Chapter 25
Hadley
She huffs an amused laugh. “Guess that’s my fault, since I didn’t call and all.”
“I can take the sofa if?—”
“No, you won’t.” She tries to take the bag, and I snatch her grabby little hand, fingers closing around her elegant wrist.
“Come on, inside. Before Nia finds her binoculars.”
“Oh, I wanted to meet them. Sorry, I was a little flustered before...” The words die out.
“You will. Mom will be making supper tonight.”
“I don’t want her to think I rocked up and expected room and board. I want to help, Hadley. I’m here to help, please.”
She’s sweet when she begs.
“Sure, Sunshine, you can help me. Done much ranch work?”
“Only a little.”
“Inside, before I send you back home.”
“So bossy, cowboy.”
She has no idea.
We walk through the front screen door, and it snaps shut behind us. The entryway is small but it opens up to the living room on the right and the kitchen on the left. It’s all still a workin progress. At least now I have the plumbing sorted. So we’re good for showers and washing, etc.
I wave a hand in front of us. “Down the hall on the left is the bedroom.”
“Thanks,” she says, going to pull the bag from my shoulder.
I hobble down the hallway and she follows. Padding over the threshold to my bedroom, I cross the large room and set her bag down by the big bay window facing the east. I turn back to find her leaning on the doorframe, looking around, hands clasped in front of her. The only thing between us is the big old wooden bed I’ve had since I was seventeen. Bought it off trade, swap, and sell for peanuts. Still love it to this day. It’s a grand old king bed, rustic wood design.
“Your home is lovely, Hadley.”
I smile, hobbling my way back to the other side of the room. I rest the crutch against the wall and tug the wet shirt from my back with one hand as I balance myself with the other on the ancient relic of a wardrobe. It rises but sticks.
Maggie pushes off the doorframe and wanders to where I stand. “Here, arms up.”
I lift my arms the best I can while balancing on one weight-bearing foot. She peels the wet shirt up and off my body.
My breaths stutter out as she traces a finger between the muscles of my chest and down my hard stomach and murmurs, “Still wet.”
Lungs on fire, I manage with a gravelly tone, “Towels in the bathroom across the hall.”
“Stay put.” She leaves the room.
I hang my head, bracing both hands on the wardrobe. I try taking slow, languid breaths to calm my racing heart. She reappears with a towel in her hands, and I straighten. Taking the towel to my hair and down my neck, she moves it over my shoulders before drying my chest. The towel moves to mystomach, and I close my hand over her wrist, tugging her closer. She rises up on her tiptoes, hand sliding behind my neck. I drop my forehead to hers. “Fuck, I missed you.”
“Back at you. Driving all by myself isn’t the same. Betsy feels empty without you beside me.”
“Sunshine, it’s barely been three days.” I chuckle.
“It feels much longer, Hadley.”
