In Over Her Head: An Anchor Island Novel by Terri Osburn (reading eggs books .TXT) 📗

Nick set her down in the living room and took a second to catch his breath.

“What was that?” she squawked, filling the air with the smell of rum. “I told you I didn’t want to come in here.”

“I just saved your ass from being the lead story of tomorrow’s island gossip. Do you want Pilar’s opening to be overshadowed by how its chef was drunk and waking up her neighbors at two in the morning?”

Her mouth snapped shut. “I wouldn’t have had a reason to yell if you’d let me go home.”

“Again, you were going the wrong way.” He waved a hand in front of her face. “Can you even see straight right now?” The motion threw her off-balance and she stepped to the side, arms out like a surfer. “That’s what I thought.”

Nick crossed to the kitchen and grabbed a coffee pod from the cabinet. Popping the top on the machine, he dropped it in, slid a mug under the nozzle and snapped it shut. Once the coffee was brewing, he snagged a bottle of water from the fridge and the pain pills from the cabinet.

“Here.” He set both on the island counter. “You’ll probably still feel like shit tomorrow but these should help.”

“Why do you keep doing this?” she asked, ignoring his offering and remaining near the couch.

Leaning against the counter behind him, Nick crossed his arms. “Doing what?”

“Taking care of me.” She had the nerve to look offended.

“It’s called basic human decency,” he answered, tired and more than a little cranky. “Why didn’t you answer my message?”

She dropped her eyes to examine the top of a chair. “I was busy.”

“Bullshit.” When her face jerked up, she swayed again. “Sit down before you fall down.”

“I didn’t ask to come in here. If I’m bothering you so much, then why didn’t you let me leave?”

“Because I care about you,” he snapped. “Not that you make it easy. Just sit down and take the pills. Once you drink the coffee, I’ll walk you home and you can go back to pretending there’s nothing between us.”

Bottom lip extended, she dropped into the chair. “You’re the one who changed the rules. No relationships. That’s what you said.”

He’d never told her the real reason for that statement, but regardless, she was right. He’d changed the rules. Maybe the rules needed to be changed, but that was not something they would resolve in her current condition.

“We’re not having this conversation while you’re drunk.” Nick put the coffee on the table in front of her, then opened the pill bottle and set it and the water beside the mug. “Do yourself a favor and take the medicine.”

Lowering onto the couch, Nick ran his hands over his face with a sigh. This was not how he’d seen his night going, but at least Lauren had landed at his door instead of Juanita’s. He watched her take the medicine, then sit back with the coffee mug cupped in her hands. Her eyes were fixed on something in the distance and it took several seconds for him to notice the silent tears.

Assuming the alcohol was the cause, he said, “Things will look better in the morning. Just drink the coffee.”

“I don’t like this feeling,” she mumbled.

“Then you probably shouldn’t drink again.”

“I don’t like needing you.”

That was not what he expected. “Needing me?”

“I can’t depend on you,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “I can only depend on myself. That’s what Mom taught me.”

Understanding how easy it was to believe a false narrative, Nick said, “Your mom was wrong, Lauren. Humans weren’t made to go through life alone. You showed me that.”

As if hearing his voice for the first time, she cut her gaze his way. “I did what?”

“After years of believing that love wasn’t worth the risk, you walked into my life. And like all the times before, I thought something casual would be enough. That we’d have some fun and move on.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “But every time we’re apart, all I can think about is when I’ll see you again.”

Another tear rolled down her cheek. “You’ll walk away,” she whispered. “Everyone walks away.”

“Not everyone.” Nick got up and offered a hand. “Come to bed, Lauren. If you want to leave in the morning, I won’t ask you to stay. And if you don’t want to see me again, I’ll respect your wishes. But for now, just come to bed.”

Eyes wide, she stared up at him. Every thought traveled across her face. Doubt. Fear. Longing.

“I just want to hold you,” he assured her.

Lauren took his hand and set the mug on the table before rising to her feet. She followed him into the bedroom and slid in under the blankets as he held them up for her. Nick crawled in beside her and she curled against his side with her head on his shoulder. After kissing the top of her head, he pulled her tight against him.

If this was all she could give, then he’d take it.

18

The pounding in Lauren’s head dragged her out of the darkness. Slowly easing her eyes open, she saw a blue glow coming from her left. She struggled to figure out where she was when something moved beside her. Sharp bristles brushed her shoulder as warm breath blew across her neck.

Her eyes snapped shut as snippets of memories flickered through her mind. With as little movement as possible, she patted her chest and then below her waist to find she was completely dressed. Oh, thank goodness. Breathing once more, she felt her stomach roll and pressed a hand against her mouth.

Desperate, she edged to the right and set one foot on the floor, then the other before letting her bottom slide off the mattress. Once free, she hopped up and tip-toed as fast as she could to reach the bathroom. Turning the knob, she shut the door as quietly as possible mere seconds before emptying her stomach into the toilet. Lauren couldn’t remember the last time