Page 70 of Saltwater Cowboy

“Yeah,” she admitted. “I think you’re right.”

For once, I didn’t have a smartass response.

Instead, I grabbed a dish towel, tossed it over my shoulder, and nodded toward her plate. “You done?”

She blinked like I’d pulled her from a thought, then nodded. “Yeah.”

I took it from her, brushing past as I carried it to the sink.

When I turned back, she was still watching me, something unreadable in her expression.

I leaned against the counter. “What?”

Her lips parted like she might say something, but then she just shook her head. “Nothing.”

I dried my hands on the dish towel and turned to find Rose eyeing the stairs like they were her mortal enemy.

I smirked. “Want help?”

She shot me a look. “I’ve got it.”

“Uh-huh.” I crossed my arms. “Because that worked out so well earlier.”

She straightened, gripping the railing like it was the only thing keeping her pride intact. “I can make it up a flight of stairs, Wells.”

I raised a brow. “You couldn’t make it down.”

She exhaled sharply, rolling her eyes.

I watched as she took the first step, her movements careful, deliberate. She winced but kept going.

“You know,” I drawled, leaning against the counter, “I’d make a great knight in shining armor if you’d just let me.”

She scoffed, gripping the railing tighter. “You? A knight? More like an outlaw who got kicked out of the kingdom.”

I grinned. “Even outlaws can be charming.”

She shook her head, finally reaching the top of the stairs. “Good night.”

“Night, Sunshine.”

She disappeared down the hall, and I found myself still smirking as I turned off the kitchen lights.

Damn if she wasn’t the most stubborn woman I’d ever met.

And damn if I didn’t like it.

NIGHT CHANGES

I regretted my decision the second I reached the top of the stairs.

Every step had been a battle between my pride and the throbbing ache in my feet, and now that I was finally in my room, the pain pulsed in time with my heartbeat.

I sank onto the bed with a wince, stretching my legs out and letting my head fall back against the pillow.

“Totally fine,” I muttered to myself. “Not suffering at all.”

I stayed like that for a while, eyes closed, breathing through the pain. Eventually, I turned onto my side, reaching blindly toward the nightstand.