Page 12 of Lucky Baller
“Let me help you.” She doesn’t fight me as I stand and place my hands under her arms and lift her. She tries to step out of my hold and ends up falling into my arms as she cries out in pain. I don’t think, I just swing her into my arms bridal-style and carry her to the front door. “Can you turn the knob?” I ask. She’s able to turn the knob, and I kick the door open with my foot. I bypass the receptionist desk and move down the hall. “This your office?” I ask her.
“Yeah.” She nods, her face still scrunched up in pain.
I don’t ask which desk is hers; the bouquet of lilies and roses tells me. I hide my smile, but something inside me lifts knowing that she kept them. Carefully, I set her in the chair. “Let me takea look.” I run my hands down her leg, all toned muscle, and stop when I reach her ankle.
“It’s fine, or it will be. I just landed on it wrong.” She tries to pull her leg out of my hands, but I’m not having it. “You never told me what you’re doing here.”
“I came to see you.”
“Me?” she asks, confused.
“Yeah, it’s been too long since I’ve seen those green eyes.” I’m staring at her, our faces close as I kneel before her. I have the sudden urge to pull her into a kiss.
“Come on, Landon. Why are you here?”
I didn’t know it was the truth until the words left my lips the first time, so I repeat, “To see you.” Gently, my fingers trace over her ankle, which is already starting to swell. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to you in time. I saw you stumble. I tried.”
“Not your fault or your responsibility.”
“Maybe not, but I’m still sorry all the same. Looks like a sprain.”
“Great,” she mutters.
“Are you the only one here?”
She nods, her eyes glassy. “Yes. We had a volunteer scheduled, but they were a no-show. JJ’s daycare called, and he’s got pink eye, or so they think. Autumn left to pick him up and take him to the doctor.”
“Okay. Well, I think if you ice it and keep it elevated, it should be okay. Where can I get some ice?”
“I can manage. You should go.”
Unable to resist, I reach up and cradle her cheek in the palm of my hand. “I’m here, and I’m going to help you.” Her green eyes regard me. They truly are a unique color, so much so, my breath hitches as she stares at me. Blinking hard, I scan her face, and that’s when I see a soft dusting of freckles on either cheek. I didn’t notice them before, but I like them. They suit her. Makesher more… human, I guess. She’s not like the women I’m used to. Dressed to the nines, more makeup coated on their faces than the department store can carry, and always with a mission: bed a player. Tessa is a breath of fresh air, one that I didn’t realize I needed until this very moment.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“Where can I get some ice?”
“We have a storage cabinet in the bathroom across the hall. There’s a first aid kit. There should be some ice packs in it.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.” I fight the urge to press my lips to hers or even to taste her freckles. Instead, I stand, give her arm a gentle squeeze, and leave to find the ice packs.
“Here.” A few moments later, I hand her a bottle of water that I found in the breakroom. She takes it, and I tear open a small packet of Ibuprofen. “Take these. It will help with the pain and inflammation.” She doesn’t argue as she holds out her hand to accept the pills before tossing them back, drinking half the bottle of water.
“Thank you.”
I nod. Grabbing what I assume is Autumn’s chair, I roll it over to prop her leg up on and then squeeze the ice pack to activate it. I squish it around in my hands for a couple of minutes, getting it mixed up before placing it on her ankle. She winces but otherwise doesn’t say anything.
“You good here?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
“Good. Now, tell me what I need to do to get the horse back in the pasture.”
“Shit, I forgot about Buckwheat.”
“Buckwheat? Do all the animals have names?”
“Most of them. I can call Autumn or Jeremy when he gets home.”
