blasted crutches into the cove and be done with them. My underarms ached, and getting up and down from a seated position twisted me into contortions a gymnast would have trouble doing.
This entire day had been a nightmare from beginning to end. The only bright spot, and I hesitate to admit it, had been…Nick. He’d stopped by late in the afternoon to check on me. Our conversation, with Jo Marie in the other room, felt stilted and uncomfortable, as both of us were aware she was within earshot. Nick was uneasy. I knew being at the inn in daylight with other people around was way out of his comfort zone.
I wasn’t sure how to act around him, seeing that I’d completely embarrassed myself when he kissed me. If anyone was handing out blue ribbons in a kissing contest, Nick would win hands down. I’d never meant to respond the way I did, but then I couldn’t help myself. It was happening again…I was falling for this guy, and after two disastrous relationships, I could almost predict the future. Experience had taught me it wouldn’t be unicorns and rainbows, either.
I should tell Nick the truth about myself right now and be done with it. He had a right to know before our relationship went any further. Dread filled me. I liked this feeling of being wanted, and selfishly, I wanted it to continue. It’d been a long time since a man made me feel the way Nick did.
For most of the night I’d been awake and restless. Jo Marie noticed first thing in the morning and assumed I’d been in pain. Yes, my ankle ached, but what kept me staring at the ceiling until the wee hours of the morning was the memory of Nick’s kisses. I couldn’t stop thinking about how good they’d been.
Right away my mind started making up excuses not to tell him the truth about me. It was personal, private. Intimate. But to not tell him could lead to problems in the future. More heartache. I’d dealt with enough of that to last me a lifetime. Surely two broken engagements were all the evidence required.
The kissing should never have happened. It must have been the pain I was experiencing. Or the cold. All I can say is that I wasn’t myself, because sure as I’m sitting here, leg propped up and bandaged, and high on pain meds, I know for a fact no one man’s kisses could be that good.
“How are you feeling?” Nick asked, standing in the middle of Jo Marie’s living room. Although I offered, he refused to take a seat. He paced the area in front of the sofa where I sat as if he would rather be anyplace but here. My guess was he felt as unsettled about our exchange as I did.
Good. All the better.
Perhaps we could count it a fluke and move past what had happened. I was willing and I hoped Nick was, too. Only we couldn’t discuss any of it with Jo Marie a short distance away.
“Emily?”
The question. He wanted me to answer the question. Unfortunately, I couldn’t remember what he’d asked. Oh, it was about my ankle.
“I’m better…thanks.”
“You should never have gone out without dressing appropriately for the weather,” he chastised.
“You’re right.” I could only agree.
“Or leave your phone behind.”
“Right again.” Did he honestly expect me to argue? Perhaps that was what he wanted me to do.
“I’m just glad I came when I did.”
“Me, too.”
He remained standing, his eyes full of concern. “You still in pain?”
I shook my head. “The pain meds took care of that, although I slept most of the afternoon.” I didn’t mention that was the result of not having rested the night before.
“Which means you probably won’t sleep tonight.”
“Probably not,” I agreed. Nothing new there.
To my relief, Nick left a few minutes later, and I was grateful.
Jo Marie heated up some leftover soup for dinner. Afterward she guided me into the downstairs bedroom and helped me into bed. Because I wasn’t tired, I sat up reading.
About midnight I heard someone tapping against the windowpane. I tried to ignore it, but the tapping only got louder.
Thankfully, the bed was next to the window. Kneeling on the mattress, I peered out and was stunned to find Nick and Elvis on the other side. With a bit of effort I was able to open the window.
“Nick? What in the name of heaven are you doing here?”