Corinne’s histrionics became more exaggerated the higher they climbed. Just as Cara was about to snap at her mother, Wes asked, “Could you find several bags of ice?”
“Of course. Some arnica oil, too, for the bruising.”
“Thanks,” Cara muttered, as they reached the top of the steps.
Once they were in the bedroom, the door closed, Wes put his hands on her shoulders and took stock of her, his face contorting with emotion.
“God, Cara. I’m so sorry. I let my guard down. Nothing had happened since we left Atlanta, and I thought—”
“You don’t need to be sorry.” Her voice was scratchy.
He gently pulled her into his arms, and she buried her face in his chest, inhaling his clean scent.
“You’re trembling. You should be in bed, or do you need a doctor?”
She tightened her arms around his back, ignoring how it sent twinges through her bruises.
“What I need right now is for you to hold me.” Cara turned her head so that the uninjured side of her face pressed against his firm chest. His heart beat a fast staccato beneath her ear.
“You aren’t going to have a heart attack, are you? Stop trying to steal my thunder.”
“I thought I was going to when I heard you scream.” He lay his head against the top of her hair, his breath ragged. “I was looking for you when I heard it, but I couldn’t tell where it was coming from, and then I saw your brother… And then you screamed again, and we couldn’t get the door open…”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone down there with him.”
“This isn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known. He was your friend!”
“I trusted him.” Cara felt stupid. How could she not have seen it? Colin was always around. “I knew he had a crush on me when we were younger.” Her face wrinkled at the memory. “He was always so sweet, helpful. Constantly apologizing for when Erik was a jerk. But I never thought he was…”
Stepping back, Wes took her hand and led her to the bed, but she resisted.
“I want to take a shower.”
His eyes studied hers, but then, without a word, he walked to the small bathroom and turned the water on. She pulled her top over her head.
“Wait. I’d feel safer if you stayed,” she said when Wes turned to go.
Pain flashed through his eyes, but he tried to smile.
Cara dropped her filthy clothes to the floor and stepped under the stream of water, wincing when it hit an abrasion. “Are you trying to give me hypothermia? This water is cold!”
“Hot water makes the bruises feel worse.”
They exchanged a look. “When you said Melody taught you how to survive, how to fight dirty… You meant things like this…”
He nodded.
She stepped from the shower and ignored the towel he offered. Reaching up on her tiptoes, she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
A knock at the door broke the moment.
“That’s probably my mother,” Cara said, as she dried herself carefully, avoiding the worst of the sore spots.
Wes retrieved the robe left for guests and extended it to her.
“In bed,” he commanded, making his way to the door.
“That’s really not the way I’d hoped to hear you say that.” Cara slid under the sheets. She was tired and her throat throbbed.
