Page 72 of Driven to Love

“I can make it.” She could—but she couldn’t lie to herself. The warmth that filled her from his touch was addictive; his arm supporting her weight, his hand in hers. Definitely, her drug of choice.

As she settled into the bed, Nash pulled up the covers and tucked her in like her mom used to do. Only, Nash’s kiss wasn’t a peck on the forehead, but a toe-curling, tongues-dancing, raise-her-blood-pressure kind of kiss.

“I want to crawl in and hold you for hours, but…”

“Davey.” She understood. Not that she would be up for much else for a while, but Nash’s arms were like magic.

“I’ll be back. You rest.” His lips brushed her cheek before he slipped out the door, leaving it ajar.

Chapter 21

Addison woke to the sun streaming through the window. She squinted, blinked a few times, and took in the room. Nothing about it was the same as hers, except for the cat curled up by her side, her one constant. She reached out and stroked his soft fur as it came back to her. The accident. Nash’s house. Davey’s room.

She stretched. Her focus bounced from trophies to signed baseballs. The room held all the things, the memories that a boy would collect.

She touched her head gently. The pounding had subsided. Her arm ached as blood returned to the extremity she found she had slept on.

Nash had come in several times with medicine or to check on her, but surprisingly, she slept well.

Throwing the covers off, she stretched and took stock of her injuries. She wouldn’t be getting her usual five-mile run in today before work. Work? A hint of guilt at missing work made her flinch. She was so new to the job. The last thing she wanted to do was take days off, but Cade had told her yesterday? The day before? Crap, how long had she slept? Anyway, she wasn’t to come in to work the rest of the week, and then they would see how she felt.

Her eyes misted at the realization that this job was more like a family to her in the short time she’d been there than her other one had been after nine years.

Then there was Nash. No way he would have let her stay alone. It was either she came to his house, or he would have stayed at hers.

“Davey would be fine for a night.” The words hadn’t matched his expression. He didn’t like the idea of leaving his son and dog alone.

So, she threw stuff in a bag at rapid speed and grabbed Lu.

Now, she pushed off the bed, grabbed a hair tie from the side table, and searched the bag for clothes. There had to be a bra in here somewhere?

“Ah ha!” She snatched the bra from the bottom of the bag and held it up like a prized catch.

Once dressed in shorts and a tank top. She opened the door and stepped across the hall. She raised her hand, ready to knock on his bedroom door, when she heard voices coming from downstairs. It was barely sunrise. Did the man ever sleep? Must be his military training, because Addison was worthless if she didn’t get a full sleep cycle.

“I can help. I’m not a little kid.” Davey dropped his voice.

A warm feeling rushed through Addison’s chest. The boy cared and wanted to help her.

“I know you’re not a child anymore, but I would feel better if you were at your mother’s this week.”

“But, Dad.”

“No buts. I’ve called your mother, and she’s on her way down to pick you up.”

Addison peeked around the corner. The expression on Davey’s face showed the youth that was missing from his conviction a moment ago. With a break in the conversation, she entered the kitchen.

Davey saw her first and ran to her. “Miss Addison. How are you today?”

Addison smiled and ran a hand over his hair. The boy was as tall as her. She didn’t doubt he would have a growth spurt in the next year or two. “I’m good. Just a little beat up, but I’ll be okay.” Her gaze met Nash’s across the room. The hike of his eyebrow mentally screamed “liar.” He wasn’t totally wrong. The pain in her arm was throbbing, but her head was a little better today.

With intense eyes, he crossed to her. Had it been anyone else, it would’ve been intimidating, but from Nash, it warmed her insides. He gently cupped the side of her face as he assessed her with those icy blue eyes. “Are you hungry? I can make you some eggs.”

Wordlessly, she nodded. She couldn’t say if she was truly hungry, but she hadn’t eaten since the night before, and if she opened her mouth, she was afraid the words that would come out were ones she wasn’t ready to utter. Instead, she moved to where Davey was working on something at the table. “What’s this?”

“Knots. I’m working on a merit badge. Wanna see?” He held up a piece of rope.

She sat next to him and crossed her arms on the table. “Teach me, Obi-Wan.”