“I’m sorry,” Jake murmured, bending his head to kiss her cheek, right over the scar.
“There was so much blood,” she whispered, touching her face reflexively. “It got in my eye, and I thought I was losing my vision, that the branch had gotten my eye too.”
“That’s a hell of a thing.”
“Anyway, tree branches don’t make for the neatest wounds, so…” She would carry the scars from that night on her skin for the rest of her life.
“Nothing neat about it, but life rarely is,” he commented, arms still around her, warm and strong.
“I guess not.” She relaxed against his chest, shaking off the memories of the crash. “Anyway, I’ve seen plastic surgeons, done all the creams and treatments, and this is about as good as it’s going to get.”
He squeezed her leg. “Your scars are part of who you are, and I think everything about you is pretty damn great.”
“Thanks.” It made sense when he said it, but she hadn’t truly felt like herself since the accident. There was Megan from before the crash, and Megan from after. And she wasn’t entirely sure who the new Megan was yet. Maybe Jake could help her merge them together. Or maybe she had to do that on her own.
They sat together quietly, watching as the sun inched closer to the treetops, casting the castle and grounds in a golden glow. His arms rested comfortably around her, his hands covering hers on the saddle horn. Beneath them, Twister began to shuffle impatiently.
“Guess we better let him get moving again,” she said finally, leaning down to rub the horse’s neck.
“Yep.” Jake clucked to him, and they were off again, walking down the trail back into the forest. “This trail is a big loop, comes out behind the farmhouse.”
“I’m definitely coming back with my camera,” she murmured.
“Lots of great shots out here,” he agreed.
They rode in an easy silence back to the castle. Jake’s arms were still around her, his warm, solid presence pressed against her back, and she could only describe the feeling as…contentment. Which was frankly unsettling in itself. She’d never felt contented with a man before, and it terrified her to feel that way about Jake, when neither of them were in any place to think about a serious relationship.
“So, about tonight…” he said after they’d gotten off Twister and stood together in the barn. There was an awkward moment where they stared at each other, each waiting for the other to make the first move. “I have a late session with an offsite client, and then I really need to catch up on some work. Can I see you tomorrow?”
She exhaled, inexplicably relieved he hadn’t been expecting her to spend the night again, because right now she needed a little space to figure out why she felt so…attached after only one night with him. “Definitely, and I promised to have dinner with Ruby tonight anyway.”
“All right, then.”
“Working on your next book?”
He nodded. “And I’m behind on my word count for this week.”
“Well, I’d better let you get to it. Text me about tomorrow, but I’ll probably see you around regardless.” She leaned in to give him a quick kiss, which turned into a lingering one as his arms slipped around her, anchoring her against his body.
“Not tired of this yet,” he murmured against her lips.
“Well, I should hope not,” she teased. “It’s only been twenty-four hours.”
They kissed, slow and lingering until she finally broke away for some much-needed air, forehead resting against his cheek while his chest heaved beneath her palm.
“See you tomorrow, then,” she said, stepping backward out of his arms before they got carried away. Because she had no doubt it wouldn’t take much for them to get carried away. Not tonight, and not for their relationship in general.
