Page 106 of Stolen Bases

“Fuck. Fine.” Bitching and complaining aside, I would do anything for Talia. If climbing this death trap to get to her is what I have to do, then so be it.

Looking up, I do a quick scan and notice a gap in the middle that’s not as covered in wisteria as the rest of the structure. Stepping onto the small wooden table between the blue Adirondack chairs, I jump, gripping the redwood beams overhead.

Earthquake-proof, my ass.The beams groan underneath my weight as I pull myself up through the slats. Balancing between the two-by-fours, I slowly stand. Only six slats separate me from Talia’s window. With a deep breath and ninja-like agility, I dash across the beams.

I curse under my breath, praying no one finds out I’m partaking in dangerous activities that could void my multimillion-dollar contract with the Evaders, as I clutch the exterior wall of the house. Reaching up, I knock on the window, the same way I did back in Arizona. Only, this time, I’m sneaking in instead of sneaking out.

I have to knock two more times before Talia’s tear-streaked and puffy face pulls back the curtain. Her eyes widen in surprise as she takes in the sight of me below her window, teetering on the wooden planks below. I watch her unlatch the lock and slide open the window.

“Cam? What are you doing here?” she whispers. Her voice is hoarse from crying.

I want nothing more than to wrap her up in my arms and hold her. Take away her pain.

“I came here for you. You had me so worried, itty bitty. You weren’t calling me back.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t come over. It’s just…” Talia’s eyes turn glassy as she clutches her chest.

“Can we please move this into your room? Standing on this hunk of wood isn’t the safest place to have a conversation.” I point at the pergola I’m standing on as my foot slips. I grip the edge of the windowsill, catching my balance.

“Cam!” Talia hisses, pressing her forehead to the screen.

“I’m okay, baby, but maybe hurry?” I plead. Sweat beads across my forehead as adrenaline buzzes through my veins.

What the fuck was I thinking climbing up here?I’m as good as dead if I plummet to the ground. And if the fall doesn’t kill me, Anson sure as fuck will.

“Yes. Just hold on. Please don’t fall.” I hear a click before Talia quietly removes the window screen and places it aside. “Wait. How are you going to get up here?”

“Doubting me already?”

She shakes her head, biting that luscious lip of hers. I love when she does that.

“Step back.”

Talia follows my instructions and moves aside. I grip the sill, press my left foot against the wall for leverage, and push off the wall. I swing my right leg up and through the window to straddle the frame before climbing in and closing the window. When I turn, I find Talia watching.

She’s wearing a baggy t-shirt and a pair of short-shorts that make her toned legs look sexy as fuck. Her hair is messy and mottled from sleep, and she’s still the most beautiful woman in the world.

“You’re here,” she whimpers as she throws her arms around me, burying her face in my chest.

“Nowhere else I’d rather be.” I wrap my arms around her small body and hold her tight, breathing in the sweet peach blossom scent of her long black hair. I missed her so fucking much. It’s been two weeks too long since I’ve held her in my arms.

In the middle of her childhood bedroom, I hold Talia as she cries into my chest until her tears soak my shirt.

“Baby, are you okay?” I rub my hands down her back and through her hair, checking her body for any injury.

Squeezing me harder, she shakes her head, sobbing. “No.”

My hat falls to the floor as I scoop Talia up in my arms and carry her to the queen-size bed in the middle of the room. Her blush-colored comforter appears crumpled and messy like she’s been lying in bed all day. Not wanting to let her go, I kick off my shoes and sit on the edge of the bed before falling back onto thepillows. I roll us onto our sides, keeping her face buried in my chest, and snuggle into her warmth. She feels fragile in my arms as she breaks down.

“Talk to me, Tals. I’ve been so worried.”

She sniffles. “I lost a patient today.”

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.” I rub her back, comforting her the best way I can as she cries.

My tenderhearted girl feels so deeply for others; it’s what makes her an amazing person and nurse. But she takes on other people’s pain as her own. Carrying that kind of hurt affects her mentally, draining her.

“Do you want to talk about what happened?”

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