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“I fell off the edge, but Bo and Sara had given me top ropes to tie into. The ropes caught me, but I swung against the rock pretty hard when it happened.”
I couldn’t even imagine. Picturing him slipping off the edge of one of those tall ridges made me prickle with nervous sweat.
I dropped the cloth into the sink and pulled him into another careful hug. “I’m so fucking glad it wasn’t worse,” I breathed into his messy hair. He smelled like the outdoors: sun, sweat, dirt, and the tang of metal. “Thank fuck you’re okay.”
Someone knocked on the door. “Finn? Honey? The set medic wants to take a look at you.” Finn’s mom sounded worried.
“Give us another minute,” I said, trying not to growl at her. “Please.”
I redoubled my efforts to clean him up and realized the cut on his shoulder was still bleeding into the cotton jacket.
“Let’s get this off and put you under a quick shower. You’ll feel better, and then the EMT can bandage you up.”
After helping him bathe and dry off, I slipped into his bedroom to find him some clean, comfortable clothes. I could tell his mom wanted to go into the bathroom, but I shot her a look. “He’s not dressed.”
Her nostrils flared, but she nodded. As soon as I had clothes from his dresser, I returned to the bathroom and helped him into clean boxer briefs and some athletic pants. I left the T-shirt off so the EMT could bandage his shoulder and arm abrasions first.
When I reached for the door, Finn stopped me. He was back to being his fresh, freckly self, and I took a minute to drink in his beautiful face and sexy body. Even with the scrapes and bruises, he was stunning, and my heart thumped with the certainty that I wanted him to be mine. Not just today or this week or even this month while he was in Aster Valley, but somehow… somehow I wanted him for much longer than that. Until he got sick of me and forced me away from him.
It would never work. I knew that. He lived in LA, and I lived in Colorado. But the bone-deep need to care for him and make sure he walked through the world feeling loved and appreciated was a part of me suddenly.
“I’m not leaving,” I said, in case he was going to apologize and try to release me again. “I don’t care what you say. I’m not leaving here, and I’m not leaving you. At least until you’re feeling steadier.” I couldn’t deny I was needed at the office. As soon as I could get him settled and resting, I’d probably have to head back in.
The edge of his mouth curled into a soft smile. “Good. I don’t want you to go yet. I decided to be selfish and keep you. But I’m really hungry. Would you mind finding me something to eat while the medic does her thing? I would ask the PAs to grab me something, but they were pretty spooked when I fell, and I’m not sure I trust them to go into town without spilling the beans to someone.”
I let out a breath and nodded. “Of course. I’ll call the diner. Sometimes the owners’ son will deliver if they’re not too busy.” I remembered he knew who Solo was. “I never did ask you what you and Solo were doing at the park that day.”
His radiant smile returned, reminding me of how happy he’d been in the park. “I’m helping him and his friends learn Shakespeare. He said if he doesn’t pass his summer school class, his dads will make him quit the diner. I think he’s saving up for a car.”
When I opened the bathroom door, his mother rushed over. “Oh, my poor baby!”
I leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I’ll be back. Any special requests? I’ll get enough for a crowd.”
He shook his head and mouthed thank you as his mother and the EMT quickly ushered him away from me.
When I called the diner, Pim answered and admitted they were too busy for delivery. I placed a large order of burgers and sandwiches and headed out to pick them up. On the way back to town, I called Tess to give her a quick update so she would know where I was and why Shawn might get called in.
“As long as Finn’s okay?” she asked.
“He’s just a bit banged up. I think it terrified him, though. He looked pretty spooked, and so did the two production assistants who saw it happen.”
“Why doesn’t he use a stunt double? It doesn’t make any sense.” I appreciated her concern and completely agreed. But I also understood how he’d gotten himself into his predicament. He’d been treated like a child for so long, and rock climbing was one of the activities that made him feel competent. To be an accomplished rock climber and let someone else film your rock climbing scenes would be hard to bear.
