, but then froze, realizing something hard and warm was wedged between my legs, and a heavy arm. I lifted the sheet, and a very male arm with hair and veins lay across my stomach. Yep, that was his leg between mine, too. He shifted, his leg hitching up more until his knee was so close to rubbing right where I was starting to feel a pulse. His arm tightened around me. Then he pulled me to him, his thigh scraping against my sensitive skin, until my back was flush with his front.
Blinking to clear my vision, I reminded myself I was in our camper. That the person who was behind me had to be someone other than Reed … right?
