But then I thought about the way he looked at her, the way he caught her, cradling her in his arms as if she were the most precious being on planet Earth. Maybe he did have special powers. A true and pure kind of love like that was a power in and of itself.
I was both relieved and disappointed when we pulled into the driveway. The energy in the car was overwhelming. Intoxicating. My head still ached faintly.
I unbuckled my seat belt, Beau’s head darting toward me as he put the car in park. “Don’t you open that fucking door.”
I pursed my lips, wanting to argue but deciding to pick my battles. And if I was honest with myself, I was kind of enjoying this protective side of Beau. It felt nice, safe to have someone—to have Beau—so thoroughly concerned about my well-being. I’d never experienced that before.
As he rounded the truck, I told myself to manage my expectations. This didn’t mean anything. This was an extreme situation, triggering Beau’s trauma. That was it.
The door opened, and a blast of cold air cut through the polyester of my coat. Not for long, though, because I was pressed into a warm man who smelled like juniper and home.
He delicately grasped on to me, lifting me onto my feet. Again, he cupped my cheek, tilting my head so he could use the porch light to examine my head with a clenched jaw.
Again, I stopped breathing.
“Can you walk?” he murmured.
I nodded mutely, though I didn’t quite trust my legs to work. My knees felt weak. But walking was the only option. Beau could not carry me inside.
“Let’s get you inside.”
Again, he led me with a firm hand on my lower back, walking slowly, carefully. He didn’t stop touching me as we ascended the steps, walking through the front door.
The house was warm, cozy, and welcoming.
Elliot was waiting in the living room, standing as we came in.
“You’re okay,” he exclaimed in relief. It shook me—nowhere near as much as it had with Beau—to see that Elliot was concerned too. I wasn’t used to people caring enough about me to worry.
I nodded, smiling weakly. “Just a little bump on the head.”
“Get her tea,” Beau ordered Elliot. “Water, painkillers.” He turned to me. “I’m going to run your bath.”
I tilted my head up at him, trying to keep my face blank as my knees struggled to stop shaking. “I don’t need you to run a bath for me. I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself.”
“I didn’taskif you were capable,” he muttered. “On the couch.” He pointed then turned down the hall without a second glance. I watched him leave.
“He’s bossy.” I turned to Elliot, who was watching with an amused, satisfied smile on his face.
“He cares,” he amended. “He just happens to show it by being bossy. However, I’ll echo my brother’s sentiment. Rest.” He slanted his head to the couch. “I’ll make you tea and get painkillers.”
I relented only because this fussing by the two Shaw men was overwhelming. And Ididfeel tired.
Sitting on the couch, I fired off a text to Lori.
Please update me on you and the baby when you can.
The response was immediate.
Baby and I are both fine. Although a caveman police chief is currently torturing us.
I pursed my lips in a smile, hoping that Lori might get that fairy-tale ending she didn’t believe in, even if it looked a little different than it did in the stories.
Me, on the other hand? I knew I wouldn’t get mine, despite the way Beau was acting tonight.
It was temporary. All of it.
I forced that thought into my pulsing brain.
