“You relax!” I exclaimed. “I have rentto pay, a car payment! My utilities will get turned off. And I haven’t even allowedmyself to think about the hospital bills,” I cried as I tried to whirl past himto the bathroom.
“Is that what this is about?” he asked,his tone gentle with sudden understanding, his grip firm on my arm not allowingme to pass.
I blew out a frustrated breath and methis gaze. “Of course it is. You think there’s some sort of magic solution topaying bills aside from working?” I demanded and immediately narrowed my eyeswhen I saw his expression. “Oh no. No way.” I shook my head adamantly. “I’vebeen taking care of myself for a long time, Cole. I don’t need any charity,” I addedcoolly.
“Jesus you’re a pain in the ass,” hesighed while looking up at the ceiling as though for divine providence. “It’snot charity, babe. I love you. You’re mine to take care of and that’s what I’mgoing to do whether you fight me kicking and screaming the whole way or not.”
“You’re not paying my bills,” I demanded.
“Too late.” He seemed to be enjoyingthis.
“What do you mean too late?” I criedshrilly. “You can’t just take over like that!” I ranted. “It’s my decision whenI work and how I pay my bills. Emphasis onI,” I bit out, shaking my arm out of his grip. I couldn’t say for certainwhy the fact that he wanted to take care of me financially panicked me to sucha degree. Maybe it was that I was afraid of relying on him. Maybe it was thetestament of what this type of gesture meant. Either way, I was panicking.
“Babe, relax,” he said again.
“I can’t relax,” I gulped. “I can’tget used to this.”
“Used to what?” he asked gently.
“Used to someone else taking care ofme. The only person who ever did was my dad and then he was just… gone,” Igulped again, trying hard to swallow the lump in my throat. “It’s hard enoughto know I love you,” I said before I could get the words back. “And now youwant me to unpack and I just can’t think about…”
“What did you say?” he interruptedquietly.
“About unpacking?” I asked, feigninginnocence and looking away from him as he pulled me close.
He put his finger under my chinforcing my gaze to his. “Before that.”
“Oh, you mean the loving you part?” Iwhispered.
“Yes that.” He grinned, his eyesshining.
“Well, yeah,” I admitted lamely. “Ofcourse I do,” I added quietly. As scary as it was, it felt good to say it outloud, like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.
“Were youthinkin’ofsharin’ that anytime soon?” he asked with a raisedbrow.
“I just did,” I defended.
“A slip of the tongue doesn’t count.” Hechuckled, moving us backward toward the bed.
“What are you doing? I have to getready for work,” I protested as his lips found my neck and made my knees quake.I was quickly losing my will power.
“Already told you, you’re off theschedule for tonight. Now, you just told me you love me and I’m going to takeyou to bed to show my appreciation,” he told me, his voice low and full ofpromise against my skin.
“You are so bossy,” I grumbled, thoughthe fight had clearly gone out of me.
“Yeah, but you love it,” he smiled ashis body landed on top of mine.
He was right of course, but there wasno way I was admitting it.
Chapter Twelve
The next few weeks passed with verylittle drama. I wasn’t thrown from any moving vehicles or kidnapped. My bruisesand skin had healed, and I was relieved to look like myself again.
Cole and I found a comfortable rhythmwith our living situation. I had to admit that his place had begun to feel morelike home, despite the fact that I hadn’t unpacked any of my boxes. I knew itwas largely due to my stubbornness, but I also wanted a chance for us to settleinto something that felt like normalcy before I took that plunge. The onlyminor flare-ups that erupted involved my work schedule. Cole really didn’t likewhen I worked the late shift, but I was adamant. He’d already paid one month’sworth of my bills and that wasn’t happening again. So one of the guys took meto work and picked me up when Cole wasn’t available. Other than that, I lovedbeing under the same roof as Cole. I loved coming home to him and having himcome home to me. It felt natural, and I was happier than I’d ever been in mylife. I was trying not to let that scare the crap out of me.
I heard the garage door and the rumbleof Cole’s Harley as I put the groceries away that I just bought. It was Fridayevening and Wes had been nice enough to take me to the store so I could cookdinner for Cole and me. I hated relying on someone to take me places, but the guyshad all been so generous and patient about it.
“Hi, babe,” he greeted, kissing myneck as I put away a six pack in the fridge.
