“Definitely.”
“Oh. Good for him, then.”
Aubrey didn’t answer. She had the distinct impression that this line of questioning had only served as a way to change the subject.
Tansy turned the hydrogen peroxide over four times, then found the sticker on the cap. “What’s he like, anyway? The new kid?”
Aubrey’s stomach soured. “He’s lived here for six months. I don’t think he still counts as thenew kid.”
“This is Henderson. In five years, we’ll still be calling him that.”
Aubrey blew out a frustrated breath. Something about the offhand remark fired a spark in her. “Actually, he’s the most incredible person I’ve ever met. Like... a knight in shining armor, or something. He’s honorable. And selfless. The kind of person who does the right thing no matter what, even if it hurts him. Which is pretty rare, these days. I didn’t think they made guys like that, anymore.”
Tansy’s hands stilled on the bandages. She glanced up, a flicker of interest lighting her pale eyes. “That is rare.”
Aubrey shifted her weight, wishing she could retract the dramatic speech. “Sorry.”
“For what?”
“I just get... defensive. People misjudge him sometimes.”
Tansy held her eyes. Flakes of mascara clung to her cheeks while crimson vessels tangled in the whites of her eyes. She’d definitely been crying.
“Are yousureyou’re okay?”
“Yep.” Tansy tapped a fingernail against the total on the register and handed over the bag. “Here you go.”
Aubrey counted out cash, wondering if she should push, then shrugged and took her things. Just before shoving through the door, she turned. “Hey, I hope you feel better. And that things with your mom improve.”
“Thanks.” Tansy twisted to face the window again. “Hey. You said he’s like a knight? Always doing the right thing?”
Aubrey paused. The moment tilted, off-kilter, as if the dust motes swimming past had suddenly reversed direction, or gravity had tugged on her from above and taken her stomach with it. “Yeah, he does.”
“Huh. That’s awesome. Have a nice day.”
“You, too.” She fled.
In the car, Nick gave her a questioning look. “What’s wrong? You look... strange.”
Aubrey gulped down the bile crawling up her throat. Whatwaswrong? She’d gone hot and cold all over. “Yeah, I don’t know. Tansy Burroughs was in there, but she was acting weird. For some reason, it gave me the creeps.”
He looked blank. “Who the hell is Tansy Burroughs?”
Aubrey laughed, and the heaviness of the moment cracked and fell away. He truly had no idea. She started the car.
“Never mind. Forget I said anything. She’s no one.”
At home, Aubrey ushered Nick into the kitchen, where he stripped off his torn, bloodied shirt and stuffed it into the trash.He leaned over the sink and let her fuss over him until the water ran pink. As she dabbed the garnet crust from his eyebrow, he took the opportunity to snake an arm around her and pull her against him.
Aubrey giggled. Ever since they’d agreed to sleep together, Nick had grown bolder. Bit by bit, he was beginning to trust her. To trustthem. She loved the gentle new possessiveness of his touch, the way his hands said,mine. Especially because her body always agreed, answering with a ripple of heat.
She aligned the butterfly bandage over his gash. He snuck his other arm around her waist, lacing his fingers behind her back.
She bit her lip and tried to concentrate, but all the blood in her veins tumbled off course. The part of him pressed against her belly felt much firmer than it had a moment ago.
She stuck down one side of the bandage. “And just what’re you thinking about right now?”
He made a low, rumbling sound in his throat. “Take a guess.”
