actually be worth the chance.
AJ gathered the dustpan and broken lamp in his arms and headed for the kitchen. Kate had slouched into the seat, her leg propped on another chair and her eyes closed. She looked exhausted. He really should just take her up to the guest room now so she could get the rest she deserved.
After he dumped the broken pieces into the garbage can, he put the lamp beside it. He’d take out the trash later. Right now, Kate needed his help. She hadn’t stirred with his arrival. Maybe she’d fallen asleep.
Gently, he slipped his arms behind her and under her legs. Her eyes shot open and her arms wrapped around his neck. “AJ, what are you doing?”
“You need to go to bed. If you can fall asleep sitting up on that wooden chair, you’re more than exhausted.” AJ slipped through the door and headed toward the stairs.
“Okay, but I can walk. We did just fine with you supporting my weight.”
“With all due respect, Kate, the amount of time it took us to get from the living room was too long. If we did the same thing to get up these stairs, we’d be here all night. Besides, you don’t need to overexert yourself.”
“I appreciate you going above and beyond, AJ, but I really can—”
“Just be quiet and let me do this.” His voice was hushed. He was sincere.
She snapped her mouth shut. His lips twitched into a smile. Good, she was listening. He crested the top of the stairs and headed down the hall to the bedrooms. Nudging the door open, he carried Kate inside and placed her on the bed. “I’ll get you something to sleep in.” He left before she could object.
AJ made it to his room and grabbed a t-shirt and some sweats. Heading down the hall, he smiled despite himself. Picturing her wearing his clothes filled him with a sensation he’d never experienced before. Maybe when she returned them, they’d smell just like her—like lavender.
He rounded the corner to her room and tossed her the clothes. She looked down at them and returned her attention to him, one eyebrow raised. “Are these your clothes?”
Folding his arms, he leaned on the door jamb and cocked his head to the side. “Is that a problem?”
Kate dropped the clothes on the bed and gestured to them. “You don’t have to give me your clothes. I only live a couple yards away. You could just get me some of mine from the cabin.”
AJ shrugged. “It’s late and I don’t feel like rifling through a woman’s things.”
She sighed and leaned against the large pillows behind her. “Fine. I’ll wear yours then.”
“Anything else I can get for you?”
Kate shook her head. “I’m good—no, wait. Crutches. I’m sure there are some around here somewhere.”
His brows pinched. “I wouldn’t know the first place to look for something like that. If you don’t know where they are off the top of your head, then I definitely won’t find any.”
Her lips puckered.
AJ’s attention dipped to the movement and he licked his lips. What he wouldn’t give to bestow her with a kiss full of passion rather than the forced surprise kiss she’d laid on him. His hands dropped to his sides and his nails dug into his palms.
“Maybe I’ll ask Hazel in the morning.”
AJ nodded. He hovered in the doorway.
Kate reached for the clothes, then paused. “Did you need something?”
“I’m glad you’re okay, Kate. I don’t know what I—we would have done if you had gotten seriously hurt.”
She smiled and his heart pounded just a little harder. He was done for. If a smile did this to his insides, there would be no way he could stay away. Dakota would be livid. Maybe he could convince her he was ready for something more serious. Then again, it was none of her business who he had feelings for. She could just keep her nose out of it.
“I’m going to let you get to bed. Holler if you need anything, I’m just in the next room.” He ducked out, closing the door behind him. Just holding her warm body next to his made everything different. Her smell, her smile, her eyes—it all sucked him in and he was realizing more and more he didn’t want it to end.
He’d take a few days to sort things out. If this feeling didn’t slack off, he’d move forward, pushing away all worry about future consequences.
Chapter Eighteen
Over the next couple of days, Kate spent more time behind her