Page 56 of Hand Picked
“Hey!” Mark the helpful Herd Leader hurried down the shore with a load of emergency blankets, panting like he’d run all the way back to his truck to get them. He helped me strip Luke’s parka, along with his gloves, hat, and skates, then wrapped several of the blankets around him. “I got my kit, and I radioed dispatch. If we need an ambulance, I can have one here in three minutes.”
Oh. Right. I belatedly remembered that Mark was a paramedic and felt marginally more okay with his helpfulness.
Maryanne managed to keep most of the kids back, but Aiden broke free and ran forward to throw his arms around Luke. “I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have left you.”
“Oh, g-gosh no. I amsog-glad you weren’t with me, so you didn’t f-fall in.”
“Aiden.” I tugged at his arm. “Move back, or you’re gonna get all wet, too. He’s gonna be okay, kiddo.”
“You promise?”
“I swear,” I said firmly. I would make sure of it.
Aiden nodded, his eyes shining.
“Luke, do you want to go to the hospital?” Mark asked. “Your core temperature’s fine. I don’t think you were in there long enough to get hypothermia, but we can take you to the hospital over in Keltyville and get you checked out—”
“N-no.” Luke shook his head vehemently. “No hospital. Just s-so c-cold.”
“I know. Let’s get you home,” Mark said. “My truck’s parked up on the hill.”
Luke’s panicked eyes met mine. I imagined he didn’t want the whole town to descend on his run-down house.
“I’ll take him back to his place,” I said gruffly. “It’s only a quarter mile if I cut through the orchard on the 4x4.”
What I wasnotgoing to do was stand around talking about it anymore.
I leaned down and grabbed Luke under his knees to hold him against my chest and started walking up the bank.
I was only vaguely aware of Mark squawking in protest, but I heard Maryanne say, “They’re handfasted. Remember?”
“Get him warm as quick as you can, Webb!” he yelled after me. “Dry clothes. Warm drinks.Share body heat.”
My arms tightened involuntarily at the idea.
“Aiden,” I called, “come on with us.”
“No need,” Maryanne said. “I’ll make sure Aiden gets home. In fact, I’ll take him back to my place, and he and Olin can warm up there. Focus on Luke.”
I turned at that and looked at her, then at Aiden. Aiden nodded at me. “I’m okay. Feel better, Mr. Williams!”
Luke didn’t respond, which was worrying. He huddled against me and let me carry him up to the 4x4.
When I’d gotten him seated, I decided he’d be better off without his wet shirt and sweater, so I stripped them off…
Which was when I remembered that sweet, buttoned-up, little Luke Williams hadpierced fucking nipples, and a wholly inappropriate burst of lust speared through me like wildfire.
I quickly stripped off my own jacket and put it on him instead.
“Hang on,” I said hoarsely as I buckled him in. “Just… hold on.”
I drove up the hill to the orchard and then cut down a hill toward Luke’s place. In my haste, I’d forgotten about the retaining wall that separated our properties—except the wall was so crumbled and sunken in spots that I was able to get around it without a problem.
It wasn’t until we got inside Luke’s trailer that I remembered why bringing Luke back to his trailer was actually a terrible idea. The place was only maybe five degrees warmer than the outside air.
I half carried him to the bed area, and he stood, still and docile, while I stripped him down to his boxer briefs, and then I hesitated. My fingers itched to strip him bare, but that idea wastootempting. So instead, I got him out a pair of dry underwear, closed the curtain, and made him a cup of tea while he put them on and crawled into bed.
When I opened the curtain a few moments later, Luke was still shivering with cold despite being covered by a mound of afghans, and I had a moment of fear that maybe Ishouldhave taken him to the hospital.
