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“But my things…” Ally shook her head. “I can’t even get up there to pack them.”
“Do you have a friend you can give a list to?” he asked her. “I’d do it, but I’m notoriously bad at packing.”
“He is,” Riley agreed, smiling. “That’s why he always pays the professionals.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Ally said. “My friends Ember and Brooke would do it.” She swallowed hard. “But you don’t even know me, not really. I’m sure I could find somewhere else to stay.”
“Like where?”
She paused for a moment. Ember and Lucas’s house could barely fit the two of them in it. Brooke lived in the small pool house attached to her parent’s estate – no room for more than her and Nick. That left maybe Lorne and his wife, who lived in a one-bed cottage that would be more than cozy if Ally moved in. “Um, I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I’d need to call around.”
“You don’t need to do that. We have plenty of room. You’ll have your own bedroom and bathroom, and all the privacy you need.” He inclined his head at the car she’d climbed out of only minutes before. “Let’s go back to the car and head to our place, and you can ask your friends to pick some clothes up for you.” He helped her slide her arm back onto the crutches. “It’s the best solution.”
* * *
As Nate drove them back to his house her ankle throbbed like crazy. Every now and then, when the car hit a bump in the road, a sharp pulse of pain would shoot up her leg, making her wince in her efforts not to cry out. It didn’t help that her heart was clamoring against her ribs like a crazed animal, either.
Nate pulled the Lexus up to a pair of black gates and hit the remote control that was attached to the dashboard. As they slowly opened, he edged the car in, speeding up as they made it to the driveway.
Like so many of the houses in this part of town, Nate’s home was a sprawling ranch-style building, the low white frontage bigger than the footprint of her condo building. Beyond the palms that had been planted to give the building some shade she could see the yellow sand that led to the azure ocean, which had chosen to be still today.
It looked glorious, and so much easier to navigate than her own building. And yet the idea of spending two weeks there with Nate, and Riley, was making her anxious. Her muscles were urging her to run in spite of the heavy cast on her leg.
Nate turned off the engine and climbed out, walking around the car to help her. With his support, she managed to make her way to the bottom step on crutches. There were only six of them – wide white flagstone stairs that led up to the oak front door – but the thought of trying to get up them made her feel exhausted before she’d even started.
“Why don’t you practice the steps tomorrow?” Nate suggested, as though he could read her mind. “It’s been a long day and you’re looking pretty tired.”
“How’s she going to get up to the house if she doesn’t use her crutches?” Riley asked. Nate pointed at himself with a finger, and she let out a little “oh.”
“Can you take the crutches?” he asked his daughter. Then he turned to Ally. “Are you okay with me lifting you up there?”
Was she okay? No, not really. None of this was okay. Ally felt like one of those fish that jumped out of the sea, flapping uselessly on the sand until somebody put them out of their misery. She was so unused to accepting help from other people. Add to that the crazy attraction she felt toward Nate every time he looked at her and she was pretty much done for.
“That’s fine,” she managed, though it felt anything but.
A second later he was sliding his hand under her thighs, his palm soft as it brushed against her skin. His other arm hooked around her back as he lifted her easily, pulling her body against his chest to keep her steady.
“Put your arm
s around my neck,” he instructed, his voice soft.
She did as she was told, looping her hands around him, feeling the ridges of his shoulder muscles. She tipped her head to look at him, and he was staring right back at her, his gaze intense.
Her stomach contracted. She’d never been this close to him before. She took a deep breath in, but it only made things worse as she inhaled his warm scent.
He carried her carefully, as though she was some kind of precious cargo. And not once was she afraid he might drop her. His hold was strong and sure, comforting, even. She closed her eyes for a second to try and savor the moment. She wanted to commit it to memory – the warmth of his skin beneath her hands, the feel of his chest against her cheek – and maybe that would be enough to get her through the next few days.
“Ally? We’re here. I’m going to put you down now. There are no stairs inside the house.” If he’d thought she was crazy for closing her eyes as he carried her, he gave her no indication.
“Shall we give her the tour?” Riley asked, passing the crutches back to Ally.
“I don’t know. How are you feeling? Do you need some rest?” Nate asked, studying her. “We can show you around later if you prefer?”
She gave him a small smile. “I’m feeling pretty beat. Plus, I think it’s time to take some more painkillers.”
“We can show you to your room, then,” Riley said, grinning. “Or if you prefer you can go in the living room. There’s a TV there, and a footstool. And dad makes a mean batch of popcorn.”
“The living room sounds good.”
