His mouth lingered on each cheek longer than expected. His lips were warm, and the shift in him warmed her heart. He knew exactly how to take care of her. Her eyes met his when he lifted his head. She knew they were raw with emotion. All her feelings, her weaknesses, everything was visible for him to see. It was something she never revealed to anyone in her life. She knew he could see it. He smiled slightly and nodded ever so subtly.
“You’ll get through this love. You are made of really tough material.”
She circled her arms around his neck and wept. Finally the impact of it all had taken her down. Lance moved his arms around her and embraced her.
“Hey.”
Colton.
Lance released her and turned to his brother.
“You guys okay?” Colt’s eyes went to Tammy. She was a mess. There was dried blood on her face, her clothing, and it looked like she was crying.
“She’s had enough is all. Enough of tradgedy and me on the tail end barking at her.”
Colton nodded. “Yeah well, welcome to the family.” He grinned at Tammy. “I parked out front. Is she allowed to go home?”
“I didn’t give the doctor much of a choice.”
“Of course you didn’t.” Colt smiled that lop sided Hartley smile. “Let’s get her out of here then.”
A nurse came in at that moment and discontinued Tammy’s line and wished her luck while squeezing her hand. She looked at Lance. “I’m not even going to ask that you use a wheelchair, Mr. Hartley. We didn’t see anything,” she said quietly before she left.
Tammy saw her blush when talking to him. She knew her quite well and the woman wasn’t easily embarrassed, but no woman was immune. Especially now that there were two Hartleys in the room, she didn’t have a chance in hell. She was between two gorgeous bookends.
Lance nodded his thanks as the nurse left. Colt held open the door and Lance bent over and picked Tammy up, holding her close, and walked out to the truck. She clung to him. He slid her in the passenger side to the middle and slid in beside her. Colt got behind the wheel.
Lance slid his arm around Tammy and pulled her against his chest. No one said anything all the way to the house. Lance kept her face turned into his shoulder when they passed the accident scene. There were still investigative vehicles there, including Duncan’s car. There were a few people down in the ditch but the van was on the bed of a tow truck on the road. It looks like they already removed Richard’s body.
Once at the house, he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the house to his room. The rest of the family was there, waiting in the entrance, but he shook his head as he walked by and they respected his wishes to leave her alone.
Once his room, he undressed her slowly leaving on nothing but her panties. “Stay here.” He went to his dresser and pulled out a t-shirt and went back to her. “Lift your arms.” She did and he carefully slid it over her head and then pulled back the sheets and put her to bed. “You’re safe now babe. Go to sleep. I’ll be in in a bit. I need to ease the worries of our loved ones.”
She only shut her eyes as he tucked the blankets around her. She felt really safe. He was right, this was the place to be.
The next day she awoke draped in Lance’s body. He was spooned against her from behind with his arm and leg over her. She shifted and winced. The pain meds had worn off.
“You all right?”
She maneuvered to face him. “I hurt.”
He nodded and rolled over to his bedside table. She heard a pill bottle shaking and he sat up and handed her a glass of water and two white pills. She took them.
“Your brother phone last night. Melanie is doing okay. The news was hard, but she seems to have come to terms with the fact that you can’t save everyone no matter how many sacrifices you make or how much you try to help.”
She lay down and stared at the ceiling releasing a shuddering breath. “I used to be envious of the attention that she always had.” Her eyes went to his. “How ridiculous is that. She never really had it as easy as I did breaking away from all that control.”
“They’re coming for the wedding.” He smiled slowly.
She shifted her eyes to his and for the first time in what seemed like forever, smiled from ear to ear. “Thank you. I know it was you.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I love you Tammy. I would do anything for you.” He caressed her cheek with two fingers.
God he looked so beautiful. The sunlight shone through the window and lit up his bare chest, his mussed hair and his beautiful brown eyes. “I have so much baggage.”
“You have no baggage. You have people trying to give theirs.” He bent down and kissed her.
She circled her hand around the back of his head and kissed him back. It was eager and wanton.
