Page 34 of Hers By Summer’s End

“No!” She pointed at him, though the gesture lacked its former force. “You are going to give me your excuse. Then we are going to agree that this was our first—albeit catastrophic—fight. After that, we will discuss love and how you intend to make this up to me.”

“Understood.” He moved slowly, giving her every opportunity to stop him, and slipped an arm around her waist. She remained rigid for one long, agonizing breath, but then she softened, shifting forward in his arms until she was flush against him.

Drew closed his eyes in relief. He hadn't realized how badly he'd needed to feel her warmth. To feel her solid and real in his arms. To borrow some of her strength after a day that had shaken him more than any boxing match ever had. He pressed his nose into the curls at her brow, inhaled her comforting scent, and murmured, “Granddad collapsed.”

“Oh, God,” she breathed.

“He’s all right, as far as I can tell,” he added. “But he gave me one hell of a scare.”

Cecelia leaned back in his arms, concern already replacing the anger in her eyes. “Tell me everything,” she insisted.

“I could tell he’d overdone it yesterday. He was tired. Shaky. I told him he should stay home today, but you know Granddad. Stubborn as a mule and twice as proud.” His hand drifted to his chest, the memory a vise around his ribs. “I was making breakfast this morning when I heard him fall. I ran upstairs. Tried to get to him, but the way he’d fallen…” He swallowed. “He was blocking the door. I couldn’t get inside without moving him. Without hurting him worse.”

“What an awful choice to have to make,” she whispered. Her arms tightened around him, and he let himself lean into the comfort of it—the gentle stroke of her hand against his back, the simple fact that he didn’t have to bear the strain alone.

“He was unconscious, and there was blood. A lot of it.” He shook his head to dispel the image from his mind. “I got him onto his back, covered the wound, and ran to the Fresh Air Cottage. Nurse Mary was on duty. She came at once. By the time we got there, Granddad had awoken.” A disbelieving laugh escaped him. “Said we were making a fuss for nothing.”

“A fuss for nothing?” Outrage colored her voice. “I think not!”

“That was our opinion, as well. We patched him up, but Nurse Mary insisted he shouldn’t be left alone. Head injuries can be unpredictable.”

“So you stayed.” Her expression softened. “Of course you did. I would expect nothing less.” Then her brow furrowed. “But couldn’t you have sent a note?”

“I did,” he said, wincing at the poor timing of it all. “I paid a pack of roving boys a dime each to deliver a message to your house just past nine.”

She sighed. “I left at quarter to eight.”

“So I learned, but your mother was home. She came straight over with her aide and a box full of medical supplies. Shouted instructions up the staircase until Granddad finally gave up and allowed me to carry him downstairs so they could sit in the same room and argue over his care.”

Cecelia chuckled. “Lord, those two are quite the pair.”

“They are.” His smile broadened. “Your mother is wonderful. She told me she’d keep an eye on Granddad, then ordered me to stop wasting time.”

Cecelia tilted her head. “Surely she knew it was too late for you to enter the show.”

“She said, and I quote—the flowers be damned, go find my daughter.”

“That sounds like Mother.”

“So here I am.”

“Here you are,” she echoed, her brow puckering. “I’m sorry. I should have known there was a real reason.”

“Petal, no. Your hurt was real. You had every right to feel it. It kills me that you stood there believing I’d chosen not to come.”

“It’s not only that,” she admitted in a low voice. “I was…I was afraid that after last night, after we were intimate, you wouldn’t want me anymore.”

For a heartbeat, Drew could only stare at her. “Once will never be enough, petal. I want every night and every morning after. I want every goddamn crumb of affection you’ll toss my way. Because I’m yours. You claimed me, remember? I’m yours.”

“You’re mine,” she repeated, wonder coating her voice. “And I’m yours.”

He touched her cheek, his voice dropping. “I never meant to let you down.”

“I understand,” she said, drawing a deep breath and giving her shoulders a little shake. “So there will be no more apologizing. Only planning.”

“Planning?”

“The next challenge, of course.”