Page 35 of Irresistible

“I’m okay,” Lilly said. “I’ll just have some colorful bruises.”

Brock held her within the circle of his arms. Why was she pretending this wasn’t a big deal? “Nothing about this is okay.”

“I probably sustained more injuries when I tried to jump off the roof of the house into the pool when I was twelve.”

Brock shuddered and let out a rough laugh. “For such a smart person, you sure make some interesting choices. I still can’t believe you thought that was going to work.”

“It almost did. Had my entry been better, I probably wouldn’t have broken my arm. The one good thing that happened is that I realized a career of diving off cliffs wasn’t in my future. Had it gone well, who knows what would’ve happened.”

“Brock, move over so I can take some pictures,” Fred instructed him.

He knew her banter was her defense against the enormity of what just happened. If she could make a joke, then she wasn’t a victim. He helped her stand and then watched as she straightened her shoulders. God damn, he wished he had half her strength. She was her mama’s daughter, and a man beating the shit out of her wasn’t going to make her crumble. At least, not in front of anyone.

As Fred took pictures, he noticed the trembling that had started to take over Lilly’s body. She was a minute away from the adrenaline draining away, and there was no way she wanted that to happen in front of anyone. “Do you have enough shots, Fred?”

“A couple more,” he responded.

Brock gave him a look and Fred nodded in response. When tears started to gather in the corners of Lilly’s eyes, he shook his head. “We’re done.” He picked her up. “Let’s get you inside.”

“What about the paramedics? Do they have to examine me first?”

“They can do it inside. You don’t have to stand on your porch.” He carried her into the house and closed the door with his hip.

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