“I like that. That mean you wanna be my friend?” I say it kind of joking-like, because I’m afraid of what it means to be more than his friend. It’s too overwhelming to think about right now.
Soft lips press against my hair, just behind my ear. “I’m already your friend, Darcy.”
I let that sink in.Friend. I’m trying so hard not to get in my head about it when Jake’s fingers lace with mine. I pull our hands together so they press into my stomach and he rests his head behind mine. “Night, friend,” I hum, even though it’s still morning.
“Night, darlin’.”
TWENTY
JAKE
I should get up.I should really get up.
Darcy’s asleep, but she’s got hold of my hand and arm and fuck me, because I don’t want to let go.
What am I doing? I’m lying in my boss’s bed, enjoying her soft, warm body against mine, her round ass pressed into my crotch.
Under different circumstances, this would be hot as hell. I’d sit up on my elbow and rub my lips over that sweet spot between her hairline, her ear, and her jaw. I’d make her moan and squirm and whine and beg and say my name in a way that wasn’t so much annoyed as desperate. I’d grind between these luscious cheeks, let my hand trail down her front, tease those gorgeous breasts. Work my thumb in slow circles around her nipple until she was pleading for more, then snake my hand between those muscled thighs to see just how wet?—
Those would be different circumstances, and now I’m risking getting a half-stack into my boss’s ass.
I suck in a breath so deep it hurts, trying to reset my dirty thoughts.
Darcy’s sick, and she’s trusting me to take care of her. And I’m doing a damn good job. I’m not even bullshitting—I feel terrible for her. It broke my heart to see her so upset and feeling like her life’s a disaster. She’s super hard on herself, and it’s tough to see that.
From my perspective, she’s doing everything right. I’m not sure why she’s so determined that she’s doing a bad job. I mean, yeah, the horse thing wasn’t the smartest move, but she was also under the gun to get across the creek before it flooded. I hesitated to even step in because I knew she’d beat herself up about that. And not like I didn’t do a stupid horse thing this summer.
With one long breath and one last stare at her in my arms, I weasel my way out of the bed. Before I get back to work, I pop into the cabin where I get a minimal amount of cell service. I think I’ve got her health under control, but in case I have to take her somewhere, I don’t have an emergency contact for her. So I text her uncle.
Hey, this is Jake who works on your farm. Darcy’s sick today so I’m handling stuff. Nothing too bad but she’s pretty dehydrated. Is there someone I should contact if I end up having to take her somewhere?
BILL ROSSETTI
I reckon just us, maybe her mom and dad
Maggie tells me just us
Got it. I’ll let you know if we need outside help
* * *
It’s lunchtime,and my fingers are on the inside of Darcy’s wrist. Her pulse is still way faster than I’d like, especially given she’s sleeping. Her Gatorade bottle is only a quarter gone.
Darcy’s gravelly voice sounds behind me. “Hey.”
I turn to glance at her. “Hey, yourself. How’d you sleep?”
“Weird,” she says, shifting around with a lazy blink. “I had a dream that someone who smelled nice snuggled me to sleep.”
I’m internally wrestling every fiber of my being that wants to slide back under the covers with her.
“What an interesting dream!” I joke. I take her in: pale and drawn with deep circles under her eyes. She’s still pretty sick. “Hey, I’m going to have you try one more thing before we take you for IV fluids.”
Her puffy eyes widen. “Shit. That sounds serious.”
“The solution is easy. You need to take a bath.”
Her head recesses into the pillow. “Like, naked in a bath? We had one cuddle session and now you want me naked?”
