Page 54 of In Full Bloom

Dallas is stretched out on the bed, his injured arm resting on his chest, the white bandage a stark reminder of his injury.

He’s shed his shirt, which was filthy from his morning’s work and covered in his own blood. His jeans are also tossed on the floor beside the bed, but thankfully he’s covered his lower half with the throw that usually lies across the end of the bed.

I trace the lines of his torso with my eyes, admiring what I see. Smooth skin, hard muscle, a body perfectly shaped by physical work.

“Stop staring, princess,” he says, startling me. His eyes are still closed. I don’t know how he even knows I’m here, quite obviously perving on him.

“I — I didn’t know you were awake,” I mutter.

“Clearly,” he says, humour clear in his voice. “Come here.”

I take a few hesitant steps forward. “What do you need?”

His eyes crack open, the clear blue guileless and earnest. “You,” he whispers, reaching out and sliding his fingersinto mine for what feels like the millionth time today. It’s happened so often it almost feels natural. The fireworks it sets off in my body is anything but though.

“Me?”

“Yeah, will you stay for a bit?” He drops my hand and runs his fingers through his hair, staring at the ceiling. He glances back at me, his expression the tiniest bit sheepish. “Please?”

“You know this is a terrible idea,” I murmur.

“Yeah, but what’s new where we’re concerned?” He lifts the side of his mouth into his cocky smile and the sight of it makes my stomach swoop. I don’t see a lot of that smile, he’s always too serious at work. “Don’t run away, princess. I’ll think you’re scared of me.”

I laugh at that one. “Yeah, right, cowboy. As if.” I toss my towel down beside his pile of clothes, and climb onto the bed with him.

24

DALLAS

I didn’t actually expecther to stay.

I thought she’d laugh in my face, give me her reasons for why this is the very last thing we should be doing and leave me to my own devices.

She’s not wrong about this being a terrible idea.

I’m currently lying on a bed, with the most gorgeous woman to ever exist beside me and I’m not wearing any pants.

Ditching the jeans was not smart.

As she settles beside me, I readjust my position on the bed, rolling onto my side to hide my reaction to her proximity.

“How’s the arm?” she asks, reaching out to trace a finger along the crisp white bandage Clarissa Sheridan applied before we left the hospital. Her touch tickles and is electric, sending both sparks and shivers through my body.

“Hurts like a bitch,” I say.

“I can imagine.”

I trap her fingers under mine before she can run them down the bandage again. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.” She glances up at me, then quickly away. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Clarissa. I’m assuming you weren’t expecting to see her today?”

Katie lets out a long breath and rolls onto her back, away from me. “No, I wasn’t. I haven’t seen her since Toby’s funeral.”

I watch her carefully. She’s blinking rapidly as she stares at the ceiling. “She seemed happy to see you,” I say.

Katie shrugs, then covers her face with her hands. “I thought she’d hate me too,” she says, her voice muffled behind her hands.

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