Page 58 of The Santas Who Stole Me

I drag my hand across my face. My worth. Keeper’s words run through my mind.

Beautiful.

Strong.

Mine.

I lean my head back against the stall door. “I think it might be best if I leave. They can help Zeke get better and go back to how things were before I stormed into their lives. Keeper probably wishes he threw me over the building like he wanted to.” I grind my teeth down at that thought, and the sound of blood rushing to my head whooshes through my ears. My dizziness increases when I think about the way he looked right through me in the car, like he couldn’t quite shake how I could help Chad. As if I would have done any such thing.

The stall opens, and I jump back at Keeper’s sudden appearance. He’s so dang quiet he could have given me a heart attack if my heart were in one piece. “Georgie, you promised.” His whispered tone doesn’t hide his hurt.

Lee stands in front of me and pats Keeper’s shoulder as she leaves. I like her.

His lips tighten in a line, and those eyes I love so much are filled with disappointment.

“Keeper, I wasn’t in contact with—” He stops me mid-sentence.

“Kitten, I never thought that. Even if you were, I didn’t care. He took you from us and he wasn’t walking out of that room. I hate that he got close to you.”

“But you could hardly look at me and I know I’ve ruined it all.”

“I was terrified that I lost you, or that you were hurt worse than anything I could help you recover from. How badly are you hurt? Doc’s partner is coming to check on you. I wasn’t sure if you would prefer to talk with a woman.” His rough thumb rubs across my cheek. His touch gives me relief and his palm warms my face.

God, I love him. “I’ll be fine, he didn’t have enough time to do much damage, and it’s not the first bruise I’ve had.”

“It will be your last.” There he is, my favorite protector.

“I wanted to keep you safe. I wasn’t running or hiding from you.”

“I know that. We are alike in some ways. Your love is fierce. I know you want to take care of us and protect us. It’s going to make you be the best mama.”

My stomach flutters at the way he says mama. He still wants that with me and damn I do too. I won’t give it up either. I put my hand on his.

He leans in and gives me the softest brush of a kiss. It takes my breath away to see Keeper be so sweet. We kiss a few more times and he rests his forehead on mine.

“How did you find me?” I whisper, not wanting to ruin the moment but trying to process it all.

“Zee is a psychopath who loves you. He can tell you when he wakes up.”

My head bobs up and down as if that makes any sense. My head is pounding and nodding does nothing to soothe the ache.

“Do you think he will be okay?” My voice cracks, and I swallow the lump in my throat.

“He will, he won’t leave you like this.”

My lower lip wobbles and I sniff. A knock at the door has me raising my head, and a small, older woman in scrubs stands with her head tilted. “I can give you a moment if you need. I wanted to let you know I’m here because the doctor wasn’t sure of the extent of your wounds and was worried about the prolapse in time.”

“Do you want to wait for Marge to come back?” Keeper asks as his arms unwrap from me.

“I can go alone for the exam. Where is she?”

“She wants to tell you in person. She’s safe, though.”

The drumming in my ears is louder now, so I focus on his words. If Keeper says she is safe, I can save my questions for later. She leads me to the break room, which I guess is where she’s going to examine me. I inhale, then I breathe out slowly, thinking of my men. I might not deserve them, but I’m sure as hell going to try. On trembling legs I keep going.

This won’t be how my story ends.

Chapter Thirty-Three