Chapter Thirteen
NOAH
Noah discreetly released the breath he’d been holding. Exactly why he felt so strongly about keeping Teagan close, he didn’t know, except that dropping her off somewhere and going their separate ways when she was in such bad shape felt wrong.
The doctor in him wanted to ensure her healing continued, and, yeah, his innate protector instinct wasn’t keen on the idea of leaving an injured woman to fend for herself.
There was a selfish aspect too. With her around, he’d have an excuse not to deal with the concerns of his family.
He hadn’t been kidding about the likelihood of an intervention.
And maybe, just maybe, a tiny voice in the back of his head said, you like playing the hero.
Of course, all that rationalizing didn’t mean squat if her easy agreement was a smoke screen to attempt to slip away again.
“Anything else, folks?” the server asked, breaking into his thoughts.
Noah looked questioningly at Teagan, who shook her head. Her skin was pale, and the shadows under her eyes were prominent under the bright lights. Pain was etched into the tightness of her features, despite her assurances.
“Just the check when you get a chance,” he told the server.
Teagan closed her eyes and tilted her head, stretching her neck. “How much longer is the drive to your parents’ place?”
“Another nine hours, give or take. More than that if we stop. You can sleep on the way.”
“What about you?”
“Since I’ll be driving, it’s better that I don’t.”
“Smart-ass,” she murmured, but there was no bite to it. “Have you slept at all since”—she dropped her voice—“you found me?”
Between watching over her and keeping an eye out for the sheriff, he’d managed an hour, maybe two. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”
The stubborn female sat back and attempted to cross her arms, then set her hands on the table instead when her ribs and shoulders protested. “You need rest.”
“Are you offering to drive?” Not that he’d allow it. She looked like she was going to pass out at any moment.
A red flush made its way from her neck up to her cheekbones. “No. I … can’t.”
He raised his eyebrows.
She looked away, as if embarrassed. “I never learned, okay?”
He wanted to know more about that—because who didn’t drive these days? Her thinned lips and closed expression told him it wasn’t the best time to ask for details. “Okay.”
She bit her lip. “There’s a motel here. You could get a room and sleep for a few hours.”
“You want us to get a room?”
That lovely rose hue in her too-pale skin deepened. “I want you to get a room.”
“What about you?”
“I can crash in the truck.”
He sat back, offended. “Do you seriously think I’m the kind of man who’ll take a soft bed while an injured woman in my care sleeps in my truck?”
Her answer was an exhale and a quietly muttered, “It was worth a shot.”
He thought about suggesting that she get a room, too, but quickly nixed the idea. Chances were, she was watching her cash, and her pride wouldn’t allow her to let him pay.
“What if I got a room with two beds?” he tried. “Win-win. We both get rest, and I don’t endanger us by falling asleep at the wheel.”
The more he thought about the idea, the more he liked it.
Was he worried about falling asleep? No.
He rarely got more than a few hours on a good night anyway.
But he wasn’t in a hurry to get to his parents’, even with Teagan as a distraction.
And she’d rest far more comfortably in a bed than in his truck.
Teagan lifted her chin and glared at him. “You’re stubborn.”
“Pot, meet kettle,” he shot back.
Just that quickly, the wind left her sails. He could see her weighing his words, considering the pros and cons, but really, it simply came down to pride or reason.
“You’ve already done—are doing—so much for me. Why?”
That was an excellent question.
He inclined his head. “Maybe I’m not doing it just for you.”
Teagan stared into his eyes, and it was like she was looking right into his soul. What did she see? The truth? He wasn’t sure what that was anymore. Regardless, he had a compelling need to take care of her, even if it was only temporary.
She nodded. “Fair enough. I guess it’s the least I can do.”
“That’s the spirit,” he said wryly, but inside, some of the tension in his chest eased.
After paying for their meal, Noah jogged out to the truck and grabbed their bags, then walked Teagan across the lot to the two-story motel.
Teagan’s steps were slow as she hobbled beside him, validating the choice to spend the night.
She needed to elevate that foot and get more ice on that shoulder.
Perhaps he could even talk her into taking something stronger than ibuprofen.
Noah procured a room while Teagan hung back in the shadows—something he was beginning to realize was as natural for her as breathing.
When his request for two beds was met with a raised brow, he told the clerk in a loud whisper, “She’s got RBD—REM sleep behavior disorder. Kicks the crap out of me in the middle of the night.”
Behind him, Teagan snorted.
“RBD? Seriously?” she asked minutes later as he opened the door to the room.
He grinned.
The room was as he’d expected. Simple, clean but shabby, and utilitarian. Two beds, as requested, with a table between them. A small desk, a dresser, and an older TV rounded out the basic furnishings.
He chuckled. “Mind if I take the bed closest to the door?”
“Afraid I’ll skip out on you?”
“Well, there is some precedent.”
Teagan sat down on the other bed, the relief of getting off her feet evident on her face. “This is different. You gave me a choice. I said I’d go with you, and I meant it.”
“Okay.” He grabbed the plastic ice bucket and bag from the dresser. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get you ice for that shoulder.”
Teagan yawned. “I can get it.”
“Teagan,” he said on an exasperated exhale, “are you going to resist every time I try to help you?”
“Probably.” She yawned again, then grabbed her toothbrush and hobbled into the bathroom.
Well, at least she was honest.
When Noah returned with the ice, he was relieved to find Teagan still there. The TV was on at a low volume, and she was sound asleep. Gently and with care, he wrapped a towel around the bag of ice and used one of the pillows from his bed to prop it behind her shoulder.
“Thanks,” she murmured sleepily.
“You’re welcome,” he whispered back. Then, on impulse, he brushed her hair away from her face and added, “You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
She hummed softly, her lips curled slightly at the edges, and she went right back to sleep.