Page 66 of Ashes of the Past
“Jack,” I call, trying to keep my voice steady. “You need to be resting.”
“I am resting,” he snaps.
He doesn’t look at me; he just keeps moving toward the center of the barn. His hand grips one of the posts, his knuckles whitening as he steadies himself. My stomach twists, and before I can stop myself, I’m at his side, reaching out to support him.
“Jack,” I say again, sharper this time. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
His head turns slowly, and when his eyes meet mine, there’s a flicker of something—annoyance, maybe, or exhaustion. “Woman,” he says, his voice low and steady, “I’m fine.”
I cross my arms, trying to ignore the heat creeping up my neck. “Fine? You’re out here looking like you’re about to keel over, and you think you’re fine?”
He straightens, wincing slightly but refusing to let it show. “I don’t need to be taken care of, Brynn.”
“Well, someone has to,” I snap, the words spilling out before I can think better of them. “You’re too damn stubborn to do it yourself.”
He raises an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And you’re not?”
I open my mouth to argue, but he steps closer, his gaze pinning me in place. “Takes one to know one,” he says, his voice softer now, almost teasing.
My heart stutters, and I hate how easily he gets under my skin. “This isn’t about me,” I manage. “You’re—”
He cuts me off, his hand coming up to cup my face. “I’m fine. If I don’t move around, it’ll take me that much longer to heal.”
“You should be inside the house, not out here where—”
Before I can finish, his lips are on mine, and I’m effectively shut up.
Was that his intention, or did he really want to kiss me? What a silly thought.
My entire body turns to goo as my hands find their way to his chest. I feel the steady beat of his heart beneath my fingertips.
He’s okay. He’s safe. He’s alive. That’s all that matters. This kiss…is everything I didn’t know I needed.
He’s okay.
When he pulls back, his forehead rests against mine, and neither of us says anything for a few seconds. The barn is quiet except for the distant sounds of the ranch—horses nickering and the faint hum of the wind through the trees.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” I whisper.
“Me too,” he says softly. “And Barney is eating steak for the rest of his life.”
I step back, needing the distance to clear my head. He lets me go, his hand dropping to his side. I laugh as I cock my head to the side.
“Why do you say that?”
“He tried to save my life. He was trying to pull me out of the barn.”
I gasp and cover my mouth. I’m shocked.
“I…didn’t know that. I mean, Rick mentioned something about him being beside you.”
“He tried to push the beam off me. He’s a smart dog.”
Wow.
“That’s incredible. Liv always says he’s super smart, but…I guess I don’t give him the credit he deserves.”
He smiles and nods back at me before he starts moving again. He’s got his hand up against the wall like he needs the support.
