Page 38 of Apple of My Eye

“Goodnight, Daisy.” I kept going, headed to my truck before her vulnerable face kept me here.

I stayed watchful like I said I would, stewing over and replaying everything. Just before sunrise, I sent a text to Ash, updating him. As an early riser, he responded instantly. I’d taken the day off, thinking we’d be returning from Billings today. Worked out that I’d need to be here watching over her instead.

No, she didn’t need me. I chuckled at her comment about having rifles and knowing how to use them. She’d absolutely scare the hell out of anyone who tried to break in again if she were home.

I stayed because I wanted to be the man here for her, no matter what.

Before sunrise, I yawned and dragged my ass inside, hoping to grab a few hours of sleep.

“That you Knox?” She called. Must have been awake, too.

“It’s me.”

“Come here, please.”

Up in her room, she patted the side of the bed next to her.

“You want me to lay down?” I double checked.

“I was just about to get up anyway. The bed is more comfortable than that couch.” She seemed half awake. I was too tired to question it. I tread quietly around the other side of her bed and removed my boots. Still in my jeans and flannel, I carefully lay down on top of the covers.

In the dark, after a moment, she turned toward me. Iraised an arm above my head. She settled her cheek against my chest. One of her hands fisted loosely around the front of my shirt. I ignored anything going on South of my belt buckle.

“Worried?” I asked.

“I hate to admit it, but… yeah,” she whispered.

“You don’t always have to be so strong.I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Whoever came through that door tonight, would have to get through me first before they got to you.”

She didn’t respond, but her breathing slowed after another minute, and the grip on my shirt loosened.

I stared at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep now. Here I was in her bed. We had come a long way to get to this point. From Billings to the Rimrocks, to her voice on the phone, clipped and careful, calling the night with mefine.I had held onto that sting the whole drive back, turned it over in my head while she made her calls and the miles flew by, telling myself it was the situation, not a signal. That she had not meant it the way it landed.

I could see that now, with her trusting me enough to sleep in the circle of my arm.

She had not meant it. Another step forward for us. But there was still a long way to go.

Tonight, she was safe.

That was enough.

Chapter Eleven

Daisy

I wokeup later than usual. Knox was beside me, still dressed, on top of the covers. One arm curled along his side, the other rested across his stomach, his chest rising and falling, deep asleep. His hair had come loose from where he had tied it, dark strands across the pillow. A sleepy, protective cowboy.

He had stayed.

I got up and stood in the doorway for a moment longer than I should have, taking in this large, patient man folded into my bed like he had always belonged there.

What should I do about this pounding in my chest? I couldn’t name this feeling yet. Not before coffee.

I pulled on my jacket and my boots over my nightgown as quietly as the old floorboards allowed, and slipped out of the room.

The orchard was cold,frost lying thin and white over the fence rails, the fallen fruit, and the mowed grass between the rows. My breath fogged in front of me as I moved through the trees, boots crunching softly. The whole property still slept, wrapped in that early-morning quiet.

I reached the cottage, and the door opened with its familiar creak.