Page 30 of Riding Into Love
“Because, after what happened at the bar, you’d have to be crazy not to be a little shaken up.”
I roll my eyes. “You really know how to flatter a girl, don’t you?”
“Darlin’, you have no idea.”
“So, that’s why you’re here? You think I’m not all right and need some TLC?”
“Something like that.”
“Colby, I’m fine. Really. You don’t have to—”
“River.”
I sigh. “Okay, fine. Come in.”
Colby waits for me to open the door, and then he steps inside and does a quick sweep of the room.
“I’m not gonna get mugged,” I grumble, shutting the door behind me.
“You never know, darlin’. There’s a lot of bad guys out there.”
“So I’ve heard, but do you really think they’d be stupid enough to break into your house and hide out in the bedroom of your very dangerous cowgirl?”
The laugh that Colby lets out is deep and rumbly, and it makes the butterflies in my stomach flutter. “No, I guess not.”
“Then relax, big guy. There are no bad guys lurking in the shadows.”
I toss my bag onto the bed and move over to the dresser, where I plug my phone into the charger. When I turn around, Colby is maybe two inches away from me, so close, I can feel his breath against my face. His cheek is starting to bruise from where Christian clocked him, and a faint cut runs across his bottom lip.
“Let me get a look at your lip.”
“I’m fine, darlin’. Don’t worry about me.”
“Shut up, and let me look.”
He shakes his head but doesn’t say anything.
“Hold still.” I reach up and touch the corner of his mouth, inspecting the wound.
Colby winces and sucks in a sharp breath.
“Does that hurt?”
“Like a bitch.”
“It’s already starting to swell. You should ice it.”
“Yeah, maybe. But I’ve had worse.”
“That’s not really a good thing, Colby.”
“Maybe not. But it’s part of life on the ranch.”
“I’ll grab you some ice.” I go to move past him, but he stops me with a hand on my hip.
He doesn’t say a word, and my breath won’t leave my lungs. It’s trapped inside me, burning a hole in my chest, and my heart is trying to escape.
I swallow past the knot in my throat and try to look away, but he reaches up and puts a finger under my chin, tilting my face back up. His hazel eyes hold mine captive, and I’m powerless to move.
