Page 200 of Three Reckless Words

When I heard that racket, I followed, mostly out of curiosity.

Now, I press her face against my shoulder, loving when she sighs.

“You… you smell like Archer.” She slurs her words.

“I am Archer, Sugarbee. I’m here,” I tell her, but either she doesn’t hear or she doesn’t process.

She just lets out another long, slow, chest-heaving sigh.

“I miss Archer.”

“I missed you too,” I whisper, knowing she won’t hear it.

I don’t care.

There’ll be plenty of time later to laugh about how out of it she is, after we’ve escaped this damn forest.

At least I’ve got the extra gear, courtesy of her old man bringing in the best police search and rescue resources in the whole state.

I hate to admit it’s made this hunt easier.

Yes, Carroll Emberly is still a first-rate fucknut for helping cause this disaster, but he’s also man enough to own his mistakes. Possibly just in time to save his daughter’s life.

“Winnie?” I say when her eyes close, shaking her gently. I’m no doctor, but I can tell she’s gravely ill, and you can’t let people this sick fade before they get medical care. “Stay with me, woman. Don’t sleep yet.”

She stirs, nestling closer, but at least she’s still conscious.

Still breathing.

I try to stop myself from imagining what might have happened if Ihadn’tgotten here in time.

I’m doing a terrible job of it.

The only thing I can picture when I close my eyes is what would’ve happened if we’d lost her for another night.

She’s fucking burning up. Her skin feels like clothes just out of the washer, clammy and hot.

“Stay with me,” I urge, climbing over a large fallen branch as I head back the way I came. At some point, I’ll have to shift her onto my back.

I’m about a mile out from the nearest group and real help, but I like having her here, cradled against my chest.

I guess it appeals to my insane inner caveman, the lunatic who needs to hold her, to feel her, to have her warm sweet breath against my neck so I can know she’s alive.

I’m not her knight in shining armor.

I’m one more culprit who drove her away, and now I’m racing against time to save her, to put her back together so I can apologize and tell her she’s everything.

She is my gravity.

And even if she decides she can’t be, if I’ve hurt her too much… she still needs to hear it when she’s lucid.

I need one chance—just one—to tell Winnie Emberly she’s turned me into a madman.

Forever obsessed.

Forever lovesick to my soul.

Goddamn.

---