As my tears slowed, I could feel him hesitate, then he cleared his throat. “I have very intense feelings for you, and I know that I shouldn’t. So I’m going to channel them into caring for you, and getting you through this. Does that sound logical?”
I nodded, trying to release my grip on him. His arms tightened as he rocked me gently. “I know you’re going to be fine, baby. It’s only two more days of waiting, right? Then we go to your doctor Friday morning, and you’re going to be able to see again.”
“How did you know the schedule?”
“Gwen left the information right on the fridge. She’s thorough. She texts me a couple of times a day reminding me of everything I need to do.”
“I’m so lucky to have you,” I sighed, finally unclenching. “Sorry about wrinkling your shirt.”
“Don’t you dare worry about me, Kayla,” he whispered.
There was a pause, both of us simply breathing together. I don’t think I’d ever had such a comfortable moment of stillness with anyone in my life. Then I felt his lips brush the top of my hair. “Are you hungry?” he asked softly.
“Not for a few minutes.” My hand reached up to stroke his beard. My fingertips hovered over his lips, and he kissed each one in turn. Then he held my hand against his heart, while we snuggled silently.
CHAPTER TEN
* Liam *
I hated leaving her again. But I couldn’t think of a good enough reason to stay, even as her perfect lips pouted slightly when I left.
I had no way to know whether telling Kayla about my face was the right thing or not. On one hand, I didn’t want to frighten her. She was obviously vulnerable right now, and I shouldn’t be adding any sort of doubt in her mind.
My editing job involved constantly looking for things to fix. It had become part of me, and I couldn’t help wanting to do everything I could to improve Kayla’s world.
I was her caregiver at the moment. There needed to be a bond of trust, even in bizarre circumstances like this. Yet somehow she hadn’t seemed disturbed by the scars at all. She seemed almost… intrigued.
On the other hand, I needed to warn her. I couldn’t let her think I looked like a normal guy. I wasn’t the sort of man that she should consider having a relationship with.
By the way she needed to be held, it felt like she hadn’t been in a relationship for a long time, if ever.
Which, if I stepped outside of the situation and simply looked at it logically, was a horrible shame. Kayla was a wonderful person. Quick to laugh, quick to try new things even if they were strange. She chatted easily about every topic under the sun.
Avoiding harsh daylight didn’t seem like that much of an inconvenience to one’s life. I preferred the forest to the beach anyway.
I gave my head a shake. This was not about me. I couldn’t think for one second that she’d be anything but disturbed when she finally saw that her kind-hearted fake nurse looked like he just broke out of prison.
With most people, first impressions slotted you into a mental category, and that was that. It didn’t matter that I was hard-working, dedicated and sharp. I owned a nice little condo, and had a few investments. My life was pretty much in order. But why would anyone want to know all of that about a big dude who looked like a thug?
If I had known that my face was going to be scarred, I might not have gotten full sleeve tattoos in my mid-twenties. But at the time, I’d wanted to look dangerous. Or at least, confident. More masculine. It was while I was in the process of bulking up.
Now that I was thirty-six, I knew that if I were in a movie, I’d be the evil crime lord’s number one bodyguard. I’d put up a great fight before dying out across the floor dramatically, making a few final quips.
Kayla deserved better. She needed a man that she could take out in public without there being suspicious glances.
I couldn’t even imagine what her parents would say if they saw me. I know she’s not close with them, but I’m likely a father’s worst nightmare.
The only opinion I was interested in was Kayla’s. And I knew that when her eyes finally opened and she saw me for the first time, I’d see disappointment.
Please, oh please, let it be disappointment, not fear.
I could handle not dating her. I didn’t think for one second that that option was even on the menu. But I’d like to be friends, or at least acquaintances. I could be the guy she calls when she’s having furniture delivered. I could be the guy she texts now and then to discuss the art of tattoos.
Even if I’m not the guy in her life, I needed to be a guy in her life.
After the awkward but wonderful days we’d spent together, I don’t know how I’d live with myself if she were afraid of me.
It would be the last of a long line of messages from the world that I’m a monster who needed to be hidden.