Page 204 of Three Reckless Words

“All night, you mean.” She rolls her eyes. “You look rough.”

“Nice to see you too.”

Another tiny smile touches the corner of her mouth, and her fingers tighten around mine. “I didn’t think you’d ever come.”

“You couldn’t have kept me away with a chainsaw. I was ready to cut down every square foot of that forest until I found you.”

“I didn’t take you for a big outdoorsman.” Her smile widens.

“Neither did I until you went AWOL.” I stare at her face for a second, reassuring myself there’s color in her cheeks. “You scared me shitless.”

She purses her lips. “I blame the tent.”

“What?”

“The reason I got lost. The stupid tent. If it didn’t suck so much because I bought it used, I would’ve just stayed there all night instead of trying to find that RV park.” She grimaces, and it’s so damn cute I have to stop myself from kissing her. “I’m sorry if I worried you.”

“IfI was worried?” I thread my fingers through hers, and though she tenses at the contact, she doesn’t pull away. “Winnie, do you know how fucking crazy I’ve been?”

Her smile turns down. Just one side, like she’s holding the expression back in a losing battle.

“I’m really sorry.”

“No. I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad, I was—” This is coming out wrong. I’m supposed to be comforting her, reassuring her aboutus, but instead she’s just feeling guilty for running. I kiss her knuckles. “I know why you left. I get it.”

“I didn’t mean to scare you. I never wantedanyoneto fuss over me.”

“I know, and I’m not blaming you. I’m blaming me. I’m just relieved as hell you’re okay.” When she doesn’t flinch, I brush her hair back and trail a knuckle over her cheek.

She turns her eyes to me.

When I lean in for a kiss, she puts the arm with the IV around my neck and pulls me down.

I swear, if she wasn’t here recuperating in a hospital bed, I’d shut the door and show her just how relieved I am she’s okay. For now, I check my instincts, very damn reluctantly.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” she whispers again.

“I always will, even if all you want is to punch me in the face.” I shake my head, a lump hardening in my throat. This woman makes me too emotional. “I’m sorry I made you feel abandoned.”

She looks down at our joined hands on the pale-blue sheets.

“I don’t remember what was real and what was just a dream. You found me and carried me out. But you said so much.” The redness in her cheeks deepens.

“No dream,” I say. “I meant every word, Sugarbee.”

Her breath catches. I know she’s about to ask me to repeat what I said then.

I steel myself to tell her again since she’s fully aware—but a knock at the door interrupts us.

“Come in,” Winnie calls.

“Oh, Winnie, you’re awake!” A small, faded woman who looks like she’s been dipped in beige walks in. Linda Emberly, Winnie’s mother, I’m guessing.

She rushes to her side, leaving me alone to face the tallest pile of misery I’ve ever met. Carroll Emberly.

We might’ve spoken for ten or fifteen minutes at the command center before the wild hunt for her began. We reached a truce. After I brought her back, he agreed to drop the charges, but that doesn’t mean I like him after the enormous shit he stirred.

I don’t bother playing nice.

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