38. Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Eight
DYLAN
In three long strides, I was crouching in front of Hattie and lifting the chair to an upright position. She had hit her head pretty hard when she tipped herself sideways, and my first task was to make sure she wasn’t bleeding. After running my hand over the side of her head and not finding blood, I relaxed.
Cupping her face with my hands, I pressed my lips to her forehead. The smell of fresh rain enveloped me, instantly soothing my frayed nerves. “You okay?”
Sniffling, she nodded, her eyes welling with tears. “Your arm.”
Gently, I looped my hands around her to untie the rope securing her wrists. “It’s not that deep. It’ll be fine.”
“I thought he was going to”—her throat moved as she swallowed—“kill me. Then I was scared he hurt you.”
“I know, baby.” I rested my forehead against hers as I loosened the rope. “But it’s over now. And we’re okay. We’re both okay.”
My body relaxed only slightly as I repeated those words in my head.
Draping her arms around my neck, she fell against me. For a long moment, we stayed like that, just breathing one another in. Finally, I slid my arm under her knees and picked her up, wincing and ignoring the pain.
“Dylan, your arm.” Worry etched her features as she swatted at my chest. “I can walk, you know.”
“I know. But you hit your head and might have a concussion, so let me carry you, okay?”
Sighing, she snuggled her face into the place where my shoulder meets my neck. “Only if you promise to let me look at your arm when we get to your car.”
“Deal.” I didn’t set her down until I’d made it to the passenger side of my SUV. Once she was seated inside the vehicle, I held her face in my hands again, searching her face for any marks or bruises.
“Dylan.” She covered my hands with hers. “I’m okay. I promise.”
With a deep exhale, I angled in and brushed my lips tenderly against hers.
“Now, where’s your first-aid kit?” The look she sent me told me to not even try to brush it off again.
After opening the glove box, I pulled out a small kit and set it on her lap. I bit down on my back teeth as she quietly cleaned the wound.
“Not sure if it needs stitches or not, but it looks like the bleeding is slowing.” She pressed a large bandage over the cut.
“Your brother knows,” I blurted out as she began taping the bandage to my arm.
Her eyes went wide.
“I told him I’m in love with his sister.”
That brought a shy smile to her face. “Really?”
I nodded, though I was suddenly nervous to admit just how deep my feelings for her ran. What if this whole situation had made her realize how dangerous my job could be?
“Good.” She applied tape around the last edge of the bandage and then ran a hand through my hair, her eyes shining in the dim streetlight above. “’Cause I love you too.” Quickly, she pressed her lips to mine. “Now, can you take me home?”
Realization dawned on me then. She no longer needed my protection. But the thought of taking her back to her apartment didn’t sit well with me. Though if that was what she needed, I would do it. I’d do anything for her.
“Yeah, of course.” I searched her face, memorizing every inch of it. “I need to finish a few things up and give Aiden an update. He and Seabass should be back from Asheville any minute now. Plus.” I tipped my head to the ambulance that had just pulled up. “We both need to get checked out. But after that, I can drive you back to your apartment.”
Her eyes widened, and then her brows pulled together. “I’m fine going to the hospital or my apartment or your house, but I don’t want to go anywhere without you.”
“Then I would love nothing more than to take you back to my place after we both get checked out.” My body still buzzed with adrenaline, but pure joy coursed through me too.
If I had anything to say about it, my place would become our home sooner rather than later.
Because I had every intention of spending the rest of my life with this woman.