“I’m okay. I fell while I was jogging. Twisted my ankle.” My instinct is to take a step closer to Law, but that’s hard with one foot and crutches. I try anyway, wanting to reassure him. One crutch doesn’t lift enough and catches on the asphalt, sending me into the ground. Both men move, but Nathan’s closer and catches me with his hands on my hips.
Law doesn’t miss the possessive hold, and he rockets from whatever emotional dimension he’s in straight to pissed.
“Who are you?” His rumble booms like thunder in the night.
“I’m Nathan.”
A beat of silence passes. One he should use to clarify he’s my co-worker or my friend. Nathan’s stating his intentions. He won’t be forced into some platonic box, especially not after I agreed to go on a date with him.
“Is he your boyfriend?” Law turns his question on me.
“Well, no. I mean, he’s my, uh, he’s my Nathan.”
Law’s head dips in my direction. “He’s your… Nathan?” His voice is deceptively soft. That’s new from the Law I used to know, and it freaks me out. Beyond the fear is a hint of arousal. My nipples tingles beneath my sports bra, and I grip the crutch handles to keep from squeezing my thighs together at his growly rasp.
I look to my shoe and the open toes of my other foot. “I mean, he’s my co-worker.”
“It doesn’t matter to you who I am.” Nathan steps in, and I want to slap my forehead. We’re going to be here all night. “What matters is Cami’s exhausted and needs to lie down.”
“Is that so, baby?” Law mocks us both. “You need to lie down? Should I get you some of that soup I bought you?”
“Hey, man, I’m not messing around. Leave her alone.” Under the street lamps, Nathan’s jaw turns to stone.
“Neither am I.”
They turn to one another, and I swear they’re seconds away from throwing punches. I’m so enraptured by the scene unfolding in front of me that when fingers encircle my wrist, I jump.
I follow the arm with my gaze and look up at Nathan. My brow furrows with unasked questions. Once he has my attention, he strokes my inner forearm with his index finger.
“It’s cool. I’m going to get out of here. Car key, please.” He holds his palm up.
I shove the hand he isn’t holding beneath his open fleece jacket and unzip the front pocket of my sweatshirt. The single key to my car is stashed inside. My fingers curl around the cold metal, and I withdraw it, removing his jacket at the same time. His fingers squeeze around my wrist.
“Keep it on until you get inside. I’ll get it tomorrow.”
I drop the key into his palm. “Okay. Thanks again. I’ll see you before your shift.”
Nathan leans in to kiss my cheek, and for some unknown reason, I swing my gaze to Law. He presses his lips together before releasing them and sinks his teeth into his full bottom lip.
Just as Nathan’s breath warms my cheek, the door to my house flies open with a bang.
“Mom!”
Three adults jump, and all eyes swing in that direction. Evelyn stands on the porch in a pair of fuzzy gray sweats and a purple tank top. Her hair is a mess on the top of her head, and she isn’t wearing any socks or shoes. Panic creases her forehead.
“You haven’t been answering your phone for hours, and I needed you!” She bursts into tears, and the screen door slams shut as she runs back into the house.
My stomach drops to my toes. Guilt and fear override any other emotion as I switch to mom mode. I try to run but trip, having forgotten my injury. “Ugh damn crutches!” I chuck them one at a time to the ground. Three solid hops are all I manage before someone scoops me into their arms and break into a job. Twice in one day someone’s picked me up against my will. Not a streak I want to keep breaking.
My foot aches with every bounce, but I grit my teeth through it. Evelyn is my sole focus. Her emotions rarely swing to the point of a breakdown. The outburst fills me with concern.
“Get your daughter and figure out what’s wrong.” Law rumbles in my ear.
I wiggle in his grip. “Stop playing these goddamned games and put me down!”
He shifts my weight higher and climbs the steps of my porch. Once there, he jiggles the handle to my front door, opening it with ease. He sets me down just inside the foyer.
I’m torn between hobbling after Evelyn and asking Law to wait. The brighter light coming from my house highlights the bags under his eyes and the deeper creases in his forehead. His face is weary and tired, and that reminds me he had a reason for waiting in my driveway.
“Why are you here?” I ask a second too late. He’s already jogging back down the steps. He strides over to where we were standing, and my heart climbs into my throat.
Please don’t be stupid. Please don’t punch Nathan, I chant in my head.
I can’t see Law’s face from my position, but I can see Nathan’s. His eyes hold a challenge I’m sure reflects the other man’s. I should leave the big boys to figure it out themselves and go inside, but something tells me to wait.
Law bends down to pick up my crutches. Without a word, he darts back to the house.
Thank God. We’ve had enough emotions and injuries for one day.
Once I settle the crutches beneath my arms, he continues to puncture the bubble I built for myself in Arrow Creek.
“Got news I lost my dad. I’ll be gone for a few days, heading back to Logansville for the service.” He directs his gaze behind me, into my house,
