AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dragged from her traitorous thoughts, Jessica shrugged. “IthoughtI wanted to contact my mom and stay with her. But Ian made a really good point. He said these people probably already know about her, and if I contact her, I might be putting her in danger.”
Liz studied her but didn’t say anything.
“I don’t knowwhatI want to do anymore. If Ian is right and going to my mom’s will put her in danger, then wouldn’t staying here do the same thing for your family? He’s already done so much. He helped me get out of there, and then he offered for me to stay here.” Her gaze darted to meet Liz’s. “I mean, I don’t have to stay here if you don’t want me here. I’m a stranger and I—”
“Don’t worry one bit about that. If Ian thinks you’re better off here, who am I to say he’s wrong? I have a feeling his father would have sided with him anyway. If you want to stay, stay. You’re more than welcome.”
“But everyone—”
“I’m still the head of this household.” Liz winked. “Those boys will just have to deal with it.”
A flicker of hope lit in Jessica’s stomach. From the moment she’d arrived at this ranch, there was this indescribable pull—like she was a moth attracted to the flame. She couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. The sense of security was far greater here than at the shack of an apartment where she currently lived. Liz had made a warm, welcoming home despite the opinions of the six men in the other room.
She offered Liz a shy smile. “I think I’d like to stay if that’s okay.”
“Good. Because you’re not going anywhere,” Ian’s low voice broke the quiet of the kitchen.
Jessica whirled around at his entrance. How long had he been there? Why hadn’t Liz said something? She desperately went over the words she’d said, praying she hadn’t made a fool of herself.
His usual quiet, serious expression didn’t give her any clues. Her gaze dropped to his arm, a crimson stain near his shoulder. She cringed, her mouth pulling into a frown.
“Does it hurt?” she whispered.
Ian glanced down at his arm. He rotated his shoulder and winced. “It’s sore, but I think the bullet only grazed me.”
“Sit down and I’ll take a look at it.” Liz moved to the sink and filled a bowl with soapy water. Ian’s nimble fingers undid the buttons of his shirt and he slipped it from his shoulders. Jessica got one look at his muscular torso and glanced away, heat rushing to her face. Her mouth went dry. She’d never seen someone so built before. Well, not in person.
Liz hurried over to the table with her bowl and a rag. She put the items down. “Jessica, would you mind cleaning it up for me while I go find the first aid kit?”
“Me?” she practically squeaked.
Liz flashed her a smile. “Of course. You said you were interested in nursing, right? Well, consider this a jumping-off point.”
Jessica crossed the room tentatively and pulled out a wooden chair at the table. She lowered herself into the seat, not meeting Ian’s gaze. Trying to focus on his arm, not the fact that the more time she spent with him, the more she realized just how much of a catch he was. Of course she knew little bits about him from when she waited on him at the diner. But this was a different context.
She grabbed the rag and dipped it in the warm, sudsy water. Carefully she reached over and pressed the cloth to his arm. He sucked in a sharp breath, and she jumped back. “S—sorry.”
Ian shook his head. “It’s fine.”
Jessica pressed the rag against his wound again, slower. Then again and again. Ian’s muscles twitched beneath her touch. His arms were firm and muscular, but not overly so. His skin had been kissed by the sun, proof he labored outdoors. There were various scars that ran across his skin, and now there would be a new one to add to the bunch. She remained focused on her task, aware he was staring at her. Don’t look up. Don’t look up.
Her gaze lifted to meet his. Dumb. Those dark brown eyes now glowed into a caramel hazel color. His brows were pulled together as if he were trying to figure something out.
She dipped the rag in the bowl and rung it out, then cleared her throat. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You want to be a nurse?”
Her eyes cut to his for only a moment and the blush returned in full force. “Once upon a time, yes.”
“Why didn’t you do it?”
She laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”
Slowly he shook his head.
Blowing out a breath, she laid the rag against his arm again. He winced, and she softened her touch. “Not all of us in Copper Creek had the chance to grow up like this.” She gestured to the house. “We didn’t all have money or opportunities thrown at our feet.”
His scowl deepened, but he didn’t argue.
“I was raised by a single mother who barely had enough money to put food on the table, let alone clothes on my back. There were more important things to do than go to college.” She refused to meet his gaze. From the looks of it, he basically lived with a silver spoon in his mouth. Yes, he had to work hard with his family, but he got to go to college. He probably had birthdays where he got everything he wanted. His family had made sure they could afford to have six sons and raise them this way, and the evidence was everywhere. About ninety percent of the locals living in town had to scrimp and save to get by, and she was no exception. They couldn’t have been more different than if they’d grown up in separate countries.
Ian shifted in his seat. “Just because I was raised here doesn’t mean I had everything handed to me.”
“I didn’t say that. Obviously, you all work very hard here. But the truth is your family didn’t struggle. Can you name even one time in your life when you went hungry?”
He opened his mouth then shut it. Good, she’d made her point.
“I didn’t think so. We come from different worlds, Ian. Just because I wanted to be a nurse and didn’t get to, doesn’t mean it was all bad. Learning to live with disappointment can actually be a good thing.”
