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After laying her down, I tuck the pillows beneath her head and then stride into the kitchen so I won’t stand there and stare like a creeper. She needs my care, not my ravenous attention.
My phone buzzes from my back pocket, and I resist the urge to check the incoming text. Piper comes first.
My mind goes straight to the gutter. Because, of course, she’d come first. First and often. On my tongue. On my fingers. On my cock.
“Stop it,” I mutter and reach for a paper towel. So fucking inappropriate. I run the water until it’s warm and look around the space. It’s sparse but clean. I remember what it was like starting out. Hand-me-downs and secondhand furniture.
Given how wealthy her father is, the lack of frivolous details makes me appreciate her even more. At the same time, I wish she had instant hot water so she didn’t have to wait. I don’t know where the desire to spoil her comes from. Probably because she doesn’t ask for or expect it. And she never has.
With a warm, wet cloth, I head back to the couch and perch on the edge of the old trunk they set up as a coffee table. The blood has slowed, and I swipe at the hair stuck there, tucking it behind her ear.
“Piper, wake up, honey.” I cringe and hold my breath for a second. The endearment rolls off my tongue so naturally, and saying it out loud feels amazing. Like I’ve shed a rucksack of stones.
I wipe away the blood, hating how the crimson marred her creamy skin. A fresh surge of fury storms my veins. What was that jackass thinking, starting a bar fight over a football game?
The sound of her cry will forever be etched into my memory.
It changed me.
I grit my teeth and force my focus on the current problem.
“Piper. . .” I cup her cheek.
She blinks slowly, and her eyes lock on me.
“Thank goodness,” I mutter, relief sweeping me in a broad stroke. She presses her face into my hand, and my lungs seize. Even though I’ve dreamed of touching her like this a thousand times, we’ve never been this close. The need to hold her, soothe her, and protect her is a physical ache in my chest. A band that tightens around my heart whenever she’s nearby, every time our paths cross, every time I think about her.
“Never knew you faint at the sight of blood,” I grouse, stomach still churning at her injury.
Watching her, memorizing every detail, is my favorite pastime.
“Usually don’t,” she says, voice soft.
“How are you feeling? You took a pretty hard hit.”
I search her face for signs of pain or her putting on a brave facade. Piper is tough. And sometimes, I wish she’d stop worrying about everyone else and take care of herself.
Or let me take care of her. Which is silly because I never allowed myself to before now. I’m well aware that I was the holdout in our relationship. But that ends now.
My phone buzzes in my pocket again, and I take a deep breath. I’m sure someone blabbed. Love Valley is a small town and a tight community. There’s no way the sight of me carrying her out of there hasn’t made it back to Joshua yet. In fact, I give it twenty minutes before a Huxley is beating down the door.
“I’m okay.” She leans forward, and I drop my hand, but she catches it, holding it between hers. Such soft skin. Small bones. Chipped baby-pink polish on her nails.
Why is every detail about her so fascinating?
Her warm brown eyes catalog my features before flicking around the room. She relaxes back against the couch as recognition softens her gaze but doesn’t let go of my hand. Heaven help me; I don’t want her to.
“I fainted,” she says, sounding shocked.
“You did.” She clings to my hand like a lifeline. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want to go to—”
She cuts me off with a shake of her head. “I’m fine. Promise. I’ve got a hard head.”
“So your brothers tell me.” As soon as the words leave my lips, I know they’re a mistake. Whenever the topic of her family comes up, it brings a chill to the air between us. I don’t want to hurt them, either. I adore that family.
Joshua Huxley has been my best friend since we were kids, and he took the scrawny ranch hand’s son under his wing. He never acted like I was in the way or too young to hang with him.
The time away did me good, and I grew into my lanky frame. But unlike Joshua, I never found a woman who snared my heart. Not until I returned to Love Valley.
