“Don’t ever say you’re sorry, Lauren. I’m supposed to be the one person you can talk and tell anything to, and I want to be that man for you. I admit it took a lot of twists and turns to get us both to this point in our lives, but we’re here and we are together. But I do understand that I was not your choice.”
“You didn’t choose me either, Grant. If what you said is all true, you could have had your pick of willing females. Not a soiled castoff.”
“I don’t ever want to hear those words out of your mouth again. You are partially right. I could have walked away and normally I would have, but something stopped me in my tracks. Maybe those unspoken prayers of yours were heard, and it just took time to maneuver all the pieces into place. You are a beautiful woman, Lauren. You seem to have a kind heart, you’re a hard worker, and you make a great pie. I could have done a hell of a lot worse. You, on the other hand, got a smelly beast.”
“You might be a little hairy, but you don’t smell bad for a beast … now. Yes, you are huge, scary big to be honest, but you’re not mean. If you were naturally cruel, there would be this evil gleam in your eyes. Men can’t hide their cruelty if you know where to look. And it does help that you’re comfortable.”
“Ughh, already the insults … comfortable? What man wants to be comfortable? Ohh the horror!”
My fingers have been unwittingly tracing the ridges and deep valleys of his chest. He is like lying on a velvet rock. Blue crows again, but this time it sounds pitiful and we both laugh.
“Do you think he’s doing that on purpose?”
“It’s hard to tell with that damn rooster! One minute he’s happy to see you and the next he is meaner than the devil himself. Can’t tell you how many bruises and cuts I have just from trying to feed him. If you go in the coop, be careful and never take your eyes off him.”
“He’s not the first ornery chicken I’ve ever been around but I’ll remember to watch him. We’d better get up because our breakfast is not going to fix itself, and your belly is the one growling this time.”
“I didn’t hear a thing.”
“I’m closer … and Grant, are you naked?”
“Sure am, best night’s sleep I’ve had in forever. Clean blankets and sheets, not to mention a warm, soft body to snuggle up to. Now, if you don’t stop running those little fingers across my chest, I might just be forced to kiss you, so you’ve been warned.”
I start to jerk away but stop myself, and just lay my hand flat. The thought of his kiss makes my body flush and I don’t understand why.
Grant gets quiet, and for a minute I think he may have fallen back asleep until Blue crows again. “Well, so much for lying around in bed all day. He is going to give himself a heart attack if I don’t open the pen and let him and the girls out for a while. If you are feeling up to it, I can give you a tour of the property today.”
“That actually sounds nice. Do you think you could loosen this wrap before you head out? It’s pinching my skin.”
“I think I tied it in the back, so get up and I’ll untie it before you go get dressed … you know, in the new clothes I bought and would like to see on you.”
Shaking my head at his teasing, I push myself up only for the blanket to slide down his body. I must have frozen because his laughter makes me jerk.
“Stop staring at him like he’s an alien creature.”
“Is that normal? I mean, I know I’m mostly clueless about the male body, but I don’t think they’re supposed to be quite that large when at rest.”
His loud laughter makes me bite back a smile as my hands fly to my red cheeks when I realize what just came out of my mouth.
“Turn around and pull your gown up. I promise my alien attachment will behave.”
If I could crawl into a hole, I’d do it now. What in the world made me say something like that? It takes me a second to get turned around, and I can’t stop the shiver that flows over my skin when his large hands start untying the bandage. The moment the top is loose, I try to take a deep breath, pleased that I only feel a slight twinge on my right side.
“Your skin is marked something terrible here. Help me get this all the way off, then lie down on your stomach.”
Uncertain, but curious, I hold my arms out while he unwraps the binding. Before I realize what he’s doing, my gown is being lifted over my head and I immediately grab at the blanket, trying to cover my now naked breasts. Thankfully, I have my pantaloons on or I would be stark naked in front of him again.
Rolling over onto my belly, I tense up when I feel his large hand settle in the middle of my back. “Can you get that jar on the crate there?” I reach over awkwardly, handing it back to him.
“Take a deep breath because this might be a little cold, but it’s going to really help, I promise.”
He’s not wrong, as that first touch sends a shiver clear through me, but before long, my skin starts tingling, and I can feel my whole body start to relax.
“See, I told you. I have no idea what’s in it, but old man Harvey sold this to me when a muscle on my shoulder refused to stop aching and it did wonders. Lord Lauren, your poor skin is a multitude of colors. I’m not even sure what color your natural skin is.”
“Honestly, it’s been a while since it was all the same shade. I appreciate your concern Grant, and I’ll do everything I can not to be a burden to you. You’ve been extremely kind and I fear I’d forgotten what that was like.”
“Lauren, we are both walking a new path. You can spend all your time looking back or you can step forward into something new. Personally, I would love to have a friend and someone to confide in and it would help if that girl could also make a killer apple pie!”
