And now I know knotting has nothing to do with ropes.
After nearly losing Daisy, it’s been hard to keep my hands off her. For no other reason than to remind myself that she’s here. Safe and sound. Alive! But I’ll be damned if this book isn’t making me want to touch her for an entirely different reason. A few minutes ago, she reached for her water glass, and I used it as an excuse to move closer. I’ve been sitting on the edge of the ottoman since, needing to be close enough to touch her.
Every time I look up, her big, whiskey eyes crash into mine, setting me on fire. This story is turning us both on, but the bruises on her face are a stark reminder that we aren’t playinghouse. She’s here, so I can take care of her and keep her safe. That’s it.
When she begins to nod off, I check the time on my phone. Two hours have passed, and I have a shitload of texts waiting for me.
She’s squinting, and I can tell her concussed head is killing her, so I carry her upstairs, give her ibuprofen, and tuck her in. She asks me to stay, and there’s no way I can refuse her. Maui and I join her on the bed, and once she’s out, I reach for my journal on the bedside table.
Not long after she falls asleep, she tries to turn onto her side, but with her foot up it’s a no go. Her eyes peel open and settle on me, taking in my journal. She looks at me funny, but when I give her a smile and squeeze her hand, she falls back to sleep.
Just before ten, I grab the dog and sneak out of my bedroom, down the stairs and out the back door, to find Daisy’s brothers waiting for me on my back deck where I had asked them to meet.
I implied I wouldn’t tell her brothers until tomorrow, but I didn’t make her any promises. When Cal called this afternoon with news about what happened at the ranch, in my gut I knew the incident was connected to Daisy’s fall. She’s in danger, and there’s no way in hell I’m waiting any longer.
Maui greets Callen, Angus, and Knox and I gather my strength, trying to figure how to approach this damn topic once again.
“What the fuck is going on, Swift?” Gus asks, arms crossed over his chest.
“Why don’t we sit?” I say, struggling to find the right words to start.
“What the actual fuck?” Cal says, pulling out a chair. “Why are we sneaking into your backyard at ten pm on a Sunday night when we have all this shit going on at the ranch?”
“Because Daisy is upstairs sleeping.”
Cal’s chair tips over when he springs up from his seat, ready to pounce. “What did you just say?”
“You’re an idiot if you haven’t noticed there’s something going on between them,” Knox says, surprising me. “Ryan and I picked up on it in New York. But why bring us here to tell us you’re sleeping with our sister?”
“For the love of God, that is not why she’s here.”
“Cal, sit the fuck down,” Angus spits. “It’s been a long day, and I’d like to get home at some point.”
They’ve been moving the cattle back and fixing the fence line all day, and exhaustion is etched into their faces. If Daisy weren’t here, I would have been there helping them.
“She’s why you couldn’t help us today, isn’t she?” Cal asks, straightening his chair and sitting.
I nod and get back to business. “Now, before I say anything, your sister made me promise not to call any of you. She’s gonna kick my ass for this.”
“I’m so confused. If this isn’t about you two hooking up, why are we here?” Knox questions as Cal bristles like he’s about to jump across the table and strangle me with his bare hands if Knox mentions me with his baby sister again.
“Okay, now, let me speak. No questions until the end.” I focus on Callen. “Okay?”
Each of the brother's nod.
“So, yesterday I was on duty, working an extra shift, when I heard a female matching Daisy’s description had fallen at Smith Rock.” The brothers all shift in their seats, but I carry on. “I knew she had that date with the climber from Colorado, so I left the city and drove like a bat out of hell, arriving the same time medical and fire did. Sure enough, it was her. Lying on the rocks just coming to. She fell nearly a hundred feet, knocking herself unconscious.”
In unison, the three of them ask, “Is she okay?”
“She has a concussion and a nice goose egg on the back of her head. She’s in a walking boot because she tore the tendons from her ankle. She’s covered in bruises and cuts, but, by some miracle, she’s okay.”
Their relieved comments blend together, but I don’t really hear them. All I can think about is what I have to say next.
“The thing is, her date was nowhere to be found. And a witness... fuck, this is harder than I thought it was gonna be... she saw him push her.”
This is the lightning rod that activates the brothers. Cal and Knox are out of their seats, pacing the deck while Gus stares at me, waiting for more, his military training kicking in. He needs all the information before reacting.
“Excuse me?” Knox asks, as though I’m speaking another language as he paces behind his now abandoned chair.
