Page 14 of Lemon Cake

She seemed to like that, her cheeks turning that gorgeous red again.God,he couldn’t get enough of that.

“Why haven’t you been with anyone?” Rider asked.

She shrugged. “I guess because I was afraid.”

“Of rejection?”

“Yes.”

“Can I be honest with you?”

She gave him a slight nod, her eyes still fixed to her lap.

“Iamcurious. I do want to know about the accident and how you figured out living after it. When I asked you to come to camp with Dan, I wasn’t even sure if it was too much walking for you, or if it was painful. I didn’t ask because I don’t know how open you are about your prosthesis and everything that comes along with it. I’m unsure how to talk about it because I don’t know how I’ll make you feel and I don’t want you to think I’m a dick.”

“You’re not,” she whispered, lifting her head, eyes shining with unshed tears. “I don’t really talk about it, because I don’t know how to either.”

“Is that why you didn’t say anything to Tylor?”

She nodded. “Everyone always has questions and in the past I got emotional about them. I’m a huge mess when it comes to my leg and the accident.”

“I’ll never push you to do or say anything.”

“Doyou want anyone to know?”

That question baffled him. He hadn’t tried to give herthe impression that she had to hide who she was. It hurt for her to even think he was that kind of person.

“Gemma, I would never want you to hideanythingabout yourself.”

The tears started spilling from her eyes. Desperate to soothe her, he pulled over and put the truck in park. With his fingers under her chin, he lifted her head so he could look at her properly.

“Has anyone ever asked you to keep your prosthesis a secret?”

“They never asked directly.”

“Listen to me. If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable about it or becomes too personal, I’ll have your back.”

“And you don’t mind?”

“Beating someone up for you?” he chuckled. “No.”

Gemma rolled her eyes, but smiled. “Me having a prosthesis.”

Anger boiled just beneath his skin, and he wanted to punch whoever it was that had made her so insecure about herself. “No,” he said sternly, then he softened his voice. “I might ask stupid questions or be a bit insensitive at times but it’s never intentional. I want to know so I can be educated.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

“And I want you to tell me when I’m being an idiot.”

“We can use lemon for that too,” she giggled, her cheeks turning that beautiful pink that he was slowly falling for.

“Perfect.”

Then, out of pure instinct, he leaned down to press a soft kiss to her forehead. Her face brightened, and she leaned into his touch, soaking in his affection.

Gemma

The rest of the ride was quiet, but the silence was nice. Rider still held her hand, his body relaxed into his seat. “I’m off on Thursday, if you want to do something together again,” he said.

---