I can’t look at her, and I keep my head turned away until she stands up with a sigh. I wait until she’s taken Cody out of the room before I allow Arlo and Davis to lift me under the arms and haul me into my chair.
I can’t even get off the fucking floor without help. Ian’s words ring in my ears.
Half a man, a cripple.
Isla deserves so much more than that.
It’s after nine later that night, and I’m in my room when there’s a soft knock at the door. I open it to find Isla on the other side with a baby monitor in her hand. She’s wearing a loose shirt with milk stains on it, and her hairis in a messy top knot. But she still takes my breath away.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.” I wheel into the room and spin around to face her as she closes the door.
She fidgets with the baby monitor. “Thank you for today. For standing up for me.”
I shrug. “I told you I’d protect you, Isla. I just wasn’t sure I really could.”
She grins. “You were badass Luke. The look on Ian’s face when you launched yourself at him.” She chuckles. “He wasn’t expecting that.”
I can’t help grinning. I haven’t had to test my strength since I’ve been in the chair. It felt good to know I can take a man down when I need to. “He threatened you.”
Isla looks down at the baby monitor and bites her lower lip. “Did I do something wrong?”
Her words cut, and I wheel over so I’m sitting before her. “What makes you say that?”
She looks up at me and her eyes shine, and I hate it that I’ve hurt her.
She takes a big breath. “I like you, Luke. I like you a lot and I thought you felt the same, but you’ve been distant, and I don’t know what I’ve done wrong or if I’ve read the situation wrong…”
She trails off and looks down at her hands.
“Oh honey, it’s not you.”
“Then what’s the problem, Luke?”
I run a hand through my hair. Is she going to make me spell it out? “Look at me, Isla.” I wheel a few feet backand hold my arms up. I want her to really see me. “I’m in a wheelchair; I’m missing half my body. You deserve better than that. You deserve a man who’s whole.”
My voice comes out bitter, and I expect her to nod and leave. I expect her to understand. What I don’t expect is the raised eyebrow look she gives me.
“Is that it?” She folds her arms in front of her chest. “Do you think I’m that stupid that I don’t see the man you are inside? You think all I see is a man in a wheelchair? That couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t see a man in a wheelchair. I see a man. A man with a big heart, who’s kind and loyal and determined. A man who launched himself at another man to protect me and my son.”
She crouches before me and takes my hands in hers. Her touch is soft, and it eases something in my chest.
“You think you know what I need, Luke? I’ll tell you what I need. It’s you, Luke. I need you.”
My chest expands, and I dare to hope I might have a chance with this woman. But she’s only seen one side of me. She doesn’t know what she’s getting into.
“Are you sure, Isla? Life isn’t always easy for me. You’ve seen the best of me, but some days are still dark. Sometimes I get frustrated. I get embarrassed, moving around can be slow. It’s easy for me here because the entire clubhouse has been adapted to be accessible for me. But it’s not like that everywhere. I don’t like going out much because a lot of places aren’t accessible to me, and sometimes just walking along the pavement is impossible. It’s frustrating as hell, and it can be limiting.”
She squeezes my hands. “I don’t care, Luke. I want to be with you on that journey. I want to ease your frustrations and be there with you.” She looks down. “If you want me too, that is.”
I hear the vulnerability in her voice. She’s put herself out there. She’s offering me everything I ever wanted. I tilt her chin up so she’s looking at me.
“As long as you’re sure Isla, because if we’re doing this, then I’m all in. I may have half a body, but I’ve got a full heart. And I will love you and Cody like he’s my own. Ever since you came here three weeks ago, you’re all I’ve wanted.
“I’ve learned to live with my disability and I’ve found a life I love here, but for the first time in a long time I doubted myself. I doubted if I was enough.”
She shakes her head. “You stupid man. You’re more than enough, Luke. You’re everything to me.”
