Forbidden - Karla Sorensen Page 0,77
simply watched, studied me with a wariness that I hadn’t seen in him before, like I did him harm in some way that I didn’t understand.
Didn’t he know? I didn’t want to do any unseen damage. I’d love them so easily if he’d let me.
“Will you bring Emmett to play again sometime?” Anya asked, now fiddling with the edge of my braid. “You didn’t get to walk to the lake with us and see me skip rocks. I’m really good at it.”
Aiden came to stand next to the chair, and carefully, I glanced up, but his attention was on his daughter.
“We’ll talk about it later, okay, gingersnap?” he said.
She pouted. “You only say that when you don’t want to say no in front of people.”
I smothered a smile. “I’ll tell you what, Anya, maybe your dad can drop you off at Emmett’s house someday when I’m there.” I tapped her on the nose. “No climbing that tree, though.”
“Can I, daddysnap?” she asked, bouncing excitedly on my lap.
Aiden gave a slight nod. “Why don’t you hop off her lap? I think her brother is here.”
Logan’s SUV pulled into the driveway, and I caught sight of their identical worried expressions.
“Here we go,” I murmured.
“Mom looks pissed,” Emmett whispered.
I gave him a look when Aiden sighed.
Emmett glanced up at Aiden, voice serious. “I don’t know if you’re ready for this, Mr. Hennessy.”
Aiden’s eyebrows lowered. “For what?”
Paige threw open her door, and in a flurry of red hair and long legs and motherly affection, she filled the entire front yard with her presence.
Her hands ran over my hair, my shoulders, and then tilted my chin to the side. “Oh my gosh, Isabel, we are going straight to the hospital. What is the matter with you?”
I stood, and when I grimaced at a twinge in my leg, she set her hands on her hips and glared at me.
“You told me her head was fine,” she said to Aiden. Paige pointed at the bandage on my head. “You call that fine?”
His eyes were huge, and he glanced at me for help. “I—”
I shrugged because I’d had more than a decade to get used to her.
Logan approached at a normal speed, and with normal people skills, he held his hand out to Aiden. “Logan. Nice to meet you.”
Aiden shook it, still casting wary looks at Paige as she clucked and cooed over my wrist, which was rewrapped in clean bandages after my bath. “Nice to meet you too.”
“Paige,” Logan said evenly.
She didn’t so much as look at him. “Not the time to rein me in, buddy.” Her eyes were pinned to me. “You’re sure this isn’t broken?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Trust me, if the pain or swelling was worse today, I’d let you take me. But I’m fine.”
“Forgive me if I don’t trust your opinion on that, Miss I refused to get checked out at the hospital.”
Anya came next to me and tugged on my good hand. “Is this your mom? She’s pretty.”
“Kinda,” I explained. “I was fourteen when she married my brother, so even though she’s my sister-in-law, she’s my mom in all the ways that matter.” Paige sniffled noisily, and I gave her a look. “Do not start crying right now.”
Paige softened her posture, giving Anya a sweet smile. “You must be Anya.”
Anya nodded. “I’m sorry I broke your tree branch.”
“Oh honey, you don’t need to apologize for that. I’m just happy you’re all right.”
Paige straightened, and Logan slid an arm around her waist. He eyed my wrist. “How bad’s the sprain?”
“Grade two,” Aiden interjected. “If I had to guess.”
“I love when athletes make medical diagnoses like they’re doctors,” Paige said to me. “It’s my favorite thing ever.”
Logan ignored her. “I made you an appointment with the team chiropractor for an adjustment. He’s coming to the house tomorrow.” When I opened my mouth, he held up a hand. “You are staying with us for a couple of nights.”
“I love it when the men in my life make decisions for me,” I told Paige. “It’s my favorite thing ever.”
Aiden swiped a hand over his mouth, and Logan gave me a level look. “Isabel, my sister whom I love and respect greatly, would you be so kind as to stay at our house while you recover?”
I gestured for more.
“Please,” he managed.
In answer, I gave him a magnanimous smile. “Of course. Thank you for asking so nicely.”
“Aiden, it was nice to meet you. Thank you again,” my brother said, then he walked back to the car, muttering something about