Courage (Heroes of Big Sky #1) - Kristen Proby Page 0,7
past couple of months, I’m seeing her differently.
Maybe it’s just my long-ignored libido talking.
But I don’t think so.
“Sam?” Her breath is on my neck. I didn’t realize that I’d frozen in place. “You okay?”
“Sorry,” I mutter and click the belt into place. “Spacey today, I guess.”
I shut the door and hurry around to the driver’s side.
“Let’s get you all fixed up.”
“The end.” I close the book and kiss Kelsey on the forehead. “That’s it for tonight. You both need to get some sleep.”
“Just one more story?” Kevin asks from the twin bed across the room.
“I read four stories, and that’s one more than usual. Because you were extra-good for Aspen today. Thanks for that, by the way.”
“It was fun,” Kelsey says, her big blue eyes droopy with sleep. “She let us have a cookie.”
“That was nice of her.” I can’t help but lean over and kiss her little cheek.
“Is Auntie Tash’s hand really okay?” Kevin asks. Even though this dude has given us a lot of trouble over the past couple of months, he’s been so worried today. He loves Tash. They both do.
“Yes. The doctor stitched her right up. She’s going to be sore for a couple of days, but it’ll heal.”
There’s no need to tell them how she fainted when they brought out the needle for the stitches.
That’ll be our little secret.
“Okay.” Kevin snuggles down under the covers. “Good night.”
I cross to him and kiss his head. “Good night, buddy.”
After I turn out the light, I close the door and walk down the hall. I find Tash in the kitchen, emptying the dishwasher with one hand.
“Let me.” I scoot her aside and start pulling out glasses and mugs. “You should rest.”
“It’s just my hand,” she reminds me but doesn’t argue about stepping aside as she leans against the kitchen island. “Did they fight you at all?”
“Not much. I read an extra story. Where does this go?” I hold up a colander.
She points to a cabinet, and I stow it away. “How does it feel?”
“Aches like a bitch,” she says. “Now that the numbing stuff has worn off.”
“He gave you pain meds. Take one.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I’ll take ibuprofen or something. I have the kids. I can’t take the hard stuff. What if they needed me and I’m out cold? Not gonna happen.”
I empty the silverware tray. “Jeez, you go through the spoons.”
“No kidding. I’m gonna buy more.”
I turn and look at her. She’s in black leggings that mold to the curves of her thighs and ass and a baggy sweatshirt.
Tash is tall, not much shorter than my six feet. With that slender, willowy body and curves in all the right places, she’s sexy as hell.
And as I watch, the neck of her sweatshirt falls over her shoulder.
No bra strap.
Jesus.
I could just push my hand under the hemline and feel her bare skin.
She raises her face, and her dark eyes find mine.
“You okay?” she asks, tilting her head.
“Yeah.” I clear my throat and get back to the task at hand. Once the dishes are all put away, I load the dishwasher with the dirty ones in the sink, start it, and then wipe down the counters.
“Thanks.” She yawns widely. “Wanna sit and chat for a while, or are you ready to head home? I’m sure you’re tired.”
“I can stay for a few.”
I toss the towel onto the counter and follow her into the living room. She sits in the corner of the couch, and I take the opposite side.
“Thanks for staying all day,” she says. “You didn’t have to.”
“No biggie. I called the chief and asked him to take me off the board for the day.”
Her eyes go wide. “Wait. You took the day off? Shit, Sam, I’m sorry. I need to write down your schedule so I don’t bother you on your working days.”
“Hey, it’s fine. I’m happy to help, you know that.”
She shakes her head and then sighs. “You know, some days I think I have this all under control. On the days when the kids are happy, and I’m caught up on laundry and get no calls from the school. They’re few but coming more often than they did in the beginning—which I think is a good sign.”
“Definitely a good sign.”
“And then days like today just sneak up on me and slap me across the face as if God is saying, ‘Ha! You thought you could do this? Think again, sweetheart.’”
“What are you talking about? You did great today. You got hurt, you called