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I have no idea what to say, and he takes advantage of my silence.
“You’re coming home with me. You need someone to watch over you for the next twenty-four hours, and I’m your man.”
Your man.
Oh God, I must have really hit my head hard because that label sounds nice. It will live rent free in my brain for the foreseeable future.
If an eyeroll didn’t cause more pain than it’s worth at the moment, my eyes would be so far back in my head that I would be able to see my pillow.
Taking a deep breath, I try to get my thoughts in order, but the throbbing in my head is only getting worse. I can’t just give in. I need to find a logical reason not to stay with Carter.
“Twenty-four hours together? Surely, one of us will be murdered.” Bringing my good hand up to my temple, I try to think of another solution. I feel hot and uncomfortable, my body not feeling like my own. The harder I try to focus, the more exhaustion weighs on me.
“We’ll be fine. How about this, Pen? You come home with me tonight, and once you’ve rested and feel a bit better, we can figure something more suitable out. I can see you’re fading fast.”
He’s right. I don’t have the energy to fight him right now. I’ve known him long enough to also know that he’s not bullshitting me when he says he’s the only person able to look after me right now.
“Okay,” I agree, rubbing my temple. The world around me is turning a little hazy. “But just for a night. I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You could never be that. You’re everything.”
And there goes my heart again.
Chapter Five
Carter
Her boyfriend. Shit, that sounded good to my ears.
Penny didn’t waste a second correcting the doctor, however. Like the thought of us being together was abhorrent to her. That made me grin like an idiot. She protested a littletoohard to be totally indifferent to the label.
It isn’t my usual method to tell someone what to do. In fact, interrupting Penny and telling her that she’s coming home with me made my stomach do a nervous flip. But after years of knowing Penny and understanding what motivates her, I knew she needed someone to tell her what to do.
Because no matter what, she was going to fight. She was going to debate. Sometimes, she needs that in order to be in control. So, when I saw the hesitation and the light in her eyes dim, I told her she was coming with me.
And she did exactly what I knew she would until she saw reason.
It was a small victory, but a victory, nonetheless. I now have less than twenty-four hours to show her my feelings and hope part of the fire that burns in her heart has an ember for me.
That is a bridge I’ll have to cross later, however. Right now, I need to worry about how my girls are going to be welcoming Penny into the house. This is a part of my life that I haven’t shared with many people outside of my immediate family. I’m sure chaos is about to ensue with a new person entering their territory.
“We’re here,” I softly whisper to Penny, giving her a gentle shake. She stirs in the passenger seat, her eyes blinking open. When she realizes it’s me nudging her, she sits up quickly. I try not to read into that action.
“This isn’t where you live,” she says, confusion on her face.
“Surprise,” I reply, holding up my hands, fingers wide and making them dance.
“What the hell, Carter? Have you kidnapped me and taken me where no one will find me until my decomposed body is discovered when the snow melts?”
I’m so stunned, all I do is stare at her. My hands drop into my lap. Turning my body away from her, I stare at the house.
The Christmas lights that I had put up weeks ago look good in the darkness.
“I’m not sure how to respond, honestly. That’s what you think of when you look at this magical winter wonderland? That I’m a secret killer?”
“Well, all killers are secret killers until they get caught,” she mumbles back, her eyes locked on the house again. “The house does look really pretty.”
Smug satisfaction bubbles in my chest as I look at the house through her eyes. I take in the blinding lights and holiday decorations on the porch and lining the walkway. The snow is falling fast, making the scene look more magical.
