Page 134 of Thaw My Heart

After all this time, I knew she liked that nickname.

“Then, Sadie, it is. And Tequila on special occasions,” I smirk.

She lets out a shaky breath, grabbing my hand. “I might love you, Cowboy.”

“Good,” I smile. “Because I’m in love with you, Sadie.”

She smiles, humming with reddened cheeks, fumbling for the door handle as she exits the truck. Asking to stay at mine, not wanting to go to hers. Of course, I prefer that, but I hate the way she cringes when she looks at her cabin. The fear that pales her face and dulls the colors in her eyes.

It makes me want to tie him up all over again. Brand off his balls like Blake wanted. Perhaps I should’ve.

“I’m hiring more security tomorrow,” I say.

“You don’t need to do that for me.”

But I disagree with her.

“Everyone here has a past, Sadie.” There are plenty of crazy exes amongst the ranchers, and many who came here to escape something. “Besides, with all of the stuff that’s been happening, I think it’s an important investment,” I add, opening my front door, gesturing for her to walk in first.

“Well, if you think so.” She enters with Foxie trailing behind her, running up to greet Bandit.

I take off my coat, hanging it on the rack. “I do.”

And I’ll do anything to make her feel safe.

She removes her boots, mirroring me. “You don’t think it was Markus who did all of this, do you?”

“I haven’t ruled him out, but no. I don’t think it was.” In truth, I don’t think Markus would be clever enough or have the patience for sabotage, and he didn’t have a vendetta against Lone Pine.

But there’s one person who did—a problem I need to deal with soon, but not tonight. Tonight is about Sadie. Everything else would have to wait.

My eyes linger on the deep bruising around her neck, trailing to a bruised cheek and an open cut on her bottom lip. I can’t stand seeing her this way, knowing that the extra rasp in her voice is from that dirtbag putting his filthy hands on her. That she has another scar on her back that she doesn’t deserve.

She brings a hand to her face. “I probably look terrible.”

“You’re stunning.” Heart-breakingly so. “Did Annie tend to your back?”

She nods. “She applied antibiotics and patched me up. I can’t really feel it.”

Probably from the shock still consuming her body.

“Let me take care of you.” I reach for her hand.

With slow precision, I tend to the cuts on her cheek and bottom lip, wiping away traces of dried blood. Nothing is deep enough to need stitches, but I’m worried about the bruising around her neck from strangulation and her swollen cheekbone. How hard did that bastard hit her?

“I know that look,” she murmurs.

“What look?”

“You want me to get another X-ray.”

I chuckle with a smile. “I wouldn’t be opposed to it.” I would sleep much better at night knowing she was properly checked over.

She sighs, pursing her lips into a smile.

While I prepare dinner, Sadie sits on the couch with an ice pack and a bag of marshmallows, comfort food after the worst day imaginable. Foxie and Bandit cuddle up beside her, giving her extra love and attention.

Afterwards, we lie in bed with blankets wrapped around us. Just quiet breaths and quiet gazes as I softly run my hands along her curves, tracing the line of her as she stares into my eyes.