“My phone’s dead,” I admitted. “Couldn’t even double-check where I was going.”
“Ah. Brutal.” He paused. “Where were you headed?”
“Buffaloberry Hill.”
“Well, look at that. You’re still on the right trail.” His expression went crooked with mischief. He just couldn’t help himself.
I chuckled. “Thanks for the pep talk, coach.”
He gave a kind laugh. “You’ve done better than most would’ve. You were just unlucky today. I’ll get you there.” Then he gently prodded my shoulder, his fingers pressing along the joint. “Here, yes?”
“Yeah.”
Then—
Agony.
A vicious jolt shot through me. My body wrenched, and a cry tore from my throat, so forceful that it left me lightheaded.
But then?—
Arms wrapped around me.
Strong but soothing. Holding me close.
My cheek was smashed against his chest before I even realized what had happened.
“You’re mean!” I let out another cry, muffled by his T-shirt.
“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” His voice was low and warm against my hair. “But, hey, that did the trick, right?”
I fisted his tee, burying my face deeper. “You’re mean,” I repeated.
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I’ll make it up to you. But at least you didn’t have time to overthink it.”
I wanted to tell him he was wrong. But he wasn’t.
The pain in my shoulder had dulled, and I could move it a little.
And honestly? The only thing I was overthinking now was how fresh he smelled.
Sure, there was sweat. But under that, there was cedarwood and something clean. While I, on the other hand, definitely smelled worse than Lulu.
And yet, I wasn’t moving.
I let my face stay right there, flush against his chest, soaking in the warmth of him.
“You’re tough,” he said.
Tough.The word landed differently, better,coming from him.
I swiped at my cheek in what I hoped was a subtle way to erase the stubborn tears from wincing too hard.
“You’re a doctor or something?” I asked.
“Nah,” he said. “I had first aid training. And some basic paramedic training. Sometimes I needed to know a bit of human anatomy.”
“Lucky me,” I sighed as scenarios started playing in my head.
