I slowly began making my way down. It was going well. Great even until I was almost at the bottom.
I hadn’t tied one of the dresses tight enough, or the silky material was a bad choice coupled with my weight, but whatever it was, I saw it as it slowly slid apart.
I screamed as I fell, reaching out for nothing.
I landed with a soft cry just off the stone patio, but my foot came down hard under me.
The pain was instant.
It burned up my leg as I fell over.
But I was alive.
I lay for a few moments, trying to catch my breath since the wind was knocked out of me before I rolled onto my stomach.
Knowing I probably broke my ankle, I army crawled, telling myself all I had to do was get beneath one of the big bushes before I could rest for a moment.
But the pain.
God. The pain.
I willed myself not to cry, cursing Cole’s name, as I did my best to move across the grass.
I made it about halfway across the big lawn before I forced myself to my feet and tried to run on my ankle.
Bad idea. The pain was insane.
I cried out, stumbled, and fell, tears rolling down my cheeks.
Warm hands scooped me up as I struggled to pull myself across the lawn again, and I stared into Cole’s face.
“You’re hurt,” he said, his voice soft. “I’ll take care of you.”
Damnit.
“Let me go. Please, Cole,” I begged softly.
“No,” he replied. “I’m never letting you go again. I learned my lesson.”
There was no point in trying to fight him. Now, I needed to play a different game, it seemed.
Because I couldn’t escape, I’d just have to try different tactics.
If my heart could handle it.
I breathed out and rested my head against his chest.
His breath caught at the move, and I knew… I knew this was what I had to do to get free.
“It’s OK,” Cole murmured. “I’ve got you.”
“It hurts,” I choked out, not pretending. My leg felt like it was on fire. “I-I think my ankle is broken.”
He swore softly. “I’ll check it when we get inside, OK? I-I’m a doctor now. I can fix all your aches and pains.”
I looked at him as he carried me with ease inside. He was still Cole, but he was older now. Bigger. Stronger. Definitely far crazier.
But still…Cole.
