“Sienna?”
She blinked slowly, finally registering that Casper was speaking real words.
“Where are you hurt?”
She took a deep, shuddering breath. “My shoulder—I can’t move it.”
“Anything else?”
“I don’t think so.”
Without another word, Casper scooped her up from the ground with one hand under her knees and the other gripping her waist. She squeaked in surprise and threw her good arm around his neck to stabilize herself. The position put her head just beside his and, from so close, she could see a faint hint of freckles dusting his nose and cheeks.
The pain must be going to my head. Of all the things to notice—freckles! It’s not as if I don’t see them every day; I have enough to freckle a small army.
“I’m not sure how that would work.” His eyes were focused on the path ahead as he carried her to the lighthouse, but there was just the tiniest smirk of amusement on his face. “And why would you have an army in the first place?”
Sienna realized that she must have inadvertently spoken her thoughts out loud again but couldn’t summon the energy to care. A sudden fatigue pushed through the haze of pain, and she let her head drop onto Casper’s shoulder. He smelled like fresh air and the sea.
“Thank you?”
“I did it again, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
She could hear the humor in his voice, and the thought that she would miss the sight of a real smile on his face was enough to prompt her to lift her head enough to see it.
“I knew it.” She fell back again with a contented sigh and closed her eyes.
“Knew what?” The crunch of gravel under Casper’s feet signaled that they were nearing the house.
“That you would look handsome with a smile.”
He stumbled, and jostling action sent a jolt of pain through her shoulder. She whimpered and shoved her face deeper into his shoulder.
“Sorry.” He carefully readjusted her. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“That you’re handsome?”
He grunted in response. They reached the door, and he gently lowered her to the ground before fumbling about for the key.
Sienna leaned against the doorframe. Her eyelids drooped to half-mast of their own accord. The adrenaline of the near-deathexperience had worn off, and after several days and nights of broken, inadequate sleep, her body was exhausted. “I can call you whatever I want. We’re engaged.”
“For a week.”
“Which means that for a week I can call you whatever I want. Actually, longer than that, because after you leave you won’t be around to hear it.”
The lock clicked and Casper pushed the door open. Rather than going in right away, he stood and watched her for a moment. Even in her pain- and sleep-addled state, Sienna could see the look of longing that flashed through his eyes, followed immediately by resignation. He sighed.
“Alright, Si. Let’s get you taken care of.”
Chapter ten
Just on the Edge
Casper
Casper slipped an arm around Sienna’s waist and ushered her through the door. She was half-dead on her feet already, though whether it was due to pain or exhaustion, he couldn’t tell.
